Forbidden Forrest.

Hm.

Kyroh stood right on the edge of the forbidden forrest and the grounds. He wasn't IN the forrest. No. Because it was Forbidden. But he was right there. On the grounds. Looking at the forrest. A large scarf overtook his neck and half his face but Kyroh's eyes weren't covered and that was all it mattered. Blinking the first year looked around before placing one foot over the edge into the forrest. But then he quickly stepped back.

Annnd then he did it again, but he quickly stepped back once more.

Soooo why was the forrest forbidden again?

Soooo. Scouting for a muse. It was a tired and meticulous practice but Vesper, who's attention span seemed to be getting shorter by the minute, was in need of something to focus on (or more than five minutes). She'd done the whole...'trying' thing in lessons, and it was going okay, she s'posed...but yeah. The Ravenclaw needed a muse.

Perhaps that's why she'd gravitated towards the Forbidden Forest. 'Cause it was forbidden. Surely something interesting would be happening there...

However, all that had caught her eye upon arriving to its outermost tree-line was a little boy. A little Ravenclaw boy...who looked kind familiar from the Common Room. Hmmmmmm.

What was he doing down here? Vesper's need to investigate kicked in and she was moving close to him, grin in place and notebook/quill in hand. She was getting freakishly good at having both on hand lately.

"Hey, you." Beam. "See anything worth sketching in there..."

Kyroh was busy with the whole, foot in, foot out thing. He half expected a wild unicorn to come out and attack him but nope. Nothing.

So he didn't even notice anyone around him until the voice spoke out.

Jumping back away from the forrest, Kyroh blinked, eyes wide as he turned to the person who had greeted him.

Oh. A girl. And she was SMILING. That meant she was happy and he had done nothing wrong. Yup. Kyroh pushed the scarf away from his mouth."Hi!" The first year replied GRINNING. He didn't know this girl at all. But she looked like a Ravenclaw, and those were like his people.

"Sketching?" Brown eyes drifted to the girls hands where she held a notebook and a quill. "There are trees!" Lots of 'em too!

Teehee. She'd startled him.

Casually strolling forward, Vesper took a seat on the ground...still a ways away from actually being IN the forbidden forest, since it was oh, SO forbidden..."To be honest, I'm not that fascinated by trees." She'd sketched the topiary, okay? No trees in the forbidden forest would compare to that.

"See any animals, though?" She had snacks, too...because yoga. Ves kept them in her bag since she was trying to maintain a quidditch body sans quidditch. It was not as easy as she'd thought it would be. "Want fruit bits? I have strawberry and apple..."

"They're fascinating if you can climb them!" Kyroh chimed watching the girl as she took a seat a little farther away from the forrest. That was probably smart. She was smart. Probably because she was his people. "But we can't climb those ones because I think they are forbidden too.....and also I don't know how to climb trees." Tree climbing just looked cool, that was all.

Animals? Kyroh's eyes flickered back to the forrest for a bit but eventually found their way back to the girl. "I think animals are forbidden from the forrest as well." Like students.

Fruit bits? Kyroh made his way over to the girl and plopped himself down beside her. "Are you like the trolley lady on the train?" With snacks and everything? "I like apples! And strawberries! Either please!"

Climbing trees...Gosh, that was such a boy thing to say. "I'm not much good at climbing them...but if you ever want to give it a go, I could try..." See? Ves was totally supporting his venture...at risk to herself. Besides, he was so little and it wouldn't do for him to try alone, anyway. "If I'm not mistaken, there's a pretty awesome Beech tree down by the lake. If you ever felt like climbing a tree, that'd be the one."...'cause of the lake. She'd definitely give that one a go since she could just jump into the water after. Made all the sense in the world to her.

Was that Gryffindor-ish of her? Not that Ves was trying to be brave.....but man, what an adrenaline rush it could possibly be.

After hearing the bit about the animals, she supplied her best crestfallen expression. "That's just too bad, I think. Maybe...we could go down to the stables later?" Away from the forbidden forest, mhm. Not even bothering with the snacks for herself, Ves handed both packages to Kyroh. "The trolley lady aways gets really upset with me because I ask for snacks she doesn't have." Never failed. Every term, she'd done this...

She was willing to climb trees for him? Woah. "But I don't want to fall and get hurt or anything." Getting hurt was not fun. "Plus if you're climbing with me then how are you going to sketch the trees?" Hmm? That couldn't work at all. Though she had said they weren't that interesting.

AW the girl looked sad!! "Don't be sad!! The animals just don't want to get in trouble either!" See! It wasn't a bad thing! She could smile again! He was about to say something else when she spoke up. "There are stables at Hogwarts? What kind of animals do they have?" To be honest Kyroh hadn't really explored the outside too much. It was why he was out here now. He had been having way too fun much exploring the castle and stuff that he completely ignored the outside.

As the girl handed both packages to him Kyroh's eyes grew. LOOK! OLDER KIDS COULD BE SO NICE! Opening the strawberry one first Kyroh BEAMED at the girl and tested out a piece.YEAH TASTED GOOD! "How come you don't just ask her for snacks that she does have then? Like chocolate frogs. Everyone always has chocolate frogs." No need to make the lady upset. He took another piece of the strawberry fruit bits. "I'm Kyroh by the way. Kyroh Scabior. I'm a first year." HI WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? He held out his hand just cause it was what he was suppose to do right?

The cold breeze that had been recently been around just seemed to be getting colder. Could that be the reason that the bats are fleeing the forest for somewhere warmer? Watch your step as the small creatures seem to be moving quickly across the grounds seeking a warmer place to be.

Shrouded in her warmest cloak, hood pulled over her head, Lolita made her way across the dark grounds. Silently she cursed the lack of cloud cover to provide pitch blackness. She paused every few minutes on her trek to melt into the shadows, each time creating small clouds as her warm breath met the frigid air. It would not do to have anyone catch sight of her, not tonight, not when she had important business to attend to. But the last several hundred yards provided absolutely no cover. She shot a look up to the highest towers where she knew two common rooms were. It was now or never if she was to investigate what she needed to.

Lolita made a break for it. Feet pounding and heart racing, she exclaimed softly when a loud CRACK! issued forth across the silent landscape. The sticks had no moisture left in them in the extreme cold. Stumbling slightly, the Latina caught herself before she hit the stone-hard earth. A bit of panic entered her stride as she made the last mad dash into the cover of the trees. She didn't stop to see if anyone was following her, but plunged straight into the heart of the forest to see what she could find.

The CRACK! was most audible to the largest inhabitants of the Forbidden Forest, and the two acromantulas on their way out gave pause when they heard it echo through the trees. They communicated with each other about the strange noise through the clacking of their pincers. Normally, these spiders would have no fear in approaching and defending their territory, but in the face of this winter...and with everything happening within....neither wished to approach first.

The spiders remained hidden in the shadows, quiet and watchful of the human scampering through their trees. For now, they only watched with all their eyes...

Once she was a short way inside the forest, she stopped to catch her breath and check behind her. Seeing no one, she continued onward. A soft wandlight probed the path as she searched. "¿Dónde están..?"

That's when she heard the rustling noises, followed by... was that clicking? Lolita froze. Somehow she didn't think that whatever was making that noise was what she was looking for. "¡Salga! Away with you!"

The clacking intensified as the lone human continued onward, now using the light from her stick to illuminate her pathway. !!!!!!! Did she not realise how unsafe that was...These acromantulas had not been intending to spend another night in this forest, but with an intruder present...they were obligated to follow her on account of the rest of the tribe. The clacking only stopped when she spoke. Rude humans...

"What are you doing in our forest?" The first spider's low and commanding voice came floating out of the darkness. English was what they should speak here. This was a forest in Scotland, not El Salvador!

The clicking and clacking kept growing louder and louder. Yes, those were definitely acromantulas. If the noises weren't enough, the humanlike speech gave it away. Lolita immediately turned to face the creature. Lovely, creature was actually creatures.

What was she doing in their forest? THEIR forest? Just like an acromantula, assuming it all belonged to them. "My purpose in the forest is really none of your concern. Official school business, if you need to know." Which they didn't. "I mean you and your kin you harm, nor do I intend to venture toward your nests."

Nests. How insulting. The human was calling the complex web habitat of their forest nests. As though they were measly field mice...there was more clacking between the two spiders after her speech, and then the first spider came out into the light. He towered above her, at least seven feet higher than even the tallest human wearing elevated shoes.

"The school does not need to enter our forest," the acromantula intoned. "You need not venture anywhere within here. It is unsafe. Even we do not venture into the depths any-more."

The second spider's pincers clacked excitedly together as though agreeing with the first spider, though she remained shrouded by the shadows behind the first spider. "Leave now," the first spider warned, his thick and quick legs marching closer toward the human, "and we will forgive your trespass."

Ay. That was one tall acromantula.

She fully agreed. The school did not need to enter the forest, but she was not here for them. She was here to look for signs of... Wait, the acromantulas were migrating? Interesante. Would they really affect the spiders like that? It was hard to tell.

At first Lolita was tempted to give a fiery reply, but even she knew that testing two acromantulas was unwise. Besides, she could always come back a different night when her path would be clear. "Fine. I shall take my leave now." She backed up several steps before turning and heading back toward the Hogwarts grounds, keeping a firm grip on her wand in the process.

"And do not come back," the acromantula warned with one final menacing click-clack of his pincers. He waited until the human was fully out of the forest before meeting up with his mate again and discussing everything through rapid clicks and clacks. The humans were entering the forests when all the other creatures....nearly all the other creatures...were leaving it. Did they not know? Had the centaurs not warned them?

It was none of the acromantulas' concern, but now they had certain things to discuss with their tribe before they left.

This time she was taking no chances. Lolita had Disillusioned herself before even leaving the castle. Even if her spell wavered for some reason, all anyone would be able to see of her was clothing. The extreme cold had forced her to cover every inch of herself with cloth except for her eyes, which she wore protective goggles over.

The Latina lit her wand nonverbally as she entered the forest in a different location this time. No need to trouble the acromantulas again, after all. Plunging ever further into the darkness, she walked on for a long time, forced to pause on several occasions so she could heat herself back up with her wand. After awhile, she noticed that the cold was becoming even that much more pronounced.

And that's when she saw what she had been looking for.

Startled and thrilled by the scene before her, her adrenaline spiked. The light from her wand flared brightly and sent up unintentional sparks, which were sure to be spotted from the castle if anyone happened to be looking out over the forest. But that was far from Lolita's immediate concern. Afraid, she turned and began to sprint back through the trees and away from what she was sure would have been extreme danger.

Once she was sure she was facing no imminent threat, a smirk crossed her face. Now she knew where to come back to. She wound her way through the forest and exited far from where she had entered. Checking to make sure she was still invisible, she crept back toward the castle.

SPARKS! Bright blinding sparks lighting up the night sky and the forest woke the acromantula from his slumber. Clicking his pincers he looked around for the culprit that brought him out of his sleep.

Lighting his wand non-verbally as he approached the forbidden forest Leo came to a halt on the entrance to the forest waiting for Victor (Grrr.Meow) and hopefully Professor Fuller to join him shortly. Surveying the area around him he saw no evidence of the person(s) or what it might have been that had sent up the flairs that had illuminated the library like a light house.

This was peculiar. Leo didn't like the idea of going into the forbidden forest since just the trees in themselves gave up a sinister feel but if someone was in trouble or injured they needed to venture into the forest.

He had no clue if Mr.Kitridge he hear or see him follow him.. it was so cold and the wind was just blowing…. seeing him stop Bay stopped right next to him with his wand in his hand.. "Sir.. what do you think it is?" he said with chattering teeth.. it was cold and he totally wished that he brought his big jacket.

Piers had been preoccupied and hadn't seen the flash of light, but he didn't hesitate when he received Leo's patronus. After tossing on a thick coat and a scarf, Piers rushed down the stairs and sprinted across the grounds, where he found Leo and the Gryffindor by the forest.

"The sparks came from in there?" he questioned, catching his breath and shivering at the same time. And at night, too. Lovely.

The Charms professor looked at the sixth year warily. He wasn't sure why Leo had chosen to take a student into the forest, but he supposed they could use the extra hands if it turned out to be bad? It was probably just some overconfident third year who got dared to go find the acromantulas.

He nodded towards the forest. "Which direction did they come from? We need to get started." Before anyone froze to death, Merlin's beard, it was cold!

Carrying the blankets, Cassia took off to the forest following the librarian and the Gryffindor and accompanied by Jasmine. She was excited to be coming here but of course a little bit wary. Because they surely weren't here on a picnic. Picnics didn't happen in the forbidden forest. Neither in this weather.

Brrrrrrrrrrrr....

She was glad she was hugging those blankets else she wouldn't have been able to endure the cold. And that got her thinking that they'd better pick up their pace to catch up with the group ahead of them. They must be freezing. And they surely couldn't have gotten that far. "I think that's them," she said squinting ahead and hurrying up.

And indeed it was them. Which earned a sigh of relief. Imagine it being some else. Or worse, something else.

"Hi, Mister Kitridge, Mister Fuller," Looked like she got to greet the librarian today after all. Oh, and Mister Fuller was here, too. Cassia nodded at the professor as well as Bay. That must be him since no one else was here. "Professor Thompson sent us after you with these," she told them inclining her chin towards the blankets in her arms as she extended them for the group to take.

Jasmine and her partner left the castle and headed toward the Forbidden Forest with their stash of blankets. "I'm Jasmine by the way", she said to the other girl accompanying her. Might as well get to know her since they were on a mission together. They had to watch each other's back.

It was sooo cold, but the stack of blankets helped quite a bit. As they walked faster, her partner spotted the others up ahead. When they reached the entrance to the Forest, they saw the two Professors and Bay. Jasmine let the other girl do all the initial talking while she shot a "how did we ever get into this" glance at Bay. Addressing the Professors, Jasmine said, "Is there anything we can do to help?"

alright some more back up arrived, seeing Professor Fuller come up to join the party kind of relaxed Bay a little bit.. well it was still scary and he was still cold and OHHHH that solved his problem.. The awesome Head Girl Cassia and Jasmine were carrying blankets behind Professor Fuller.

Moving over towards the two girls he whispered to Cassia and Jasmine.. "ppsstttt…. do you mind if i have one of those?" pointing to the blankets.. he was only wearing a sweater and he highly doubted the teaching staff wanted to get him sick.

Listening to Professor Fuller he nodded "yes sir.. it looks like they must of come from that direction" he pointed his finger north towards to forbidden forest thickest patch.. instinctively he tightened his grip on his wand…. wait a minute… and then it hit him.. "wait sir… if this person or thing was coming towards the castle.. that we thought we saw.. wouldn't it or the person be around here somewhere" oh great Bay what did you get yourself into now.