(Forest) Unknown Defeat

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Leigh knew something had changed in the air, seeing the distraction that was evident upon the face of Neku. He nodded at once upon her urgent exclamation of his name, leaping onto her back as swiftly as if it he was leaping over a small stone. He landed softly and felt slightly uncomfortable on her back, seeing the the back of a human but also on the sturdy body of a horse.

He was unsure of how his weight was to her, but he knew she would risk it to save him and her. He reached behind him and pulled out his wand and held it firmly in his hand, using his other to clutch firmly onto where he thought would be best. He held his wand out to the side and smiled.

'Something has changed just now and you sense it, I feel it in the air as well, so why not be prepared?' Leigh asked. 'I'm ready now.'

[Jake Gobien]

Gobien could possibly head the voices off, if he moved quickly. On assessment of his options he decided against such a rash action. It was impossible for him to tell if they would be friend or foe, Gobien really couldn't take the risk, startling them would hardly put him in their good books. Though he was a solitary hunter and had survived for years on his own, he believed now with this coming dark time he would need allies. Trustworthy allies were obligatory, he needed something to rely upon in a spot of bother.

He would go halfway and if they were as curious as he, then perhaps they would meet him. Quickening his pace Gobien hurtled over fallen rocks and boulders strewn in his path, ducked under overhanging branches threatening to swipe him off his feet and jumped over roots reaching out to trip him up. Jake made his way quite quickly through the undergrowth, keeping his senses keenly alert; they were closer heading in his direction. Finding a decent sized specimen Gobien scrambled into a large oak, its branches more than strong enough to support his weight. Then he waited, in plain view, as he didn't want to surprise them, but he had the high ground as his hopefully unnecessary advantage. He didn't want to fight.

[Neku]

Neku felt him jump on her back, but the weight wasnt at all heavy for her to handle as she'd been used to carrying much heavier things than a human. He felt light compared to some of the things she had been made to carry in her lifetime. "I fear that it may not be all it seems to be, Leigh. For now, we need to get away from here, it is no longer safe"

With that she lifted herself upto her height, and at first she started off slowly so he could get used to the motion when she began to run.

Eventually she came to a stop, she could sense something close by. Scanning her surroundings she gazed around, not being able to see anything clear in her way. The tree beside her groaned, it was an old tree and could no longer stand people being in its branches. Neku looked up and spotted a male, for some reason she felt he would do them no harm. He would help them, though this was still to be put to the test, "Please, could you come down, this tree is old and can no longer stand humans being in its branches, we wish not to fight"

[Jake Gobien]

The voices came ever closer, and then into his full view, now that was an extraordinary sight, a man upon the back of a female centaur. Not something you saw everyday, in fact few witches and wizards ever saw a centaur, most didn't care and were deeply suspicious of the race that believed themselves so immeasureably superior to humans. How ignorant some people were, even magical ones or more often than not increased not in wisdom but arrogance, with magic they believed they could conquer the world.

Bowing his head in greeting Gobien nearly decided upon retaining his higher ground miniscule advantage, but he hoped he wouldn't require it anyway. So with a smile he lept down from the tree rolling to break the fall, in a crouch he slowly rose to his feet not wishing to cause them alarm.

"Good as I wish a fight upon nobody, I didn't realise the tree was so ancient," he apoligised patting its bark quite fondly, "I've kept silent vigil from its dizzying heights for a number of nights now, it gives a good view of the Ministry's patrols." He deliberately mentioned the Ministry to find out what views they held towards them. Clearly the man wasn't an official, he was dressed much like himself, splattered in fashionable mud.

"It seems the forest has become the home for many these dark days." He stated watching them with vivid interest. "My name is Gobien, perhaps you've heard of me?" He asked the man, if he knew much of his enemy the Ministry, then he should have. But would had he spent too long confined in this dark place?

[Neku]

The man came down like she had requested. Knowing this wasnt really that much of a safe place to be talking, but she did not know if she could trust this man yet, and she certainly wasnt going to take him where she was taking Leigh if she couldnt. She was breaking many centaur laws anyway just taking Leigh, how many would she be breaking if she took two of these creatures? Many.

"Then there will be no need for a confrontation if neither of us wish to fight" Neku looked at the trees, most of them here now were ancient, they hadnt produced any new trees for a good long while. "I do not suppose you would know, they can not tell you in the same way they can me, but it is alright, you caused no damage to the tree, just slight pain" Neku listened to the man speak, he spoke of the ministry, Neku looked away. Her and Leigh were going against them, but was this a trick? Was he a ministry spy, he did not look like one.

"The forest is the only shelter for those who wish not to be under the control of the ministry, the only place that is left. Though it shall not be left much longer, as i am sure you are aware" Neku looked back at Leigh, wondering if he knew the man, if Leigh knew him it would make it a whole lot simpler, for all of them.

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

'Cobien?' Leigh said, sliding off Neku's side swiftly and landing on his feet lightly. He smiled, a cat always lands on their feet. 'I've heard about you, a great pain you are to the Ministry.' Leigh eyed the man for a moment and smiled.

'Maybe you've heard of me, my name I won't you tell but I died only a year ago and have been revived through strange means. My death also coincides with the arrival of the Ministry at Hogwarts.' Leigh said, continuing on, stepping away slightly, holding his hand out to his side with his wand rotating in the air slightly above it. He never removed his eyes from Cobien, he knew that few men could be trusted nowadays but he had to be careful. 'To be in with the Minister means you've had to be in the Ministry for many years and I don't remember a Cobien at all before I was branded a failure.' Leighs eyes grew dark for a moment before snapping back to attention and smiled.

'You also don't have the arrogant look in your eyes that the Ministry does.' Leigh said, turning his head to Neku. 'He's not a Ministry spy, he's against the Ministry but with whom?' He turned to face Cobien again, waiting for an answer.

[Neku]

Neku felt the weight lift from her back ever so slightly. She didnt mind, the human wasnt heavy anyway. Though she knew standing around, listening to idle chit chat was wasting valuable time. Though they seemed not bothered by this.

Neku only listened to the conversation with one ear, and listened to the wood with the other. The trees not making any sound. She knew if something important was going to happen, they would let her know somehow. The wind's direction had changed suddenly, and this could mean many things, though usually it was a bad sign.

She could not comprehend the two humans speaking together, it was confusing. Though when Leigh's attention returned, she found herself able to understand again. "I know not who he is with, but we are vunerable out in the open and must leave soon, whether... Cob.. Cobe.." She couldnt get the new guys name out and gave him a small smile, "I am sorry." She apologised warmly, "Whether he comes too or not, is his own decision to make"

[Jake Gobien]

Gobien had expected an interrogation of sorts, and he wasn't disappointed, they were both wary with due concern as he was himself, but unlike them he didn't much care for his own safety, once he had been terrified of death, but now he knew that when the time ultimately came he would greet it with a grin; foolhardy perhaps but he cherished others lives over his own; as what life did he really have? In comparison to others, he was always on edge, never able to trust another person fully, but in reality would he really give it up? Never it was his path to tred nobody elses.

"Indeed the edges of the maps are being filled in, there's nowhere left for us to run, though none of us would really flee." He bowed to the centaurs far superior wisdom, though he guessed she held not many more years than he; the lifestyle of a centaur was one far more suited to learning and gaining in knowledge. A centaur had once told him that humans only learn in their first years, whereas centaurs are open to learning forever. Gobien had promptly countered believing that he himself was willing to learn any lessons that life threw his way. He had learnt that in his first year as an Aprrentice warlock at the Ministry, what a challenge that had seemed at the time; it paled in comparison to what others had endured.

"I believe we share a common goal Leigh Addis, we are both thick thorns in the sides of the Ministry, let us hope that continues." He had heard of Addis, always he kept his ears open for any rumours, and there had been plenty about the ghost. "The Ministry are clearly quite afraid of you, or else that wouldn't have tried, and thankfully failed to get rid of you."

He had taken Leigh's words as complimentary, "I do hope I have only sufficient confidence, and not arrogance, I'll let you be the judge of it as you're right with your judgement of my having only relatively recently been flung from the Ministry, though I was been hidden behind the scenes for many years, at least it feels that way," He smiled remembering the times he had endured.

"Let's say I'm a solitary hunter, I've been called it before, but the Ministry is too powerful for any one being alone, we must all stand together to combat them." He answered the question that had been left hanging in the air, no matter what he said or did they would be wary of him, caution would only diminish when they got used to him; perhaps.

Inclining his head he agreed, "indeed our presence may soon be noticed, shall we make haste away from here? If you are willing to have me join you? I will happily answer any further questions you have of me, but as you say," he looked at the female centaur with deep respect, "we should move from here quickly."

As if as an afterthought he added wryly with a grin, "oh and call me anything, Gob, Gobby, Jake, it matters not, whats in a name? I've used other guises before now."

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Leigh looked at Neku and smiled. 'So, I cannot run from the Ministry after all.' He said, sighing. He wanted to run home, hide but he could never do that now, no chance for running. He closed his hand and felt it tremble, not out of rage, not out of fear but out of a new hope that the Ministry may finally be able to be vanquished, then soon a new order established to govern the magical world.

'The Ministry has always been under a shroud of darkness and now the curtain has being lifted for the world to see. Some who support them are ignorantly blind to the faults whilst those that repel their ideas need to be saved.' Leigh said, issuing a statement he had to say. His words built a wall of courage inside of him and his eyes showed it, a new determination rose within him and his once proud appearance returned, as well as his lust for revenge.

'Jake Cobien? I'll just call you Cobien, ally.' Leigh said. He was not comfortable to call Cobien a friend just yet, neither for Neku. 'We have a rather random group growing, don't we? Neku, I shan't ride you no more.' He said, putting away his wand and stepping away. He closed his eyes and relaxed, feeling the energy flow through him. He fell to the ground, his form shifting into that of a tiger. He landed lightly on his feet and let off a slight grunt, smiling if he could as he power that flowed through him felt great.

[Neku]

"Yes, hiding places are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Though it does not still mean that there are none left. There are still a number of places here within this forest that you can use." Neku lowered her own head as he bowed to her. A feat many humans forgot to do in the prescense of a centaur, or chose to ignore through their own stupidity. She knew, with her own knowlege and strength, Leigh and Jake's magical prowess, they could make a fairly good team. One the ministry would do well to watch for. "It would be useless to run from such a force as the ministry now Leigh, however that does not mean we can not hide until we come up with something even better than before."

It would seem the ministry are becoming sloppy in their advances, letting two powerful wizards such as these escape their grasps. I can feel the energy coming from them both, and together if they learnt to syncronise their attacks, the power would be overwhelming, but i shall tell them that later she thought to herself. "Though, some who wish not to follow them, only follow through fear. Do not think everything is black and white, some know not the choices, some to scared to make it... Some have more than what others could imagine having, making it more difficult"

"Yes, we should make all haste from here as quickly as possible, it is no longer safe in this part of the woods. I am more than happy to have you join our little group, Jake" she said, saying the only name he had said, that she could actually say.

Neku moved closer to leigh and whispered "His name begins with a 'G'" She laughed, "It is indeed a random group, but I have gathered many things from this little gathering in which i shall explain later, for we do not have the time right now" She nodded when Leigh said he wouldnt ride, and transformed, "Animagus, impressive." She looked at Jake, who she doubted would be able to keep up on foot, nodding to her back she said, "Your welcome to ride if you cant keep up" She looked at Leigh and said, "You'll have to hurry, run as fast as you can, it is quite a way from here and the ministry are not that far behind us"

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

If he could smile, he would have. Neku's remark about him having to keep up filled him with a competitiveness that he could only quench and he knew that he would be able to, maybe even surpass her speed. He was fit for a human, which would transcend into his Animagus form, allowing him to swiftly move through the forest, plus the added bonus of having a tiger is he could as quickly as he could but as silently as a feather falling to the ground.

He looked up at Neku and nodded his head, letting off a slight growl to indicate he was ready. His senses were now heightened and in the darkness of the forest, the shadows now seemed as bright as early morning, a glad approach for him so see the dimness now as bright as the day.

He looked at Gobien and grunted, stepping forward and nudging the other man to ascend onto Neku's back, forcing him to move for the wind now changed direction, and the smell on the wind was not good.

[Jake Gobien]

"I gather we've all learnt a lot from our meeting and I'm sure we'll continue to be astounded by each other, you should know I sleepwalk by the way, that's one fact I'll get out of the way now, I only say it because I've been known to be very free with my hands I'm afraid." Laughing at the shocked, besmused looks his companion gave him he added "always upbeat too, unless being tortured, that's never nice as I'm sure you know." Strangely his eyes were drawn to Neku then and for the first time did he clearly see the pain she had endured; he wasn't going to bring up such a touchy subject though.

Gobien chuckled and was supremely glad that he'd been welcomed into the group; he sorely needed their aid, and them his. Stroking Leigh's head affectionately he smirked "I really should have guessed you'd be an animagus, and the form of a tiger, how very apt indeed." Scratching him behind the ears Jake added grinning, "bet you've never had that before eh? All cats seem to adore it."

"I can run pretty quick I'll grant you that, but no where near fast enough, so if it causes no offense I shall gladly accept the offer of a more than welcome ride. My legs are shattered, it must be all the running from the Ministry, and then the duels, they really take it out of you don't they?" He grinned down at the tiger form of Addis as he bounded gracefully onto Neku's back.
"It's far easier to run really; saves energy to be sure, you have to really choose your battles, an ambush is always good to initiate, when your attacked it's hellish, lost many a block from a damned giant ambush once, I know how ogres crept up on us I really don't know, you'd have thought the smell would have assailed us, the blame was obviously put on the guard. So there's a lesson for you really, never volunteer for guarding camp, I'll be the one sleeping mark my words." He smirked as the mismatched group delved deeper into the forest; he was going to enjoy this.

[Neku]

"It would certainly appear that way young one, however, as i have spoken only too many times already, we do not have time to be talking about it here, we must move on. The ministry is sure to find us if we stay much longer" Neku crossed her arms, was his sleepwalking really relevant at this moment? She certainly did not think it was, though it was an interesting story. "Lets not talk of torture as i am sure we have all suffered enough by different hands"

Neku rolled her eyes at the boy. She was not sure now if he was going to be a burden or a help. She had to keep reminding herself of his strength. Some she was sure he didnt even know of. Neku would help them both realise the full extent of their power.

"If it would have caused offense, i would not have offered" Humans, she did not, and would never understand their strange minds. Finally he got on her, this now meant that they could be off. "We will sort out night guards when we are there, but to be frank we should not need one." She said, "Let us make haste"

Neku ran with Jake on her back and Leigh by her side. Bounding over the mud at a surpassing speed. Over tree roots and down mud slides they ran. Under the watchful eye of the forest, which Neku knew would keep them safe.

It was a long run to the place she was taking them that was for sure, but they made it. It was a cave, hidden by mud and moss. Protected by an ancient magic, only those that knew its location could find it, unless shown by someone who already knew its location. "We are here" she spoke as she entered the cave.

Markings of centaurs were etched into the cave walls. A place centaurs for generations prayed for their people. Though now it lay empty and deserted. "Now we can speak openly, and safely"

[Prof Octavious Everritt]

Leigh walked into the save and breathed in the deepening smells of ancient creatures. He snarled viciously as a musky odour filled his nose, quickly changing his form back to human, the smell still clinging to him. He brushed the smell away before taking a step, his eyes watering as he staggered into the cave.

Mud clinged to him like it was an extra piece of clothing, albeit a cold, wet one. He growled in slight agitation every time the wet fabric of his clothes struck his skin, sending the chills running through him.

Turning to face Neku and the now standing figure of Gobien, who looked very much like he did, he smiled. He felt the raw electricity of the cave, a powerful sensation rolling through him. It seemed to warm him through though he wondered why he could feel it.

'Why are we here?' He asked quietly, looking at his hands as the warmth spread through him.

[Neku]

It was good to be back, Neku hadnt been here since she first entered the forest. It had a homely feel to her, though she was sure the humans, Leigh and Jake wouldnt find it that way, however it was the safest place to be right now, one the ministry did not know of.

Neku watched as Leigh turned back into his human form, it was certainly strange watching a man change his form. She knew of the exsistance of Animagus's but she had never seen one before and was a new experiance for her.

Neku moved over to the wall and ran a hand over the inscriptions on the wall, centuries of Centaur history was carved here in these very wall, protected by an ancient magic.

"It is the safest place in the forest Leigh" she answered him shortly. "These walls know many secrets and will protect us for all the time we use it, and this gives us a better chance of discussion and such things" she turned to him and looked at the two humans, she wondred if they felt the same strangeness as she did. Did they feel strange being in the prescence of a centaur?