Abnormal did not even begin to describe the behavior Thereos was witnessing among the bowtruckles and made the centaur all too eager to return to his home to consult the sage.

"I do not know, Mr. McCarthy," he replied with an airy graveness while looking over both of his broad shoulders to check that his students were all accounted for and to evaluate the positions of the bowtruckles. "It is clear that our presence has brought forth great trepidation and that we shall not be able to perform readings as predicted. We must not fight the forces before us. All is a sign. An acorn at the threshold will keep lightning out."

Pausing a moment here, Thereos glanced around the groove just as the cloudless sky was no more and the sun eclipsed. Even if they were to have successfully began their readings, all had turned to bad omens now on the scent of an approaching downpour. A most unsettling of circumstances. The path of Jupiter had assured him there was to be no rain for another two weeks.

"Back to the castle, younglings. Stay close to me and do not fear. We will survive this tempest of uncertainty."

His eyes then gazed upon the bowtruckles and a particular part of their perimeter in fervent hope that, as a fellow dweller of the Forbidden Forest, they would permit him escort all back to the safety of the castle.