Chapter 12 – Old habits die hard

After Sirius' words, Buffy acted fast. She rolled up their sleeping bags and tied them back onto the backpack. Sirius climbed up onto the tall pile of crates they had been leaning on and Buffy passed him the back pack. She then pulled herself up and they turned off their torches and sat in the dark waiting and listening.

The noise of claws on concrete sounded from the door, and the slither of moonlight that shone through the door cast the shadow of the werewolf onto the floor, making it long, and if it were possible, more terrifying. Buffy's breath caught in her throat as a second appeared behind the first. There was no doubt that they were werewolves now she had seen them, lit up in the silvery light. 

Both Buffy and Sirius knew what they were doing when they entered the barn. They raised their noses up and were sniffing, sniffing for the scent of Sirius and Buffy. They knew that they were there.  All of a sudden, one of the wolves let of a howl and took off running, the other in close pursuit. They skidded round aisles of crates, they had scented the two.
 Buffy and Sirius stood up simultaneously, Buffy silently placing the rucksack on her back. Carefully they crept across the crate they stood on, climbing up onto the one next to it. Quickly, they lay down flat as the werewolves approached the pile of crates they lay on. Both wolves walked now, still sniffing. They reached the pile they stood on and howled once again, and Buffy felt herself shaking.
It was one thing facing a werewolf in the woods with Giles by her side, holding a tranquiliser gun, but quite another to be in a deserted barn with only a knife and stakes for weapons, neither of which would be any use against a werewolf.
The first werewolf growled deep in its throat and leapt at the crates, clawing at them to climb its way up. Buffy and Sirius leapt up as the pile wobbled under the weight of the werewolf. The second werewolf stood underneath, waiting, expectantly.

 "We're going to have to make a run for it," Buffy murmured to Sirius. "I haven't got any weapons we can use against them, and besides they're people."  Sirius nodded, swallowing hard.
 "If we can make it to the door we can close it and lock them in," he said, still hoarse. "If we stay on the crates we should be okay." Buffy nodded and gestured to the pile next to them. Together they leapt onto it, landing hard. Getting up they saw the piles next to them tumble to the ground, bringing the first werewolf crashing down, along with the crates, on top of the second.
 "Forget the crates – RUN!" Buffy yelled, and she and Sirius quickly climbed off of the pile they had stood atop. Taking the first left in the labyrinth of crates, they ran, hearing the noises of the snarling werewolves behind them, echoing in their ears. They turned left again, in the direction of the door, and Buffy saw out of the corner of her eye, the first werewolf in hot pursuit of them.
 "Up here!" she said urgently and she and Sirius threw themselves at a pile of crates and began to climb.
Buffy was practically at the top and she looked behind her, down to check on Sirius. His face was creased with pain.
 "My wrist," he grunted, "It's caught." Furiously, he tried to tug it free of the crate but he was unable to. In horror Buffy watched the werewolf skid to a halt in front of the pile and leap up, almost clawing Sirius' leg.

 "I'll hold him off," she yelled. "Get down and be a dog as quick as you can." She reached the top of the pile and ran across the adjacent piles. Then she jumped down, landing on her side and rolling before she jumped up.
 "Hey doggy," she called to the werewolf, opening her arms up. "Come and get it!" Buffy turned and ran, and with a quick glance behind her saw that the werewolf has taken the bait, not only that but the second werewolf was following too.
 She quickened her pace and leapt, scaling a pile of crates rapidly. This time both wolves attacked the crates leaping up and causing them to wobble significantly. Buffy leapt onto the adjacent pile, but the wolves followed shaking that pile too. Buffy fell to her knees and noted dumbly that she had run out of crates. She held onto the wooden edge, barely feeling the splinter that entered her finger.

The wolves were in a frenzy of excitement, drooling as the tirelessly threw themselves at the crates. Buffy closed her eyes as she felt the crates wobble even more. A loud bark made her open them and down on the floor she watch the giant black dog that was Sirius throw himself at one of the wolves. The second turned to join the fray and quick as lightning, Buffy leapt down and skirted around the fighting dogs. She ran round yet more crates and towards the door, still open a crack.
 "Sirius!" she yelled. "Come on!" She slid through the gap and peered in. Sirius ran towards her, both wolves in pursuit and he skidded through the door. Buffy pushed the door with all her strength and with a loud *clang* it slid into place.
Panting with relief she leant her back against the barn wall and slid to the floor. Sirius transformed back into his human form and threw himself down next to her, also panting.
 "I seem to attract demonic things," Buffy panted, leaning her head against Sirius. They both looked up as they heard the dim thuds of both wolves throwing themselves against the door, without avail as it was solid metal and slammed shut.

 "Yeah, I guess you do," Sirius panted also, putting his arm around Buffy. "We did good though."

 "I'd say so," Buffy commented, getting her breath back. "We deserve a treat."
 "How about we do some hiking tomorrow, how does that sound?" Sirius said thoughtfully, and Buffy punched him on the arm.
 "Ouch," he yelped and Buffy grinned.
 "Sorry, still in slayer mode," she said apologetically.
 "S'ok, I kind of like slayer mode," Sirius said hugging her with the arm slung over her shoulders. "Especially when it's saving me. I owe you one."
 "You really don't," Buffy assured him. "You saved me too mister. We're getting good at saving one another." Sirius nodded.
 "No arguments here," he said comfortably. Then, after a pause, he continued. "It was strange, hearing a werewolf howl after all these years and still recognising it. Old habits die hard I guess."
 "Some stuff you never forget," Buffy said softly. "You shouldn't forget. In the end it's all you have."
 "I suppose it is," Sirius said with a sigh. "It's all I've got now, a pile of old memories of the glory days when I was with my friends in the Order, fighting the most evil wizard in the world."

 "Hey, you're not dead yet," Buffy said, reaching up and ruffling his hair. "Those days are gone but you've got others to look forward to. Don't let your life pass you by. If everything goes to plan then you won't have to hide any more."
 "I guess," Sirius said doubtfully. "Being in Azkaban for twelve years doesn't leave you with much hope."
 "But a little right?" Buffy said looking up at him. "There's always a little."
 "There's little you, you've given me hope," Sirius said. "We'll be okay, get to Hogwarts, finish Wormtail and then you can go back to Sunnydale and be with your family."
 "Not too soon though," Buffy murmured sleepily. "I'm kind of enjoying myself." She closed her eyes and after a few moments fell into deep slumber.
Sirius looked down at her peaceful innocent face which belied her strength. Ever so carefully he bent his head down to her face and kissed her lips gently, so as not to wake her.
 "'Night Buffy," he murmured and closed his eyes.