Chapter Four

Buffy hadn't stopped staring at Faith since she'd found a safe spot to rest. She'd done all she could to help her, feeling her all over, removing the dart from her shoulder, slapping her several times…even going so far as to poke her with a stick, but Faith remained asleep on the bed of tree boughs that Buffy had hastily made.

She could hear the sound of running water, but she didn't want to leave Faith. She remained at her side in a crouch, her right hand firmly clutching a large stick as she grunted softly to herself, rocking back and forth slightly.

A nearby scurrying in the underbrush gained her attention briefly, but Buffy wasn't hungry. She was scared for her Faith, confused by recent events, and she was thirsty. Still she ignored the enticing sound of the nearby water, fighting her instincts to stay with her fallen partner.

Time passed slowly, and finally Buffy could no longer resist. She bent over and screamed in Faith's face, then shoved her hard, and when she received no response she began walking backwards toward the sound of the water. She kept her eyes on her mate for as long as she could - she wasn't happy about leaving Faith alone, but she was too thirsty to hold out any longer. With a reluctant last look, she turned and loped away.

The water wasn't far and after scoping out the area, Buffy laid down on her front and began drinking her fill. Her right hand was still clenched around her club and twice she her head lifted to scan her surroundings, but there was nothing she perceived as a threat and she resumed drinking from the small lake. With her thirst slaked, she headed back to Faith.

She hadn't moved and Buffy edged closer, her worry and frustration easy to see. She shook Faith roughly and when Faith stirred slightly, Buffy smiled and sprayed the mouthful of water she'd been holding onto all over her face.

Faith sputtered and sat up, a groan escaping as her hands wiped at the water.

"Buffy?

Buffy jumped in the air happily, then knelt back down. She hugged a "not all there yet" Faith to her, knocking her flat to the ground in her excitement. Faith groaned at the impact, but her arms came up to return Buffy's embrace.

"Faith okay?"

"Faith okay."

Buffy peppered soft kisses on her neck and jaw and then she leaned up to look at her:

"Faith need water?"

Faith nodded, still looking slightly dazed and Buffy helped her carefully to her feet. She led Faith to the lake, one arm wrapped firmly around her waist, the other holding tight to her weapon. Faith followed along somewhat docilely, and when they got there, Buffy had her sit at the water's edge.

Buffy laid her weapon down, scooped up two handfuls of water and held them up to Faith with a smile:

"Faith drink."

Faith drank greedily, and it took six times before her thirst was quenched. When they were done, Buffy picked up her club and led Faith back to their little campsite. She pushed a resistant Faith back down onto the bed of tree boughs:

"Faith rest."

"Faith no want. Faith strong."

She tried to get up, but Buffy didn't like the idea.

"Buffy say stay. Stay!"

"No! Faith good. Faith…"

She was struggling to rise and Buffy was struggling to keep her down. Both girls were becoming angry at having their desires thwarted, never a good thing when two Slayers were involved.

Faith managed to elude Buffy's restraining hands and stood quickly, her fury obvious:

"No touch! Faith want up!"

"Buffy say down! Faith down!"

They stood in a stand-off until Faith shoved Buffy backwards:

"No. Faith go."

As she turned to leave, Buffy grabbed her arm, winding it around to pull it up behind Faith's back, but Faith merely spun with her and they ended up facing each other again.

Faith wasn't happy with the attempt and she shoved Buffy again. Buffy's reaction was immediate: she swung at Faith, connecting with her jaw. Faith tripped, her arms whirling wildly as she backpedalled trying to regain her balance. She couldn't hang on, and she ended up thudding to the ground on her ass.

She made an "oofing" noise as she impacted with the ground, but she was back on her feet in seconds:

"B bad. Hit Faith!"

"Faith bad! Buffy say down!"

They began circling each other, their eyes riveted to the other as it became apparent that there was going to be a fight.

"Faith fine!"

"Faith no fine!"

"Buffy stay back."

"No. Faith down!"

They both made their move at the same time. Faith's punch connected with Buffy's cheek just as Buffy's smashed into her stomach. Both Slayers were staggered and each took a step back.

"Faith stop!"

"Buffy stop!"

Buffy smacked her own chest:

"Buffy say what do!"

"Faith stand!"

They began circling again, crouching slightly, each wary of the other. Faith suddenly paused and tried to speak what was on her mind:

"Buffy have stick."

"Buffy have good stick."

"Faith no have."

Buffy seemed puzzled, then a smile slowly crossed her face:

"Faith scared."

"No! Faith want stick."

"No! Buffy have."

Faith was irritated and she grunted her displeasure:

"Faith find stick."

She began looking for her own weapon, turning her back on Buffy as she did. The concept of fair play wasn't exactly pressing on either Slayers' mind and Buffy made her move. She poked her club right into the middle of Faith's back, shoving her forward.

Faith fell headfirst into a clump of weeds and grass, and Buffy stood with an amused expression on her face that somehow matched the arrogantly raised eyebrow.

"Buffy say down…"

She laughed as Faith rolled over, spitting out grass and dirt.

"…Faith down."

Faith didn't see the funny in any of it and she leapt to her feet in a rage:

"Faith no stick!"

"Buffy have. Faith down!"

"Buffy bad!"

Faith gestured angrily:

"Faith want stick!"

"Buffy have stick. Faith be good."

"No!"

She tackled Buffy and tried to wrest the club from her hand. Buffy hung on, even when Faith punched her hard in the shoulder. She managed to kick Faith off of her just far enough to get to her feet and then the fight began in earnest.

Buffy never used the club once, but she refused to let go of it. They battled ferociously, punching and kicking, but after several minutes they still stood facing each other as they circled warily. They both had cuts and bruises, little nicks and scratches that barely seemed to faze them at all, and each girl was still ready and raring to go.

"Faith want stick."

"Buffy say down."

It was a stalemate and Faith was tired of waiting. She rushed in, her hands on the club. Buffy went with her, letting Faith knock them both to the ground. She rolled quickly, putting herself on top as her as Faith tried to pull the club from her grasp. She came close, but Buffy's knee smashing into her stomach made Faith let go as all of the air was forced painfully from her lungs.

Buffy took advantage of the situation, pinning Faith's arms with her knees. She sat there triumphantly and yelled a yell that sounded like a howl of victory. Faith tried to pull her arms free and when she couldn't, she tried to lift her legs to knock Buffy off. She couldn't  quite reach her, but she didn't stop struggling…not until she felt Buffy's teeth at her throat.

"Buffy say down. Faith down."

Her teeth latched on, gently at first but as Faith continued to struggle, the pressure increased. Faith finally went still, and after a few moments Buffy relented and her teeth let go. She licked gently over the bite, then kissed her way up to Faith's mouth. She hovered there until Faith groaned softly:

"Buffy say down…"

Faith stared back, her mouth held tightly closed, and Buffy growled a warning.

"Buffy…say…down…"

Faith still looked at her defiantly and this time Buffy's tongue softly traced the thin line of Faith's compressed lips. Faith tried, but she couldn't hold out. Her mouth opened, yearning for Buffy's tongue and lips to devour her, but Buffy pulled back instead:

"Buffy say down?"

"…"

Her lips returned, her tongue gliding along barely there, her breath tickling along Faith's mouth.

"Buffy say down?"

And finally Faith cooperated:

"Faith down."

Buffy smiled, not willing to let it go quite so easily, and she repeated herself:

"Buffy say down?"

"Faith down!"

"Good."

She kissed Faith then, her tongue plunging in, her lips moving with Faith's as they both became lost in the sensations. Buffy's free hand went to Faith's breast and Faith's response was immediate. She groaned and began murmuring:

"Faith down…B good…Faith want…"

And then Buffy relaxed, taking her knees from Faith's arms, sliding her body down to cover Faith's completely. She began kissing her everywhere she could reach, purring when she felt Faith's arms wrapping around her, her hands roaming up and down, then lower as they explored her ass.

"Faith…"

"B good."

It was a struggle, but Buffy sat up again:

"Take."

She turned her club around and offered it handle first to Faith.

"Faith take stick."

"Buffy stick?"

"Buffy give."

The tears welled up in Faith's eyes as she let go of Buffy's butt to take the club.

"B…"

"Faith good. Strong. Take."

Faith held the stick behind Buffy's back, and with a hand on either end, she pulled Buffy down to her.

"Buffy give. Faith like."

Buffy smiled:

"Faith take Buffy?"

The club fell to the ground as Faith wrapped both hands around her:

"Faith want Buffy."

"Take Buffy."

No further encouragement was needed and Faith did as she was told.

Hunger was gnawing at them and the night air was becoming a little too cold. Buffy and Faith were crouched in the bushes as they watched the people moving around their campsite. It was a cozy scene, two warm and inviting fires blazing, a grill cooking hotdogs and hamburgers and children laughing and running a serpentine pattern among the three tents. The grownups were sitting around the fire, sipping beer and hot chocolate as they laughed and talked about their lives.

Buffy and Faith were nearly ready to make their move. They wanted the delicious smelling meat and they wanted the woolen blankets that some of the people were wrapped so comfortably in. They also wanted the mysterious blue and white box that seemed to contain a never ending supply of food and drink, and they were determined to get it all.

They didn't need to speak, communicating effortlessly with hand gestures and some innate bond that had them working like a well-oiled machine. Faith had already tried to lure or scare the people away from the campsite by throwing well placed sticks and stones, and when that hadn't worked, she'd gone so far as to cause a commotion in the bushes herself.

Their adversaries were completely oblivious, stupidly and dangerously so, and both girls wondered how they even managed to stay alive, let alone seemingly prosper. Faith returned to Buffy's side, confused and irritated.

"People stupid."

Buffy was clearly thinking and she agreed distractedly:

"People stupid."

Faith tried to be patient, she could tell Buffy had an idea, but patience wasn't her strong suit even when she was just normal Faith. She'd had enough with the pussyfooting around:

"Faith get food."

Buffy grabbed her arm and held her back as she started to stomp off half-cocked into the middle of the campsite:

"No. Buffy know. Faith stop."

With a series of gestures, grunts, and spoken phrases, the plan was in place. Faith nodded her assent, and then the Slayers went into action. Faith ran into the campsite, snatched up one of the women standing near the grill, tossed her over her shoulder and without breaking stride zoomed off into the night, much to the astonishment of the other campers.

"Did you see that?!"

"What the hell?!"

"A naked woman just…"

"Karen!!!"

They gave chase instantly, save for the one woman left behind to guard the children. Buffy threw a stick into the nearby brush and the woman nervously shepherded the children into the largest tent, then followed them in.

With a smile Buffy quietly crept into the campsite, grabbed a piece of meat from the grill and took a large bite:

"Ow! Hot!"

And also juicy and tender and tasty, and Buffy licked her fingers thoroughly while the woman's voice sounded out loud:

"Don't come in here! I've…I've got a gun!"

"Stay! No come out!"

The zippered flap zipped shut at the speed of light once the woman tugged and swore at it as it got stuck. Buffy stared hard at the entire process, but once the flap was securely closed, she was satisfied that the woman was going to stay cowering in the tent. Buffy nodded happily and went about collecting their bounty.

The magic box was open, and Buffy hurriedly threw all of the sizzling meat inside it. She grabbed three of the thick blankets and piled them around her neck and shoulders, then peered inside the small tent. She decided to take the pile of clothing she saw there and bent down, scooping up the clothes as well as the sleeping bag. She stood too soon and in her panic she became entangled in the fabric of the tent.

She pulled and then jerked free as the tent began collapsing around her. She rolled clear as it hit the ground, then pounded her fist to her chest as she kicked at it.

"Buffy strong!"

Her head tilted this way and that and then a smile crossed her face. She dumped everything onto the tent, then gathered the ends to close it off and lifted it over her shoulder. It hung down, more awkward than heavy, and she could easily manage it. She slammed the lid closed on the Magic Box and hoisted it onto her other shoulder.

With a last look around the campsite, Buffy glanced again towards the tent concealing the woman and children.

"Buffy go! You stay!"

And then she was off, running back into the darkness, mission accomplished.

Faith returned to their spot about twenty minutes later and found that Buffy had been busy. She was sitting on a pile of clothes, a blanket wrapped around her as she ate a delicious smelling piece of meat. She smiled when she heard the grunt and looked up when Faith drew closer:

"Food good. Faith eat."

Faith nodded and reached into the now broken "Magic Box" to grab a hamburger. She sat down next to Buffy who lifted one end of the blanket and draped it around Faith's shoulders.

They ate in a companionable silence, digging into the cooler, fighting to unwrap snacks and drinking the water from the melted ice. They ate until there was nothing left, and then they sat back. There was a sudden noise in the underbrush, but they gave it only a cursory glance before classifying it as a non-threat.

Buffy snuggled into Faith, her nose rubbing gently along the side of Faith's breast:

"Faith take woman."

"Woman loud."

Both Slayers laughed at that statement. The woman had been like a screaming banshee, yelling all the way as Faith had carried her fireman style off into the darkness.

She had hollered the entire time, even after Faith had smacked her hard on the butt and told her to knock it off:

"No more!"

The woman had kept screaming in terror, and Faith had finally yelled back at her:

"Faith no hurt!"

Her words of reassurance did no good and Faith had determined rather quickly that she was dealing with an idiot. She gave up all attempts to reason with the noisemaker on her shoulder and she just kept running.

She didn't go full speed otherwise she would have lost her pursuers and she didn't want that. She made sure they kept catching a glimpse of her, not that they really needed to, they could just follow the blaring commotion.

She led them on a merry chase, winding in and out and never veering all that far from their campsite. They followed her like it'd been scripted and when Faith grew tired of the game and felt enough time had passed, she took off in the opposite direction from where Buffy and she were to meet. She then dropped her annoying passenger unceremoniously on the ground and kicked her a glancing blow:

"Stupid head!"

Then she was off and running, leaping up into a tree and running along the interlacing branches until she jumped down into the middle of the river. She swam a ways, then went to the shore, jogging towards her rendezvous with Buffy. She was tense, hoping that Buffy had been able to gather the food and blankets and also hoping that Buffy was okay.

She smiled and relaxed when she saw the flash of blonde hair in the moonlight. She strode in loudly, wanting Buffy to hear her coming, and she grunted out her greeting. Buffy's response was immediate as she triumphantly held up a hot dog:

"Food good. Faith eat!"

Now she was happy, full, warm, and there were now lips kissing along the side of her breast.

"Faith smell nice."

"Buffy good."

And then they were at it again. The passion, hot and animalistic flared out of control in just moments, and it took a long time before they were finally satisfied. They laid back, wrapped in each other's arms, basking until the night air chilled them as they cuddled together:

"Buffy cold."

"Night cold."

Buffy sat up, grabbed the blankets and gestured at the tent.

"Sleep there."

Faith grinned when she saw the tent and snatched up the clothes:

"Good place. Warm place."

Buffy smacked her chest hard:

"Buffy good!"

Faith nodded approvingly and seriously:

"Buffy good."

They laid down on the tent, covering themselves with the blankets and clothes, then pulling the edges of the tent up around them. They were warm; toasty even, and they faced each other smiling.

"Faith happy."

"Buffy glad.

They wrapped an arm around each other, scooting closer as they fell asleep.

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