Although the centaur had four fast legs and Willy only had two, the tall man managed to stay within sight of the creature as he led the way to the woods. Sure, there WERE some dangerous creatures that lived in here (William wasn't entirely stupid, after all) but they weren't all THAT bad. There was no retrogade Marcupiter nonsense going on here. There was NOTHING AMISS in the forest.

So yeah, William WAS there to prove Thereos wrong. He kept his thoughts to himself and his mouth shut for now, however, so as not to anger the creature into stompling on him or something.

When they reached a part of the forest where it became clear that the edge was no longer in sight, Will cleared his throat loudly in an attempt to stop the centaur.

"Hold on just a minute there, Thereos," he called out loudly. "You don't want to show 'whatever it is' in the forest to just me, do you? The more 'seers' you have here, the more 'believers' you'll get in the end."

So, in other words, STOP TROTTING SO FAST and WAIT FOR THE OTHERS to catch up.

Scabior had managed to catch sight of the Care of Magical Creatures Professor just as the man disappeared into the woods. Was he going to figure out why in Merlin's name had creature's come out of their habitat? Dash had believed that the animals were under mutual consent when it came to residing within the forrest, but that didn't seem like it was true.

He quickened his pace, in attempt to catch up to the other man, it would be safer than yelling his name out and- was Thereos there as well? As the two slowed down, Scabior was given the chance to catch up. "I don't suppose you know why an Acromantula and a Chimaera would wander so freely out of the woods, would you?" Come on William, use your two amazing degrees to give an answer.

Professor Roslund had outside the tent worked himself up into a job to not loose sight of Professor Williamson's quickly dissapering figure. As luck had it Dash was heading after William too, probably to see what was going on so Edvard had two figures to follow.

Heading deeper into the woods he felt the hairs on his back rise the further into the forbidden forest he got. The woods were not emanating kindness per say which made him really undestand why the forest was offlimits to students. Catching up to William and Dash he commented "I hope no creatures decide to attack us." With his hand gripped around his wand Edvard asked "What could be in here that scares the whole creature population if we are to believe Thereos words?"

It was strange to the centaur that they should talk about him as if he wasn't there, or doubt his words when he was older than them all and much more familiar with the forest around them. It was strange, but humans were always strange. Perhaps that was the only true thing about them... humans were strange.

"How many more of your kind are we waiting? I do this to help you, not to prove myself. I have no need for more believers." And to prove his point, he began to walk again, albeit slower this time. It was close. He could feel the magic.

"We're waiting for.... Christmas," William remarked sarcastically, rolling his eyes as the centaur walked off again. He took a few steps to follow after him, lighting his wand in Dash's face as he realized the man had just implied that a chimaera was on the loose now too.

Didn't the dolt listen? "I'm not the one with all the answers, Scabior, or otherwise I wouldn't be following our best friend Thereos here." And who said anything about something SCARING the creatures out of the forest?

"It's giants, Edvard, clearly it's giants. The Northern European giants have swum the English channel, marched through and all around Wales and England, and moved into the Scottish wilderness, kicking all of the creatures out of the forbidden forest and polluting it with their filthy habits." He tilted his head skyward in a lazy impression of Thereos and intoned loudly, "And it all started because Mars looks awfully bright tonight."

Will snorted at himself and just continued after the centaur. How about a little less talking and a lot more walking, people.

"Wow, you seem a little uptight mate, oh...probably because you allowed a bunch of creatures who really should be confined to the forrest run around the grounds attacking students...great job you and Waylon are doing."If William did not have answers, why was he talking so much? His tone wasn't appreciated. Since the man had no explanation for what was going on Scabior didn't see what was the point in listening to him.

Especially when he started talking about giants. Like Northern European or any type of giants for that matter would just find their way into the forrest. "The spider said something about the forrest feeling wrong." Whatever that meant. It sounded like centaur speak, maybe Thereos would understand.

Mate? "MATE?" William spat, whirling around on Dash as his foot unknowingly sent something small and shiny rocketing deeper into the forest. "I'm not your mate, you bloody son of a banshee," he swore darkly, using several other unprintable words that might have included obscure references to a certain lobalug.

Oh yeah, that, Dash. William hadn't forgotten about that.

He just rolled his eyes at the man's idiocy regarding the escaped creatures and soldiered on. It wasn't his responsibility to babysit the forest, nor was it Waylon's; however, yes, he MIGHT have felt a TINY bit bad about the creatures happening upon random kids. What he was supposed to do about it though? Confine everyone to the castle? He'd had his hands full enough with the creatures in his sanctuary, classes, and wherever else he was summoned to. SO CAN IT, SCABIOR.

"You talked to a spider?" Will stopped again and directed the light from his wand in Dash's face. "Where? When? Who?" Which acromantula was it, in other words???!

"Giants?" Edvard got a little wide-eyed at the prospect of it being giants that were flooding the forest and scaring the creatures. But the way William spoke it was prolly just a joke to smooth over what he clearly didn't know what was going on. Gazing about him turned the light on his wand on since it was darker than darker out there in the woods.

Frowning at the Mars comment Edvard said slightly testy "Don't joke about planet sightings William. They are important and have significance to happenings." Maybe not this particular one but it was possible.

Dash TALKED to a SPIDER?!?

Ignoring the fact that it was unusual Edvard asked his mate to stop the bickering between Dash and William which was hanging in the air. "Did the spider describe the wrong feeling in more detail? It's not much to go on." Extending his trail of thought he asked his colleagues "If we believe the spider then what could be wrong in the forest to cause even acromantula's to come out into human territory?"

Vindictus followed his colleagues and the centaur into the forest, and snorted at their chatter. "Anyone can make a spider speak if they know the right spell!" he exclaimed rather loudly. "Seriously. Anything strange that happens at this school usually involves me. Do you see me whining about a Krup digging holes in my pitch or freaking out because a broom started talking to me? Nope!"

He stepped on a twig and the crackling noise echoed in the forest. "Now everyone should calm down and figure out what we're doing in here."

With those words, it was obvious that Max hadn't been paying attention....

He suddenly stopped..

"I can feel it. It's strong," Thereos replied loudly in hopes that the humans would hear him. "The time is near to make believers out of all of you humans, especially the flying man who doesn't believe because he fails to see."

A pleasant tone for the pleasant mood that William seemed to be in. A fixed looked graced Dash's face as he watched the taller man explode. It wasn't often that he got a slew of vulgar words or insults thrown at him, but when he did, it just had to be from a colleague. As William continued on with his rant under his breath, his fixed look turned into one of amusement. "Oh, thats all that you are going on about? That...poison mermaid thing?" He smirked, knowing very well the name of the creature."You would think with the hostility in your voice that I had thrown your dog to the Acromantula...you didn't find out about that one did you?"

Suffer William. Scabior didn't even care about the Lobalug or your dramatic ways.

As for the real issue that they where here to deal with. He turned his head to Edvard before looking back at William. "Yes I spoke to a spider." Why was he repeating himself? "Acromantula actually. It's name was Ranog." Stupid questions need not need to be answered. "Where? Not in the woods. When? If I say three years ago will you realize that asking that is pointless?"

As for Edvard? Dash just stared at him."Why would I stay and listen to a giant spider talking about feelings?" Plus, he doubted if the creature could explain itself. Lucky for Eddie, Max arrived cutting off his stares. "Some people Vindictus could see you talking about it now as whining." By some people he meant himself.


"Right....it's strong." Great description. Why was he stopping?

Oookay. So Willy had mister im-a-big-jerk on one side, mister head-full-of-bludgers on the other, and mister planets-are-sensitive on the other.

"You're pointless," William grumbled, real mature-like. He snorted at Thereos' statement about Max and nudged the flying professor with his elbow. "I think he means that you need glasses," he whispered loudly, "since you can't SEE and all."

Baaaaaahaha! Will cleared his throat to cover up the sound of his laughing and came to halt right next to Thereos. "Right. Fine. Whatever. Make me believe, dude."

"I can SEE," retorted Max. "Thereos meant that fortune telling stuff WHICH I might add is a bunch of rubbish and a waste of time." Suddenly, he stopped blabbering as Dash and Will came to a stop next to Thereos.

But Max being Max, he couldn't stop. He was on a roll.

"Something is amiss in the forest. It has been seen in the vapors coming from a stagnant jar of Fleetwoods," he joked and nudged Will.

"SILENCE!" Thereos bellowed loudly and he turned to stare at the three humans. "The time for idle talk is past. All of you must focus on what must be done."

He lifted his right hand and pointed to a dark patch of trees. "In there you shall find the source of magic that I cannot touch. I know not what might guard it. Find it and bring it out of the forest."

At that exact moment, a rustling noise was heard in the trees. "Time is running out. NOW GO!"

It was an order.

SILENCE! Nein nein nein nein! What was the centaur, a drill instructor?

William nudged Max back (again) but took a few steps forward. "This way?" A few more steps in the direction the centaur had ordered, still with an obviously skeptical expression on his face. "Are you suuuuu---- OOOH!" William's eyes caught sight of something white and glowy in the center of the dark trees. Something small and levitating, but definitely something awesome.

He felt like he was being pulled toward it on a string. Shiny. Must. Touch. Shiny. His hand stretched out toward the orb, fingertips tingling...

Max followed closely behind Will and stopped a few steps behind him. He watched in silence as his colleague moved towards what appeared to be an orb. "My mummy always said to never pick up orbs lying in the forest," he quipped as he tried to make light of the situation. "Does it feel weird? I mean the magic 'cause Thereos sounded like it was dangerous."

Was the centaur telling him what to do? "I say we find whatever is causing this mess and put it in Thereos' office." Dash murmured following Max who was following William. Two birds would be killed with one stone, students didn't need Divination anyways.

The glowing orb stood out so well it was a mystery to why they hadn't seen it before.

"Yeah? Well you should get her a card 'thanks mum, didn't pick up that orb in the forrest today like you told me years ago, still alive and kicking, love max." Dash watched as William inched forward, but in the last seconds he levitating the orb in front of him.

Take that Williamson.

The orb floated in front of his face, the mist inside made it look cool, but it didn't seem dangerous. "Doesn't feel weird to me." Of course, he wasn't touching it, it was just in front of him.

But was it dangerous?

"Here Edvard, catch-" Without any warning the orb whizzed toward him.

Put it in Thereos office? Well Edvard reasoned it was as good a place as any. "Sure Dash. Whatever you say. The thing is probably safest there." he mumbled as trotted behind Dash who was behind Max who was behind William.

The thing was a glowing orb which William almost like a child at christmas inched towards to pick up. He didn't get the chance though since Dash levitated the orb up and it floated around his face.

Next second Dash yelled "Eddie catch-" a million expressions crossed his face as the orb came whizzing towards him. Grabbing the orb with both hands Edvard peered down at it uneasily. "Think it's safe to touch it?" he asked nobody in particular. "We should get the orb up to Tate."

Looking down at his hands and thinking about the long walk back up to the castle Eddie strolled over to William and thrust the orb into the creature man's hands. "You should carry it William. I'm too clumsly. My limbs don't always do what i want them too." Like previously that night when he had caused both Gemma and Isabelle to fall over.

That.... that SCABIOR! William's mouth fell open in a disappointed gape as the shiny was snatched away from him suddenly. He whirled around and glared as Dash tossed it lightly to Edvard and then Ed pressed it into his hand for some reason. Uhhhhhhhhh.

"It TINGLES," he announced gleefully, hefting the orb from one hand to the other. Hehehehe tingly! "I think the Deputy Headmaster should have it, really though, regardless of what his Mummy says." And without further ado, William tossed the glowing ball toward the flying instructor. "If anybody asks, we were just following Thereos' directions, after all."

He grinned innocently, his face still weirdly lit up by the light from the orb.

Max's initial instinct was to smash the orb hurtling towards him with his Beater's Bat. Trouble was that he didn't have his trusty bat at his side. Drat!

Only a split second had passed since William tossed the orb directly at him but there was a problem - it was drifting off to his left. Next thing he knew, he had launched himself towards the left with his arms outstretched. The orb hit his palms and he pulled it towards his body.

THUD!

Vindictus hit the ground and rolled onto his back. OUCH! Snuggled up against his chest was the orb.

"Got it," he replied hoarsely. He lay there for almost a minute before moving to a sitting position. Leaves and dirt clung to his hair and robes. "Will, your aim is as bad as your jokes. Now can one of you please help me up?"

The last thing Max wanted to do was accidentally smash the orb while getting back onto his feet.

Thereos watched the men from a safe distance and let out a sigh of relief when he heard the flying man state that he had the orb.

"Now it has been found," he said with obvious relief. "Keep the orb safe as you travel back to the castle. Do not let it fall into the hands of others."

Something in the sky caught his attention and not in a good way.

"Mars is shining bright tonight. I must take my leave." It was a rather cryptic farewell from Thereos and his hooves could be heard as he galloped away.

Pffffft. "Don't blame your poor eyesight on my awesome throwing abilities," scoffed William. "You probably do need glasses, Max, I mean you're like what, 100 by now?" Heheh. His jokes WERE bad but they were funny too, one had to admit. And they were also going to get his butt kicked by the flying professor if he didn't scoot on out of the woods now.

William hustled along ahead of the group, leading the way back up to the castle. He looked over his shoulder, heard the centaur making his excuses to leave, and rolled his eyes. "TOLD you something was up with Mars," muttered Willy, watching as Thereos trotted off.

Anyway. "So are we taking this orb to the Head Man or what?"

There was only one thing to throw at William and that was the orb. The orb that was now in HIS hands, and he had to get it back to the castle. Max shoved it into one of his robe pockets and then got to his feet.

"Whatever," he grumbled as he brushed some of the leaves and twigs that were clinging to his robes. "You heard Thereos - we need to get back to the Castle stat. Just keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary."

He started walking along the dark path that would lead them out of the Forbidden Forest. "And if you hit me with a jinx, I swear there will be a rogue Bludger with your name on it waiting to knock some sense into you."