Into the Woods

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns BtVs, JRR Tolkien created LotR and his estate owns it. I'm just playing in their sandbox for a little while.

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Dawn sighed. Why couldn't she just have been a normal girl? Well, as normal as a Slayer's younger sister who hung out with witches, Watchers, demons, and one-eyed carpenters could be. Normal girls didn't accidentally open up portals and end up lost in the woods in another dimension.

Still, it could be worse. In the years since Buffy had first seen Whistler, nearly the entire gang had encountered him at one time or another. She and Andrew were the only ones who hadn’t. Dawn decided things didn’t bode well for her remaining in the non-Whistler club long. As if on cue, the balance demon stepped out from behind a tree.

“You don’t look surprised to see me, kid.”

Dawn snorted. “The way my day’s been going, I figured you’d turn up. Spill.”

“You’re needed here, kid. You were meant to be here long ago, but big sis diving into Glory’s portal instead of you threw a spanner in the works.”

“Great.”

“You’ll find the Lady of the Golden Wood has the answers you seek.” And with that he vanished.

“Wait, that was totally unhelpful!” Dawn yelled, but Whistler had already gone.

“You could have at least given me a map!”