A/N The abilities of a Guardian, including telepathic contact with their Companions comes from the wanderverse stories by Steve Pantovich. Cats turn into saber toothed cats, dogs into dire wolves. So yes, Willow will be able to transform, it's a natural ability of Guardians.
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The next couple of weeks passed quietly for the group. Buffy reported that Joyce was upset though.
"She hasn't heard from Ted." She reported. "And it isn't like I can tell her what's going on, she's caught up in the spell over Sunnydale too."
"That needs to change." Xander said. "Joyce is vulnerable without lifesaving information. Cordy's and Willow's folks are constantly traveling, they're aware of mutants, Inhumans, aliens and vampires while they're traveling and can take appropriate precautions against any dangerous ones. Your mother hasn't left town since you guys moved here earlier this year. Add to that she has a business that puts her in contact with the public. We need to find a way to protect her gallery, once it's dark vamps can wander in there anytime they please. It's actually shocking that none have yet. But most vamps and demons don't bother with gaining intell, they just grab people off the street. But I've been reading the Watchers Chronicles, know your enemy. Angelus does study his prey, mostly because he likes the psych games he can play. Add to that, he goes after the people around his target first, part of those psych games he plays. Which means your mother will be a prime target for him if that curse breaks."
"There are ways to protect property, such as businesses, magically." Giles said. "I'm not certain what the specifics are, but I can contact Wesley and have him send me some information on it. He should be back in England by now and delivering his report on us to the Council. He can get it to us without us having to jump through bureaucratic hoops."
"It will be a good exercise for you, Xander." Jenny told him. "You're a naturally protective person and like with fire, directing your personal energy into something like magical protections will be easier for you to do. Once you've got a good grasp on the things that come easily and naturally to you and have built your confidence, moving on to other things can happen."
"Keeping Joyce safe is something I want to do. She's a great mom, the kind I use to hope Jessica would turn into. Okay, you get the information on protecting a public place and then I see about doing the Magic. Beyond that, Joyce needs to actually be told about everything and the best way is probably to go to Los Angeles where she can see it for herself and recover the knowledge the spell keeps her from having, then place protections spells like Margaret did on us, on her."
"Christmas is coming up." Buffy said. "I'm spending it with my dad, he's supposed to come pick me up, but given how down Mom's been about Ted not contacting her, I can tell her I want a little more time with her before I start Christmas time with Dad and ask her to drive me there instead. Once she remembers, you can meet her at home and put the protections on her before the spell has a chance to kick back in."
"That should work." Giles agreed. "Really, these are things we should have thought about already, but I suppose we're still trying to overcome lingering effects from the spell. It clouded our thinking for months, made us forget so very much. The longer the protections are on us, the more we remember."
"And the more I learn about the outside world." Xander added. "Willow and I were the only ones who'd never left Sunnydale and so never learned about it in the first place. And have I been learning a lot! Actually I have an idea for something I'd like to try putting together for my business. You remember we were talking about conventional security features that could protect a home? Solar lights that collect and store solar energy are used to line paths and driveways. They're not strong enough to even burn vampires, at least I don't think they are. But my thought is to marry a sensor that scans for body heat from anyone that approaches. If it registers outside of a human's body range, it can amp up the solar output. Using a solar battery as the primary battery for them makes them look just like regular ones, add a lithium ion battery and you can amp the output considerably. We could build in an electric fence feature for those who don't want to put up regular fences because they can block views. Or even build the electric fence potion separately. Which means they could plant them around the perimeter of their property and no vamp is getting past it or using garages as access points."
"Those are excellent ideas, Xander." Giles congratulated him. "Do the research into what you need to build a proto type and I will purchase the supplies for you. Once you have a proof of concept more can be made.
"I'll sign up for the first ones you make, Doofus." Cordelia said. "We have quite a bit of conventional security around our place, but nothing that keeps vampires from getting onto the property and out buildings that they could take advantage of. Lupe, our housekeeper and I, are the only ones who live there full time. I know what's going on and I can protect us, but like Mrs. Summers right now, Lupe doesn't know and has no idea how to protect herself. I want her safe."
Xander clasped her hand in his. "First ones produced by Harris Advanced Security, I promise. We'll see about getting magical protections on your house too. It's not like Willow can teleport back and forth between our places. She can only protect one place at a time."
"How exactly does Willow protect a place?" Buffy asked. "You haven't said."
"According to Giles' reference, Guardian cats can transform into saber tooth cats and Guardian dogs can transform into dire wolves." Xander replied with a grin.
"Woah!"