Eunoia | Sirius Black

108

We ran outside, leaving from the other side of the cave than the one we'd entered. It was raining. 

Sirius left my hand, bending a bit as he tried to catch his breath and I mine. Our eyes met and for a second I was sure he was gonna be angry. 

Then his lip twitched and I couldn't control it anymore, I laughed.

He joined in instantly, clutching his stomach as he wiped at the blood on his jaw. His throaty laugh never leaving. "You - you - "

"I was trying to save your life." 

As soon as we calmed down, he looked at me and within seconds we ran to each other, hugging so tight there wasn't any room for air. His callused hand went to my hair, holding my head while his other was on my back clutching me as tight as he could. 

"Lord, Elena, you nearly killed me when I saw one of them running after you."

"He was gonna eat you alive."

"Yes, that is what wampuses do."

I pulled away with a scowl and he laughed, his voice raspy and deep reverberating in my fucking soul. 

The dangers of the day which had driven me into panic had affected him like an intoxicant. There was a carefully restrained ferocity in his gaze which would have frightened me had I the wits to see it. 

Sirius's grey eyes danced with amusement. "Fine weather we're having." 

"We need to leave, right the fuck now."

I nodded, picking up my bag as he picked up his and we rounded the cave, not sprinting but not jogging either. 

Remus was about to step inside when he looked at us and breathed a sigh of relief. "I heard growling."

"Come on," I said to him, running towards our thestrals. "NOW."

He nodded, knowing something was wrong. "The book - "

"We have it."

Sirius helped me on my thestral and soon, we were riding across the forest before the sun could set. It was twilight and we hadn't crossed most of the forest. 

"My thestral is weak." Sirius said, "Is this the one who was bit?"

Remus nodded. I stopped, "Get on mine."

"What - "

"Get on mine, the journey is long and we need to hurry."

"She's right, you haven't gotten enough sleep either," Remus said. 

I glowered at Sirius, he'd said Remus was late by a few minutes for his watch. He slowly got off his thestral, a little limp in his legs and got on behind me. 

"You won't drop me?" He asked. 

"The thestral can." I smiled softly before we were riding again. 

Moody had said not to get airborne lest we invite lethifolds for a nice cuppa. It wasn't long before Sirius's eyes closed and his arms around my waist loosened. 

I put my hand on his while one remained on the reins, worried he actually would fall off. 

***

It was dangerously nearing dusk, the day darker than most when I finally felt Sirius stir. 

My own hands were tired if not a bit callused from holding the reigns for this long. He groaned lightly and the sound had my mind going places too stupid to wander at this point of time.