The ex-Watcher shifted around a little, trying to alleviate the hard pressure on his body. His movements shifted what was surrounding him, causing the material to poke and jab. The more he moved, the more he realized that while he was underneath a huge stack of something, he wasn't really buried—he could breathe, and whatever was on top of him was definitely not dirt. Actually, he felt a bit like he was submerged in a sea of bricks.

The material over his legs seemed a bit looser than in other areas, so he kicked them with more vigor, trying to unearth himself. A few minutes later, he heard a series of loud thumps as several chunks of the stuff toppled off him and struck something solid below. Soon after that he thought he heard the patter of feet. His suspicion was confirmed when he heard a voice. Unfortunately it wasn't speaking a language he recognized—further proof that he wasn't in Sunnydale anymore. He shifted around a bit, hoping to draw attention to the fact that he was buried and would much appreciate some help.

It must have worked, because he heard the voice again, followed shortly by a series of thumps and the sensation of weight lifting off his body. Within moments, he could tell that his feet were free, and that the rest of his body wasn't far behind. He started to push more, hoping to remove the objects faster. Wesley started a bit when he felt a warm hand grasp his and pull on it. He was drawn up, dislodging the rest of the stuff covering him. Shaking his head, he took his first look at his rescuer.

And blinked.

Well, that's different, Wesley thought. So much for Saádriel being a haven for humans. The creature in front of him was very definitely not his species, or anything he'd ever seen before.

"If it is no imposition, may I ask why you were buried underneath a pile of books?" The creature asked Wesley in a polite, if accented, voice.

"Yes, of course," Wesley replied blankly. The creature cocked its head and waited. Wesley frowned. "Oh! Well, you see, I was in my own world and this bespelled crystal brought me to this dimension. However, spells such as that are quite unpredictable; therefore it was impossible for me to tell where I was going to enter this world. As it happens, I appeared underneath this…arrangement of books," Wesley answered in his best Watcher's voice. The mess of books was quite astounding, although it appeared that they had at one point been stacked up—there were some piles intact around the edges of the mound. Had his appearance caused all of that?

The creature smirked. "I see. Is there any reason why you've come to this world?"

Wesley bit his lip. "It seemed like the thing to do, when I did it."

"Ah. Very well, then. Please, allow me to introduce myself. I am Oias," The creature said, gesturing with his hand.

"Wesley," Wesley answered, nodding briefly. He wasn't sure how formal an occasion this was, or if his full name was required.

"Wesley," The creature repeated. "Perhaps you should meet the elders."

Wesley's eyes widened. Elders? That sounded a bit…important. "I suppose so."

Oias gestured toward the door, waiting for Wesley to exit. Once they were in the hall, Wesley allowed the muddy brown creature to take the lead, gasping softly when he saw the wings and tail that he'd missed before. Definitely not human. It set a quick pace, one that had Wesley jogging to keep up. He managed to get glimpses of the building they were in here and there. It was made of heavy, solid stone and seemed labyrinthine in structure—the hallways twisted and turned everywhere with no apparent order.

They stopped in front of a pair of heavy doors, which Oias pushed open easily. The room beyond was a good-sized, squarish chamber, with a small group of creatures similar to Oias on the far side. Like his companion, these were dressed in loose, almost voluminous skirts or pants—Wesley couldn't tell which—and flowing shirts. When they entered, the group turned to look at them.

A bright teal creature spoke, but Wesley didn't understand it. Oias gestured what seemed to be a greeting and brought Wesley forward.

"This is Wesley. He appeared in a storage room, under a stack of books. He is not from this world," Oias stated. The elders turned as a group to study the human.

"Interesting," One said, squinting to get a better view of him. "Why are you here?"

Wesley shifted his weight from foot to foot. "I…"

"Did you intend to come here?" The teal one asked patiently.

Wesley nodded. He didn't want to get in trouble, and it was just now occurring to him that maybe this world wouldn't want him. Why would it? He was a reject in his own home.

That answer seemed to mollify the elders a great deal, if their body language could be trusted. "Do you have any idea where you are?"

"Saádriel," Wesley replied uncertainly.

"Saádriel?" The yellowish-brown elder echoed. "Odd."

"Odd?" Wesley asked.

"That is not a common term. Rather archaic, actually," The teal elder explained. "How is it that you even know it?"

"It is the name given to this world in mine," Wesley responded.

"Your world knows of ours?" The orange elder asked, obviously surprised.

"Some—but most of what we know is ancient, and not completely trustable. Stories, mostly," Wesley replied.

"Ah. How interesting," The teal elder said. "And you wish to be here?"

Again, Wesley nodded. "It was my intention to come here, yes."

"Then you are most welcomed to Xo'pa," The yellowish elder stated.

"Xo'pa?" Wesley asked.

"This hold," The teal elder said, looking around, "Is Xo'pa."

"Ah," Wesley said. "If I may be so bold, what are you?"

"What are we…" The orange elder murmured.

"I am human, but you are obviously not…" Wesley began.

"Ah! We are dalhari!" The teal elder replied brightly. "If you do not recognize other species, there is much for you to learn."

"That would be most true," Wesley replied. "I'm afraid I am quite out of my element here."

The elders nodded as one. "It would seem so. There are a few humans in the hold, if you would prefer to go to them; otherwise we can offer you shelter here," One elder said.

"There are many who would be willing to find a place for you," Another elder stated. "Depending, of course, on what it is that you wish."

Wesley frowned at the floor. This was all a bit much for him, really. He was still shaken from all of the new things he was seeing—and he hadn't arrived in the best mental state. "I don't…"

"Perhaps you would like to rest here in this house for a few days," The teal elder offered. "And we can discuss this further."

"Yes," Wesley murmured, suddenly feeling very tired. The elders motioned to Oias, who led Wesley away. They walked, more slowly this time, to a set of doors. Oias opened them, ushering Wesley inside. The chamber was another squarish room; although considerably smaller than the others he'd been in. To one side was a stone platform with a bed on it. Across the room was a fireplace, with a pile of pillows and a table nearby. A door was set into one wall. The entire room had a bluish cast, due to the colored glass in the windows. "I…"

"Food will be brought shortly, as will some clothing," Oias said reassuringly. "You should rest, though. I will start a fire." Wesley looked around a little while Oias stoked the flames and took food and clothing as it arrived, brought by other dalhari. After a few minutes, though, Oias made his farewells and left Wesley alone.

As soon as the dalhari was gone, Wesley went to the food. He was ravenous, mostly because he hadn't eaten in Sunnydale for some time. The meal he'd been given consisted of several large pieces of bread and some cooked vegetables, all of which was quite good. Along with that he had been provided a cup, although there was no water present. He went to the door he'd noticed earlier, thinking that it was probably a bathroom.

Indeed it was, and he quickly learned how to operate the facilities and retrieved himself some water. He had studied enough of pre-modern times to understand how such facilities worked. A bath sounded nice, so Wesley drew one, surprised to find warm water.

The clothes he'd been given were more of a challenge. After several minutes of fruitless attempts, he tried to visualize what the elders had looked like, since the clothes were nearly identical. Finally he got the hang of the trousers, which seemed to be cut as one-size-fits-all, with an integrated belt and drawstring that cinched them tight. Once on, they looked quite like a skirt. The shirt was easier, since it simply went over the head. In the end, Wesley found himself quite comfortable.

Since he had nothing better to do, and was tired, he pulled back the covers on the bed and crawled inside, hoping to get some rest. There were many, many things going through his mind right now, but he didn't want to deal with them.

•••

The next morning Wesley woke to find both food and clothing, along with a pair of soft shoes, waiting for him. It surprised him that he hadn't woken when someone had entered to leave the items. Shrugging, he ate the breakfast, which was mostly fruit, and bathed and changed clothes. There wasn't a razor in the bathroom, so he looked a bit rough, but it would have to do. As if on cue, someone knocked on the door.

It turned out to be Oias, escorted him to the elders for a second visit. The same ones from the day before were waiting when they arrived. Unlike last time, though, Oias didn't hang around.

"Wesley, join us," The teal elder said. Wesley did as requested, standing close to the warm fire. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did," He responded, nodding.

"There is much to discuss today. It is odd to have someone appear in our hold for no reason," the dalhari continued. Wesley glanced at the floor. He really didn't want to talk about the particulars of his decision to come here. The dalhari carefully catalogued his response. "Do you have any idea of what you want out of our world?"

Wesley stared harder at the floor. "No."

"Ah. What did you do in your world?" Another elder asked curiously.

Wesley's head shot up. "I-I was a researcher, mostly. Occasionally I fought."

"Fought?" The dalhari asked.

"Against those who would hurt others," Wesley added quickly. "The research went along with that."

The elders looked at each other. "We want to help you, Wesley, but we are unsure of what you want. Do you know?"

"I…don't know at all," Wesley said honestly. He hadn't a clue what he wanted, other than "Sanctuary."

That certainly got a response. "Then you have it, so long as you claim it for a true reason," The teal dalhari replied. "Have you hurt someone?"

Wesley paused. Well, he had hurt someone, very badly. "Not on purpose…it was done with the best of intentions…" He said softly, his voice breaking. "I never wanted…"

"Then asylum is yours," The teal elder stated quickly. They could see that this was an emotional subject for the human. However, dalhari in general, and particularly those of Xo'pa, took the offering of asylum very seriously. "We will arrange appropriate quarters for you immediately."

Wesley made to say something, but was cut off by the elders, who were motioning for their assistants. Wesley found himself hurried out of the room by two dalhari, who bade him follow them through the halls. As they walked, he saw some of the other assistants running and scurrying about. He had never meant to cause this kind of commotion, but there was little he could do now.

Instead of being taken back to the room he'd slept in, he was led outdoors, to an open courtyard. It was windy and cold, to the point that his breath clouded in front of him. One of the dalhari beside him draped a cloak over his shoulders, which he wrapped around himself gratefully. "What is going on?" He asked the dalhari.

That assistant gestured toward the other, who answered. "We are going to Ke'reo Der."

"What is that?" Wesley asked, concerned.

"It is the customary place for asylum and sanctuary," The assistant replied. "We will take ifnan, so the journey will only be an hour long."

Wesley was about to ask what ifnan were, but his question was answered as three large, horse-like creatures were led into the courtyard. He knew how to ride—his parents wouldn't have allowed him to reach adulthood without that particular skill, but he wasn't expecting to actually go anywhere. "It isn't necessary…"

The assistant bade him mount, which Wesley did after studying the saddle for a moment to make sure he wouldn't fall right back off. Once the dalhari were also mounted, they started out of the courtyard, once assistant in front of him and another behind. The lead dalhari kept a guide rope on Wesley's ifnan, so he had to do nothing but sit as they traveled.

Once they exited the courtyard, Wesley looked around while the trio made their way out of the hold. He was awestruck by the architecture and wished he had more time to study it. The towering spires and arches were graceful and impossibly decorated, and if he wasn't mistaken his host species was flying around and perching on the buildings. All too soon, however, they had made their way out of the hold and were on a winding path climbing through the mountains. Now away from the hold walls, Wesley could tell that the hold was situated high up, perched on a mountainside. The lead dalhari picked up the pace considerably, sending the ifnan into a quick trot. Wesley held on tight and prayed that the sure-footed animal wouldn't topple down the side of the mountain.

A little more than an hour later, they arrived at Ke'reo Der. In comparison to Xo'pa, the place was little, although it wasn't actually that small at all. The architecture was similar to that of Xo'pa—much more aesthetically pleasing than anything from Wesley's world. The guards at the open gates waved them through casually, shouting out what was probably a standard greeting. The threesome walked their ifnan slowly through the steep, winding streets to a large courtyard similar to the one they'd left. Wesley copied the dalhari as they dismounted and handed the ifnan over to some waiting attendants.

"Wesley?" The dalhari that had led them here said quietly.

"Yes?" Wesley said, in the same quiet voice.

"This is Ke'reo Der. You will be given shelter here," He explained. A moment later, a small group of dalhari entered the courtyard. They came right up to Wesley and the others.

"You are the human Wesley?" A tall, slender green dalhari said.

"I am," He replied nervously.

"Be welcomed, then, to Ke'reo Der. I am Rinhe, one of the elders of the hold," She said evenly. "This," She indicated a midnight blue dalhari next to her, "Is Rraiec. He will provide for you." Before Wesley could ask any questions, Rinhe walked away with the other dalhari that had accompanied her, other than Rraiec.

"Are you in need of anything?" Rraiec asked Wesley.

"I don't know," He said absently, wondering where everyone had gone. Even the two assistants from Xo'pa were nowhere to be found. Only the tallish dalhari in front of him remained.

"Perhaps, then, we should retire to your quarters. The elders of Xo'pa mentioned that you might be in need of some things."

"Yes, I might," Wesley murmured. "A great many things, eventually. I just don't know right now." The dalhari smiled, revealing teeth as dark as his hair.

Rraiec led him through a doorway to one side of the courtyard. As with the other building he'd been in, this one was solid stone and dimly lit. He wondered if perhaps dalhari had better vision than humans, since it was difficult for Wesley to see very much in the semidarkness.

After a few minutes, Rraiec stopped by a set of carved doors. "These will be your quarters," He said, pushing the doors open. What he revealed was much more spacious than the room Wesley had slept in the night before. The main room was quite large, and he could see that at least two other rooms branched off of it. Rosy light spilled in through tinted windows, coloring the blankets and cushions that were scattered on the floor. A fire crackled merrily in the hearth, making the room seem rather homey.

"I…" Wesley began, not knowing what to say. He hadn't expected to be treated so kindly—after all, he'd literally appeared out of nowhere.

"My quarters are directly after these down the hall, so you needn't want for anything. Simply find me whenever you wish," Rraiec offered, smiling.

"What am I doing here?" Wesley whispered. Rraiec shrugged.

"Some have been asking that question all their lives," The dalhari said amicably. "You have a lot of time to think about that. Are you hungry?"

Wesley nodded weakly. Breakfast hadn't held too well. The dalhari opened a cabinet that set against one wall, revealing foodstores. He set out some bowls of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a heavy stone container. "Most meals are served in the dining hall; however there will always be food here," Rraiec said as he opened the stone container. "For you, this will remain here."

"What?" Wesley asked, peering into the jar. It looked like dried meat.

"There aren't any other humans in Ke'reo Der right now, so it would be best if you prepared this yourself," The dalhari explained.

"Alright," Wesley replied, figuring that dalhari must not eat the stuff. "Where's the dining hall?"

"It's on the other side of the house, if you follow the signs," Rraiec said, gesturing toward one wall.

"I cannot read the signs," Wesley replied. "I'm not from this world, and have no idea what anything is, who you are, or what…" His voice faded as he realized that he was nearly shouting at the dalhari.

Instead of getting angry, though, Rraiec simply smiled softly. "That's why I'm here. Later, I'll show you where everything is, and help you learn the language."

"I don't need a caretaker," Wesley whined, wincing at how childish he sounded. Rraiec simply lifted an eyebrow.

"After you eat, we can go to the important places in the house, so that you can get around on your own," the dalhari offered. Wesley nodded and sat down on some cushions to eat his meal. After a moment, Rraiec joined him.