Working for the Weekend 2

"...and so we moved here," Buffy finished.

"Man, you've had a rough time of it," Xander said, passing her a cake from the ice chest.

"There were some good times," Buffy admitted, "but yeah, being the slayer involves a whole lotta suck."

"I don't get a cool name, just a lot of random trips to the really wild kingdom," Xander said. "But at least you can prove you're the slayer by lifting something heavy or bending steel with your bare hands. I have zero proof until they see it for themselves."

"Erm, yeah," Buffy said, and quickly changed the subject. "So let's go see what's around."

"A quick look would be a good idea," Xander agreed. "Keep an eye out for animal tracks. I've gotten pretty good at identifying if they're predators."

"And maybe figure out where we are," Buffy said cheerfully. She felt at peace here, unlike home where she was constantly on guard.

Xander re-checked his weapons and the two stepped back out into the sunlight. Buffy scanned the beach for any large predators while Xander scanned the skies and the ground, having had more troubles with smaller creatures.

"Looks clear," Xander said.

"Looks beautiful," Buffy added as she inhaled deeply of the clean, ocean air which carried the scent of wild flowers from the jungle further inland where the cliffs gave way to flat land.

"Beautiful and deadly," Xander agreed. He took in the local area, seeing a number of colorful birds in the distance and a multitude of crabs crawling out of the surf.

"Wish I'd brought my... clothes," Buffy said, as she'd realized how little she had with her.

"I have extras," Xander promised her as they walked along the beach, watching for animal tracks or anything else of interest.

"I'm betting South America," Buffy said as they returned to their cave, pausing to collect firewood to supplement the driftwood they already had.

"It's at least an hour 'til sunset. We should have everything set up and dinner ready in time to watch it," Xander said cheerfully.

"Early to bed, early to rise?" Buffy asked.

"There are a lot of predators that can see in the dark better than any human can. It's safer to stick to hours where we can see as much as possible," Xander explained.

"I have great eyesight and can see in the dark like you wouldn't believe. It's part of the whole slayer package," Buffy said.

"Well, I don't. I have basic human and paranoid, world jumper package," Xander said with a grin.

"Paranoid?" Buffy asked.

"Unlike home, the world really is out to get you, here," Xander said. "Raw nature is life eating life and we aren't the top of the food chain here."

"And even at home any serious sickness or injury puts you in danger here," Buffy said, seeing how complicated his life could be thanks to his weekend trips. "You should get a mobile home."

"Huh?" Xander asked, not seeing where she was going with the idea.

"If you can bring something mobile, like a mobile home, you would be a lot safer," Buffy explained.

"Never tried traveling while in a vehicle," Xander admitted. "Even an old, beat up van would help if I landed in the Arctic again."

"You never land in water, do you?" Buffy asked.

"Nope, always land," Xander said, "though the ice shelf is kinda iffy. I suppose it could be considered water."

"Three quarters of the world is water. If you haven't landed in it yet, I don't think you're going to," Buffy said.

"Maybe if I travel while in the water, I'll end up in water," Xander said thoughtfully.

"Best stick to land then," Buffy said, "and get a beat-up van to see if it comes with us. We can get a broken down car for like fifty bucks and test it."

"A station wagon," Xander decided. "Plenty of room to sleep in back."

"Just make sure to get one with intact windows that roll up," Buffy said. "I hate flies and mosquitoes and... all bugs, really."

"I brought bug spray," Xander promised.

"Bless you," Buffy said, relieved.

He tossed her a can of bug repellant before digging in his pack.

"What are you doing?" Buffy asked curiously as she watched Xander put together a dresser sized rectangular thing with a number of cloth shelves.

"Egg carrier," Xander told her. "One of the easiest and most productive uses of my time, according to the conservationists I've talked to, is to collect eggs and seeds. This was designed to keep the eggs warm and safe until I can get them home."

"Another of those 'I don't see how that could work, but don't question it'?" Buffy asked, not seeing any heat source.

"Bingo," Xander said. "If it makes my strange life easier and all that's asked of me is to not ask questions, then mum's the word."

"Works for me," Buffy agreed. "Soap and toothpaste would make me overlook a lot, hint hint!"

Xander chuckled. "Yeah, let me finish setting everything up and we can bathe," Xander promised.

"Erm, how are we handling that?" Buffy asked.

"One of us has to keep watch while the other washes," Xander told her.

"Too dangerous to bathe alone," Buffy realized.

"One of the reasons I don't mind having company on these trips," Xander said cheerfully. "When I'm alone I have to make do with a lot less."

"I just need to wash my hands and face. I showered in gym," Buffy said, "but I'll watch you bathe-I mean, I'll keep watch while you bathe," Buffy blushed heavily.

Xander laughed. "I know what you meant and you can watch openly. In fact, I encourage it."

"Mr. Ego," Buffy teased.

"Trying not to look is distracting and we can't afford to be distracted," Xander explained.

"Practical and fun," Buffy said without thinking. "Do you have any funny stories that don't involve eating endangered or extinct species?" Buffy teased as Xander started a fire.

"But here they are neither," Xander pointed out, poking the fire with a stick. "However, I do have a few. For instance, I once tried to catch an elephant."

"How in the world would you catch an elephant?" Buffy asked curiously.

"I snuck up and grabbed its leg," Xander replied. "I knew I had only a couple minutes left, so I figured it would be an easy catch."

"Wouldn't it get scared and trample everyone in front of the school?" Buffy asked.

"Not one of my more well-thought-out ideas," Xander admitted. "At the time, I had jumped from the football field, so it seemed safe enough."

"So what happened?" Buffy asked.

"It reached down with its trunk, peeled me loose and brought me up to its face. It looked mildly amused and then tossed me into the river. I appeared in the middle of the football field, soaking wet with a twelve foot crocodile trying to eat my backpack. I didn't even notice him and after that, the Mayor insisted I carry a tranquilizer pistol with me."

Buffy laughed. "You were so lucky!"

Xander grinned. "Yes, I was. Turns out elephants are a lot smarter than you'd think, and fortunately they are also pretty good natured. A hippo would have killed me for the same stunt."

"A hippo?" Buffy asked doubtfully.

"Vicious, territorial, faster than you think, and extremely large," Xander assured her. "They kill people regularly in Africa. Only in Disney are they nice and gentle."

"I'll have to watch more nature shows," Buffy decided. "That way I don't get caught out the next time I'm out here with you."

"You want to do this again?" Xander asked in surprise.

"If you don't mind," Buffy said. "So far it's been really relaxing."

Xander laughed. "Tell me that when we're home and I'll make sure to bring you on my next trip."

"Deal!"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Giles hung up the phone with a sigh. It looked like he wouldn't be getting a slayer to mentor after all. The council had just informed him that the next slayer had activated, meaning Miss Summers had died before he could even make contact.

He decided to go out, have a drink, and give a toast to the young girl, who had died far too soon, before he started packing for his next assignment.

Typing By: Ordieth