Time Spin

Buffy rolled over and looked at her sleeping mate. It had been a little over a week since Beslin became Old Mother and the tribe had settled back into its routine.



Sharja had strangely disappeared only to reappear yesterday. Saying that she was conferring with the spirits of old…something like that. Ever since Buffy had seen her face when Old Mother was chosen Buffy had made a special note to watch the woman.



Now it was the middle of he night and she should have been asleep hours ago but her mind was to busy and she wanted to go slaying but figured most of the demons were probably to far away by this time. Besides Lonnie hated it when she would just up and leave in the night to slay.



She hadn’t really approached the subject of children yet. But she knew Lonnie had heard about the traders because the last few days Buffy had caught her sending her anxious glances every now and then.



She hoped that they could adopt a kid. They had a good life but she knew from watching Raya and Faith with Skye and then David that kids made your life fuller in a way. Living hell on everything worth more than ten dollars but still better. And she wanted that with Lonnie.



Scooting closer she lay down next to her mate and thought about the next day. She was going to be busy because winter was only five months away so preparations would begin but she was determined to talk to her.





***********************



~Present Day: Ryan~



Groaning softly Ryan slowly opened her eyes. Confusion set in almost immediately. Where was she? Where was Remy? She looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings, there were no familiar water stains on the walls and there wasn’t the stale scent of urine and alcohol that had come to be hers and Remy’s room in the basement of the bar.



No this place was thick with the scent of Skin Walkers. Not one or two either she guessed an entire pack. Turning stiffly she looked over at her ribs, they were bandaged tightly and she realized she was on a pull out couch that was dipping slightly from the weight of her tiger form.



Looking up she froze, there on the foot of the make shift bed was a small girl holding a ratted teddy bear that had seen better days if the missing arm and eye were any indication.



The little girl was a skin walker cub. She seemed strangely familiar; the child had a mop of silky black curls and golden eyes. Her small round face just stared at Ryan curiously.



Ryan jumped when the girl dropped her bear and crawled towards her.



“Kitties awake.” The girl then grabbed a chunk of Ryan’s fur and pulled roughly, probably a harsh imitation of petting. Ryan jolted and yowled when the child lost her balance and fell heavily onto her wound.



“BRIGITTE…I told you to leave her alone.”



Ryan turned in time to see the girl from the bar. She wasn’t dressed like usual. Normally in ‘bar’ clothes she was dressed in paint smattered coveralls.



Picking up the girl Skye turned to Ryan. “I’m sorry, she likes cats ironically. Can you shift?”



Ryan breathed deeply and winced as her body shifted into her human form. Shaking her head she felt the fogginess clear. Looking up at the wolf she scowled.



“Why did you bring me here?”



“Well damn you know what I saved your ass last night and im getting so sick of people jumping down my throat about it. But your welcome.” Turning in a huff Skye carried Brigitte outside.



Ryan shook her head and looked around until she spotted a pair of drawstring pants and a t-shirt. Standing she pulled them on and turned in time to see three dark haired boys along with Remy standing there looking at her.



“Remy you ready to go?” She asked without acknowledging the others. They had to get out of here fast. Whoever was the alpha wasn’t someone she really wanted to meet. These were wolves and she and Remy were tiger and common law between skin walkers is different species do not mingle. Her heritage was reason enough as to why.



“I don’t want to go Ryan. David was going to show me his fort.” Remy argued.



“No were leaving. You know this isn’t out territory. You know the rules Remy.”



Sighing she watched Remy turn and disappear down the same hallway the tall girl had went. Wincing she followed her brother down the hallway and froze at the backdoor.



She looked out at the backyard. There were skin walkers everywhere. She counted three adults, four teenagers and at least six children and two babies and the toddler. This was a blood pack. They were family.

Stepping out she scanned the crowd trying to pick out the alpha, she saw a giant man with dark shaggy hair and a small beard. Standing next to him was probably his son; the man was shorter than the bigger man and obviously younger but almost identical in every other way.



Turning she saw a human woman rolling on the ground with a couple of the children and when she looked up she froze. That definitely the alpha. The woman was tall and had an aura of strength around her. Her golden eyes flashed when Ryan met her gaze.



Growling softly she walked off the porch and over to her brother. They had to leave, she didn’t want them around her and Remy and she knew they felt the same.



Grabbing her brother’s shoulder she pulled him up.



“Remy, we have to go.” She stared down at her brother, he didn’t want to go. But what he wanted and what was best wasn’t his decision.



Nodding he turned and she turned to the tall girl. “Ill bring your clothes back for you.”

As an afterthought she turned to the girl and muttered a ‘thank you’ before following her brother who was waiting for her, taking his hand she led them off the property and started the long walk back to the bar.



******************



“You’re just going to let them leave?” Skye asked angrily. Her own well being was forgotten for the moment. “She’s got a gunshot and you’re going to let her take him back to that dive?” Turning angrily she went to follow the pair when Asher put a halting hand on her shoulder.



Turing she saw her mother come up to her. “What would you have me do Skye? They are strangers and not just hat but they are not wolf.” Raya was still angry with her daughter but she was also worried about the two. She had seen how thin and obviously malnutriotned they were. It wasn’t her business though.



“Go after them. At least give them a ride back to the bar. I mean my god mother it’s like five miles.”



“Okay, but your coming with me…you to Horus” Walking to her jeep she stopped when for the first time she sees the smashed window and large dent near the rear tire. Growling softly she walked behind it to Faiths SUV.Climbing in Skye wisely sat behind her mother.



*****************



Faith watched as her wife and children left. Turning she walked over to Dawn.



“Hey Dawnie, can you and Asher hold down the fort for a minute? I have to go talk to Red.”



“Yea that’s fine.” Dawn went back to trying to wrestle a mutilated doll from her oldest.” Joyce this isn’t your give it back to your sister.” Her daughter just snarled at her.



“Give it back or no TV.” Reluctantly Joyce dropped the doll and turned and walked off flinging her hands in the air. ‘So like Buffy.’



******************



~One Year Ago: Buffy~





“BUFFY BUFFY” Lonnie ran to there hut not slowing even when her mate stepped out into the sunlight.” They’re here, the traders, they’ve come.” She stopped excitedly.



Buffy couldn’t stop the smile that broke out across her face, Lonnie looked so happy and she couldn’t deny her own excitement. Taking Lonnie’s hand she pulled her behind her as she ran in full slayer speed to the small caravan.



Stopping they saw the small caravan that consisted of three wagons and a small team of horses. Buffy saw many of the children nervously reaching out and petting the docile horses with the encouragement of one of the traders.



She watched as the leader of the group spoke in a language she didn’t know to one of the older hunters.



Eagerly looking around she saw the caravan with several people inside, all ranging from ages, babies, children and adults. Walking eagerly she felt Lonnie follow her.



Stopping at the caravan she looked in. It bothered her greatly that they were essentially ‘buying’ someone but this was the only way that they could become parents.



Pushing past a throng of her tribesmen she looked down at the small dirty faces of the children. They all looked so scared and frightened; suddenly sick with herself she took a step back.



“I can’t do this Lonnie.” It was exactly what would have happened to her if they hadn’t escaped all those years ago.



“Buffy…I know this bothers you, but if we do this then well be able to keep one of them from a life of slavery. Well be parents Buffy.”



Nodding weakly she turned and smiled up at her mate. Looking back into the caravan she saw six small children and two teenagers. The babies were all in a small manger type crate at the far end. Climbing in she walked to the back and studied the babies. She wanted them all. They were all so cute and she didn’t want to think about what would happen if she couldn’t take them all.



Turning she froze, captured in the gaze of a small girl. With the bluest eyes she had ever seen. There wasn’t anything particularly noticeable about the child. But something about that gaze caught Buffy’s heart. “Lonnie come here.”



Waiting for her mate to climb in and walk down she turned and smiled at the child. Then little girl just stared back silently.



“What’s your name?” Lonnie asked softly. The little girl looked up hesitantly.



“Jaeger.” Her voice was small and she seemed so scared. Buffy looked around at the other children. They all stared at them interested.



“Do you have any family Jaeger?” Lonnie asked her. The little girl nodded and pointed to one of the sleeping babies. Buffy turned and looked at the child. He was sleeping on his side, she guessed him to be around two years old.



“What’s his name?” Buffy asked softly. She knew she wanted them both. She had been right up there with Lonnie on wanting a child but now she was determined.



“Axel.” Jaeger said softly. Her eyes widened when Buffy walked off the caravan and went to the lead trader.



“I want to trade for two children.” Buffy gave him her best slayer look. He looked at her slyly and nodded. Turning to the caravan he saw Lonnie step out.



“What ones do you want?” He asked pleasantly. He knew this woman, she was a carver and her work was well known among the neighboring tribes.



Buffy pointed to Jaeger and Axel. She watched as Lonnie came and stood by her at the trader went in and unchained the two children.



Watching as Jaeger climbed out of the caravan and the trader handed Axel down to her.



The trader walked over to the women. Smiling he told them the price “Four carvings and a spear”



“Three carvings and a bear blanket.” Lonnie shot back. Buffy knew the trader would try to rob them. Reaching into her pocket she pilled out the only remnant she had from her old home. The silver locket. She knew he might not take it, after all metal didn’t exist here. Holding it out she saw as everyone around was instantly transfixed by the jewelry.



“Two carvings and this. It’s made of a special stone from my homeland.”



Greed flickered in his eyes as he took the necklace and the small bag of carvings that Buffy had brought with her. Not caring at all she walked over to the two children.



Crouching down she smiled at the two children.



“Are you hungry?” Jaeger nodded eagerly while Axel stood besides her sucking on his fist.



Holding out her hand, Jaeger took it and she led them back to her hut.



TBC



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