We may not live forever...

[Kim Rivers]

Nothing last's forever.

Not a person does.

Not even a flower.

Why waste time pretending we have all the time in the world?

We dont.

Kim knew she would last forever, she might not even make it to tomorrow. WIth this in her mind, she wandered into the darkened forest. It loomed in over her in a possessive manner. Kim had on a long coat, her hood pulled up, covering her face, blue eyes and her blonde hair. She could easily have passed for a Death Eater. She even had the cold tone in her voice now. And she no longer cared for the friends that once were. Her past, she felt somewhat ashamed of now. She was a Slytherin, she was meant to have a heart of evil. At once point she was made soft. Though now she wouldnt let that happen again. She would be true to her house, to her family, to him.

She knew she had changed a lot over the past few years and probably, in other peoples eyes, not for the better. Though Kim felt, for once, that she was finally whole. She even respected Greyback now, for his hatred. She had forgiven him for what he did to her and her family. She didnt even care anymore. All Kim cared about now was staying who she was, she didnt even care what Jerred thought of her anymore. He's not really a Slytherin anyway she thought to herself.

Through the time she was friends with him, Helia, Chase and Fin, she classed it now as her momentary weakness. And though she had said she would help her, she hadnt set foot anywhere near her place. The wand she held in her hand, was made by Helia, but it bared her heart. Not to mention the hair of Fenrir, so she kept it for other reasons. It was glass, but not easily broken.

Walking through the forest in what could only be described as a Death Eater Attire, nobody would even know it was her. Would she be thought as a Death Eater now? Do i care even if i am?... No She didnt care. Not anymore.

[banishedxfaerie]

Another figure, also hooded and cloaked, crept more so than walked through the trees. The small form of a girl and a cat, stooped over as if searching for something, threw shadows not too far from Kim's.

The girl sank to her knees near a flowering bush, picking unimpressive looking herbs from underneath the fragrant flowers. She took out a vial and scooped a small handful of dark earth into it, slipping it into a pocket of her robes.

She looked up, her own icy gray eyes met Kim's blue. She and the cat froze for a moment, wide eyes appraising Kim. Then the girl pressed a slim white finger to her lips, turned and disappeared into the trees.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim looked down at the small figure. Her icy blue eyes looking directly into hers, however she was doing her thing and Kim was going on her way, doing her thing. Kim didnt know who she was or why she was here, neither did she care.

She turned away and walked back into the shadows and away from the girl, pulling her hood down so it covered her face. She kept her head down, not making a sound as she walked over the mud, twigs and dirt that was laden on the forest floor.

She held her glass wand in her hand, the moonlight gleaming off its reflective surface.

[banishedxfaerie]

Fiona leaned against a tree, breathing hard. For a moment she had thought Kim was a teacher... Fiona would have had some explaining to do.

"Do you think she will keep her silence?"

Fiona sank down to sit at the roots of the immense tree, pulling her cat into her lap. "Yes... I don't think she's too fussed about us."

"She is sad," Malphas hissed, kneading his paws into Fiona's shoulder, "and we still have work to do. Do not worry needlessly about an overemotional human girl."

Fiona nodded, standing up again. Malphas slid out of her lap, landing delicately on the slightly damp earth. They headed deeper into the forest, walking in silence, ever vigilant.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim looked behind her. She was now curious about what she was doing. And why have a cat? Whatever, its none of my business Kim thought to herself. The wind in the trees, she could hear them groaning. Almost in pain, Dont be silly, trees dont feel anything. she thought How do you know? Having an argument with herself about trees being in pain? That was the first sign of pain.

She came across a glade, once occupied by that of the Centaurian Folk, now completly desolate. For the centaurs had left, and with nothing but thier hoof marks to show they were once here. Stopping for a moment as she bent down, picking up an arrow head. Belonging to the centaurs, remember them Kim? ... Yeah i remember them. Kim dropped the arrow head and carried on. The centaurs were now in her past, not another thought went to them as she carried on.

[Valunce]

Yet perhaps she should have heeded their words and knowledge more. The centaurs had left the glade some weeks ago now wishing to hide further in the forest, fear had gripped them, that something dreadful would soon occur at Hogwarts, they feared not for their own safety but they did have to protect the knowledge they possessed, or so the elders had stated, scouts still scoured the forest protecting the boundaries, though fewer bothered to venture towards the boundary next to the school itself, rumour had risen that the humans were setting guards around the fabled school, scouts had reported search parties even entering the forest itself, yet what they sought out none knew.

Now students even ventured in all the more, but they were watched from time to time, Valunce in particular was viligant and half-wished to converse with them, but the two he tracked from a safe distance now he felt a strange forboding of, though young in years they seemed dangerous, perhaps he had better warn the clan of their presence, yet first he would see where they were heading, were their paths aimless? He could not tell neither tried to throw him off their tracks and presumably cared not for trackers, or else it hadn't passed their minds.

Valunce carried a long oaken staff which had a duel purpose of walking aid and stave for combat, luckily something he rarely found himself in the midst of. He was capable with stave but nothing more. He now leaned upon the stave he had fashioned peering after the students wondering which one he should follow should their paths differ much.

The unaccompanied human now stooped in the glade seemingly studying the tracks left. What she was up to he could not fathom, therefore he would have to trail her to find his answers.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim looked back once more, but now was out of eye shot of the other girl. Narrowing her icy blue eyes she thought of all the possible things that girl could be doing, she was a Slytherin, that much was certain. Though it would seem even Slytherins dont trust other Slytherins anymore. Kim herself didnt.

The forest began to loom over her, but Kim was used to this by now, used to the ventures and found her way through the forest easily. Having being able to see clearer in the night than in the daytime now. Still, no-one knew her secret. And that was the way she planned on keeping it.

[Valunce]

Valunce continued to resolutely trail the human girl, she was unwittingly, he hoped, moving ever closer to the glade where the majority of his tribe now lay resting, the guards were too close for comfort in fact and she would soon walk headlong into them. He knew what would follow, a severe interogation by the elders as to why she was trespassing into their land.

He wished to save her that fate. With stave in hand he trotted round looping right around to come out onto her path and not frighten her so. Galloping along at a fine pace he took a wide route round determined not to startle her. Coming out into plain view he looked around bemused; she was nowhere to be seen. Had she led him on a merry chase?

[Kim Rivers]

Kim could hear the hoofs of a centaur that was trying to cut her off her path. Now why would that be? Is it trying to hide someting she thought to herself. He acute sense of hearing, and her excellent eyesite in the night made things easier for her.

Climbing up into a tree she stayed there, waiting for the centaur to make its appearance. Do they think us humans are so stupid? She wondered. Finally, it drew into sight. Smirking, she jumped out behind it landing silently and steality on her feet. "Looking for someone?" she commented dryly.

[Valunce]

She had picked up the sounds of his following her, Valunce was immediately wary, eyes narrowing he trotted along moving from cover to cover. Her footfalls had ceased, Valunce worriedly wondered where she could have gone, perhaps she had simply stopped to groom awhile, or take a refreshing snack of grass?

Creeping cautiously forwards his hooves made little impact upon the ground, pressing lightly into the dry leaves with only the smallest crackling. Hefting his stave he moved from tree to tree, peering all around, yet he was still startled into letting out a small whinny as the girl dropped from an overhanging branch in his path. Rearing up onto his hind legs he brought up his stave defensively and back-trotted a number of paces. Shock was visible upon his face as he looked down in consternation at the human child. Though his thoughts ran wild like a newly galloping foal, his voice remained steady and calm.

"I have found what I seek, you child." Eyes narrowed suspiciously he fell back a few more paces, pawing the earth in his agitation. "What brings you here?" He demanded eyes fixed upon hers.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim did love it when things tried to follow her, only to end up being the ones followed in the end. What made this even more special was that this thing was a centaur. Not your run of the mill prefect or ministry member. While she was in the tree, she watched the centaur look for her and peer all around the trees. Gawd hes persistant isnt he? she thought to herself as she watched it with interest.

She watched as the horse-like creature reared and went into defensive mode. Crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow she looked at it. She had come across bigger things than centaurs and her arrogance proved she wasnt afraid of it either. "How utterly rude" she faffed. Looking at it and smirking she said, "I bring me here, it is none of your business what im doing here. Though id like to know why your trying to cut my path off" Her voice became cruel, "I dont care much, but i am going that way..."

[Valunce]

Centaurs were proud beasts it was said, even within their own tribe centaurs knew just how proud they appeared; countless arguments were caused over the slightest of disagreements. Valunce had vainly tried to steer clear of arguments, yet he had often found himself within them; usually defending humans, as his curiousty and kindess towards them was strong. Yet loyalty to his tribe and homeland outweighed his willingness to help a mere human considerably, and so he became immediately affronted by the girl's mannerisms. Having met few humans he wasn't entirely show how they were, yet she was setting a poor impression for her race and acting just how the elders had so often told him humans acted.

Frowning at the child he responded curtly, "I believe you are rude for entering our homeland without consent. Do humans offer no respect to other species at all?" He bowed low to her, "that is a customary greeting among our kind, next time we meet I hope you show me some curtesy."

Stave gripped loosely in his fingers he decided to try one last ditch attempt at dissuading her from continuing along her path. "If you go along this path much further you shall find only pain and suffering." He spoke not only of the path she trod this instant, but the one her entire life was taking; overall her aura seemed wrong.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim stood there not moving. Even to the other people, she was a cold one. Most kept their distance now. Kim had been through enough to prove she was strong willed enough to keep herself safe. Though she was adamant and arrogant when wanting to know something. She could tell this centaur was going to prove difficult towards her, and she just saw it as a challenge.

"Then you believe right" Kim said and let her arms fall to her sides. "I am rude, i am untrusting. But like you, i do have my own reasons for being the way i am" She shrugged, that was actually a good question, "Humans do show respect to other species, however, the trouble your kind, and werewovles and god knows what else has given me, back in the days when i was a nice person, i do not believe your kind, or anything else, deserves respect from me"

Kim lowered her head in an attempt to bow to him, the least she could do if she was going to speak to him like this was return the bow. She wasnt all disprespectful, it just took work with people to get it out of her. "I've had pain and suffering for the past few years, and until i find some release and help for it, i shall never deter from my path" She was talking about the animal inside her now. How she wished it would go away then she could be the person she once was. But until then, she couldnt let anyone get close to her.

[Valunce]

Taut muscles were relaxed ever so slightly, though Valunce remained keenly aware of all that went on around him. His creased brow softened, she seemed to be speaking not only more rationally and calmly, but kindly now, in comparison to the short curtness she had displayed before. Perhaps Valunce had misjudged her, simply taking the first impression as poor. Where once his eyes had been narrowed to slits of superstition, they now widened and his features generally relaxed.

"Being wary isn't rude, we both acted rashly." He spoke softly now, "whatever reasons you have for being so, keep them to yourself, only you need know the truth of your soul." He stated his hooves now planted squarely and stave hanging loosely at his side.

"Centaurs are a proud people, whatever harm ever befell you from us I am sorry for it, unless it was necessary."

Valunce didn't understand this human girl, she seemed incredibly complex with deep worry visible within her eyes. "You can choose your own path and change yourself." He argued grimly, knowing that darkness may have already consumed her.

[Kim Rivers]

Kim knew this centaur didnt trust her, and rightly so. Kim knew if the tables were turned, Kim wouldnt trust herself either. Though she knew she had to be like this, at least for a little while. Just long enough to get her through her school years, or last year as it now stood. This could cause her a great amount of trouble, especially if she let her guard down now, which she was certain she was not going to do.

Kim nodded, this centaur was wise and if she wasnt so arrogant she knew she could probably learn things from him. Though the question loomed, would he be willing? Kim stiffled a laugh, of course he wouldnt. "Though being wary in such a way can be percieved by those of us who know no different as rude" Kim spoke this more to herself than the centaur. "I guess we both have our difficulties"

"In their eyes i suppose it was necessary, though in mine it was not. Centaurs can be proud without bringing their misfortunes upon others, and yes, the same can be said of Humans too" Kim said, she had learnt a lot over the two years she had been away, "Humans are a race of people, much different to anything else. Though we are known as stupid, arrogant and god knows what else, and i suppose in some forms this can be true, to me, our species just hurt anything we come into contact with. I suppose you have already figured this one out?"

"I have chosen, and my path is set" Kim said in a sigh, "Im sorry if i seem to argue a lot, but there is no other path i can take. At least not yet"