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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Jun 10, 2007 8:16:51 GMT
Stepping out of his slight refuge for the time being, Leigh had no time to lose as he knew the Ministry presence had grown much stronger since his last appearance. He had no time to apply a disguise and he was now left with his own face, hair and clothes to scamper off and hide again, his life being in danger now for many months it seemed.
He had created a small, but adequate, safe spot within the roots of a tree, a place he concealed with his own magical prowess but something that even a mere student could find, such a thing could hinder any plans of making his way home and forcing himself to leave the school and all its occupants alone, despite his nature telling him to stay and help in any way.
The air was cool and he never wore enough clothing to stave off the remaining cool air. He wore a thin shirt with jeans with muggle sneakers, but as soon as he appeared from his safe spot he knew of the presence behind him, watching him. He sighed, knowing his luck was as good as a clumsy person carrying full plates of food.
He turned around to face the person and lowered his gaze, not even knowing who it was. His shoulders sunk with shame as he spoke.
'Do what you want, just get it over with.' He said silently, hoping that his true end would be swift.
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Neku
Centaur
Posts: 60
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Post by Neku on Jun 10, 2007 17:31:01 GMT
Neku had been roaming around the forest, unsure of what to do with herself. Times are becoming increasingly difficult amongst the human races. They now seemed to be locked in a tiresome battle with one another, do not these humans know, to defeat their foes and battle thier darknesses they must unite together.
No, she supposed they did not.
After all, the human race could be blinded to the truth in most such cases. Neku sighed, if only they could come to realise their own misfortunes and mistakes they would realise what it would take to fend off their demons. However, this was not something Neku was going to tell them. Humans seemed to need things pointing out to them, spelling for them. They could never see what lay beyond the fog that was indeed clouding their judgement.
Lost in her thought, she did not realise that she had indeed come upon a Human, it was quite tall for a human. She heard what he said and thought maybe he had lost his mind somewhere. "I know not what you mean" She said in a confused tone. |
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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Jun 10, 2007 23:03:22 GMT
His gaze was lowered, not knowing who was before him but upon hearing the reply he looked up and in a moment of confusion he stared, unblinking at the being before him. His eyes slowly looked over the creature, the hooves, the body and the eyes. He had not seen one in the forest for some time, fearing they had disappeared for good.
'A centaur?' He said silently, gasping for breath as he realised what was before him. He gulped down the air, though it only brought pain to his chest. He fought to control his breathing and when done he steadied himself, fearful of the centaur before him. 'How can you be here?' He had many questions running through his mind, but he fought loosen the ones that he thought would anger the centaur.
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Neku
Centaur
Posts: 60
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Post by Neku on Jun 10, 2007 23:10:31 GMT
Neku gazed at the man before her. His body language all misplaced, in a fashion that would say to her he was nervous, perhaps even afraid of her. Though why? Didnt she have more reason to fear him, than he did her? After all it was his kind that destroyed her clan all those years ago.
"Does that surprise you?" she asked, feeling it slightly odd that he would state in a question like manner that she was indeed a centaur. Though smaller than the ones that reside here in the forest, but she liked the fact that they all underestimated her because of her size. She raised an eyebrow at his question, "I am here, like you are" She spoke gently, "I reside here in this forest, that is how i can be here" What a strange question she thought to herself. She could never quite grasp the ways of the humans, nor their strange tongue. All thier body language, they knew not how to keep it simple these days.
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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Jun 10, 2007 23:18:53 GMT
Leigh had to smile. This centaur was like the rest of her kind speaking in a way that to him he would not receive a straight answer, but to the centaur she answered his question. Leigh relaxed slightly, though not much fearing that he and a centaur seen together would bring forth the Ministry at a pace that could only be matched by the intensity of a dragons fury.
'I thought all the centaur had left this forest for fear of the Ministry.' Leigh said, not letting his eyes wander off the centaur. He slowly noticed that she was rather smaller than the others he had once encountered, though for a magical creature he would not let her small size change what she could do to him. Leigh felt his wand dig into his hip and for the barest of moments wanted to retrieve it and cast a spell blindly, but the more he stood in front of the centaur the further he felt he was not in danger. He was still ready however.
'I am Leigh, known to my people as a fugitive who was witnessed to die in the most unnatural of ways.' He said, speaking as politely as he could.
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Neku
Centaur
Posts: 60
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Post by Neku on Jun 10, 2007 23:26:14 GMT
Neku folded her arms across her chest, being stood in a shadowed place, she could hide some of her battle scars, which most centaurs had these days for one reason or other, but they were something Neku wanted to hide from the world.
Neku had indeed heard about the centaurs leaving the forest, but she remained, as did a few others. "The weak flee" she spoke simply. It was something that always made her stay until she could no longer. The weak flee, the strong survive it She could not remember where she had heard that, it seemed so long ago now. True enough, the Ministry were patrolling a lot of this forest, but there were still corners of it the ministry had not yet found, and Neku doubted they would.
"I have heard tell of you Leigh" she spoke, many centaurs had heard of him, though all did not know why he was given the fate he was given. "I go by the name, Neku" Her voice was soft and gentle, not hoarse like most centaurs.
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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Jun 10, 2007 23:34:34 GMT
'It does not surprise me that you have heard of me in these most dire of times, Neku.' He said, hearing her name in the process. 'The forest must speak to you in ways that I cannot comprehend, not even imagine for that matter.' It was then that Leigh noticed the change in her appearance and it disturbed him the way that she stood, half in the shadows and half out. Why was she hiding? He thought to himself, but he shrugged off the question.
'You may be able to answer this for me, how far has the Ministry come in searching for what they believe is here?' Leigh asked, assuming Neku knew what he meant.
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Neku
Centaur
Posts: 60
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Post by Neku on Jun 10, 2007 23:46:06 GMT
"I do not suppose it does" Neku stayed stood where she was, the boundaries keeping her back from the Human, from Leigh. She was nervous being this close to a human, actually being in conversation with one. The things that she had grown up to believe were dangerous, and in the past, have been proven dangerous. "Yes, the forest speaks to me"
"I can" Neku said, lowering her arms but stayin stood in the shadows. "They have come very far in thier search for.. what they seek... and yet they do not find it. They search endlessly and shall never stop until they find it." She paused, "There are blindspots in this place, that cannot be found unless thou is, and knows, what it is your looking for, bound by powerful magicks that even us centaurs could never fully appreciate. They search, and they search now"
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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Jun 11, 2007 0:00:01 GMT
Leigh smiled, hearing the information he needed to know. 'I thank you Neku.' Leigh said, bowing his head slightly. 'They have not found what they are searching for, for it is in one of these places that one must know the true location of.' Leigh looked away, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
'At least for the time being they do not know where it is and I shall stall them for as long as I can.' Leigh said, not really speaking to Neku but thinking out loud. He looked at her and smiled. 'I do not intend to use it, nor even find it for that matter. I very much doubt you believe me, but I speak the truth and I plan on ceasing the Ministry's regime once and for all.'
Leigh spoke words he knew he could not do but he did know they were the right thing to do and to do this was the only way to free himself from the life he was living and the duty he had put on himself to do.
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Neku
Centaur
Posts: 60
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Post by Neku on Jun 11, 2007 0:07:09 GMT
Neku wasnt used to humans speaking with passion about anything. All she had ever seen was arrogance and a need to destroy all things. Her clan being one of them. "It would certainly appear that way, however Leigh, do not think for a moment that what they are looking for is safe, even in these spots" She thought for a moment, worry spreading right through her as she could see yet another one of her homes being destroyed "It is but a matter of time before they find it"
"I sense your honor in within you, and true enough i am sceptical towards these words" Neku thought again for another moment, "The ministry is too much for one man alone... Would you decline if i offered my services in order to help you along with this deed?" Neku too did not like the ministry for what they were doing to the centaurs, and to her home.
"I shall keep you safe and hidden in the meantime" She spoke, though small, she had a good strong head, and was indeed a powerful ally to have.
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Post by Prof Octavious Everritt on Jun 11, 2007 4:49:52 GMT
Leigh looked into what he could was Neku's eyes and felt her stare returned. He nodded slowly as his answer to her question. He would definitely like to have the assistance from a creature such as a centaur, for he knew that Neku knew far more about the forest than he did. He looked at her again and smiled.
'I will accept your offer and will vow that I will not break word of where you place me.' Leigh said, slowly feeling the familiar presence in the back of his mind of the awakening dragon he shared a bond with. He looked away and had to laugh at the confusion in the dragons mind on what was happening and Leigh reassured the dragon that all was well. 'There is something you may not know of, but I share a mind link with a dragon, the same one you may have seen often in this forest until recently. She has had to seek refuge in the mountains nearby for the Ministry would kill her on sight. I am just warning you about her presence and our mind link...'
He didn't know if Neku, or any other centaur, had any empathy for a dragon, even one as kind as Shiela whose only natural instincts were to protect Leigh and those who Leigh cared about. He hoped Neku would understand, but as a centaur she may have already guessed.
'I am ready to go if you are.' Leigh said, using a statement instead of a question, something he had already picked upon from the centaur.
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Post by Jake Gobien on Jun 11, 2007 17:47:03 GMT
Some leagues from where the alliance was made, another person whom could aid them in their cause was entering the forest, not for the first, nor probably not the last time. He feared what lay in the dark abyss that was the forest to his eyes, only fools wouldn't, but he utilised his fear to keep him on edge and wary of all others. He had learnt that to his peril, never trust a woman, especially not a tyrannical woman who was power hungry.
He had first hand experience of their combined enemy, as they all had to some degree, yet he had been on their side, once long ago before they had become so corrupted, by the one all domineering virus that was the Minister of Enlightenment.
He knew nothing of the two that had made their pact, and was far from them, though could be such a powerful addition to their arsenal, if not only for the information he had. The fact that so few were against the Ministry, due to their all domineering power and might, meant his usefulness had increased.
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Neku
Centaur
Posts: 60
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Post by Neku on Jun 11, 2007 18:59:42 GMT
"It would appear to my eyes, that for a human, you have a sense of... Wisdom about you" Neku nodded, knowing that where she was going to take him, if found out by the wrong people, could be extreamly dangerous. "The dragon? This beast be one's pet?" Neku asked amazed, the last time she had seen that blasted thing it had singed her tail hair. Neku had wondered why the dragon had mysteriously dissapeared. "I do see the fact of why the ministry would, dangers creatures are that of a dragon, especially pet ones, however, the warning has been headed, thank you."
Neku wasnt much worried about the dragon, she knew it attacked her because Neku startled it. "I suppose we should get going with all haste, i think we would travel a lot quicker if you were to climb onto me" she said bending her knees so access was easier to her back. She could run faster than any human, so it would be easier for the both of them.
She feined. She could feel sombody elses prescence around, the woods were talking to her, someone was close by. Neku knew it was not a ministry official, so she needent worry about that. "We best hurry, somone else is here, and all i know is it is not a ministry official... I do not know their intentions"
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Post by Jake Gobien on Jun 11, 2007 19:25:37 GMT
With an ear pressed to the wet ground Jake listened intently; they were on the move, whether in his direction or not he didn't wait to find out. Crouching he steathily moved along through the undergrowth in the direction he had heard the voices, from some distance off. They had drifted towards him on a stiff breeze, seemingly searching for him.
Yet he hadn't been able to discern the words, truly they must have been far away, in a fighting stance he cautiously moved forwards, parting the low overhanging branches in his path with a wave of his hand. Moving steathily along he made little sound, except the barely discernable crunch of his boots upon the ground, thankfully such noise was softened by the soggy nature of the ground here. A true downpour some nights ago, one he had been caught out in the open in, had erased the centaur tracks he had been following, having been unable to pick up their trail again, he had been making his way back to his makeshift camp, when the voices had drifted his way.
He knew not who they were, or why they were upon the damned ground he now trod. Did he rightly need to know? He was indeed curious, but he feared retribution from the Ministry, though he hoped they weren't following him now, as he had lead them upon a veritable goose chase, the one who had been set to keep a watchful eye upon him, to make certain he committed no "crimes" again.
Creeping along Gobien ran a hand through his bedraggled hair, wondering whether to make his presence fully known, though he guessed they already knew of it.
Jake Gobien stopped in his tracks, listening carefully once more, trying to detect in which way they were headed.
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Neku
Centaur
Posts: 60
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Post by Neku on Jun 11, 2007 21:28:29 GMT
The trees buzzed with a certain electricity the centaur could feel. She was trying to pick up on who it was, but the path was clouded and she could not focus. Worry pricked her, her hair on her back standing on end, her tail fluttering in a concerned manner. Still, she was curious to who this person was, and if he was a harm to them.
It was probable, he was not.
Centaurs over-ruled the power of the humans, unless there was a lot more humans, then there were centaurs, then they were in with a fighting chance. Though Neku knew, it was one lone human, she wasnt worried about that, nor the fact he wasnt a ministry official. She knew he was not from the school either.
So who was the mysterious guy?
She had thought many times over it was nothing, probably the wind playing tricks in her mind, but she knew in her heart this was not the case. Neku, a centaur, the last surviver of her tribe far away from this land, had grown accustomed to listening out for things now, not letting them slip through her mind. Not passing anything off with a blunt shrug of her shoulder.
The trees spoke to her in ways a human couldnt understand, but they were without voices. Neku knew if the trees had something important to say, they would voice it, not hide it. So she knew if this guy was important, they would speak into her mind. If she came across him, she would speak to him, if she didnt, she wouldnt.
"Leigh!" Neku said, realising enough time had been wasted and they had to be on the move. Now.
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