Disclaimer : Everyone knows who own Buffy and co ! Let's say it, it's not me!

This story is the eleventh episode in a series called 'Rocky path' that begins around one year after 'Chosen'

( I strongly recommand to read the 10 first episodes to understand that one)

You can check the series out on my website. (see the url in my profile)

Thanks to everyone who left feedback about the last episode.


Tara blinked as Kira released her and she fell heavily to the ground, feeling as weak as a newborn baby. Her chest burnt and her hands violently shook. She was about to throw up or faint. But she had to remain conscious, whispered a little voice in her head.

Faith.

She had to help Faith.

Tara tried to gather what little strength left she had. She sorely raised her head and tried to make out Faith's figure through her blurred vision. It took her several seconds to take sight of the brunette Slayer, still lying in the snow a few feet from her. The blonde tried to sit up but she found out she just couldn't.

She had to. Faith wasn't moving. She was at least hurt. Maybe worse. Tara had to go to her, to check on her, to help her if possible. She felt tears of despair forming at the corners of her eyes as she failed once more to sit.

"F-Faith…" she tried to call the Slayer but her voice sounded so weak and low she was sure Faith couldn't hear her despite her enhanced senses.

Tara pushed on her arms and started to crawl in the snow toward her friend. She stopped a brief instant upon hearing Kira's mocking voice.

"Isn't it touching?" the brown-haired witch snickered.

Tara shivered, both from cold and fear. She had forgotten the other witch's presence for a moment, disoriented as she was by her attack. She turned fearfully her head toward her. But Kira didn't look threatening at all anymore. She was casually sitting on a tree's trunkand appeared to just watch the scene in front of her. Tara hesitantly tore her gaze off her. She decided to forget about Kira for the time being and resumed her crawling to Faith. When she finally reached the still slayer, Tara noticed her wide opened eyes and she felt her stomach violently turning in her chest. Faith's nose and lips were bleeding and her face was bruised. Her jacket was torn. Tara's first move was to check on the Slayer's pulse. She sighed with relief when she felt it and saw the brunette was breathing. She gently lifted Faith's neck with her arm and lightly shook the girl's shoulder.

"Faith, talk to me," she breathed. "Tell me something, anything."

She got neither response, nor any reaction at all.

"Faith," she implored in a begging tone. "Talk to me."

She checked for the pulse once more and found it again.

"Faith," she repeated and her voice broke a little, as the Slayer still didn't answer.

"It's useless," Said Kira suddenly in a casual voice. "She won't reply."

Tara slowly turned her head toward the other witch. She was still on her tree and wasn't even looking at Faith and Tara, as she looked engrossed in her own hands contemplation.

"Why is that?" Tara asked in a weak but nevertheless stutter-free voice. "What have you done to her?"

Kira looked up and stood. She walked over to the girls and Tara began to shake as she approached. The brown-haired girl stopped beside both friends and smirked as she took sight of Faith.

"Don't be so afraid," Kira casually told Tara when she noticed how much the blonde was shaking. "You've got nothing left I'm interesting in."

"Wh-what have you done to her?" Tara repeated. "Have you put a spell on her?"

Kira's smile got wider and she shrugged. She let escape a long-suffering sigh before replying.

"You're a witch from what little I know. You'll figure it out yourself."

With that, she turned on her heels and started to get away, leaving a dumbfounded Tara behind. The blonde looked at Faith again. Nothing had changed in the Slayer's state.

"Kira!" Tara called as loud as she could when she realized the other witch was leaving. "Come back! Undo it!"

"Kira!" the blonde shouted again a few seconds later as the other witch did not reply to her calls.

"That's your job, girl!" Kira exclaimed, waving above her shoulder without even turning to Tara. "Have faith, you'll find a way!"

"Kira! Please!" Tara begged, feeling panic overwhelming her. "Please come back!"

But Kira didn't. She resumed her casual walk and Tara helplessly watched her retreating between the saplings.

"Good luck!" was the last thing she heard from the other witch as she finally disappeared from the blonde's sight.