Explorers check list

"Ready?" Dawn asked.

"Rope? Check. Flashlight? Check. Hatchet? Check. Gloves? Check. Mask? Check. Goggles? Check. Flares? Check. Ten pound sledge hammer? Check." Xander looked over the gear on his truck bed.

Buffy looked it all over, "Really? All this is necessary?"

"I'd bring the bazooka if I could get away with having that in my truck." Xander grinned.

Buffy snorted. "Yeah, you would, wouldn't you."

"It all makes sense. Unknown weird temple thing. Mask and goggles for the dust and weird shit in the air. Gloves not to get anything icky on you. Sledgehammer for break things, Hatchet for much the same reason. And, hey, as a bonus both can be used as weapons. Same reason for the flares. Practical usage but also weaponizable. Please dont use the Flashlight as a weapon tho, this thing cost me." Xander waggled the Flashlight at her.

Buffy nodded her head and looked at the toolbelt, she raised her eyebrows in unasked question. Xander waved her to it. Buffy soon had herself full armed.

The trio walked up the where the statue was and Dawn and Xander got busy uncoiling the rope as Buffy dropped a flair down the airshaft. Xander, with some help from Dawn, got the rope around the statue and then securely tied. They had to stop once as Xander groaned and put a hand to his chest. Everyone stopped and stared at the red blot that was growing on his bandaged chest. Xander pulled his hand away and looked at the blood on his palm. With a sigh he braced himself against the naked lady statue with that same bloody hand and let Dawn take over.

"You okay?" Buffy asked.

"Popped some stitches, I think." He grumbled.

"I dont think I'm gonna do more than just look around down there." Buffy looked at the blood bandages on Xander's chest. "Quick in and out."

"Thats... just do what you can, Buffy." Xander nodded. "This isnt exactly the long dark of Moria. I hope."

The three being distracted with their own tasks no one saw the statue's eyes begin to glow a soft red light. No one saw the statue absorb the blood offering that Xander had just accidentally made. When the paltry amount of blood was gone the eyes of the statue returned to stone. No one noticed that the statue's expression had subtly shifted from a snarl to a vicious smile.

"Ten minutes." Buffy said as she stepped the the air shaft. "I'll be back in ten minutes." When Dawn and Xander nodded Buffy grabbed the rope and descended into the underground temple.