Old Tricks [[Cont. From Lakeside]]

[Helia Ollivander]

"Well, I for one would rather not be killed by Centaurs this evening. So, I agree with Aly and say we should go wandering about until something happens..." she stopped walking, as she couldn't hum and talk at the same time, "Hopefully nothing that will get me killed, as I've already a few grey hairs from near-death experiences in here, but surely there's something not deadly but still fun to do in here..."
She began humming again and started walking. She stopped shortly though and turned to Aly, "If you have trouble seeing just follow my voice. It'll more or less be in a safe place to walk," she said with a smile, though it was almost impossible to see in the darkness.

[aly]

Aly laughed, "What do I have to be worried about? I'm every bit as insane as you two are!" she stuck her tongue out playfully, then pumped her fist up in the air, "Let's do this!"

[Helia Ollivander]

"Hm... I doubt you're quite as insane as us... we've pulled some major stuff around here in the past... but you might be close. Haven't heard enough about your repetoire to know for sure," she shrugged. It was true. Some of the stuff Kim and she had done in the past was legendary, truly. From cursed amulets to confrences with centaurs... it was great!

[aly]

Aly gave a small chuckle and gave a slight shake of her head, "Trust me, I don't think you two want to know about the trouble Rakki and I manage to get ourselves in!" then she paused, "Or at least the trouble that I manage to drag Rakki into! She's more content to sit back and I watch, whereas I dive right into adventure, and usally trouble!"

[Helia Ollivander]

Helia raised an eyebrow at Alyson, "Well, you ought be forewarned, there are reasons why this is called the 'Forbidden' forest and not the 'Happy go lucky, everybody come chillax in here' forest. There are lethifolds, acromantulas, pixies, thestrals, erklings, kelpies... and those are just the creatures that are semi-easily seen... at least before you die. A little wariness goes a long way in these woods..." she said before beginning her tune again and continuing into the thick woods.

She turned to kim with a smile as she asked about the centaurs, "Honestly, I haven't a clue. I came into the forest, asked a unicorn for a hair, then a couple days later some kid told me that the centaurs were ticked at me. I still haven't a clue what I did wrong! I think the boy must've made them mad, then tried to blame me. Boys are just like that..." she rolled her eyes.

She chuckled softly when Kim said she couldn't get through the year without a near death experience, "Too true there. It wouldn't be Hogwarts if when we got to summer vacation we didn't have at least three new war wounds... Hey, do you remember this?" she asked, rolling up her sleeve to show the scar she got when Kim was possesed during their first adventure together. She chuckled softly, remembering how dark it was in the forest... she didn't know how Kim was keeping up so well, but she was fairly certain she wouldn't be able to see that little scar in this pitch-blackness, so she pushed her sleeve back down, "Nevermind..." she said, a bit embarassed.

"Anyways, it's good that you can dive right into adventure, Aly. It'll be difficult to avoid it hanging out with the two of us, and I'd hate for you to end up getting scared or hurt... always bothers me when innocent bystanders get into trouble and I don't actually mean for them to..." she said airily.

[aly]

Aly raised her eyebrow, now she was getting irritated! "Oh, so you think that just because I'm 'happy go-lucky' that that means I might not be able to handle myself in the big bad forbidden forest? I know how dangerous the forest can be, but that doesn't mean I'm going to chicken out and run at the first bit of trouble we get into. If you knew the trouble I've managed to get myself into the past, it would make your escapades seem like the antics of a ten year old. I have a darker past than you can imagine..." she replied cooly as she glared at Helia with a frigid gaze. Then she looked away, already lost in troubled memories of the past....

[Kim Rivers]

Kim nodded in agreement when Helia said there were reasons why the forest was forbidden. She had found that out all to well herself, thinking she was smart and looking for trouble at everycorner she could. "Though wariness doesnt always help... In some situations anyway"

Kim raised a questioning eyebrow at Helia. "I didnt think centaurs were fool enough to play that game" Kim spoke, a little shocked. She used to spend a lot of time studying beasts and all types of dangerous/potentially dangerous creatures.

"No, hogwarts isnt hogwarts unless your nearly being killed" She laughed. Kim looked down at Helia's arm and saw the scar on it quite perfectly "I thought it was bigger than that" she said at the same time Helia said nevermind. Kim realised it was dark in the forest and she shouldnt be able to see properly. She smiled slightly to herself. She went infront of Helia and Aly and turned left, not really sure why, she just had a feeling something good was to the left.

"Yeah. Its not really about people who think they can handle trouble, then come with me and Helia and realise they didnt know a thing" Kim stated angrily.

[Helia Ollivander]

[ahem, its kims turn]

[Kim Rivers]

[[yesh it was ¬.¬ Now its Alys Turn]]

[aly]

Aly scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Ugh, let's just go already!"

[Helia Ollivander]

Helia couldn't help but roll her eyes in response to Aly's outburst, but thought better of saying anything. If that was the game this girl wanted to play at she could go ahead. Halo was simply looking for some fun before she graduatd and had to pretend to be a responsible, well-developed member of society.

She turned left, following Kim, wondering how she was able to see so well in the dark. She was about to ask when she decided that might be part of the 'ended up working in a pub' story and thought she might not be willing to share that while their new acquaintance was around. At least not yet...

After walking along in an awkward semi-silence for the better part of fifteen minutes, Helia heard something... felt a shock in the forest... She thought about saying something, but then thought she probably shouldn't jump to conclusions. She continued humming, but the tone of the song had changed... it was now a more lilty song, in a minor key, rather offbeat to say the least. She looked between Kim and Aly to see if either of them had noticed the change as well.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim heard the tune change in Helia's song, but Kim also felt a shift in the forest. She looked at Helia, knowing this couldnt be a good sign. She pulled in line with Helia and whispered "What do you suppose that is?" Kim stopped and clutched onto Helia's arm, stopping Helia as well and looking directly at her "Is there something on your mind?" she whispered.

Kim kept her ears sharp and her eyes sharper, Kim could see perfectly in the dark. She kept feeling like she was being watched but there was nothing around. Kim felt uneasy, she leaned close to Helia "Theres something out there that doesnt want us to be here"

[aly]

Aly paled slightly, "What could it be?" she whispered as she looked warily around

[Helia Ollivander]

She looked from Kim, to Aly and back again, then around the tree tops, "Does anything ever really want us here?" she asked with a slight chuckle, trying to lighten the mood a bit, but anyone who knew her really well would be able to tell she was a bit nervous.

She gave Kim a look that said 'Just follow my lead'. "I'm sure it's just the wind... maybe a Nogtail ate some bad berries or something. Let's move farther into the forest, I think there's a clearing up ahead," she nodded, then stepped swiftly forward. Not ten feet off was a small clearing of trees with a few fairy rings of mushrooms scattered about. She knew that if there was something watching them or following them the group of girls would be easier to see in the clearing, but she thought also that they would be able to see whatever it was easier here as well. Not to mention that if they stood very still in the appropriate places they ought to remain unseen for the most part.

She softened her voice again and continued advising the other girls, "Hey, Kim, how about climbing that tree over there and seeing what there is to see? And would you help boost her up to that first branch, Aly? It looks like it may be a couple feet over her head, I think I'm gonna go look by that blackberry bush to see if I can find any tracks..." she felt fairly certain that Kim, if not Aly as well, would catch onto that fact that she was trying to match them up with places where their cloaks would blend in, and at the same time give them different view points to see if anything was coming.

[Kim Rivers]

"No, nothing ever wants us here" Kim laughed, "Why do the creatures of the forest hate us so?" Kim looked at Helia and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Kim nodded at Helia showing she understood her sign. Sure the two girls hadnt seen each other in little over a year but they still knew each other, that was most definate. "Yeah, wind of the Nogtail. Gotta say though, it smells very fresh" Kim joked trying to keep the mood light a bit. Kim followed into the clearing looking around noticing mushrooms, which Kim found on the discusting side, a Blackberry bush and some trees.

Kim looked to the tree and sprinted over to it, pulling Aly with her "Sorry about that Aly, need to move quickly" Kim whispered to the girl as the girl helped her up into the tree. Kim had a good visable spot from where she was and could see the forest to just outside the clearing. This isnt good, i need a better spot Kim thought as she climbed higher up the tree, seeming to get lost in the midst of green leaves. She pulled up her hood so her dark hair wasnt visable, she knew this was a camouflage thing.

Kim could see Helia clearly, though she could see nothing outside in the forest just yet, she could definatly hear something. It was quite close too. She looked at Helia, pointed to her eye, then ear, and then in the direction they came from. She wondered if they were hidden enough.