Dylan raised his hand, "Um where are we meant to be looking?" He said, trying to look around. For all he knew he could be looking right at one. Was it right in front of him? "Also, is their excrement invisible too?" She knew he had an aversion to it. How could she put him in this sort of situation.

As she walked slightly behind the Professor now, Evelyn glanced back every now and then to the other Professor with narrowed eyes. Yea, she'd be keeping her eyes on him. Pfft, who knows what he would be up to doing while they were in the dark forest. Probably make them clean the dirt or something if they stepped out of line...

Stopping when the Professor said there were a few of them up ahead, she peered through the dark of the forest to see something moving. Sighing, she glanced around at everyone as she leaned up against the tree, crossing her arms, before looking back and staring at the thestrals. She couldn't remember the memory of someone dying, it was mostly blurred in her mind, but it was still there...Perhaps she made herself forget.

"They kinda have dragon...ish...looking heads." she said, tilting her head to the side to see if that would change the appearance the the creatures. Was it bad that that was the reason she was so interested in thestrals as well? Because they looked partly like a dragon? Well, she didn't think it was bad.

And that's all she was going to say on that...

Carter took a step forward curiously. At first he thought what he was looking at was a shadow. "They look like skeletons." he said quietly. He didn't really draw attention to the deaths he'd witness. They weren't pretty. But with doctors as parents and with the places he'd been... you were sure to witness some unpleasant things.

As Sarah continued to stare at the darkness in front of them, she felt someone grab her hand and squeeze it.Looking down at it she could see the fingers attached to the arm, attached to the shoulder of...MIRANDA! -phew- For a minute there she was going to panic.Giving the captain a weak smile, she squeezed her hand back and moved her head forward, getting a glimpse of Wesley the other side of Miranda.Oh boy, the three of them going into this forest after what they knew about it....BAD.

Thestrals? Lumos? WHAT?! They were going in now? Ok Sarah, breeeeeeathe.

After everyone had given their answers to the Thestral question, it was time for her to move.But her legs felt slightly like stone and for a few seconds refused to budge, until her friends started the walk into the forest and Sarah was spurred into action by the thought of getting left behind. "Lumos," she muttered, holding her lit wand out in front of her and grimacing everytime it shone on the shadows.

Then Professor Mrs Lawson told them to stop and keep quiet.Looking around Sarah could not for the life of her see why.There wasn't anything in the vicinity was there...what did she want volunteers for? Suddenly remembering WHY she couldn't see anything, Sarah let out a sigh of relief.Although this lesson might not be as interesting if she couldn't actually see the creature they were being taught about.And then Jack mentioned special cameras. "Yeah, that would be good," she muttered in a whisper, still peering in the direction the Professor was looking.Nope nothing.....which really was a good thing.

Kay walked into the clearing and her eye went wide. The Horse? Looked like something evil. She didn't no what to say. "Professor they look so black and scary." Kay said taking a step back. "They won't hurt us right?" Kay sighed and was shaking a little. Did it mean that her parnets wouldn't be coming back. Was their death worst than she remember? Walking closer to Professor Lawson, she looked at the Thestrals. "Professor will they let other see them even without a death?" She felt better standing by the Professor.

Won't hurt them? HA! Probably not. At least if they didn't feel threatened or anything...or if anyone had a cut...

Smirking though, she moved so her back was leaning against the tree as she looked at Kay. "Why don't you go and find out." she whispered, gesturing her head towards the thestrals.

Thestrals weren't scary! They were just...misunderstood. Like a lot of creatures in the world. Hearing the other question Kay asked, Evelyn shook her head and looked back to the winged creatures further ahead of them, muttering something under breathe that either sounded like 'Don't you read?' or...'Go climb a tree'.

Arya was looking at a squirrel as she walked when Lady Lawson stoped suddenly. She looked around squinting her eyes but couldn't see anything that looked like a winged horse. Though she didn't expect to see anything, she was still slightly disapointed.

Runing her thumb over her wand she shifted her weight from one foot to the other while listening intently to her classmates discriptions, mentalypiecing together an image of the creatures.

Nicoletta raised her hand to volunteer. She'd always wanted to see a thestrals, and there it was. It was so pretty, skeletal-like and black. They probobly turned off the majority of people, but not her. They were almost like anti-unicorns, but in a graceful kind of way. Nicoletta had seen her little cousin Anthony died. At the time, she had been six and he had been three months old. Anthony had died of cancer and severe lung problems. Everyone had been so hartbroken at the time and her aunt and uncle still are. It's sad to see a baby die.

What now!?
Miranda's head turned towards the Professor. She blinked. And then gasped a little. "Ma'm I..." Oh noooooooooooooes! "I didn't mean you having Wrackspurts infesting your brainz..." Eeek! Oh thank goodness Mrs. Lawson was a cool Professor, or Miranda was sure that could've earned her a detention! "I meant...you as in...universally speaking...all of us." Errr. Miranda made a face and HOPED she wouldn't get points deducted by Mr. Lawson for insulting his wife.

Still stepping carefully behind the Professor, she halted rather harshly at the way Lawson had 'told' everyone to shush it up. Ofcourse, shutting up didn't mean stand still, but Miranda was a bit twitchy and that's what happened.

Semi circle, allrighty. Giving Sarah a glance, she manouvered herself to stand more semi-circle-ish, with Wesley still by her side, and hoped they hadn't spooked them like the Professor didn't want them to.


Then suddenly EVERYONE, it seemed, was able to see the creatures. Miranda's features turned worried as she glanced around at the students who were now describing the creatures.

She felt sad. They were all so young and had seen death.
Miranda hoped neither Wesley, Sarah or Oliver would be able to see the Thestrals. Because... y'know. Heh.

Jacklyn Caroline who saw her Charms proffessor die at Delsion Academy said, "Threstals look like a skeleton but they aren't only skeleton's because you can ride on them." She thinks silently of dear old Proffessor Lins, remembering when she had died at the age of 97 during the middle of class when we thought she fainted. Then she turned into a ghost.

"Mhmm," Jake replied, but he felt better from the little hug. And from what she said next when she directed her next words to Josh.

But when it came to actually seeing them, Jake squeezed his eyes shut and whipped his head around so he was facing away. He didn't want to see them.

It was all Set's fault, getting killed in the library like that. Jake had been fine before.

But I think we all know that if it hadn't happened, he'd be seeing them anyway, and be much more confused. xD

Taking the bag from his wife, Marcus slung it over his shoulder and stood with the students and he noticed that a couple more thestrals had joined the throng.

It was a little disconcerting to see so many students could actually see the creatures. He had been in his late twenties before he had seen someone die and that had been horrible. So he could only imagine what it was like for kids so young to see someone who had died.

"They really are magnificent creatures" he said quietly and to no one in particular. And Iliana had obviously done a splendid job at caring for them.

Jacob stopped with everyone else, and tryed to squeeze his way into the semicircle. He craned his neck to try to find them. Nothing. Jacob gave a heavy sigh and listened to the descriptions. They sounded kinda creepy. A creature that could only be seen after youve seen death. Black, skeleton-like. This was not a creature he was eager to get a glimps of. Then he started to wonder "Uhhh... professor. Can muggles see them, if they, well you...the death thing." he started to think, maybe thats why muggles think they go crazy after they've seen someone die.

Yeah, he'd been following. He wasn't trying to be a complete creep or anything, but he couldn't stay away when he'd heard that they were going to see thestrals. Yeah, he'd invited himself. Heaven help the person that told him to go away.

He leaned against a tree and watched the scene. It was kinda wonderful. Except for the part where he could see them. That...not so pleasant.

Marie stood there trying to see what the others were seeing but couldn't. Maybe there really wasn't anything there, maybe they were making it up. Or.....Maybe she needed some of those goggles Destiny was talking about.

Not seeing what the point to this lesson was she decided to ask. "Professor, what is the point in this lesson if we can't see anything?" Because obviousely, Marie was not going to be seeing these creatures today. Maybe if she killed a bunch of spiders she would be able to see those things.

Hearing Carter say he seen them she made her way over to him. "You can really see them? There's really something there?" She looked around again but still didn't see anything.

Tiberius shuffled uncomfortably as his classmates discussed what they saw, looking at the thestrals. He looked over toward Professor Lawson, and saw Jake squeezing his eyes shut and turning away.

Right. He could see them, couldn't he. Tibi frowned, remembering what Jake had told him about that kid from his first year. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to be able to see them. And have seeing them be a reminder of why you could see them. Walking over so that he was standing to Jake's side, Tiberius snaked his arm through Jake's so they were linked elbow to elbow and held tight.

Maybe he was a little scared, too.

"Do you think so?" Iliana asked, tickled by the idea. "Maybe YOU should invent one." Jack was certainly bright enough.

"Jack don't worry. After this lesson, you'll have a pretty good idea of what they look like."
"You worry about "poo" too much, Dylan," she said, grinning widely. "Look, if you get any on you, I'll be sure to clean it off."
Iliana shook her head. "They won't hurt you unless you provoke them, Kay."
"It's okay, Miranda," she whispered. "I knew what you were saying," she added, giving the quidditch captain a warm smile.
Seeing Jake turn and step away, Iliana grabbed him by the back of his robes and gently pulled him over to the rest of the class. "Come on, Jake. I'll be right here beside you."
"Actually Jacob, I can't be certain but no muggle sightings have been reported as of yet so the chances are unlikely."
"That's right children. For those of you that cannot see them, thestrals are winged-horses with black, skeletal bodies, long black manes and leathery wings. Their face does somewhat resemble a dragon and they have shiny, blank, white eyes."


OOC: Okay, okay. That's MORE than enough. LOL All the rest will have to be students that can't see them. Mkay?! Mkay. ^^

Waddling back towards Marcus, Iliana took back the leather bag and opened it up. "Thanks honey. I didn't want them to smell it before we were ready."
Spoting Masterson standing nearby, Iliana smiled and gave him a wave. "You're welcome to join us too if you'd like," she offered in hushed tones.

...

Walking back in front of the studens, Iliana opened the bag and pulled out a piece of raw meat. She held the meat in the palm of her hand and stood very still. "Thestrals have an excellent sense of smell," she explained. Within a few seconds, the graceful creatures started towards her. "Who would like to feed them?"

Dylan shook his head, "You don't worry about it enough." He was standing in it right now, wasn't he? This was grosssssss. "So it is invisible then?"

He shook his head again, "I don't want to, thank you. I can't see them. I wouldn't know where to stick the meat." He watched Iliana though. This would be interesting. At least it wasn't raining. The day could be worse.

Tall!Jake felt someone close to him and he flinched, thinking at first it was a Thestral... but thestrals didn't like arms...

Squinting one eye open, Jake saw who it was, and clutched the boy's arm firmly.

He.

Hated.

Thestrals.

When Lawson pulled him closer, Jake dragged Tibi along with him, trying not to dig his fingers into the boy's arm too hard but unable to judge it. He edged towards Lawson and stood to her left and back a bit.

Feed them?

That meant looking.

Using his free hand, Jake pulled his glases off and tucked them into his pockets. Yay! Now he wouldn't have to see them.

Even thou she was scared of them Kay wanted to do it. She walked up closer to watch the Thestrals and looked back at the Professor. "I would love to try Professor Lawson. Could I please." She asked turning back to watch the Thestrals walk. She felt like they were watching them as much as the students were. They seemed very sad and lonely. "Professor I think I remember reading that the eat meat. Is that right Professor."

Oliver's screwed up his face. Just how many of the kids in this school had seen death!? He shuddered involuntarily as he stared at.. nothing.

Creepy.

But although the lesson may very well be a bit boring for he and the kids who could see nowt but trees, he was glad that he hadn't seen anyone die.

“I can't see them, Miss... but can I have a go at feeding them?” And he went back to staring at nothing. Squinting a bit as if it might make a difference... but of course it didn't. Someone needed to invent some Thestral Goggles like that wee Slytherin girl had suggested before.

Oh, phew! Miss Lawson didn't seem offended, which was good. Very good indeed!

She watched the Professor opening her bag and retrieving something. It was too dark to see what it was, but soon the words 'smells' and 'feed them' made her believe it was indeed...something food-y. Hehe.

Feed them!? Oh oh oh!
"I want! Er, I mean, could I please, Miss?" Miranda whispered and had her hand in the air.

Marcus looked over to Marie and raised an eyebrow. Did she just ask what the point of the lesson was? Thestrals were magical creatures and this was a Care of Magical Creatures class, he thought it was quite obvious.

"Just because you can't see something doesn't mean you shouldn't learn about it Marie. What you learn today could be useful in future years." He allowed himself a little smirk before continuing, "And I would pay careful attention if I were you because my part of the lesson will be coming up soon."

"Anytime love" he said affectionately and couldn't help smiling as he watched her waddle around. Marcus hoped that the kids didn't get her too excited during the class, he wasn't quite ready yet for her to go into labor.

Turning his head towards Neo, Marcus gave the man a huge grin, "Where you been hiding out? I haven't seen you for ages."

Jack was about to say that mechanics weren't really his expertise--he was more Astronom smart than anything else--when she moved right along with the lesson. Blink blink. WOW. Lots of people COULD see them? All those poor young kids who saw death! It was so tragic!

He looked over at the Slytherin boy who asked if he could feed them and Jack was SOOOOO on board with that. He raised his hand too. "Can I feed them too?! It would be SO COOL to see the meat just like...disappear in front of me!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement.

What? This was his Care of Magical Creatures last class--he had to make it count!

Arya continued to listen to the students explain what the creatures looked like until she thought she had a good mental image of them. It was a fuzzy image but Lady Lawson's discription helped to clear her picture.

She watched as the professor made her way over to Sir Lawson to retrieve her bag, noticing that the nice groundskeeper had joined them.

Her eyes lite up when she asked who wanted to feed them. "I wanna feed them." She whispered, moving closer to Lady Lawson.