Post #7
 

After what felt like years had passed, Sophie finally reached the other side of the swamp. She pulled herself out the boat then pulled the boat out by grabbing onto a dry spot. She quickly used the transfiguration spell to change the oars back to sticks and the boat back into a pencil. She tossed the sticks to the ground then shoved the pencil back into her book bag.

With every settled, Sophie took off for the beach. She wasn't moving as fast as she should be these days, but she was going as fast as she could. When she finally reached the beach, she paused and hunched over, putting her hands on her knees. She took a few deep breaths in order to catch her breath. Okay, she was...*breeeeeathe*...done.

Post #6
 

Okay. Okay, the swamp couldn't have been that far away. Just had to wait til a whole bunch of mosquitoes started attacking her. They liked stagnant water yeah? Always buzzing around it? Or was that a no?

Still feeling wobbly from the swing, Lex took shaky steps as she continued through the jungle. Now it was easier for her to suddenly trip and break her face. Something told her the Professor wouldn't care if this happened...although...with this being an illusion....would her face be really broken or would it just seem that way until everything wore off. The stinging on her hands from the branches earlier quickly set her straight, they legit hurt and she would need to have them looked at after.

Yo! Swamp! Come out, come out wherever you are!

It looked like she'd be searching forever. Nothing but bloody trees everywhere! Why couldn't they try surviving on a damn beach?? She could live with the occasional palm tree--those were skinny, you saw RIGHT through them!

SWAT!

Lex's hand suddenly slapped against her other. Something BIT her! Please don't be poisonous >__<

There was another bite, then another after that. Soon she could hear the incessant buzzing. Swat. Swat. Swat. Ow! A little heads up on repellent would have been good thanks!

Post 3
 

Right, so... ravine. Mo glanced around wildly for a vine, noting that most of them were out of his limited reach and that those that were close were still TOO far away for HIM. Sigh. Stupid... old... person... ness. It was so tiresome to be this old. Imagine how people who were actually old felt.

"Accio vine," Mo tried, pointing at one that was only a few feet away from him. It wasn't a spell he needed to actually say out loud anymore, but he didn't want to overshoot the attempt and rip the vine off the tree above. Like it was magnetically drawn to him, the vine drifted in his direction, and Mo grabbed a hold of it with his free hand.

Okay, then... what was the spell again? Something with... Right! "Vinea Funiculus," Mo spoke clearly, imagining the thin vine in his hand twisting into a thick, sturdy rope that wrapped all the way up (securely) to the tree above. Just as he envisioned, the vine turned in his hands and he was soon holding something that would most certainly hold his weight.

Post #7
 

It was like attack of the skeeters. It was her against the wild life in this place and you know what? If she could get rid of an Acromantula then these were cake--

WHHOOOOOAAOOOOOOoAAA!!!

One wrong step and she found herself rolling down an incline, outgrown roots smacking at her as she tumbled. Someone. Make her. STOP. Lex tried grabbing hold of anything that she rolled into but there was no stopping until SPLASH, the Gryffindor was flopped in a body of water.

MERLIN.

She was dead. This was it. The girl couldn't feel her own legs anymore--they'd been cut off on the tumble down here!!--OUCH! Lex hopped up as quick as her rickety bones would allow. There was something in the water and it bit her, as if the mosquitoes hadn't been doing a good enough job of that. Did she look like lunch???

Alexa hobbled back to the banks where she found the tree she would need. There was a spell for this....it was....er....oh right! "Lignum Navicula!!" Come on boat, don't leave her hanging. This was getting to be serious stuff!

Post 4
 

Although Mo had been under the mistaken impression that getting the vine would be the most difficult part of this task... it turned out that swinging was probably a lot worse. He grasped the vine with both hands and backed up until it was stretched taut before him... and then Mo glanced down at his spindly limbs. Could he even hold on long enough and tight enough not to slide down the rope mid-swing?

Was that ravine real enough to hurt him?

He wrapped each hand once in the rope, accepting the rope burns as his payment for not slipping to a slow-but-then-very-quick death, and Mo launched himself toward the ravine. A few very quick (for him) steps, and then he was in the air, sailing for the unseen land.

Unseen because it was a bit blurry without his glasses and because the ground had disappeared under him and because when was he supposed to let go, anyway? If he waited too long, he'd have to make the return trip, and who knew where that would leave him?

At just the moment when the rope seemed to pull taut again, and Mo's toes were pointing the direction he hoped he landed, Mo untangled his hands and let go. His body kept traveling forward, and he braced for a hard, painful impact. The ground swept up in front of him, and then met him, and Mo landed in an ungainly pile. Something... was not right. That hurt more than it should.

Post #8
 

This was all very perplexing. As if the smell of the swamp wasn't bad enough, she was starting to smell like that too. Ugh. It'd take forever for her to get the stench out of her nose now. Man. Who's brilliant idea was this??? Lex gazed sceptically at her boat. Back at the start of term when she'd made one, the Professor's grandkid floated along just fine but he was in no real danger, this swamp was deep, she didn't know where it got deep but thankfully she hadn't rolled more than a little into it. Too bad that wasn't enough to save her from the horrid scent. UuUUuUuugggg.

What would be the next lesson? Did she have time for a quick shower before then on account of this being such a huge emergency? Surely there had to be exceptions to the late rule unless the next Professor wanted their classroom smelling like swamp.

Out of habit, there was another glance behind her before she got into the boat--that wobbled some, MERLIN HELP HER IF IT TIPPED OVER!! She steadied herself then drew her wand again, figuring she wasn't about to stick her hand in there and row like that. "You are not allowed to kill me boat! I made you!" No...just no, it would take hours and a week's worth of showers.

Now then. "Talea!" Horizontal line yesss...and the loop at the end then BAM, a paddle for the win. Somehow she'd have to make sure her arms never gave up. Had to get to the beach otherwise she'd fail after everything she'd already been through.

Post 5
 

Nothing broken... and Mo was able to walk, although he felt bruised and weak from the fall. Stupid, really, since he'd fallen farther off a broom in the past and walked away unscathed, but everything was sort of traumatic when he was in this state. He rubbed down his legs and arms and generally patted his ribcage, as if all that would assure him that he was fine.

He was fine-ish, but he'd have to see if the Healer would see him later. Mo struggled to his feet and continued on his quest. He was closing in on the last steps of it, surely, since he'd already been chased by a killer duck and nearly fallen to his death. Only so many death-defying moments were allowed before Mo would have to succumb to the temptation... to die.

Now then... what was that smell?

Post #9
 

Lex figured this would happen, a couple rows in and her arms were already feeling like lead. They should have been allowed to do this in pairs, seriously, her arms were threatening to fall right off and if they did she'd be stuck on the smelly swamp until the point at which the Professor ended this spell and they were all free to go. Sure it wouldn't have taken all that long but that didn't leave her feeling anymore inclined to just sit here and wait for whatever the kneazle had bitten her earlier to come back for the second course.

Motivation, she needed it.

"Row row row your boat gently down the..." Her eyes glanced about her disdainfully as she sang. This was NOT a stream and she couldn't pretend it was either, not even. "swamp. Merrily merrily merrily merrily this class is all a dream."

Which was rather accurate. None of it was real yet at the same time, she was sure her muscles were protesting. Just a bit more, she could lie to herself, tell herself that any minute now she would find the beach then she could collapse and hope the beach was well stocked with chocolate frogs. Would that have been too much to ask in a situation like this? She didn't think so.

"Row row row your boat."

Post 6
 

Ah, that smell happened to be swampy mess that stretched out in front of him. Mo actually paused to crouch beside the dingy water, giving it a nudge with a stick he grabbed up. The water broke, and the smell seemed to intensify, so much so that Mo gagged and scrabbled backwards, his eyes watering from the fumes.

That was putrid. What kind of Dark, evil magic would make something like that?

Glancing down at the stick in his hand, Mo waved it a bit in front of him before deciding it was the perfect vessel for his trip. It would have to be a big boat, big enough to carry him through the muck and sturdy enough not to let in any of that horrifying water. Mo dropped the stick next to the water.

"Lignum Navicula," he focused intently, imagining the wood growing and reshaping and turning into a magnificent little boat that would absolutely NOT sink. It worked, giving Mo a high-sided canoe. Now he just needed something to steer and paddle with... Mo spotted a particularly sturdy bit of dead branch protruding from a fallen trunk, and he attacked the branch with gusto.

Post #10
 

Could she give up now? Just for a bit so she could have nap? Naps wouldn't be so bad out here. She'd been rowing forever and nothing bad happened to the boat yet. What was that spell Alice had used to get the pestle to crush for themselves? It would come in handy for this paddle right now...but wait, it was a charm...the last time she used something not Transfig related Alexa ended up nearly eaten by the acromantula that had been chasing her. No need to try that again.

Her hands got heavier with each row and at one point she nearly lost her grip on the paddle completely. That would have been a disaster with her in the middle of a swamp, with no hopes of getting anything else she could turn into a paddle. This is why she should have made two while she was still back on the bank of this swamp.

Thinking ahead, definitely not a Gryffindor trait and she was suffering now as a result.

Quite suddenly she felt some resistance at the tip of her paddle....What the kneazle? O_O Peering over the side of the boat she saw what might have been HANDS latching on to her paddle.

ebkrjgfvywfersfeseyfresyfyw!!!

"Get off! Get. Off! Oi! Ooofffff!!!" Lex began shoving the paddle toward whatever was below the surface, giving it a few well placed whacks but it didn't seem ready to quit. "What'd I say? Get off!!!" The Gryffindor kept jabbing with all her might, feeling the water of the swamp splashing against her from the struggle before finally the tugging died down and whatever it was slinked back down to the depths of the swamp.

What was that anyway? Could she have one when this was all over?

Post 7
 

It took a very determined Diffindo to finally loosen the branch enough so that Mo could snap it clean, and he collapsed into the bottom of his boat with relief. That had to be the end of the hardest part. Now he just needed to push off from the bank and navigate his way to the opposite beach.

How hard could that be, really?

Mo used the branch to push himself away from the sticky thick mud of the bank, and then that same branch served as a paddle... and occasionally he needed to use it to shove against the muddy bottom of the swamp as added leverage. It was challenging to move around the small clumps of land and the thick algae, and more than once Mo had to lean out of the boat to pull himself free.

This was miserable, really. At one point, he pushed off against the nearest island and his paddle-slash-stick stuck deep into the mud there. As Mo's boat continued to drift, it tipped dramatically until Mo finally had to let go of the stick or land in the water. So that was how he ended up adrift with no paddle. Cool story.

Post #11
 

Remember earlier when she was feeling lied to because of the ravine? Well it was happening all over again. Where the hell was that beach??? Did they think she wanted to be floating on this smelly swamp all day?? No telling what else would try eating her before she finally got there.

After some time, things began to clear up a bit in the way of trees and such. Against her better judgement she started hoping she'd hit the end. Every part of her was sore and she didn't think she could take another twisting in the road. Were she her normal self things would be different but with all this aging, she didn't know anymore. Honestly. It all just hurt.

Alexa flopped in her seat again and just waited for something to happen since clearly paddling was getting her nowhere.

Her eyes widened when the boat jerked her forward. Oh no, not another swamp monster! Her arms were officially out of commission and didn't want to be jabbing at things in the water anymore. Done, that's what she was. Would the Professor fail her for getting eaten? Lex turned slowly to see what the hold up was this time and nearly fell out of the boat when she spotted LAND!

The boar struck land and she was saved!!!

The Gryffindor rushed to her feet, eager to leave the boat, so eager in fact that she ended up tripping over the boat's side and falling face first into the sand. "Yeeessssss! The other side and not a bone broken, yessss." Suffice to say she couldn't feel any of her muscles anymore but who CARED?? She survived! She could survive! Where was Vickers to see this???

Post 8
 

Mo was adrift in the swamp, and his paddle was gone, and it STUNK. He pulled his shirt up over his mouth and nose as he searched wildly for a solution. Get out of the boat and swim. Use his hands as paddles. Drift until someone came to save him.

There were really no good solutions, so Mo decided to just rock the boat, hoping some momentum would shove him back toward the discarded paddle and give him a second chance to pull it free from the mud. Stale, disgusting water splashed over the side and soaked his shoes, which would now have to be discarded, but the boat spun slowly back toward the branch sticking straight up in the air.

As soon as it was in reach, Mo tugged the branch free and shoved himself toward the beach, which had to be getting closer. It just had to be nearly... over there. He paddled as best he could with the muddy branch in the direction of the far beach, and as soon as he was within jumping distance, Mo abandoned his boat and face planted on dry, non-smelly land. FINALLY.

Rescue Mission, post 8
 

Bay while finally starting to relax after he finished his course, seeing a lot of people now starting to finish the course he laid back in the sand and stared up in the sky… and then he saw it.. Red Sparks.. his heart skipped a beat… he hasn't seen Lux yet… was it her…. he knew she was afraid of heights…. gulp… he had this itching feeling that it was her..

picking himself up he spotted Sander.. "Dude… want to go help me see who needs help?" he said while making his way back to his raft… looks like he has to go back through the swamp… over the vines and see who it was. because thats where the sparks looked like they were coming from.

Rescue Mission: Post 8
 

As Sander waited on the beach, he was glad to see that Bay had successfully completed the course and so had Alex. It had been a tough one and all he wanted to do right now was get back to the common room and then grab a shower.

Almost all the other students were arriving except one...where was Lux?

Sander looked around frantically for his young friend but couldn't see her. He quickly rushed over to Bay and grabbed hold of his arm.

"Bay where is Lux? Have you seen her? Did she make it across?"

Then he saw the sparks. Lux.

"I'm with you, Bay. Let's go get her back." Sander immediately agreed.

rescue Mission, post 9
 

"i don't think so" he responded a bit worried now.. and he was really happy that Sander said he would go with him…. "Okay we will have to take both our boats" he said while running over to his..

"be careful.. i'll meet you on the other side" he said while pushing his boat back into the swamp water.. he hopped in his boat.. ughh he didn't have time for the fish right now.. but the wind seemed to be picking up so he took off his satchel and enlarged it to make it like a sail and in no time he was speeding across the swamp..

he made it to the other side of the ravine but him and Sander needed to swing over again…. but he will wait for Sander before he moved on to get Lux… or someone else who was there.

Post 9: Rescue Mission
 

Sander was right behind Bay as he ran to his transformed boat. He was grateful he hadn't transformed it back into a tree trunk. One less step to perform!! Quickly jumping into it, sitting on his knees, he picked up his paddle and began rowing back across the swamp.

Yes the swamp still made him nauseous but he ignored it. His friend, Lux was lost out there. Sander paddled as fast as he could, his entire body screaming out in pain, but he ignored that too.

He was nearing the shore, the one he hoped was the same one he had left a while back. Once the boat beached on shore, Sander jumped out, pulled the boat up onto dry land before taking off after Bay.

Next obstacle to cross? The Ravine!!

Rescue Mission, post 10
 

Okay awesome Sander was here now.. "same thing we did last time?" he arched his eyebrow at his mate.. ughhh his arms were going to hurt him tomorrow…

"Alright.. see you on the other side… hopefully" swinging back doing the same process as before.. swinging with one hand and transforming with the next.

"swing…swing….swing.." his arms were on fire.. but he was happy to see the end was near.. swinging off his last rope Bay rolled onto the ground and slowly got up.. scanning for the person who sent the sparks. and he spotted her LUX!!!!!!!!! he screamed mentally..

"Lux over here" he said quietly for he new the Spider was probably lurking near bye…. "come this way…" looking behind him he saw Sander swinging… okay.. almost time to go back.. "when Sander gets here" he kept his voice low.. "your going to get on my back and cast the spell to change the vine into rope before i grab it and i'll do all the lifting okay" grabbing her face she seemed really scared… "just look at me.. everything will be okay" come on Sander….

Rescue Mission Post 10
 

Sander was glad to see that Bay had reached Lux by the time he reached the ravine. What was Bay doing? He could barely hear what Bay was saying to Lux but he managed to catch a few words.

Back! Swing over!! He decided he would meet Bay halfway. "I'm going to swing out to meet you, Bay and grab the both of you," Sander called out to Bay and Lux.

Sander grabbed two of the longest vines he could find, tapped them with his wand and said,"Vinea Funiculus," and then grabbed both ropes and timed his jumped.

It had to be perfect. Grabbing Lux in midair was going to be hard...not to mention handing over the other rope to Bay.

Running a few steps back to give him more room to work with, Sander took a deep breath and then ran forward, leaping off the ravine's edge holding on tightly to his rope.

Post 6
 

Where was everyone? Lux really needed someone to help her... where -- BAY.

It was as if he knew that she had wanted him to come, because here he was to rescue her. He had come back for her. Happily, she went and put her arms around him in a hug. She was so glad he was here, and he was going to help her get across the ravine because he knew how scared she was.

And Sander was coming too? What a good friend he was. They were both amazing friends, and she was going to be able to finish this thing now.

Looking up at him as Bay reassured her, she smiled. He always knew what to say or do to help. "Okay, Bay. I think I can do that." It was still scary having to make it across the ravine, but at least she would be able to hold on to him. "Are you sure this won't hurt your back a lot?" It would be harder for him now because he had that weird ageing thing.

Frowning at that thought, she looked out to where Sander was coming from.

rescue Mission, post 11
 

Making sure Lux was alright he heard Sander… "OKAY!!!" he shouted but immediately regretted it.. the spider… ughh.. "quickly get up on my back" he said to her..

"Don't worry were okay.." he said putting on a smile.. she wasn't heavy which was great… alright.. "change that one vine into rope for me.. theres been a change of plans.. so were going to Meet Sander half way don't worry he will catch you, he won't let you fall" he said patting her hands around his neck..

after she changed the vine into rope Bay grabbed hold and saw Sander jump… so now it was there turn…

"hold tight"

And they Jumped.

Post 7
 

As reassuring as Bay was, Lux still did not like the idea of swinging through the air and being handed off to someone else. Even if this was not real, it LOOKED it and her phobia made her still scared. What if she fell and plummeted to her fake-death? GULP.

"Okay, Bay..." Sighing, she held on to him tight, and after she had turned the first vine into a rope using the Vinea Funiculus spell, they were both jumping.

AAAAAH.

No no no, she did not like this. Scared, she gripped onto Bay tightly and at the right moment turned the next rope into a vine. Now they could swing to it and then from there keep going on.

Rescue Mission: Post 11
 

Sander could see the look of terror on Lux's face as Bay swung out to meet him. He knew how she felt because he felt the same way too.

"Close your eyes, Lux and don't look down. I'm on my way. Bay get ready to do the hand off and grab the rope I'll be letting loose for you. I think we're only going to be able to do this one time. So we have to make this count," Sander called out to both his friends.

His hands were becoming slippery with sweat. Sander knew that he had only once chance to grab Lux and make it back over to over to the ravine before his strength gave way.

Bay was getting nearer.....nearer. Then he was side by side with Sander.

Sander reached out and flung the free rope to Bay before grabbing Lux by waist. Then he twisted both Lux and himself around and waited for the rope to swing up and then back down the way he had come.

Come on....come on.

"Open your eyes now Lux and get ready to jump. Don't worry I have you," Sander whispered in Lux's ear.

"One....two.....jump!!" Sander called out as the rope swung over to solid ground. He released his hold on the rope and swung his body over. As they both went flying, Sander twisted his body around so that when they fell, he would fall to the ground first, cushioning Lux's fall.

......OOOmmmphh!...the ground was HARD!!

Post 8
 

rescue Mission, post 12
 

his eyes were open obviously and he could feel how scared Lux was for the grip on him was amazing.. any tighter his air supply would be gone. Hearing Sander talking to Lux he waited for something to happen..


Bay swung to catch another rope and swung himself and dropped on the ground with out hitting either of them.. "you okay Lux.. what happened?" he said while giving Sander a big smile.. he couldn't have done this with out him.. they both deserved a big glass of water and bed rest for about a week.

"so… Sander and I have our boats at the swamp.. did you want to come with either of us.. or did you want to use your own.. we will be right beside you if you do…" he looked over at Sander and have him more smiles.. "lets make our way to the stinky swamp" he smiled at Lux now she was going to be in need of chocolate because she still seemed shaken.