Mbwa Mwitu

Chapter Summary: Xander and Oz start training.

.Chapter Three.


Spike was the first to notice the change. Four days after Oz's appearance and Tara's break up with Willow, they had finally stepped into the Magic Box. In only four simple days, things had changed. It was obvious the moment they sat down to research some strange demon that -- and here was the part that caused Xander to make that cute little growl -- Riley and the Initiative was having trouble identifying.

Giles, ever the present father-figure, sat off to the side and between the two groups. On one side, along the wall, sat Buffy and Riley. The couple cuddled up together, hardly paying attention to the upside down book in their hands. Willow sat next to Buffy, a stack of books in front of her. Every once in a while, Willow's eyes would dart toward Tara and then Oz, followed by a heavy sigh. Spike, in all honesty, didn't feel at all sorry for her. Some might consider that cruel, but Spike was, well, Spike.

At the other side of the table, sat the others. It was obvious which group was enhanced by some sort of primal intuition, because they chose the side of the table that didn't back them into a wall. Xander sat next to Spike, pretending to read, but mostly watching Spike. Spike sat next to him, his reading glasses perched on the tip of his nose. While he was in fact reading, it wasn't for the Slayer's benefit. Tucked into the large book, was a small paperback book: The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice. Every once in a while, the sounds of Spike fighting down laughter could be heard. Next to Spike was Tara, who, unlike her companions, was actually researching. Oz sat next to her, his books consisting mostly of werewolf lore.

"This is boring." Buffy muttered, after what seemed like eternity.

"I must say, I'm not finding anything." Giles announced, closing his book. He turned to Riley. "Are you sure you have the details right?"

"Forrest said it was pretty dark." Riley admitted. "It was humanoid, but with black eyes and fangs. Apparently it was pretty hairy as well. It put up quite a fight, but managed to run off."

"When did this happen, anyway?" Xander asked.

"Around five days ago."

Xander paused, taking in the sudden scent of shock and fear that drifted his way. Fighting to keep his expression neutral, he turned to look at Oz. The werewolf's face was void of any expression, but Xander could see the whites of his knuckles as he gripped the book before him.

"Say, who's up for some coffee?" Xander asked.

"Oh, I could so go for a latte." Buffy said.

"Right, well, empty the pockets and get me a list." Xander ordered, standing. He ignored the startled look Spike sent him. Xander had hardly played errand boy for the others since the hyena repossession. It was quite a shock to see him volunteer to get coffee for everyone. After Xander gathered the money and list, he turned to Oz. "Want to help me carry everything?"

"Sure." Oz replied.

The walk from the Magic Box to the coffee shop was made in blessed silence. It wasn't until they were making their way back that Xander found himself asking the question that had been weighing on his mind. "He was talking about you, wasn't he?"

"Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Xander glanced over, watching Oz's tense back. "I didn't know you could change at any time."

"I can't." Oz replied. He fingered the paper tray in his hands, reading the labels on each cup in order to occupy his mind. "I... The meditation opens up something... I can't describe it, but afterwards I'm really sensitive to outer stimuli."

"So, you had just meditated before being attacked by that Forrest guy?"

"Hmm." Oz nodded. "He didn't exactly attack me. But he... Brought out my defenses. He didn't attack until after I had changed."

"I see." Xander paused at the door to the Magic Box, turning to look directly at Oz. He waited until the werewolf glanced up at him before continuing. "This is good, you know. That means we don't have to search for your trigger."

"Trigger." Oz repeated, eyes looking inquisitive.

"Spike had a trigger that merged his soul with his demon." Xander told him. "It's easier to use a trigger, than a spell like they did on me." Oz gave a small nod in reply. "Look, I can honestly say I haven't a clue as to how we are going to do this. I'm hoping that what worked before, will work again."

"It's okay." Oz told him, his lips twitching into a slight smile. "I'm willing to try anything."

After the coffee was given to their respective drinkers, the research party continued on for about an hour more. Finally, Buffy started getting restless and dragged Riley out to patrol. Her departure soon led to everyone else going home for the night. Oz calmly accepted the silent invitation to return to their apartment.

"I should go back to the dorm." Tara replied, when Spike had asked if she was coming with them. "I'm sure Willow has moved back in with Buffy by now. Besides, Oz shouldn't have to sleep on the floor."

"Are you sure?" Xander asked. "You know we love having-"

"Thank you." Tara said softly, her voice cutting Xander off. "But, I'll be okay."

"I'm following her." Spike stated, once Tara had disappeared around the corner. He grabbed Xander's arm and gave him a light kiss.

"You know she can take care of herself, Spike." Xander commented when they separated. Spike raised an almost mocking eyebrow at him. Xander paused, thinking briefly of the things that prowled Sunnydale. Without realizing it, he started growling. "Kill anything that looks at her."

"My pleasure, Xan." Spike literally purred. Xander watched him leave, the vampire's black duster billowing in the mild wind.

"You two really care for her." Oz said. Xander glanced over his shoulder at him, a smile gracing his features.

"Yeah. She's... She kept us together when we almost fell apart." Xander replied. With a sigh, Xander started walking toward home. "The full moon is in about five days."

"Yes."

"When do you want to start working on the wolf?" Xander asked. "We actually have time tonight, if you'd like. We can go into the woods. Or at least the edge of the woods. I've never really felt comfortable in there."

"I'm rather fond of them." Oz commented.

"Yeah, what with you being a wolf and all." Xander replied with a grin. "I'm more of a plains guy, myself. ...So. Do you? Want to start tonight, that is?" Xander glanced at his watch. "It's only about eleven, after all. Normally Scooby business keeps us up until one at the earliest."

"I'm open for it." Oz informed him. "I'm kind of open to anything right now."

The woods had a habit of looking one of two things. Mystical came to mind. It had that foggy look, as though some mystical creature, like a unicorn, may suddenly step between two trees. Not that Xander had ever seen a unicorn. In fact, he had a feeling if he had seen a unicorn then he probably would be urged to hunt it down and slaughter it. Such was the ways of a dominant beast like himself, after all. The other thing the woods reminded him of was 'scary as all hell'.

But Xander had long ago learned to take fear, and laugh in it's face. Because, really, he was stronger than the average human now. He had better senses, instincts, and a master vampire as a mate. Most of the demons in Sunnydale ignored him. The vampires tended to torment him a bit, but they were gluttons for pain.

The moon made itself known, pushing it's way through the treetops in order to shine down upon them. Every once in a while, Oz would glance skyward. They finally reached a tiny parting in the trees. It wasn't large enough to be called a clearing, but there was enough room for what they had come there to do. Oz immediately sat down, sitting in a lotus position. Xander sat down in front of him.

"What do you picture when you meditate?" Xander asked.

"It's..." Oz glanced away, the expression on his face looking almost nervous. "There's a lake and a cave. The sky is cloudy, but you can see some stars."

"What about the moon?"

"There is no moon." Oz replied.

"I thought so." Xander paused, gathering his thoughts. He had been thinking about the situation with Oz for some time now. Every since Spike had volunteered his help, at least. He hadn't approached Oz until tonight to start working, mostly because he didn't really know what would help. That was until he remembered what it had felt like to be inside his mind, with the hyena in control. "You're emotions are your trigger."

Oz tilted his in response.

"I think it could be any emotion, really, but the strong ones work the best." Xander continued. "When you got attacked, your fear had triggered the change. Your emotion was so... Strong, it bypassed the gate. The thing that holds the wolf in."

"What should I do, then?"

"You need to destroy the gate. The cage. The... Whatever." Xander replied. "Mine was a cage. Inside my head. Kind of like a cage at the zoo. Hell, that's probably why. The hyena hates the zoo, and so do I..." Xander shook his head slightly. "Listen to me. I'm talking about us as though we are separate beings. I forget sometimes, that we're one and the same. It's easier to separate us."

"I understand." And Xander knew that Oz did understand.

"What controls you, Oz?" Xander asked. "What takes away your ability to accept the wolf as who you are, a part of you that won't go away? What cages you?"

There was a long pause, before Oz met his eyes. "The moon."

"I thought so." Xander took a deep breath. "Why do you let it control you?"

"I'm a werewolf... It's kind of inevitable." Oz replied.

"You've never been one to conform to normal standards, Oz." Xander pointed out. Oz looked away, his eyes closing. "What was it about Veruca that made you look at her, instead of Willow?"

"Have you been reading psychology books?" Oz asked, smiling slightly. His eyes still didn't open, almost as though he were trying to block everything out.

"Don't let it get out." Xander chuckled. "I wouldn't want to destroy my goofy personae."

"Hmm."

"So, answer me." Xander said. He watched as Oz's fingers, with their now blue nails, picked at the hem of his pant leg.

"Willow's not..." Oz sighed and finally opened his eyes. "She's not dominant. Veruca was... Powerful, despite her faults. It appealed to me."

"Your wolf is submissive, then." Xander surmised. "You say that the moon controls you, and yet when Veruca was around you were in control. Sure, you don't remember it, but I'll bet the wolf was at the edge of your mind the entire time you were around her."

"That's why I went away." Oz said. "I knew that I was unstable... I didn't want Willow to get hurt, just because my wolf had a problem with our relationship."

"Understandable." Xander nodded. There was a pause, in which Xander looked up to the half-covered moon. It's blue-silver rays shifted between the leaves, until it reached their forms. "The moon is..."

"My mistress." Oz finished.

"She dominates you, because you have no one else to do the job for her." Xander stated. "I think... Oz, have you ever been in contact with a werewolf pack?"

"No." Oz replied. "There was one in Michigan that I was going to check out, but I came back here instead."

"I wonder..." Xander frowned slightly. "I wonder if the werewolves in that pack are controlled by the lunar cycle."

"Aren't they all?" Oz asked. "Giles said that all werewolves were."

"Yeah, but... No offense to Giles, but his information is from the Watcher's Council." Xander pointed out. "I highly doubt packs give much information to Watchers."

"I suppose we could call them up." Oz offered. "I've got their number from this mage in Tibet."

"Oz, our worldly little wolf." Xander grinned as he stood, brushing the dirt off his pants. Oz gave a slight smirk and stood as well. "Well, we'll contact the pack and ask. If they aren't controlled by the lunar cycles, then maybe all you need is a pack to severe your ties to the moon."

"Where would I find a pack?" Oz asked, more to himself than Xander.

Xander sighed, before stepping toward Oz. The werewolf looked up, startled, as Xander grabbed his arm in a strong grip. Xander's nose flared, taking in Oz's scent. "You're welcome in mine, Oz."

Oz gave a shaky nod, but didn't try to pull his arm from Xander's hold. They remained like that, eyes locked and their bodies almost pressed against each other, for some time. Then Xander tilted his head, his hearing picking up the sound of footsteps. About four men, coming their way. Xander gave Oz a hard look, indicating he should remain quiet, before turning toward the newcomers and half-blocking the view of Oz with his body. The sight of Riley, clad in commando gear, brought a deep growl to his throat.

"Xander!" Riley came to a halt, the other soldiers stopping behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"Just out for a little stroll." Xander replied, eyes narrowed. "Where's Buffy?"

"Dorms." Riley said nervously. "She has a test in the morning."

"We don't have time for this." One of the other men insisted.

"Forrest is right." Riley agreed. Xander's lip curled at the sound of his name. Looking past Riley, he took in the hard faced black man. That was the man that had attacked Oz. Forrest eyed him, before turning his attention to Oz. Xander fought down a growl as Forrest frowned at the sight of the werewolf. Trying hard to control his anger, Xander ignored Riley, and started walking away. Oz said nothing, merely following.

Oz crawled into the pull out bed that night, mind soaring with thoughts. The idea of a pack was, admittedly, wonderful. Even as he listened to Spike and Xander's love making in the next room, he knew he didn't want to leave. Now matter how little sleep he got. With a sigh, Oz let his head fall back onto the pillow, where he was immediately engulfed in the most wonderful scent.

Soft. Gentle. Something close to lavender. But mostly it was power. Pure, untainted power. It set off such a strong vibe, overpowering Oz's own inner strength and merely taking over him. Breathing in a strong gulp, Oz found himself getting hard just from the smell. It could have been the pheromones drifting in from the bedroom, but Oz knew that wasn't true. It was that heavenly scent, trapped in the sheet and pillow, obviously from the night before. And with that thought, Oz realized who it was he was smelling.

It was Tara.