Time Spin

Lonnie worked quietly beside Buffy as they prepared to get ready for bed. Only this time they would be leaving for the village on the other side of the mountain.



Picking up there pack she carefully wrapped food and clothes before cramming them deeply into the bag. Nervously glancing to the doorway for the hundredth time that evening she wondered where the children were?



It wasn’t uncommon for Jaeger to stay out with her friends until the last possible moment but not with Axel in tow. The boy should have been back hours ago. Turning when she saw Buffy pull her winter leathers on and head to the entrance.



“Are you going to look for the children?” Lonnie asked needlessly. Trying not to take offense at the scathing look she got from her mate she knew it was just stress and fatigue.



Standing she walked to her food cache to collect the dried meat that would be the bulk of there diet during the moon long trek to there sister village. Carefully wrapping the meat she glanced worriedly out of the smoke hole in the ceiling of the hut, seeing the darkness of night claiming the sky.



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



Buffy pulled her fur parka closer to her, fighting off a shiver she looked around the village. Not seeing her children at all. The winter was going to be a cold one judging by the frigid air already. Looking around she spotted a small group of children that she knew Jaeger played with.



“Hey, have you seen Jaeger or Axel?” Buffy asked softly to the group. Not missing how they glanced nervously at each other before Yorf, a young boy around ten years old spoke up.



“We cant not tell you.” She could read the fear in his eyes. Everyone knew how she was and what she could do but what’s more she knew these children were raised to respect there elders and lying was not tolerated.



“You will tell me or ill tell your mother that you stole my best carving knife.” Buffy knew the lie was a low blow but she and her family had to leave tonight so time was precious.



“I didn’t steal your knife” Yorf puffed his chest out indignantly.



“I know but who do you think your mother will believe more?” Okay so this was a new low but dammit if someone would just tell her where her kids are.



“The guards took them. That way.” Yorf pointed in the direction hey had seen the hunters disappear with Buffy’s kids. Nodding her thanks she walked over to the edge of camp and sniffed deeply. Slayers sense was smell was exceptional but not nearly as strong as Rayas had been.



When she failed to pick up the scent she looked down she carefully Notching faint tracks and bending when something partially hidden by the bushes caught her eye she crouched down.



Pulling out the small leather headband that she recognized as Jaegers she felt her stomach drop with dread it wasn’t finding the headband that made her sick to her stomach, it was the blood she saw covering a healthy portion of the band.



Standing she glared over at Old Mothers hut, enraged she knew she could ruin everything bad there was no proof Old Mother was behind this…oh all right there didn’t need to be proof when she knew. Stalking towards the entrance she stopped before the guards, not missing the scratch marks along one of mans left cheek.



Moving at a blinding speed she grabbed the guard on the right and threw him across the village clearing, ignoring the other guard until he swung his axe at her she ducked and kicked him from behind.



Stalking to the man with scratch marks, feeling a strange rush of satisfaction in hurting this man, squatting down she looked him over. “Where are my children?”



“Old Mother will kill you.” The guard gasped out.



“Where.Are.My.Children?” She glared down at the stubborn man. Leaning down “I am being very, very nice. I don’t have to be so you may as well tell me before I break your legs.”



“they are in the winter caves. The ones off the east trail.” He choked out and froze when he saw the slayer pull back her hand and his world went black when she struck him unconscious.



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



Jaeger sat on the stone floor with her hands tied to the post behind her, the guards had fed Axel some fruits that were known to make people sleep and he had been passed out for nearly an entire hour.



Struggling quietly she carefully watched the entrance as she worked the small carving knife from the hidden pocket in her dress. Her dreams that had been getting more and more real had ‘told’ her that she would need this knife.



And the only way that could happen is if her mother gave her a knife. Wincing when she felt the blade knick her skin s he couldn’t stop the smile that broke out when she felt the last of the ropes break away.



Rubbing her wrists she stood and walked to her sleeping brother and carefully went to work on cutting him free. Struggling to pick him up she grunted from the effort. Her brother was almost as tall as she was and seemed to be determined to be taller than all of them.



Turning when she heard a twig snap she looked around panicked at a place to hide. Throwing her brother over her shoulder she went to crouch down behind a small boulder and forced herself to stay hidden as she heard two sets of footprints approach the cave.



“Jaeger…Axel?”” Jaeger smiled brightly. It was mommy. Standing she waived at her mommy and was unprepared for when Buffy suddently ran and scooped them both up and delivered a series of kisses across her face.



“Eww mommy.” Jaeger made a show of wiping it off but secretly she liked it when her parents did this.



“Come on, lets get out of here.”



Nodding Jaeger watched as her brother was gathered into the loving arms of there adopted mom and they walked out and back o the hut.



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



When Buffy approached the village she knew something wasn’t right, she didn’t know what it was for sure but years of slaying had taught her to trust her instincts. Holding out a halting hand to Jaeger and lowered to the ground and observed the calm village before her.



That was just it, the village was to calm, and looking down at the sleeping baby in her arms she knew she couldn’t go in there recklessly. Sighing she motioned for Jaeger to scoot closer. Leaning down she whispered “Take your brother to the stream. Don’t stop for anyone and wait there until I come for you.” Wordlessly nodding Jaeger took Axel and made a wide berth around the village.



Buffy watched them go and picked up a piece of fallen tree branch. Breaking off a piece she carefully walked into the village. Standing in the center she noticed that everyone was in there homes. Looking over to her own hut she felt a feeling of dread run through her veins when she saw tat the hut was sunken on one side and obviously destroyed.



Turning when she felt a presence behind her she felt her ire rise upon seeing the Old Mother.



“Where is Lonnie?” Buffy tightened her grip on her stake. Fighting for control when she saw the woman smirk.



“You don’t need to worry about her. She will be just fine if you do as I say” Old Mother smiled cruelly and took a step forward.



When Old Mother reached into her skins and pulled out the knife that Buffy had carved for Lonnie not two months ago and held it up into the light Buffy felt faint. There was blood on it.



“What did you do” Feeling sick and enraged at the same time Buffy fought the urge to kill the woman when she saw the Old Mothers loyal guard steps out of the shadows.



“We had a …disagreement.” Old Mother smiled and looked the blood stained blade over. “It seems the spirits truly know who is stronger”



“Damn your spirits Sharja.”



“My name is Old Mother. You will be mine Buffy.” Old Mother stepped forward and motioned for two guards to step into the light. Turning Buffy froze when she saw they each held Jaeger and Axel.



“What do you want?” Feeling more vulnerable than she had in years, her mind burned with questions and sickening fear. ‘Where was Lonnie?’ she would kill this woman she knew…but she would not let the bitch harm her children.



“What is mine? You”



“I will never be yours.” Buffy snarled. Keeping a watchful eye on the men holding her babies and the woman with Lonnie’s bloodied knife.



“Wrong answer.” Old Mother stepped aside as the guard holding Axel stepped forward. Holding the blade up to the boys throat Buffy blocked out the terrified screams of her daughter and acting on pure instinct launched her stake at the guard holding her son.



Not blinking when the stake pierced his throat she turned and rammed her fist into the nearest guards face, flipping over him she ran for Old Mother. Speeding up as the woman charged her in return they collided and went down to the ground. Each grappling for control she butted her head into Sharjas head grabbing the bone knife she thrust it hard into the woman’s gut.



Watching as the woman stumbled backwards clutching her stomach, everything seemed to freeze.



Standing clumsily she couldn’t help built think that that had been to easy? Confused when Old Mother laughed.



“You’ll never find her now.” Confused for a millisecond Buffy rushed the woman.



“Where is she!?!” Fighting back tears as the dying woman just laughed and coughed on blood. Feeling the need to scream as Old Mothers eyes went dead. Looking up she saw the guards walk in closer to her.



Turning she frantically looked at each of them.” WHERE IS SHE?”



Looking up when she saw Falcon standing behind her. Not caring when Falcon picked up the headdress and placed it on her head. She looked around at the villagers that seemed to suddently decide to walk out of there homes.



Jumping when Winsol touched her shoulder.”Winsol where is Lonnie?”



“She’s alive, Old Mother had her beaten and stabbed but Sansa found her and she’s in my hut. Come.”



Wordlessly Buffy picked up Axel and Jaeger following her friend she set them down only to climb through the entrance but froze when she saw the pale form of her mate on the bed at the far end of the hut.



Walking over she sat beside her mate. Taking her hand she studied Lonnie’s face, she could barely recognize the bruising and swelling present on it seemed every spare surface of her wife.



Crying softly she leaned down and kissed her mates lips softly. Turning she saw shaman cross the hut and shit beside her.



Barely hearing her when shaman began speaking. “Buffy I am sorry for this the”



Stopping when Buffy cut her off “Will she be okay?”



“…she is bleeding on the inside. I cannot stop it.”



Taking only a second to make her decision.” Winsol, I need your horse.”



At the confusion on her friends face she continued. Looking over to her children who were both awake and huddled close to Sansa.



“I’m taking Lonnie home.”



TBC



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