Chapter 526
Most of Sunnydale's human population had either fled, or become food for the nightwalkers. The Brethen of Aurelius had been destroying supermarkets and convenience stores. The decaying corpses would soon create diseases. Between those, and all plants dying off, it was becoming less and less likely that humans could live in Sunnydale permanently. Buffy leaving might've made things hopeless. Despite all of these things there was hope. Some people were coming to Sunnydale despite the danger, to fight the end. General Gregor had brought a couple dozen knights of Byzantium. Quentin brought some surviving watchers, including Wesley's father and a covert assasination team. Nina brought Oz and Veruca, but noone else from her pack. Even Jessie had returned to Sunnydale to help. Jessie was doing this primarily to keep Colin safe. That little vampire had become like a little brother to Jessie, he would do anything to protect him, with or without a soul. Faith had become the de facto leader of these people. They stole the remaining food from the stores that hadn't yet been destroyed. They slept in homes that had been abandoned. Faith was becoming a real slayer again, leading people in the fight against evil. Trying to save humanity. Buffy abandoned her duty, Faith wouldn't do that again. But there was one thing Faith couldn't avoid. They needed the slayer to do battle against the Master, Faith wasn't technically the slayer anymore. But Faith was all they had. Maybe the Chalice would work with Faith, maybe not. But either way Faith would not go down without a fight.