hi everyone... sorry I'm going to delay responding to all the nice replies till the morning... it's early with me but Beth has tried to get to bed for a good nights sleep (if anyone knows a nice sandwoman with happy dreams please send her to Beth's house) and I figure what's good for her is good for me...
so just an update, wow I am so impressed that this thread is only a week old tomorrow and we are into the third part, that's quick even for us!... and a wish for sweet dreams for everyone... oh and I'm being extra nice and giving two scene so that you can understand what's going on in the first...

i hope
The first thing that Willow became aware of was breathing. Thick hard breaths that echoed in her ears like a torrent of wind tearing away all the other sounds. She felt weak and drained, the feeling multiplying as she struggled to open her eyes and push herself forward in an attempt to get away from the noise.
The dark night gripped everything around her so tightly that she couldn’t tell where she was. The smells around her were musty and wet, as if there’d been a hard rainfall which had swept away all but the smell of rotting. Staggering forward her foot caught on something and she pitched in the darkness coming to a stop only as her arms hugged around a tall circular object. Pushing herself back a sliver of dim moonlight in the canopy above made her realise she was in the woods and holding herself up against a large tree.
‘I have to...’ Willow’s mind shuddered as the damp wind whistled through her dry body but as she tried to narrow down her thoughts they were filled with something else.
“Xander, calm down.” Giles voice came through crisp and clear. “We just need to get our bearings, I think we slowed her.”
“Giles?” Willow looked up and out into the dark shadows somehow knowing exactly where the Watcher was. “Giles, help me.” She pushed off into the bush towards him.
“Slowed her?” Xander’s voice hissed in a low whisper. “Just how do you slow the human version of a homing missile. Emphasis on the Missile.” He added scared.
“Xander? Xander help me.” Willow fought against the branches that seemed to web around her as she pushed through towards his voice. Trying to swallow down the thick fear in her body she began running. “XANDER!” She screamed as the hard breathing in her ears got louder and she just knew whatever it was that was out there was bearing down on her.
“Giles... Giles do you hear something.” A new level of fear entered the carpenter’s whisper.
“GILES!” Willow screamed again as she felt heat rise around her in billows. “Where are you?” She called to them as she reached a dark clearing and stumbled into it.
“Something’s here.” Giles’ voice was an icy whisper as he raised the large axe he carried up trying to be ready. Xander moved to stand at Giles back but facing the opposite way his dark eyes darting around.
“But you said, you said she couldn’t find us.” He hissed as beads of fearful sweat tricked down his cheeks.
“I said I thought she couldn’t find us.” Giles’ cursed lightly at him. “I also said we should never get lost in the woods at night.” He looked out into the inky darkness. “Which we managed to do.”
“If Tara were here we’d be okay, she could do this Tinkerbell thing.” Xander offered desperately.
“I think if Tara were here we wouldn’t be in this situation at all.” Giles replied sadly.
“It’s coming, you have to run.” Willow felt heat grabbing at her and the darkness seemed to grow lighter as she passed further into glade and the figures of the two men in the darkness became visible. “RUN!” She screamed as her legs took her headlong past them as if she was pushed from behind.
“What was that?” Giles felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up as a bright flash reflected in the blade of his axe.
“What was what?” Xander looked round quickly. “Gimmie that!” He reached round and tugged the weapon from the Watcher’s hand.
“She’s here.” Giles pulled a book out of the bag he had near his feet. “We have to disperse her power, make her materialise.”
“Xander, why can’t you see me?” Willow begged him as she was shoved again and she almost was able to reach out and touch him.
“How?” Xander’s hand shook as he held the axe. Something flashed in the axe blade again forced him to take a step back.
“Oh Dark One, bow to the power of light, yield to the forces of good.” Giles spoke to the darkness in a strong voice.
“The Dark One? Giles, the Dark One has me!” Willow felt herself pushed up to her feet and then hung up in the air by an invisible force that she assumed must be this creature the Watcher was trying to call too. “GILES!” She screamed as her hand lashed out on its own and struck the Watcher across the face driving him back into Xander.
“Giles!” Xander echoed Willow’s call and let the axe clatter to the floor as he gathered the Watcher in his arms brushing at the blood that now covering Giles’ face.
“Oh no!” Willow felt her skin burning with heat as she rose higher and the breathing in her ears seemed to ease into a deep laugh. “Xander run, please run.” She begged him as she felt her body floating downwards towards them again.
******
“I’m winning!” Tara tipped her head back and pushed hard with her legs straight, her blonde hair fanning out in the wind as she soared upwards on the swing.
“Only cause....” Dawn pushed again as she passed the ground close enough to dig her feet into the sand as she went to get a bit more push off. “I gave you a start.”
“You so did not.” Tara laughed brightly.
“So did and now I’m catching up!” Dawn squealed as she leaned in and lofted her swing higher.
“It’s because you’re lighter than me, less gravity.” Tara chuckled and pushed a little harder.
“No way.” Dawn pushed again leaning way back so that her feet hung in the clouds.
“Yes, way you….” With a wobble in her movement the blonde’s voice trailed off. For a second it looked alarmingly like Tara was going to fall from her swing, but her long hands wrapped tighter around the ropes as the seat tipped holding her tight until the movement went smooth again.
“Tara?” Dawn noticed the falter as she hung upside down and immediately pushed up to dig her feet into the ground as she passed by it and within another half swing she had herself stopped. Quickly she moved over and when it was safe ran in behind to take hold of the ropes and eased the blonde’s swing to a stop.
“I think you overdid it.” She tried to soothe.
“No.” Tara shook her head, her blue eyes looked a little glazed. “It’s Willow. Dawn, we have to get home.” She blinked and reached out to the teenager to help her from her place.
“Willow? How do you know?” The teenager shifted around to offer her arms as leverage.
“Because I can feel, when she’s afraid, when she needs me.” Tara explained as they got up.
“Wow.” Dawn whispered a bit impressed. “I mean you can feel what she’s feeling, like you’re connected.”
“Yes.” Tara confirmed.
“That is so cool, I mean... well except for all the Willow’s mini freaks which will make you sad but now we can know when there is one and you can help her.” Dawn tried to find some silver lining in their dark cloud.
“I wish I could help her Dawn but all I can do is hold her and wait till she finds her own way our of the darkness, in her mind she’s alone.” Tara pushed as hard as she could to walk fast.
“But if you can feel what she’s feeling and know what she’s dealing with can’t you help guide her out?” Dawn helped the blonde along her mind going a thousand times faster than her legs.
“Dawn.” Tara suddenly pulled the teenager to a halt, nearly stumbling as she over balanced. “What did you say?”
“I said it’s too bad that since you can feel what she feels and such that you can’t like lead her out of the darkness.” Dawn tried to recount what she had hastily offered.
“Of course, oh Dawnie. I love you.” She hugged the teenager quickly and then forced them back into a hurried pace.
“I love you too.” Dawn underlined as they began walking as quick as Tara’s legs would carry them. “But exactly why are you so excited now?” She questioned worried.
“Because there has to be a way.” Tara’s mind raced along as her body did. “Mr. Giles will know of one, he has too.”
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
To The Land of The RainbowWriters