[Forest] The Disappearing Act

[Edan Ashby]

[OOC; Looking for multiple people to join this thread... ]

Edan stared expectantly at the root protruding in front of him. It was thick and gnarly, a nuisance to not only the otherwise immaculate Hogwarts grounds but also to his homework strewn out in piles in front of him. It had appeared out of nowhere, spindly ridges slithering out from the Forbidden Forest toward the Lake where Edan sat with ease, before pausing briefly to wrap around his schoolbag, much to his dismay.

"All right..." Edan began hesitantly, hands extending outward to his bag. "You see, in here is a very important Transfiguration essay, and I need it if I want to pass the class with something other than a T." He said it slowly and with relief, felt the pads of his fingers brush against a familiar cotton.

However, as soon as he had the slightest grip, the root spiraled out of control, digging itself back into the dirt so that only the briefest glare of white was visible. It rushed back toward the forest with vigor, sending parchment and inkwells flying, before Edan finally targeted it with his wand.

"Accio bag!"

The spell looked like it was on the verge of working, the tip of the root uncurling to let the bag free, before both it and the root disappeared completely. In fact, Edan, who had ran into the outer edge of the forest, noticed with dread that not only the root was gone, but an entire tree.

The newly opened space seemed eerily empty, and to add to the gloom, Edan felt the rest of the trees closing in on him, almost as if in punishment.

"Oh, Hell," he murmured to no one... except maybe the tree root that was clearly the bane of his existence.

[Kristiana Thorn]

Kristiana and her team were done with Quidditch Practice. The team was looking pretty good, they were moving with the greatest of ease in the air, gliding along the sky as one. They were a force to be reckoned with and Kristi was proud to be their captain. After a few hours she blew on her whistle a sign to let them know that they were done. They were hot and sweaty but it was a good thing for all of them that just meant they worked hard the way a team was supposed to.

Kristi was amped after practice was over, and after changing her clothes she watched the rest of the team walk away while she stood behind to make sure everything was put away and she wanted relish the last few hours of the day spent in the air with her team behind her.

After she was done she started to walk back toward the castle. It was just another day, or so she thought. There was movement by the lake. At first she thought it was a trick of the light or something and she was prepared to ignore it, but the movement was continuing. Kristiana had a feeling she should turn and go the other way, but then when did she ever do what was safe. Turning her head she had seen the boy watched as his lips mouthed something.

The the tree that was there moments before seemed to have disappeared. The young Slytherin rubbed her eyes thinking that maybe she was seeing things, but the gaping hole left from the tree was hard to miss. Kristi did the only thing that made sense at the time. Running toward the boy and toward the tree she yelled "Oy, what the hell is going on here."

Walking closer she saw the trees acting oddly once more as if they were about to swallow the boy. Kristi probably should have gone to get some help, but it didn't look as if she would have any time to do so. Running now she tried to get to him, but it was hard. "Hey what happened? Are you OK?" she asked knowing that they might be stupid questions, but what else was she supposed to do?

[Edan Ashby]

It wasn't long before Edan couldn't tell from where it was he entered, the trees twining together and shifting, gathering closer until he swore he could feel the bristle of thorns and branches on his skin.

His defective wand hung limply in his hand, Edan wary of using it. The chance that the spell wouldn't work overwhelmingly high, but not only that - though it wasn't likely, Edan didn't want to risk having another tree disappear, calling the forest for vengeance.

Or did he?

Quickly aiming his wand at the closest approaching trunk, he felt a sudden satisfaction at how it swayed back. "Stay away, or I'll make all of you disappear into thin air!" His voice was loud, shunning the forest into an eerie and pensive silence. Light was slowly dissipating, the canopy of leaves above him successful in creating a thick, opaque layer, and Edan felt panic.

Turning in a slow circle, hearing a rustle behind him, Edan felt the beginning of a spell on the tip of his tongue. He was too shocked to say it however, at finding his wand aimed straight at Kristiana Thorn.

"What?" Edan asked dumbly, his eyes scanning the looming shadows of trees around them. "How... How did you get in here?" Ignoring her questions, he walked past her to the trees behind but with no luck. They had locked both the students in a daunting prison, each tree exactly like the one beside it.

Edan finally looked back at Thorn, his gaze penetrating. "Can you remember where you entered?" It was almost hopeless, the trees slowly inching left and right, creating the illusion of movement.

[Etheldreda Careless]

It seemed Ethel was not allowed a moment to even sit and think outside without something going on. If it wasn’t second years playing with Professor Hubbles’s faulty vanishing cabinets, or drunken house elves in the library, then it was a certain Ravenclaw and Slytherin running into the Forbidden Forest with purposefulness. It was also impossible to turn a blind eye, unfortunately.

Shoving her book and parchment back into her satchel, Ethel stood up and made a hasty walk in the direction of Edan and Kristiana. They had disappeared into the forbidden zone so suddenly that for a moment she was unsure where they had entered, but she had little time in which to judge a decision before the outer trees, usually so benevolent in contrast to the monstrous structures within, began to discreetly close their ranks.

‘What is with this school?’ Ethel uttered irritably, breaking into a light run.

Inside the trees it was cooler, quiet. Safe from prying eyes, the Ravenclaw turned to look back at the school – of course, she could barely see it. The trunks had not knotted together so tightly that they formed a wall, but they had certainly become artificially dense, almost imprisoning. They swayed with a subtle intelligence, threatening to bond completely if she dared retreat.

‘Hey what happened? Are you OK?’

‘Can you remember where you entered?’

Though collected, Edan and Kristiana’s voices were pitched with concern. Through the daytime twilight Ethel could see them stood a small distance apart, and so she made toward them at once, appearing soundlessly from the gloom. ‘I just had to come see, didn’t I?’ She remarked nonchalantly, altering them to her presence. Her pale eyes fixed them both in turn. ‘Explain, please.’

[Dania Dahl]

It hadnt been in her plans to meet up with anyone. So far as Dania knew she was simply taking some pictures a slight ways inside the forest with the hopes of catching a few good owl shots on their evening hunt. Though it seemed now that wouldn't happen as the voices of two or three students arose in the darkness, the trees weaving and knotting all around her. I dont understand.. She thought, teeth gently probing her bottom lip as she glanced around, one hand latched protectively around her camera. It was a muggle antique, her most expensive and prized possession. She had bought herself with the money she worked so hard to make, and she couldn't bear the thought of breaking it. Even if it were an accident. No, if she fell it on anything it would be her face rather than this camera.

The image made her cheeks warm in a pleasant smile, and she clambered over a couple of thick roots in an effort to join the trio that were somewhere nearby. "Excuse me?" She called out carefully, hoping they would keep talking so she could follow the sounds. Finally stepping out now and not quite catching the last of their conversation, her eyes fell upon--or rather looked up at, as she was quite short--the faces of the other students. Something stirred in Dania as she realized she didnt recognize anyone, though that wasn't going to stop her. Despite not having a clue of what was going on with these trees she didnt feel an urge to get back to the castle just yet. It was kind of pleasant actually.. The low, subtle creak of wood slithering around earth in the blackness.

Aware of but not outwardly acknowledging the confusion of the situation, the Hufflepuff simply stood there, waiting for a break in conversation before parting her lips. "If they wanted to strangle us they'd have done it already." She stated quietly with a small smile, hoping she sounded as confident as she didn't feel.

[Edan Ashby]

The wind howled, turning into a sharp whistle where it reached the knotted trees. Soon becoming a shriek, it encompassed the entire forest for a few seconds before dying down and leaving the trees still.

"Oh good," Edan said dryly, turning to Ethel and looking a cross between annoyed and miserable. "Now that everything that lives in the forest is wide awake and probably knows we're here, I don't foresee any successful escape plans." His lips quirked the slightest bit upwards as he lowered his wand, aware that his fellow Ravenclaw already seemed to be in an unfavourable mood. "Do you, Ethel?"

What none of them saw, much to Edan's surprise as her hair was more than visible against the dark backdrop, was Dania's timid approach. "Maybe they're waiting for the rest of the school to join us," he said dryly, regarding the three of them in turn. If there was one thing Edan should have learned considering his six years of experience, it was no matter how solitary the problem, the solution was a joint effort.

Though, it was obvious Edan had grown more relaxed with the company. "You guys should probably go while you can," He said, acting very suddenly, and surprisingly, like a Gryffindor. He suspected himself it was Dania's presence, she did look like the happy sort, the kind you'd feel really bad about letting get hurt. "I'm the one that killed their brother or sister... or cousin, or whatever." Noticing some alarmed looks, he clarified.

"Well, I made it disappear in the very least." He looked toward Ethel, his eyes containing a hint of amusement. If there was something he could count on, it was Etheldreda providing a more than gratifying reaction to most of his awful predicaments.

[Kristiana Thorn]

Soon Kristiana could tell that she was trapped inside the forest now, the trees seemed to have banded together to keep them locked in there. Had she know this is what would happen she would have gladly left the other boy in there all alone. Being trapped in some god forsaken forest wasn't her idea of a good time, but surely if she managed to get in there was a way to get out. She looked around, trying to see a way out but finding none. How in the world had she gotten herself into this mess.

Looking up at the boy as he asked how she got in Kristiana lifted her shoulders and dropped them, which was the universal sign for I don't know. At the moment Kristi seemed to have lost her her voice she was in pure and utter shock.

Then suddenly another voice rang out in the the din of trees and Kristiana closed her eyes almost jumping thinking that some awful thing had made its way in, but alas it was yet another student. Again someone made their way in but no one could see a way to get back out. This was bloody unbelievable one minute she was on a high from a great Quidditch practice and now she was trapped in the forest like a rat waiting to be caught. Now her day was complete.

Then another effing voice. All these people were in here now and still there was no way out. "What in the world is going on, I thought all this weird crap was over with already. This school just keeps getting worse and worse. Why have the trees locked us in like this, what the hell is supposed to happen now." Kristi's voice wasn't filled with fear like it probably should have been, instead it was filled with annoyance and anger, she wanted out of there and wanted out of there NOW.

[Etheldreda Careless]

Having assumed herself to be the only addition to the group, Ethel was spooked to hear a clear, silvery voice materialise behind her. The Hufflepuff’s hair was so vibrant that Ethel questioned how she could have overlooked it, even in the forest’s perpetual witching hour. This lack of attention to her surroundings made Ethel increasingly restless, throwing another hawkish glance about the gathering.

However, despite her wariness, Ethel’s instincts had led her to much the same conclusion as the redhead’s – the trees were not interested in hurting them, for trees did not have the intellectual capacity to hesitate. A characteristic, Ethel realised, she shared with them, considering she could have avoided being here.

With none of the students attempting to leave their ill-formed circle, the bony, dull-grey trees no longer shuffled about, content that their prisoners had resigned to stay put.

‘Well they must have found your vanishing trick at least a little entertaining, or I doubt you’d still be in possession of head, Ashby.’ A wry smile graced the girl’s face, but it lingered only a moment as her gaze drew into the blue fog of darkness, pulled by a familiar, unwelcome intuition.

‘We’re not allowed to leave, but they must want something.’ She mused, low and remote. ‘I suppose all we can do is find out.’

Fiercely reluctant to move even one more step away from the school, Ethel was thus thoroughly confused to find herself heading into the Forbidden Forest, utterly devoid of a reason for doing so.

[Dania Dahl]

It seems she had joined them after something significant had occurred, as Edan had stated he was the one who had done something to one of their kind. A concerned look seemed to flicker in his eyes as he glanced her way and mentioned they should leave, and while that truth was evident the Hufflepuff surprised herself somewhat by gently shaking her head. "We wouldn't just leave you." And while other company might have already been heading for the hills right now, the assembled students surely wouldn't just up and take off. The idea of scattering and scampering away went against proper logic, and that thought was enough to startle her; Dania hadnt a very good grasp on logic, and to find herself unwittingly thinking about it provided her with a greater scare than what these things might do to them.

Dania wasn't against the idea of admitting she was scared, though it was easier to see that by simply looking at her. Her already pale skin had lightened two shades to a near-white, and her dark eyes were widened some--while she now stated she wouldn't leave him, if she was scared enough like a frightened fawn the lass would bolt, though hopefully it wouldn't come to that. The utter guilt she would feel.. Why, she'd just be in a state of horridness for the next few weeks or so, a terrible contrast to the happy aura she normally carried about her.

The Slytherin's sharp, annoyed voice rang out loudly, and Dania hoped no other wayward creatures were nearby to hear it, 'lest they'd have another problem on their hands. Etheldreda remarked about the trees possibly wanting something, and the idea of Edan dressing up like a woman and dancing awkwardly for their entertainment flashed in her mind. Her worried look was then broken into a small smile, a little laugh accompanying it. That would be so funny!

[Edan Ashby]

Edan was taken aback by Kristiana's remark, having forgotten that other people would be as miserable as he about their capture. Regaining his composure as well as he could in a forest filled with murderous trees, Edan tried to forge a relaxing tone.

"It's best for us to be optimistic and take what Ethel's saying into consideration," The boy turned to the other Ravenclaw offering her a blatant stare. For once, it was void of any mirth and instead completely focused, absorbing her every word. "I'm not going to trust these things," he added, nodding to trees, "but so far all they've done is promise me a failed grade in Transfiguration. Ethel's right, I still have my head... Ethel?"

The girl's clear voice directed them into the forest, and she was deadly concentrated on her task. Offering the slightest of smiles at her back, Edan turned to follow though was distracted by a laugh.

Looking at Dania somewhat concerned, Edan caught her eye. "I've heard you're a bubbly sort, Dahl, but really..." Of course, with no idea of what she was imagining, Edan shook his head and continued after Ethel, hoping the other two would come along. His moment of bravery was well over, and being alone was a daunting thought.

Reaching Ethel, Edan leaned close. "If you lead us to the centaurs, I'm readily giving you up in exchange for freedom," he said with a smirk.

[Etheldreda Careless]

Ethel slowed down as Edan caught up to her side, though still continued forth with a sense of mechanical mission. She felt foolish, clueless, for the last thing Ethel had ever been interested in was leading the way. She preferred to linger in the background and make pessimistic comments, better at judging someone else’s plan of action and finding fault with it. It wasn’t the most helpful of roles, but someone needed to be logical in situations like this. So why wasn’t it her today?

‘Wouldn’t they prefer the Hufflepuff? What’s her name, Dahl? Oh – Dania Dahl? She could teach them to lighten up a bit – they’d throw me out of the forest after two hours.’ Ethel peered back at Kristina and Dania, two conflicting figures of irritation and optimism. Wheras Kristina stood fuming in silence, Dania glowed with thoughts that had nothing to do with here-and-now.

A hollow screech issued too close overhead. Ethel froze and glared upwards, a massively ugly, black bird looming above them. It was thin yet weighty, much like a vulture, and had particularly melancholy eyes. It was no ordinary bird.

Digging her fingernails into Edan’s wrist, Ethel wished she could hide behind someone with a wand that actually worked. ‘Erm, what is that?’

[The Forbidden Forest]

Leaves shattered - thrown to the floor as the Augury took flight. A distant memory resurfaced in their minds, the students understanding the hollow cry as a symphony of unusual sounds.

To Dania, the screech sounded like pure laughter, unhindered and with a maniacal edge. As the Augury swooped close to Kristiana, it become similar to the vicious lashing of domestic violence - the sound of breaking china glass muffled by the wooden barrier of the walls that enclosed her room. For Edan, the screech was silent - the vibrations in the air having seemingly disappeared.

Etheldreda did not hear such illusions. As the others hid in their deception, she heard the thundering calls of rain.

At once, though the thick sheets of vegetation above them suggested they should remain dry, the four students became drenched with the solemnity of a storm. Trees bent forward with deep moans, crookedly feeding their parched throats.

The Augury flew into the forest, the illusion of its cries forgotten and replaced by the creaking of gaunt trunks as they reached hungrily for flesh. [/i]

[Kristiana Thorn]

Kristiana was frightened and the idea of it pissed her off because she was a Slytherin and as such fear was not supposed to be part of her vocabulary, at least people knowing she was afraid anyway. At first she thought that perhaps this was some silly joke a prank being played, but the longer they were stuck in the thicket of trees the more she realized there was nothing funny or comical about this. They were in some serious trouble here even if no one else seemed to think so. The one girl Hufflepuff by the look of her was acting all blaze about the whole thing as if nothing bad could happen to them, act as if this was something fun a treat.

Krisiana was trying not to explode and tell them that they were all acting like a bunch of morons. Trying to walk around looking for some way any way out she was unhappy she couldn't find one.

Then the sounds started, unusual other worldly sounds that didn't not belong. This time Kristiana did jump just a little. What was going on? "So you say the forest wants something, what in the bloody hell could that be, more leaves?" she knew she probably shouldn't have said it but she was freaked out now. "We need to get out of here this isn't a good thing." Didn't anyone else see that?

[Edan Ashby]

"Ow!" Edan winced at the coupled pain of knocking into Ethel at her sudden stop, and the pressure of nails against his skin. Frowning, he turned to her questioningly, but the look on her face caused him to falter over his own voice.

"Ethel?" He asked hesitantly, unsure. Edan, for one, could only hear the soft rustle of grass as it moulded with soil beneath their feet. "Look, maybe we should turn back. We don't know what this place can do to us, physically or mentally - " His eyes finally followed hers to stare into the sky, and he stopped short at seeing the hideous bird.

It swooped low, shedding dark feathers that resembled bristles over their heads. Edan noticed with an eerie chill that as soon as the magnificent wingspan overshadowed him, he could hear nothing. Even Ethel's distressed breathing next to him was silent, and for a brief moment of intense fear, Edan felt he was deaf.

Craning his neck behind him, he noticed Kristiana having a completely different reaction. She looked taken aback, her eyebrows furrowed in question. Her lips were moving, gaze scanning them purposefully.

And then it came back. Sound assaulted him from every angle, and he squeezed his eyes shut painfully as his hands reflexively protected his ears. Kristiana's remark echoed loudly in his eardrums in harmony with the Augury's cry, all a backdrop against the roaring thunder.

Bent over, his fingers white with the force of clutching his ears, he didn't notice as rain began to pour, soaking them. Water clung to his eyelashes as he gazed blearily up at the sky, feeling the trees bend with him.

The bird was flying forward, into the dense thickness of trees ahead, and in desperation to get away from the ringing noise, Edan ran vehemently after it.

[Dania Dahl]

As the bird-creature's wings spread threateningly above them the moment its shadow--were it in possession of one--fell over Dania the sound of raw, cackling laughter screamed in her ears and she cried out, fingers scrabbling blindly at them in attempts to rid herself of the noise. Ever since childhood she was always sensitive to anything loud, as a baby even the sound of clapping reduced her to tears. And as that maniacal shriek echoed in her head she squeezed her eyes shut, kneeling on the forest floor as the roots of trees curled tightly around her ankles. But just as quickly as it came it vanished to plague the others with their own respective punishments, though the Hufflepuff refused to move, the memory still pounding the insides of her skull.

The water turned the earth she was sitting on to mud, and her jeans were soon near-submerged in the aftermath of the coming rain. Dania pried her eyes open to locate the others, refusing to speak even if spoken to, evidently shaken this time by what she had heard. By the way Ashby tore off after the bird perhaps he had listened to something different, or maybe his ears were just stronger than hers, whatever the reason she still didn't want to move. Looking now to the roots wrapped around her ankles she twisted her body in an effort to more fully utilize a possible escape. Her hands, frozen and wet, tore at her bindings, and soon she was able to kick the trees away. Had the manacles been thicker she would have been a living testament to the warning 'Dont go into the forest.'

Pushing off with some difficulty she stared wildly around, taking off after Edan due mainly to the fact that he was nice and she'd rather stick with him than get eaten alive by Thorn.