Mirren's Dawn (Open to many)

[Mirren]

The first dregs of dawn light were scrapped across the sky, the clouds soaked in pink and orange under a dark blue that was still flecked with the last couple of stars - the kind of dawn Mirren loved.

The centaur had watched for several minutes as the Basilisk constellation had blinked out slowly, the morning glow slowly rising, until it had completely vanished. When was the last time he had actually watched the sun rise, he wondered. It had been so long since he had seen the edge of the forest that he hadn't seen the sky properly in months...

Upon the last few human Ministry members gathering on the lawn, finishing their nighttime patrols, Mirren had waited for them to disappear back into the Hogwarts castle before trotting out into the open, his hooves playfully kicking at the dew covered grass as he ran in a circle. His wavy blonde hair bounced about his shoulders as he picked up speed toward the shore, and letting out a hearty laugh Mirren skidded into the shallows of the lake, water splashing up his front as he pelted along.

'Hellooooo!' He called out in a singsong voice, grinning as it echoed out into the still, cool air.

But, as no one replied, he suddenly felt his loneliness falling back on his shoulders like disturbed dust resettling. He had come here to be alone and to not have to see anyone... yet now he realised he wanted otherwise.

[Jake Gobien]

Gobien saw his time was now, the Ministry officials had departed, presumably it was their change of duty, every hour on the dot they had left their posts, leaving only one behind, who couldn't possibly patrol the entire perimeter on their ownsome. Jake had been silently watching for some time, assessing the situation until he thought the time was right. The trouble with the Ministry was their inability to use their initiative, they followed orders to the letter; like clockwork.

Now he sprang from his hiding place, from up a large sycamore, its branches having been swinging quite treacherously in the gusting wind. Next time he would choose a more advantageous vantage point. he ahd to be quick, soon the gaps would close up once more. He needed vitaly to learn more of the circumstances at Hogwarts, thus far he knew very little, due to the Ministry guards loafing around. Springing with some considerable agility from the tree he unfortunately landed rather awkwardly and emitted a low curse. Check before you jump he thought with a wry grin.

Moving out from cover and looking from left to right as he did so, his eyes grew wide in amazement as a rather small centaur flew towards the lake promptly splashing about as if he had never felt the touch of water around his heels, or rather hooves.

Gobien would have been contented to watch the antics and frivolities of the young centaur from a safe distance, only he needed to pass him quickly, but to pass up on such an opportunity to converse with a proud centaur? He would have to, his mission was too important, though perhaps if he could achieve an alliance with them? That would be beneficial, immediately his mind had weighed up the options, always he was an opportunist, and doubtless Ministry Officials would have heard his cry and would be arriving eventually. Late as usual, he had time.

Gobien strode forward with a gentle smile upon his features, not wishing to scare the small centaur, would he be jumpy and fearful? He knew not so approached with caution.

"I come in peace," was that the correct way to greet him, no it sounded quite ridiculous. "I see you're enjoying the cool refreshing water, what brings you here?" Carefully he concealed his wand about his person, not wishing to scare him off, but he was still nonetheless ready for any eventuality, except the one he was about to endure...

[Mirren]

Just as the thought left Mirren, a deep voice several feet behind him shot out of the silence, catching him off guard. The water sloshed about heavily as Mirren hastily turned to face his stalker, his arms raised before him as if he might be able to hold them at arms length if they came at him. To his dread a human stallion stood before him on the shore, a lopsided smile on his face, an intelligent twinkle in his eye.

'I'm sorry!' Mirren offered feebly, his voice breaking slightly. 'Please, I know I have no business here, just let me be on my way!' He pleaded, knowing it had been completely folly to risk coming near the humans.

The human was, undoubtedly, a Ministry official he had had the unfortunate luck to miss when waiting to emerge from the trees. Although the stallion seemed perfectly calm and rational in his questions, Valunce had often reminded Mirren that, although different to centaurs, humans had their own forms of cunning.

Mirren retreated slowly, step by step, backwards into the shallow water. He knew he would simply trap himself if he went in any further and got his hooves caught in the weeds, but for the moment he was too startled to do anything but put distance between himself and the stallion.

[Jake Gobien]

Jake watched with growing curiousity as the innocent being stumbled backwards into the water, slowly but surely trapping themselves further. An eyebrow arched as Gobien smirked with amusement, to deal with this strange situation he would need plenty of tact, he had seen and been beaten by centaurs with such ferocity before, he was quite startled by the apparently feeble nature of this one; but appearances could always be deceiving, though he guessed they weren't so much with this one.

A kind thoughtfulness was called for, "there's no problem with your being here," having had first hand experience with centaurs before he knew what would please them, "this is as much your land as ours, if not more." He knew it was necessary to make a good impression, this young one could tell much about him to those who held power.

Jake raised his hands, palms upwards in a peaceful manner "I mean you no harm brave one," he knew he was laying it on thick, but the centaur would doubtless enjoy his ego being enlarged.

"If you wish it, I shall allow you to pass now...but why not enjoy the waters more?" Jake smiled warmly at the young one before him, though his eyes and ears were wide open, searching for any threat coming his way.

[Mirren]

As the stallion continued his persistent reassurance that he was not an enemy - and that they were also on common turf, to Mirren's delight - he stopped moving backwards, the water finally settling and falling still around his knees. The stallion had no wand visible, and surly he would have called his herd by now to attack Mirren if he were truly there to harm him? Mercutio had relentlessly hammered Mirren with the fear that all humans were hurt him without thought if he were to have the stupidity to run into one... but this one didn't seem so bad. His father was wrong, surly?

Feeling awkward and disinterested in the lake now, he tilted his head to one side, tentatively waded forward back toward the stallion, his hands joined in uncertainty as he approached. Now closer Mirren could look at the stallion properly. He was not dressed in the well kept coats that the Ministry officials usually were, but instead he was disheveled and messy, as if he were constantly jostling about and unable to right himself.

'You're not... with them?' Mirren pointed toward the castle, as if even the children were part of the enemy collective (as his father had always insisted). 'My name is Mirren,' He quickly added as an afterthought. The stallion has still not moved from his position, encouraging Mirren in his new belief that he was perhaps trustworthy. Without taking his eyes off the human, Mirren timidly bent one knee as to bow in greeting...

[Jake Gobien]

Gobien could feel the tension ease between them, the young centaur had visibly relaxed somewhat, leastways he hadn't continued stumbling into the water to meet an early, watery grave. Gobien hadn't much wanted to wade in after him to try in vain to save the innocent one.

"With them? I am most assuredly not," he exclaimed almost indignantly to prove his point.

"Mirren? I once knew a Marram grass, not a relation of yours?" He quipped with a small smile to encourage little Mirren further. He much needed his support, and would go to any friendly lengths to get it. As naive Mirren bent his knee in greeting Gobien swept an elegant bow, feeling it unnecessary to perform the full honourary centaur greeting of kneeling, and besides the centaur would probably like his human ways.

"And mine is Gobien, Jake Gobien, though you, as my friend can call me Gobby." Doubtless it would be easier for the centaur to pronounce as he believed they often had trouble with the foreigh human tongue and accents.

"Why are you here Mirren?" He asked curiously and gently remaining motionless once again to gain his trust further. "Surely you know that human guards patrol this area," glancing up towards the to him perhaps, more forbidding castle, he caught the glint of metal, the suns rays gleaming.

"The forest is safer for your kind," he cautioned with an encouraging smile once again.

[Mirren]

'Gobby...' Mirren echoed thoughtfully. Humans had such strange names that he sometimes wondered if it was a custom for human parents to name their foals in humour or jest, as part of some ritual or social norm... how could his father take them so seriously when they quite clearly had a sense of humour?

Casting his large, curious eyes toward the forest, he gave a small smile. 'It's a shame to hide in there during the summer. There's never any sunlight where my herd live.' He said in his usual soft voice. 'I know I'm not allowed to come here, and that it's not safe, but I thought no one would be about this time in the morning. I wanted to play in the lake you see - it's nice and cold!' He smiled more broadly, recalling the urge to dart about again. Pulling himself back to reality, he remembered that the stallion was still a stranger. 'If you don't mind me asking, Gobby - what are you doing here? Your too big to be one of the school's foals, and you don't look like the hostile ones who always have their wands drawn...' He stated, trotting out of the water more confidently now, coming to stand at the stallion's side, inspecting him curiously. 'Do you live in the forest too? It's not a good idea you know...' He warned in genuine concern.

Voices were drifting from the walls of the school now, and Mirren scuffed the dirt with his hooves, becoming restless.

[Jake Gobien]

It seemed the young centaur soon got talking once you gained his trust. Immediately it became apparent that Mirren had an unsated ambition to learn more of humans, why? Well everyone had some interest in those different to themselves. Perhaps Mirren was too curious, he seemed far too young to be wandering abroad alone and unprotected. Did he even carry a weapon on his person? Such innocence and naivety puzzled Gobien, yet he was happy for it too, far too many people were afraid these dark days.

"You're right Mirren, I'm not a violent man so aren't really suited to making the forest my home, but I've nowhere else to seek sanctuary. But don't worry, I can look after myself, the solitary hunter I've been called before, long ago by one I held in high esteem, but it was misplaced my trust in them."

Hearing the approaching footsteps of Ministry officials who came along with little or indeed perhaps no haste at all. Such laziness he wouldn't have allowed when he was in command. Times had changed, for worse he believed, though some must believe it was for the better, or else they would not obey their orders.

No matter he could delay no longer, "come Mirren we must seek the safety of the forest, they'll be here soon." He gestured for Mirren to follow, just as the last guard, who had drawn the short straw and remained on duty whilst the others enjoyed their break, came out from underneath the eaves of the trees, thankfully he was still some distance away and wasn't aware of their presence; yet, it was only a matter of time.

In a hushed commanding tone Gobien ordered "go Mirren, quickly and quietly, I'll cover your back." Keeping low to the ground he drew his wand slapping the rump of Mirren to get him moving along faster. Would the centaur listen to his orders and escape? Or would his pride hinder him?

[Mirren]

Casting one quick glance toward the castle, Mirren jumped slightly as Gobby patted him on the rump, sending him on his way. He bound nervously into the sheltering trees, looking behind him to make sure the human was still on his tail. He wondered with a small frown why Gobby would be hiding from his fellow humans... but then again he supposed poor Gobby was in the same situation as Valunce and a few other centaurs - perhaps he had been cast out for speaking his mind or not agreeing with his elders.

The two of them moved behind a large, fallen oak that was so it it was several feet wide. Mirren moved behind Gobby and observed from behind him, peering through a hollow in the dead wood. The Ministry official was stood very still halfway down the lawn in between the castle and lake shore. He was staring directly where Mirren and Gobby had just been stood. 'Is he trying to get you, Gobby? Why doesn't he like you?' Mirren asked, feeling sorry for the stallion - he seemed so nice! 'You'd like my brother Valunce. No one likes him either.' He said with bright smile was on his face, hoping it would cheer Gobby up.

Tapping him gently on the shoulder, the two of them moved back into the shadows. 'Who don't you trust anymore exactly, Gobby?' He asked freely, wanting to know more about his new acquaintance. 'You obviously need better friends! I know a very nice human mare who teaches about other creates... Jones I think her name is!'

[Jake Gobien]

Luck was with them, as was the incompetence of the Ministry, though the man looked around somewhat puzzled, even scratching his head in a comic fashion he didn't look carefully enough at the evident tracks that they had both unfortunately left behind. Gobien really needed some new shoes as these heavy boots were awful for leaving a clear trail to follow. Knowing it was safer to respond to Mirren's many questions after they had moved deeper in, he took off his boots and cautioned
"we'd best tread lightly and move further in Mirren."

As the two friends set off at a steady pace Gobien smiled warmly at Mirren once more, "you're very inquisitive aren't you?" He said wryly glad there were no sounds of a hunt starting to come after them.

"Perhaps Valunce and I share the same hooves," he commented wrinkling his toes, but knowing Mirren would feel even more at ease with him using a more centaurian fashion of speaking.

"Haven't I got you as a friend now Mirren?" He asked with playful punch to his shoulder but growing more serious he added, "but really choose your friends wisely, that's what I've learnt."

Jones, who was she? A student at the school presumably, as Mirren seemed very wary of the far more hostile Ministry.

"I trust people to an extent my friend, but only a little. Life has taught me lessons quite cruelly." If Jake had been one to wear emotions on his sleeve perhaps tears would have sprung to his eyes, but he was astough as old boots, someone had once said.

"So this Jones, how do you know her? Would you like to tell me about her? She sounds interesting." He needed to know more about the situation here, and quickly.