Long awaited action comin' up!!
Chapter 25
"Faith?" The cry accompanied a loud knocking on the door, and Faith couldn't help but smile as she was reminded of slayers' nights in, when Dawn would moan and spend half the evening rapping at the door. More often than not, they'd slip out of the window to escape her. Faith shook her self out of the reverie, and yelled 'open!' The portrait swung back, and Dawn entered, grinning broadly.
"Heya!" She squeaked, waving. She looked around, "Wow."
Faith grinned,
"Yeah, Wicked cool, huh?"
"Definitely! Ooh, and training area… damn!" she smiled. "I came to see if you wanted to go down to dinner… it's a little confusing first time, what with moving staircases…"
"Oh thank god. But… don't tell McGonogall you helped me." Faith replied. Dawn laughed,
"Come on."
They left the room, which was a discreet distance from Gryffindor tower, but close enough for Dawn and Faith to be near. Faith waved to the ex-Slayer portrait and the two girls followed the corridor until they met a staircase, where four others kids were waiting.
"About time, Dawnie." The blonde boy drawled in mock boredom. Faith grinned as Dawn went to kiss him, only faltering when she realised Faith was there.
"Um… Faith, this is Draco." She said awkwardly.
"Hi." Faith said, clearly appraising him. Draco swallowed nervously. Dawn quickly moved to the others,
"Hermione, Harry, Ron, this is Faith." They all nodded and said hello, before continuing together down the stairs, and eventually to the great hall.
On entering the immense hall, Faith nodded to Dawn, and headed to the extra table set up for the Sunny dale group, who were still there thanks to Buffy making every excuse in the book not to leave. Faith settled herself at the very end of the table, still not totally comfortable with her former friends. Buffy glanced her way, but said nothing.
"When are we going home?" Anya demanded, "The shop has been closed all this time. I need to get more money." Faith smirked, and Xander calmed Anya softly with promises of lots of money just as soon as they were sure Dawn was safe. Faith rolled her eyes. Only Spike noticed.
"You know, I think the little bit is safe." He piped up. Buffy shot him a look. "Buffy, I'm serious. Those super geeks are trying to… I dunno, take over Sunnydale or somethin'… shouldn't we all be there? Dawn is under the protection of Dumbledore and all the other teachers, not to mention more spells than I can count… she'll be fine." Faith noted the distinct lack of her name, and knew it was on purpose. Every one of them knew that Buffy did not want any suggestion of her leaving Dawn under Faith's care. It stung, but Faith understood the reasoning. Buffy sighed.
"I guess so. We can move out tomorrow if you guys want." Anya visibly brightened, and announced a little too loudly that she and Xander could have sex tonight because she didn't have to worry about the money anymore. Faith and Spike shared a momentary look, before Faith dropped her eyes again and concentrated on her food. The last thing she needed was yet another reason for Buffy to get on her back.
As soon as the meal was over, Faith excused herself and left, going through the entrance hall and out into the grounds. She breathed deep, loving the clear, fresh air. She strolled down the lawn towards the quidditch stadium, wondering what it was for. She hadn't heard about quidditch yet, and frowned at the tall, bubble stick goalposts. Shrugging, she left again, wandering aimlessly round the dark grounds. Nearing the edge of the forest, she looked up in awe at the huge tree in the corner. Without thinking, Faith leapt into the air, her slayer spidey-sense going into hyper drive. When her feet returned to the ground, it still took her a moment to realise that the thing she'd just jumped over, the thing that had just swung at her, was a branch. Faith backed off quickly, watching from a safe distance as the tree flailed madly. Faith shook her head, this place was really gonna take some getting used to.
"Wiggy, huh?" A voice said behind her. Faith controlled her urge to spin round and get ready to fight.
"Yeh." She replied. Buffy came level with her, and without a word, they began to walk, steering clear of the murderous willow tree. For several minutes, neither said a word, but when they reached the forest again, Faith nodded towards it, "Can we go in there?"
"I don't see why not. It's forbidden to students, but…"
"We ain't students." Faith said, with a hint of a smile. The two slayers set out into the dark wood, both their eyes immediately tuning in, until they could both see pretty well. "There vamps in here?" Faith wondered aloud. Buffy shook her head.
"Don't think so… they wouldn't be able to get into the school, so they'd starve in here.
"There is a town near by, and this place is perfect vamp territory." Faith argued. Buffy detected a little hope in her voice. Buffy chuckled,
"You want a fight, huh?"
Faith shrugged,
"Vamps need to be got, right?" She looked sideways at her blonde counterpart, and shrugged, "But I wouldn't hate a decent stakin'. God… I haven't dusted a vamp since… shit, I can't even remember."
"Guess there was a severe lack of demon activity inside, then?"
"Nope, there was plenty, just there was nothing I could do about it." Faith snapped coldly.
"What do you mean?"
"Killing other inmates is frowned upon."
"Faith…"
Faith sighed,
"They killed people, guards… got us all in a world o' trouble. Some escaped… I got a couple, if I could make it look like they'd split. But still… no vamps- the whole sunlight issue."
Buffy nodded. Suddenly, Faith grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks.
"What?"
"Ssh…" She continued in a whisper, "One good thing about where I was… you learn to listen real well all the time. I lost count of the number of times people tried attacking me."
"Tried?" Buffy whispered back. Faith shrugged, as they moved back-to-back, automatically in sync.
"They regretted it." She said, and though she didn't know it, that made Buffy smile… hell, she nearly laughed. "There, off to the right… your left." Faith whispered without moving. "You see him?"
"Yep… but I got more too… I don't think they realise we know they're there… shit Faith, I'm counting five.
"Me too. That's ten."
"Feel like trying for that synchronised slayin' title?" Buffy quipped.
"Oh yeah." Faith grinned, and they burst into action. The demons caught up quick. The first one was ready when Faith reached him, but still couldn't block the furious rally of punches. She used his body to block the next one as he leapt at her, and blood covered her as the one she was holding was skewered by some sort of weapon she hadn't seen the other holding- but she did know it was meant for her. Faith threw the limp form aside, and kicked number two's head, sending him teetering to the side while she looked for the next one. He found her first. She felt claws scrape her back, and cried out, spinning to trip him, and stamping down hard on his throat once he hit the ground. Still pinning him, Faith was now wrestling the next demon in line.
"Faith!" Buffy yelled, throwing a stake to her. Faith freed one hand in time to catch it, and plunged it into the thick hide, where it didn't seem to do much.
"Seems you need a bigger stake, slayer!" He hissed. Faith grimaced, and used her own body as a pivot to swing him round. The demon slammed into he nearest tree, where a low branch went right through him.
"People should stop sayin' that." Faith said, retrieving her stake and turning back to the fight. She finished of the one she'd floored, who was still trying to get up, grasping at his throat. Faith made a quick tally- that was three down, one wounded. But they were still coming- there were just as many as when they started. "Buffy!" Faith yelled, not needing to say more.
"I agree!" Buffy cried back, lopping off the head of the nearest demon, before legging it back the way they'd come. Both slayers were praying that the demons wouldn't leave the forest, but even if they did, at least they'd be able to see they better. They ran out of the forest, and turned in unison to see many pairs of glowing eyes flicker, then fade away.
"What the hell were they? I've never seen them before."
"Polgara." Buffy gasped- they were both out of breath, "I've never seen them in number- I only fought one… how many were there?"
"I dunno- I killed three, but there were still at least ten when we ran."
Buffy nodded,
"Yeah, I took three or four…" She winced, moving her arm tentatively, "Bloody skewer things."
"What were those weapons?" Faith asked. Buffy grimaced, and motioned that they should head back to the school. Faith nodded, and Buffy answered,
"They have these bone skewers that come out of their forearms."
"Gross."
"Uh-huh."
Now Faith winced, "Urgh, jeez, they got some claws on them too." Buffy nodded,
"What I want to know is why there are that many Polgaras, all together, in the school forest. Polgaras are random chaos-y demons- they don't do packs."
"They knew we were slayers… or that I was anyway."
"Yeah, they said that to me too- d'you reckon that's why they're here?"
"Na… not even half the Staff knows about that."
"Voldemort knows about you- and probably guessed you came here."
"You think he sent them?"
"I don't know." Buffy shrugged, "But we better tell Dumbledore."
"Polgara demons?" Dumbledore gasped.
"Yup. More 'n I could count." Buffy agreed.
"And why were you in the forest?" Dumbledore asked. The slayers both shrugged,
"Takin' a walk." Faith replied. Dumbledore chuckled,
"I doubt anyone else would ever choose to 'take a walk' in the forest. I'll see that Hagrid alerts his contacts in the forest. Meantime… I think you should both go to the hospital wing." Both slayers frowned for a moment, then looked down. Each was covered in mud, as well as blood, both demon and human.
"Na, I'm ok." Faith said.
"Me too." Buffy smiled. Dumbledore looked over them again, taking in Buffy's gashed arm, and their many bruises and smaller cuts.
"What?" They asked simultaneously.
"Nothing." Dumbledore smiled. The slayers turned to leave, and Dumbledore's eyes widened as her saw the five long claw marks across Faiths back. He shook his head, and chuckled once more.
Heading back towards Gryffindor tower, (some guest rooms had appeared close to Faith's) there was an awkward silence. When they reached Buffy's room, she stopped Faith.
"Look." She began. "I… well, we're…" She sighed, "We're going tomorrow, as you probably heard… and I just wanted to say…"
"That you'll kill me if Dawn gets hurt, I know." Faith said with an edge of annoyance, did Buffy serious still not trust her?
"No." Buffy said, unable to help a smile, "I wanted to say that no matter how it's seemed… I know you can deal, Faith. And… I trust you. Please look after my sister."
Faith nodded solemnly, surprised to say the least,
"Count on it."
"I will." Buffy said. Faith turned to go, but was stopped again by Buffy's words, "Faith."
"Uh-huh?"
"You did good tonight. It's a long time since I fought with some one and didn't have to worry about them not coping, or letting me get got from behind."
Faith held back the remark about the state of her own back, and smiled,
"Thanks, B. You didn't do too badly yourself… it's been good to see you again."
"Yeah."
"Don't say anything else, or we'll end up hugging, an' it'll be all soppy."
"An' we can't be havin' that." Buffy agreed with a grin.
"Nope. See ya B."
"Bye."
Faith turned again, and finally walked away. Buffy watched her go, wincing yet again when she saw Faith's back and realised what she'd said. She was surprised to find she'd miss the dark haired girl- they'd had their share of problems, but it was good to fight together like that again. She hadn't realised how much she'd felt Faith's absence until now. She sighed, and gave her password, the portrait swung away, and she stepped inside.
Please review! (that includes u Becks!!)