Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel" and all characters from the shows are the property of Joss Whedon, Fox, and the UPN or WB Television Networks. The Cthulhu Mythos material is loosely based on the "Call of Cthulhu" role-playing game (copyright Chaosium Inc.) and the book "Encyclopedia Cthulhiana" by Daniel Harms.
Monday May 27, 2002, Afternoon: Sunnydale, Magic Box
Jennifer Lynn Albright meets with Anya, Buffy, Willow, Tara,
Xander, Giles, and Dawn in front of the Magic Box. Jennifer
tells Anya "Open the door. I have a surprise for you."
Anya opens the door and goes inside. She gives a squeal of
delight. "It's beautiful! How did you do all this?"
Jennifer smiles. "I have a friend who does ... renovation work.
He likes challenges." She pauses. "I was thinking we could use
the back room for lessons. I can set some wards. Make things a
bit safer." She pauses again. "Remind me to leave out some
honey-cake before we leave tonight."
Wednesday June 5, Afternoon: Sunnydale, Magic Box
Jennifer is in the back room of the Magic Box along with Willow,
Tara, Anya, Buffy, Xander, and Dawn.
Jennifer helps Dawn practice a distraction spell and then walks
over to the other five. Willow, Tara, and Anya have linked
hands. Xander stands just in front of the three and Buffy is
several feet in front of Xander. Willow's attention is focused
on a stationary ball of energy several feet in front of Buffy.
She dissolves the spell on Jennifer's signal.
Jennifer smiles. "Good concentration and use of the link. We
can break for the day."
Willow nervously approaches Tara as the others leave. "I ... I
was thinking. Maybe we could get together and ... and practice
some of the things we've been learning."
Tara considers. "You've been working very hard lately. At
everything." She pauses and smiles. "About practicing together.
I ... I think I'd like that."
Monday June 24, Night: Sunnydale
Skip and a figure cloaked in black are talking about the
situation in Sunnydale.
Skip says "The group I just mentioned could prove troublesome.
But kill the one named Tara and they'll be shattered."
The cloaked figure asks "What difference does it make?"
Skip shrugs. "I'd think you'd want to be safe. This Hunt is
especially important."
The cloaked figure considers. "Very well. Tara it is." He
leaves.
Skip looks satisfied. He thinks to himself "Mission
accomplished. The Powers will be pleased."
Tuesday June 25, Night: Sunnydale
Jennifer is in her house. She senses something dangerous and
remembers that Buffy and Tara are out patrolling. She quickly
casts a spell to find them and then drives off to look for them.
Buffy and Tara are walking through a cemetery. Buffy asks "So
things are going well with you and Willow?"
Tara smiles. "We're taking things slowly. But they're
progressing." She pauses and holds up a hand. "Something's out
there."
They see a pack of green hairless creatures that look vaguely
like hounds and several larger winged serpentine creatures. The
nearest hound charges Buffy and tries to impale her with its
tongue. Buffy dodges it and tosses the hound aside. Tara
gestures and a flash of light appears in front of the rest of the
pack. Tara yells "Run!" and they both flee.
Shortly afterwards, Jennifer sees them. She sends a flash of
light at their pursuers. Then she throws a small disc with a
three-legged symbol. It lands in front of the pack and raises a
mist. Jennifer says "That won't hold them long." The three of
them head to Jennifer's car and she drives back to her house.
A black-cloaked figure rides up on a black horse. "Didn't know
one of them was in town." He shakes his head. "Doesn't matter.
Time to dedicate the Hunt." He gestures and chants. "Tara
escaped tonight, but she won't escape again."
Jennifer, Buffy, and Tara get back to Jennifer's house. Tara
heads to her room but then calls for them in alarm. Buffy and
Jennifer quickly enter and see a message, seemingly in blood:
Tara MacLay
Died
6/27/02
Jennifer stares at the message. "Somehow that got through my
defenses." She pauses. "I ... I have some research to do. We
should all meet tomorrow. At Buffy's house."
Tara says shakily "I don't want to stay here tonight. Do you
think we can get back to Buffy's house safely?" Jennifer nods.
Wednesday June 26, Afternoon: Sunnydale, Summers' House
Jennifer, Willow, Xander, Anya, Tara, Giles, and Dawn are sitting
around the kitchen table.
Giles explains "The message in Tara's room means that she is the
target of a Hunt. Almost certainly a True Hunt, which the other
hunts are modeled after. The Hunt will track her down tomorrow
night. Unless it's stopped somehow, it'll kill her and probably
anyone who tries to interfere. Then Tara's ghost will be forced
to ride with the Hunt until the Huntmaster releases her."
Tara asks quietly "What happens if no one interferes?"
Willow says fiercely "That's not an option."
Giles answers carefully "A Hunt generally doesn't attack anyone
other than its target unless they interfere." He pauses. "There
is a prophecy that says that the last True Hunt is really the
start of a ritual. This ritual will call a powerful deity to
devastate this planet. The best date for this to happen is in
just under a year but there are other possible dates. The night
of Tara's hunt may be one of them."
Buffy asks "How do we stop it?"
Jennifer replies "I don't know if it's possible to stop it."
Buffy says firmly "We have to try."
Willow, Xander, Giles, Anya, and Dawn all say that they're in.
Buffy reacts to Dawn's announcement. "I don't want you anywhere
near this."
Dawn replies "I can help. I need to help."
Giles tells Dawn "J.L. is going to be busy helping the others get
some last-minute practice involving their link. I'll need
someone to help me with research. Once we have a better idea
what the plan is, we can figure out how we fit in."
There is a knock on the kitchen door and Jennifer answers it.
Spike strolls in saying "Heard the end of the world was nigh.
Thought you could use my help." He grins and pulls up a chair.
Buffy asks "And what makes you think we want your help?"
Spike shrugs. "I'd think you'd want any help you could get."
Jennifer studies Spike for a moment. Her eyes widen. "So when
did you get your soul back?"
Spike looks surprised for a moment, then grins. "Saw a demon in
Africa. Thought I might get my chip out. Instead I got my soul
back. You know demons."
Xander remarks "I thought a soul was supposed to make a vampire
act differently."
Spike responds "You expected me to be all mopey like Sir
Broods-A-Lot? Not bloody likely." He pauses and continues more
quietly. "Besides, it's not as if I can change the past."
Giles asks "So why did you come back to Sunnydale?"
Spike grins. "Thought the niblet needed some looking after. And
I..." He pauses again, glances at Buffy, and continues a bit
defensively "And I don't need to explain myself. Here I am
risking my life and I'm getting the bloody third degree."
Jennifer studies him carefully then nods. "Fine. We're about to
break for some research and planning at my house. Here's the
address. By tonight we should have an outline of a plan."
Spike shrugs. "Sounds boring. I'll check in tonight."
Thursday June 27, Evening: Sunnydale, Jennifer Albright's House
Buffy, Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara, Giles, Dawn, Spike, and
Jennifer are gathered in the living room.
Jennifer reviews their plan. "The key is the fivefold link.
Willow will direct the linked magic. Buffy will be on point to
provide the main physical defense. Xander will be a last line of
defense and a magical lightning rod, so to speak." She pauses.
"As for the rest of us, Giles and Spike will back up Buffy. Dawn
will back up Buffy in another way, by using distraction spells.
I'll support Willow and draw some of the Huntsman's fire." She
holds up an amulet with a three-legged symbol on it. "This
amulet will help protect Willow, Anya, Tara, Xander, and Dawn
from the Huntsman's pack. It won't stand up to a determined
attack but it'll at least slow it down." She pauses, glances at
Willow. "It'll be all right."
Willow says quietly "I don't want to mess this up. Now or ... or
afterwards."
Jennifer smiles. "You'll do fine."
Thursday June 27, Night: Sunnydale, Buffy's Old Grave
Willow, Anya, and Tara have linked hands and are seated around
Jennifer's amulet. Xander is standing just in front of them and
Dawn just behind them. A misty circle surrounds the five of
them. Buffy stands a few paces in front of them, Spike and Giles
flanking her. Buffy and Giles carry swords.
Shortly afterwards, a pack of the green hairless houndlike
creatures approaches, along with the larger winged serpentine
creatures. They are followed by a black-cloaked figure riding a
black horse and carrying a spear. Trailing the horse are
translucent, vaguely human-looking, figures floating in air.
Jennifer steps forward. "By the power of Earth and Moon. By
sword, lance, cauldron, and stone. Tara is under my protection
and I swear to keep her safe at any cost to myself. I suggest
you withdraw, Huntsman." She becomes cloaked in light as she
speaks.
The black-cloaked figure gestures and sends his pack forward, the
serpentine creatures in front. Jennifer gestures and a bright
flash of light appears, searing the serpentine creatures to dust.
The Huntsman sends a bolt at Jennifer, knocking her back, as
Buffy, Spike, and Giles engage the hounds. Willow sends a bolt
at the Huntsman and he returns fire. Meanwhile, Dawn uses
flashes of light to distract the creatures attacking Buffy.
Buffy cuts her way through the pack but the Huntsman sends a
blast in her direction, knocking her down, along with Spike and
Giles. The hounds move in, but Jennifer sends a blast of her
own, stunning them as Willow sends another bolt toward the
Huntsman.
The Huntsman sends a blast at Jennifer, stunning her. Then a
blast at Xander. Most of the blast is deflected into the ground
but enough gets through to stun Xander. Willow sends another
bolt at the Huntsman and he responds with a blast that knocks out
Tara and Anya. Willow checks quickly on Tara and remains
defiant, still holding Tara's hand.
The Huntsman rides forward slowly. "You can still run. Both of
you. You might just live a little while longer." He halts his
horse as both Tara and Jennifer start to stir.
Willow concentrates and sends a stream of energy at the Huntsman.
Anya's pendant shatters but the Huntsman bursts into flame and
disintegrates. Willow collapses. The horse and hounds both
vanish. The translucent figures behind the Huntsman seem to
smile and then fade away.
Thursday June 27, Night: Sunnydale, Buffy's Old Grave
Jennifer is examining an unconscious Willow. Xander, Buffy,
Tara, Giles, Anya, Spike, and Dawn are gathered anxiously around
them.
Jennifer finishes examining Willow and explains "She seems to be
fine. She may be magically burnt out for now. I think she sent
all of her power at the Huntsman in one burst." She pauses.
"It's surprising she's alive. The link seems to have kept her
here. And probably gave her enough power to destroy the
Huntsman."
Anya asks "Was that why my pendant broke?"
Jennifer nods. "But it seems like a lot of the power was
captured. You don't have all of the power you had but you should
have more control over what's left."
Willow stirs and looks around. "Is everyone all right?" She
pauses. "My head hurts."
Jennifer smiles. "Everyone's fine. You may be sore for a while,
though." She pauses. "It could easily have been much worse."
Willow pauses for a moment then asks quietly "Is all of my magic
gone?"
Jennifer shakes her head. "I don't think so. But you are
weaker. And you may not ever get back to full strength."
Willow replies "It was worth it." She glances at Tara and
smiles. "Whatever happens, it was worth it."