Chapter Three-

Tex sniffed eagerly at his surroundings as I strolled along behind him, my hands tucked deep into the pockets of my jacket. The sun had finally set and the streets were devoid of people as we walked steadily along towards a cemetary, and after the dog had whined pitifully for a while I finally caved and unhooked his leash. At our old home we'd never had a need for one, since our land was fenced in, but now in this urban landscape I was supposed to keep him tied. Unfortunately I was a sucker for the puppy-dog eyes, and he was so well-trained that I didn't see the harm in letting him roam when no one else was around. Besides, he would come instantly to my call, no matter what he was doing.

My mind wandered as I meandered along the sidewalk after Tex's fluffy merled tail, waving high like a banner to let me know where he was as he sniffed after one scent or another, but as we came closer and closer to the graveyard across the street his ears began to prick and the fur along his spine began to bristle. Suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks, his head lifted as his ears curled flat against his skull. A low warning growl grew deep in his barrel-shaped chest as he trained his eyes towards the low brick wall bordering the property, and his whiskers stuck out haphazardly as his lip lifted just enough to show the tip of one ivory fang.

"What is it Tex?" I asked softly as I came up behind him, trying to see through the dark shadows across the empty road. I could just barely make out the lighter shapes of the headstones and... wait a minute. Did I just spot a hint of movement in the inky blackness beneath the branches of a mossy oak?

"Easy boy," I soothed the dog as he stood stiff-legged at my side, full out snarling now as the shape moved once again, heading slowly-but-surely towards us.

"Hey there pretty girl," the shape said, identifying itself as a lean, scraggly-looking guy dressed in a dirt-encrusted suit. Instantly red flags shot up in my mind, accompanied by jangling warning bells. This didn't seem right. I looked closer as the guy easily scaled the cemetary's low stone wall, and a huge shot of adrenaline poured into my bloodstream as my heart began to pound. The guy's face was horribly distorted, with luminescent gold eyes gleaming beneath heavyset brows. He grinned cockily, revealing a hint of needle-sharp fangs.

"What the hell?" I gasped, reeling back in shock. Tex's growl grew in pitch and he snapped his own ivory fangs together for emphasis, causing the guy to pause momentarily as the animal manuvered himself in front of me. But he recovered and smiled even wider before launching himself at us faster than I could let out a decent scream.

There was a flurry of fur, fangs, and dirty black fabric as Tex tried valiantly to defend me, but the guy's skin seemed to be made of rock for all the damage the cattledog's teeth did to him as he pinned me against a rough stone wall.

"You smell good," he hissed in my ear, his tongue darting out to trace a slimy path across my jugular. With a shudder I wiggled desperately in his grasp and brought my knee up against his crotch. Hard. The breath wheezed from his lungs and gagged me with the scent of decay, but his grip loosened just enough for me to twist away. With a curse he bared his fangs at me and lunged, grabbing my wrist in a bone-crunching hold and slamming me once again against the vacant brick building. I saw stars as I dimly heard the shrill barks and snarls telling me that Tex was still worrying the guy's leg like he would a juicy bone.

"Damn dog!" he spat before giving him a rough kick in the ribs with his other foot.

"No!" I cried as Tex yelped and tumbled end-over-end down the sidewalk. I struggled desperately in his grip as painful tears welled in the corners of my eyes, and he chuckled darkly beneath his breath.

"Tasty little girl," he sang happily before leaning once more towards my exposed neck.

"Oh no ya don't," someone suddenly interrupted, and before I could even open my eyes my attacker's weight disappeared. I heard the dull thump of his body landing on the ground a few feet away, and when my eyes finally did open I saw a tall man standing before me with peroxide-blond hair slicked back against his skull. His thick black duster flapped slightly as the other guy scrambled to his feet and they flew at each other, wrestling for the upper hand in the middle of the street. I watched them in stunned silence for a moment, but when I heard a soft whine to my right I turned with a gasp to crawl on my hands and knees to Tex's side.

"Easy boy," I crooned, cradling his head in my lap as he blinked dazedly up at me for a minute. I stroked the silky fur between his traingle-shaped ears and turned my gaze once more to the battle. I was half-hidden from their view by a parked car, and as the two men fought I gasped. A third person had joined the fray.

"Buffy!" I tried to call out as I recognized her thick blond ponytail, but in my state of shock it came out as a choked whisper. Luckily it seemed that the teen and the man were on the same team as they faced my attacker side by side, and with a few practiced moves they had him sprawled helplessly on his back.

"Stupid wanker," the tall blond spat in a Brittish accent as Buffy descended on him with a sharpened peice of wood. In the blink of an eye the guy was reduced to a pile of ashes.

"Holy shit!" I gasped, louder than I'd intended to.

Instantly the two whirled to face me.