~Searching For Centaurs~

[Helia Ollivander]

She started hearing the voices clearer: "...Altair, you read it as plainly as I do! What is wrong with you? Are you losing your Sight?" asked a Centaur who looked no older the Kim or herself
"How dare you speak to me like that!" said the older Centaur he was speaking to, "You are merely child and you dare question how I read the stars?"
"Yes, sir, I do."

Helia turned Kim to see how she was reacting to this.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim was watching the centaurs with no expression on her face whatsoever. She just sat there and listened. "Do you sense war between centaurs? cause i sure do" she asked helia without looking at her. "Though.. whats as plain as day? I wonder if they'll say it" she looked up at the sky "And i cant see the stars from here either"

[Helia Ollivander]

"I don't know..." she said still watching the centaurs. They were moving further away now, the last thing she heard was: "You can't honestly believe that Altair!"

[Kim Rivers]

Kim watched as the centaurs walked away. She knew something was up. "After you?" she said to helia but not bothering to wait Kim crept after them. Probably not the smartest thing she's ever done but.. oh well

[Helia Ollivander]

She followed cautiously. 'Can't believe what?' she thought wondering what all the fuss was about.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim looked up into the sky but since she centaurs had been there dark clouds hung over and she couldnt see anything. She had a very strange feeling about some things.. One of them was.. "Hey, do you feel like were being watched?"

[Helia Ollivander]

"Kind of, do you think we should beat it?"

(ooc: grr, gtg. ill be on later though. Bye!

[Kim Rivers]

"Not yet" she said advancing to where the centaurs were heading.

[Helia Ollivander]

She nodded and followed Kim.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim fell over a tree root and landed in some leaves. She stood up and brushed herself off pulling some of the leaves out her hair. She looked at helia who was in silent giggles "Not funny" kim whispered

[Apronia Silvanus]

(OOC: Der Waldgeist has graciously given me permission to godmod the Forest a tad bit.)

The centaurs hear the thump of a body hitting the ground. Instinctively they form a line, bows leap into their masters´ hands. The creaking draw of many bows creates an indelicate symphony.

Remember, Erich urges them, before they even know what hides in those bushes, and past overlays the present like scenery on stage.

ranks of centaurs five deep line one edge of the valley. across from them is an indolent line of wizards, single file. they send up sparks lazily, waiting for the People to attack them so they may claim provocation. a young one trembles in his armor, his fingers at the nock of his arrow are not steady. a gray male touches his shoulder in reassurance as the horn blows and the centaurs fire, then gallop towards the wizards. what follows they called a war, but the lake of blood and the abuse of corpses names it slaughter. the young centaur lies headless over the body of his old mentor, legs splayed and hideously broken

thus Aubrey calls up their hate.

¨Who creeps in the bushes?¨ One of the centaurs calls in a bass voice. One wrong move and thirty bowstrings will twang out a funeral march.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim was startled. They had heard her fall, eventhough she thought it was quiet. "They must still be rally close.. and im going to say for the fifteenth thousend time.. oopsy." She walked through the bushes to where the centaurs were. They were holding bows in a war like stance. Helia followed her and Kim saw the slight look of fear in her eyes. "Right.. Well.. Hi. Im Kim." Intros first i guess "This is Helia.. We werent creeping. Or spying.. or hiding or anything else along those lines." she told them "Were not here to start a war either or to try and hurt any of you" she explained. Confidence coming back into her voice. "We just wanted to talk so yeah.. we did kinda follow you but we werent sure when the best time was to make our presence known to you. Now i think about it we should have just said hi." she stayed a bit back from the centaurs since they had bows and probably lots of other stuff. "And look.. I dont have a wand.. it was.. well.. broken. Still in need of getting a new one. Im sorry if we startled you, but please. Can we have a quick word? It will only take a minute"

[Helia Ollivander]

She nodded and placed her wand on the forest floor as well, to show that they meant no harm. She looked at the line of centaurs, hoping that they would not attack two un-armed, by-standing girls. She saw the centaur who she had spoken to last time and gave him a smile, hoping that despite whatever was wrong with the forest now, a past friendship would still survive. She liked the centaurs, they weren't exactly friendly, but they were at least polite and they knew more than she thought any one person could know. She then looked at Kim. 'Well, if I'm gonna die, at least it's in good company.' she thought with a slight chuckle.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim looked at Helia. The centaurs had not answered, nor lowered their weapons. She had a bad feeling but there was no way she was giving up. "Right, i know right now were not your favourite people but things are happening. And there happening now, right here, starting in the forest. Theres just a couple of things we need to clear up then we'll clear off. Thats all im asking. Not your knowledge or anything.. I just need to understand." she knew she was probably fighting a losing battle here but she wasnt going to walk away. They'd come this far after all. Im not giving up.. ever

[Apronia Silvanus]

The glade fills with the humming of arrows seeking flesh. It is the sound of Erich´s triumph.

Time seems to slow for the two students, and the polished bone tips on the arrows are mere inches from their tender bellies when a blast of magic knocks them out of the air. Apronia runs up to them, a look of panic on her face. She has no wand; it was wandless magic borne of fear. She places herself between the girls and the centaurs.

¨Isfahel,¨ she says to their leader, bowing low. ¨I must beg your pardon. These colts are here without my permission.¨ One of the students opens her mouth as if to speak, but Apronia glares her to silence. The leader stamps agitatedly and some are stringing new arrows.

¨You promised me the flow of humans in and out of the forest would cease!¨ There is a dangerous glint in his eye, she can see the poison working at his mind.

¨Colts are ever foolish.¨ she replies, with completely false confidence. She hopes her hands are not shaking. The leader snorts, glances at one of the younger centaurs, nods his head.

¨The fact remains. We do not like wizards and witches. We do not want to see them, to know them. And we certainly shall not TEACH them. Keep your people away from us!¨ he thunders. Apronia bites her lip.

¨Isfahel, you know that I can only try. Colts and even Professors do not listen to me because I have not their magical strength. They mistrust me because I ask for them to leave you in peace.¨ She can feel a pressure in the air, the air is close. She knows it is not natural.

¨The arrogance of wizardkind! You will not be satisfied until you have taken over all our lands! Your young ones want to be friends with us, but as they grow old their minds turn to conquering! We should have crushed you, not taught the ancient ways!¨ His voice rises and rises and incites the others. He is standing hoof to toe with Apronia, and one of his hind legs stamps down, narrowly crushing Helia´s discarded wand. Apronia does not break eye contact with Isfahel.