Kaelion wasted little time with ceremony.

With a low grunt, he stepped forward and held out one of the small leather pouches toward the one who had spoken to him [squidnie], his thick fingers pinching the top just tightly enough to make the expectation clear. "For you," he said gruffly. His chin jetted out towards the other, the one trying to look like a unicorn [Charely Potter], encouraging him to come closer.

The pouch smelled faintly sweet and green, the mingled warmth of mallowsweet and the clean note of dittany— both carefully dried and carefully kept.

Nearby, Elatha turned her attention to the golden haired one [Samia]. Where Kaelion was earth and muscle, she was wind over high grass. "Yes," Elatha said, not unkindly, when Marina’s words finally tumbled to a halt. "It is incredible." She tipped her head slightly, gaze lifting skyward for a moment before returning to the girl. "Wonder should always travel with you. It need not root you to the ground."

Meanwhile, Astol glided across the glen to stand beside Professor Cox [sweetpinkpixie], his own arms folding across his muscular chest. "And we will escort you to the forest's edge."

Mira accepted the handkerchief with a quietly murmured "Thanks, Professor Cox." before putting the handkerchief against her bleeding nose. She got the feeling that it was good to keep her voice down since Professor Cox seemed concerned about something which wasn't far fetched considering the fact that they were in the Forbidden Forest. She vaguely rememberd that her mother used to twin a square of a handkerchief into a cone before sticking it in one of her children's noses if she didn't have her wand nearby to stop nosebleeds when she and her brother were younger. Hearing Professor Cox's voice again Mira turned her eyes up to her professor and nodded "Okay, I will sit down. Best to be cautious." Now that he mentioned it, she did feel a bit unsteady on her feet, and her nose was still actively bleeding so might as well sit down on the ground which she did, but maybe not very gracefully since it caused her nose to bleed even more, and Mira called out "Um, Professor Cox do you have a new handkerchief, this one's wet...." With blood.

What came into the glen some minutes later was a sight Mira knew that Levi was going to be so cross that he missed. A whole herd of centaurs were approaching them in all their unmistakable jaw gaping elegance and they had brought gifts for them if Mira was understanding the conversation between Professor Cox and one of the centaurs. Dittany and mallowsweet they could use.....

Mira's thoughts were interrupted when she was approached by a female centaur who had noticed her nose bleeding troubles. After a quick glance at Professor Cox for guidance Mira took a breath bowed her head back respectfully before meeting the centaurs eyes. "Yes, you may." She affirmed before asking curiously not being able to stop herself. "Does the Chalice Star always help the injured?" If it did then why didn't they learn about that star in classes?

Elatha's mouth curved faintly and gently bowed her head as permission was given by the human girl [Nordic Witch].

"Not always," she said softly, her voice carrying the hush of leaves after rain. "It would be arrogant to presume they will answer every call. But today, the they leans."

From a small pouch at her waist, she withdrew a tightly wrapped bundle and pressed it gently into Mira's hand. The wrappings hid its contents from sight, but not from sense—cool fern, soft moss, and something clean and green threaded through it, sharp enough to clear the head when breathed in and absorbent enough to ease bleeding.

"Hold this as you have your professor's handkerchief," Elatha instructed softly. "Just within the nostril. Breathe slowly through your mouth. Let the scent do its work while the body remembers it is safe."

Then she reached again to her belt, this time producing a small vial of clear salve that caught the light like morning dew. She warmed it briefly between her palms before lifting one hand toward the witch's face slowly to give the girl time to settle and accept her touch.

"Nearly done," Elatha continued, as she traced a careful symbol just above the injured nose, the salve cool and tingly against the skin. She then gently pinched the area, holding steady there for several counts before releasing. Her fingers hovered for a moment longer, completing a quiet geometry of the motion before withdrawing. "That should sill the bleeding, but have it seen by humans hands as well. These herbs are tuned for those born beneath wider skies and may not mind their strength when they meet softer vessels."

Did the boy with the bump [Charely Potter] also wish for some immediate care? Her dark eyes danced across the glen, falling on him with a gentle hush and unspoken invitation dancing along the curl of her lips.

Kara turned at hearing someone close to her and gave a small nod at Diego but there was no telling whether he saw it or not because a moment later he had gone down, tripped over something or ... "whoooaa," it was Diego taking the fall that actually allowed her to take note of the low branch and duck. He seemed to be okay, so she took the moment to follow the faint light in the distance. A glimmer... a patronus? But who would have cast a patronus? Had Professor Cox cast one to keep them in line should they venture too far into the forest?

Squinting hard into the distance, it felt surreal, like someone was watching her... and she really was hoping it was not acromantulas looking for their dinner. It was revealed a moment later to be at least two centaurs and they seemed to be not angered by the trespassing. Perhaps Professor Cox had arranged for this?

At hearing one talk about the chalice star, the fourth year couldn't help but glance up at the sky beyond the leaves. She had never been able to follow all the constellations or understand their depth, but that didn't mean she couldn't appreciate the stillness in the sky. Or the fact that somewhere in London, her mother was looking at the very same sky she was - perhaps even the same star(s). It was remarkable truly that no matter where in the world, everyone saw the same stars. Even if she didn't know what the centaur was talking about when they mentioned Chalice Star. Not specifically.

She noted Diego and Cat and Marina leading the charge to follow the centaur and Kara wanted in too. She wanted to see what the centaur had for them, so she trucked after them, careful to watch her footing. "May I? Can I ... have one too?" She wasn't sure if it was something for them personally or for their studies, but either way

Kaelion had already loosened the leather strap across his chest, the small pouches resting against his flank shifting softly as students gathered. Two-legs with wide eyes and louder heartbeats. When another approached [PhoenixRising], voice tentative and hopeful, he angled his head down toward her, dark eyes glinting with something that may have been amusement.

"You may," he said, shortly, extending a pouch toward her. "You were told to collect one." There was a faint huff at the end of it, not quite a laugh, but close enough to be charitable.

Before anyone could linger too long in the glow of novelty, Astol shifted and dug at the earth with a front hood as he turned his gaze toward the thinning light beyond the canopy. His ears flicked, once, toward the horizon. "The sun has dipped below the elder branches," he noted. "It will soon begin to lean now toward paths less patient with wandering feet." His eyes swept over to the human professor [sweetpinkpixie]. "It is time."

As he stepped forward, the intention was unmistakable: we go now.

A faint smile touched Elatha's mouth as she inclined her head. "Stay close," she instructed kindly to those near her. Then she fell naturally to the rear, waiting for the humans to proceed a couple steps in front of her.

Cox willingly temporarily stepped aside, allowing for the centaurs' to take lead without interference, watching as pouches changed hands―after all, they knew the forest far better than any of them did.

His attention returned briefly to Mr. Melo-Dreamer and Miss Dragaur, satisfied enough now with their condition to let the matter rest until proper stone walls and trained healers could take over. "Alright," he called, Astol's pointed words heard loud and clear. "Once you've received a pouch, secure it in your bag. Gathered ingredients should have been taken care of by now. Anything loose now will be lost before we reach the treeline so if you don't want that to happen...take care of it." His gaze swept the group once, counting twice over to ensure everyone was present and accounted for. "Everyone else stays together. No detours. Follow Astol and mine's lead. No last minute foraging epiphanies."

And with that, he stepped forward to lead them out alongside the centaur.

OOC: This 'formally' concludes the Forbidden Forest Foraging Practicum! Everyone should now be walking back to Hogwarts alongside our centaur companions. While the foraging portion of the activity has ended, you're welcome to continue RPing the walk back and engaging with Professor Cox or the centaurs. If you have not had the opportunity to play your character receiving a pouch yet, you are free to assume that they have received one

Anyone who didn't have the chance to participate but feels their character would have been part of this foraging exercise is welcome to headcanon their experience. All participants would have received a small pouch with mallowsweet and dittany from the centaurs. You're also very welcome to reach out to me if you'd like to chat through details and align on specifics.

Thank you so much for participating and sharing your creativity

A star didn't answer every call, but they did when they leaned. How does a star lean? Mira wanted to ask the nice centaur, but she bit her tongue and held her question inside. She didn't want to be troublesome. Accepting the herb bundle pressed into her hand Mira gratefully took away the bloody handkerchief and exchanged it with the new bundle that she held up to her nostrils. Mira took care to do as the kind centaur instructed and slowly breathed in through her mouth, and out through her nose. The scent from the herbs was soothing.

Mira sat very still when she got a cool and tickling salve symbol traced just over her nose. When the centaur took a step back she quickly said "Thank you for all your help, I promise to get my nose looked at by the healer when we get back to the castle." Standing up slowly Mira patted her satchel where she had all the items she had managed to forage during the activity including the pouch of dittany and mallowsweet from the centaurs. She fell into step behind the other students as they walked out of the forbidden forest after Professor Cox and the centaurs.