From: jake_frost	Date: February 2nd, 2011 01:25 am (UTC)		(Link)

Jake felt exceedingly lucky with the draw for teams; he adored his art professor, Ms. Eastman, and he had to admit to more than a passing crush on fellow team member, Michiko Passos. He and Michiko shared only one class together, but he was proud that it was Defense Against Dark Arts, because that was his best class and he could shine a bit in that one.

Knowing they would be going through the woods and possibly some swampy area, Jake dressed for the mission and packed a backpack with what he thought were necessities. He had included his wand, a bestiary, a flashlight, a bottle of water, his iphone, granola bars and, of course, sour Skittles.

He knew it was an antiquated way to think, but Jake had his flashlight in one hand and his wand in the other, feeling very protective of the two women in his group; intellectually, he knew that the professor’s abilities far outweighed his own and that Michiko’s were at least as good. Jake stepped carefully, keeping his eyes and ears alert; if anything came for them, he would put himself in it’s path.

	From: crescentcitynpc	Date: February 2nd, 2011 03:08 am (UTC)		(Link)

So far, their venture had been fairly uneventful. Clio led the two students to the edge of campus and into the trees with a Lumos spell lighting the way.
"Careful you two," she said with a glance backward and took a large step over some fallen branches and roots. "It is easy to trip here."

She led them on further into the woods, sweeping her eyes all around. Clio then suddenly stopped and raised her free hand in a signal to stop. She believed she heard movement in the brush ahead, but it was difficult to tell over the footsteps of her companions.

	From: gimmeskittles	Date: February 2nd, 2011 09:20 am (UTC)		(Link)

Michi was feeling pretty confident knowing that she was in good company and could defend herself pretty well so she didn't think twice to take her eyes off their surroundings to watch her feet. She was careful to tip toe through the fallen branches, she was paying such close attention to the ground that she almost ran into Professor Eastman. She stopped just short of running into her teacher and stood stock still, holding her wand out in front of her, ready for just about anything.

	From: jake_frost	Date: February 2nd, 2011 05:07 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Jake felt silly using a flashlight, when Professor Eastman was using the Lumnos spell to light the way for them up front; he was really on edge and he just felt the need to have his weapon source and lighting source be two separate entities. He hoped the professor didn’t think he was a fool.

Having just stepped over the lichen-covered roots, which the professor pointed out, Jake came to an abrupt halt at her upswept hand. He held his breath for what seemed like an hour, his eyes combing the dark forest around them; Jake’s creative mind made monsters everywhere in the dark recesses of the trees.

“Ms. Eastman…”, he whispered, low and raspy, “…where is it?” Jake’s head turned in all directions, followed by his flashlight. “Would you like me to try to draw it out?”, he asked, wanting to be brave.

	From: crescentcitynpc	Date: February 3rd, 2011 11:53 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Clio's eyes searched around them for the source of the noise, her gaze climbing higher and higher until it reached the branches of the trees several feet in front of them. She extinguished the Lumos spell with a flick of her wrist so that she could see better up into the trees.

"There, just ahead of us, in the trees." The teacher pointed with her wand, and didn't bother to put it back down again. "You may. But only if you can do so while remaining safely on the ground and where we can cover you, Mr. Frost."

	From: gimmeskittles	Date: February 4th, 2011 07:12 am (UTC)		(Link)

Michi looked over at Jake nervously and reached out to give his hand a confident squeeze. "Be careful, we've got your back," she said quietly, stepping closer Professor Eastman.

	From: jake_frost	Date: February 4th, 2011 04:19 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Jake looked at Ms. Eastman and nodded his head, straitening his back and swallowing dryly; suddenly there seemed to be a lump in his throat. He turned towards the sound in the woods and took a step.

When Michi gave his hand a squeeze, Jakes face flushed red; he only hoped that she couldn’t tell in the darkness of the woods. “Thanks, Michi”, he answered, knowing now that he’d go through with this even if there was a dragon facing him beyond the trees.

Taking a few steps away from Michi and the professor, Jake produced a swiss army knife from his pocket and drew the blade across the palm of his hand, “Owww owww owww”, he rasped, “It never looks like it hurts in the movies”, he told himself. Jake had reasoned that the monster was a carnivore and so would be attracted to blood; he held his palm face out as the blood ran down and dripped from it. “Come on, you nasty beast, dinner time!”, he called into the trees. Jake continued to walk towards the noise…

	From: crescentcitynpc	Date: February 5th, 2011 11:33 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Professor Eastman's jaw opened when she saw Jake draw a blade, and her jaw dropped even lower before she could speak when he drew that blade across his hand. "Jakob," she almost hissed as he inched his way towards the source of the noise.

Her eyes went from the blonde student and back, wand raised. When Jake drew close enough the source of the periodic noise made itself known as a small group of bats burst forth from the trees, startled by the searchers.

	From: gimmeskittles	Date: February 6th, 2011 01:49 am (UTC)		(Link)

Michi winced a bit when she saw him draw the blade across his palm. She looked between Professor Eastman and Jake as he moved closer to the trees. The hair on her arms rose and she straightened right out at the clamor from the bats, her wand still raised when they flew from the trees. "Phew," she said relieved with a little laugh.

"Want some help with that hand?" she asked looking at Jake.

	From: jake_frost	Date: February 6th, 2011 04:52 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Jakes heart was pounding up into his throat and his hand hurt like hell; he held his bleeding hand out before him and had his wand ready in his other hand. He heard Professor Eastman’s reprimand called from behind him and hoped that if this worked out, she wouldn’t yell at him for cutting himself.

Goosebumps were beginning to rise all over his body when, suddenly, BATS thundered out of hiding and flew away, over his head, deeper into the forest. “WAHHH!”, Jake exclaimed, holding up his wand, startled; he froze for a moment and then slumped in relief, realizing that no monster was coming for him.

“Ugh, I cut myself for stupid, friggin’ bats”, he grumbled. When Michi offered Jake assistance with his hand, his face flushed pink and he smiled shyly at her, “Sure, thanks, Michi”, he held his hand up, “Pretty dumb, huh?”

	From: crescentcitynpc	Date: February 6th, 2011 09:36 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Clio's wand lowered when she saw that it was only bats that burst forth from the trees. Her eyes remained there for a moment, making sure that was all that was there, before her attention turned to the students with her.

"I do hope that's not your usual default for luring out a foe, Mr. Frost," Clio watched as Michiko helped her fellow student. "Ms. Passos, are your healing charms suitable enough to mend that wound, or do we need to visit the infirmary?"

	From: gimmeskittles	Date: February 7th, 2011 12:00 am (UTC)		(Link)

Michi grinned at Professor Eastman's comment and took Jake's hand. "Tergeo," she said trying to get rid of some of the blood so she could see the wound more clearly. "It looks worse than it really is," she said to Professor Eastman. "It'd gonna sting," she said to Jake.

"Vulnera Sanentur," she repeated the charm three times, making it almost sound like a song as she waved her wand over his hand. By the third repetition the cut had stopped bleeding, the skin had knit back together, and there was almost no evidence of the cut having been there. "It might scar but if you get some essence of dittany it should take care of it... unless you want some really bad as... butt scars," she giggled a little.

	From: jake_frost	Date: February 7th, 2011 01:09 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Boy did Jake go from hero to zero in the span of a few moments; he felt like such a fool, “No, ma’am, Mrs. Eastman, it’s not”, he looked at his professor with embarrassment. When she mentioned the infirmary, his blue eyes shot wide and he turned from Professor Eastman to Michi, giving his classmate a pleading look.

Jake smiled when Michi cleared away most of the blood pooling on his hand; the slice in his palm didn’t look quite so ominous now. He smiled and nodded his head in agreement when Michi informed the professor that it looked worse than it was.

When his classmate warned him that her repair of his hand would sting, he smiled and almost purred, “I trust you”. She didn’t know that her touch alone was working as a painkiller for Jake. He watched and listened as Michi healed his sliced open palm, “Fantastic…!”, he complimented, with a smile; there were a few tears in Jake’s eyes that he refused to let fall, for no matter how taken he was with Michi, the knitting of his skin did sting him a little.

He looked at his hand and laughed, “I think I’ll use the essence of dittany. Thanks, Michi!”, he held his hand up, “Scars might look…bad butt on some guys, but on me they would look crazy and I don’t need anything else to make people think I’m crazy!”

	From: crescentcitynpc	Date: February 11th, 2011 04:05 am (UTC)		(Link)

Clio gave a small nod and let Michiko perform the spell. She was unsure how good the girl's healing magics were, hence the question about the infirmary, but it seemed that Jake was as good as new when they she was finished.

"We have some more area to cover before we head back to campus, although I think we're in for a quiet walk. Are you two ready?"

	From: gimmeskittles	Date: February 14th, 2011 04:21 am (UTC)		(Link)

"Thanks! Gotta know healing for all the injuries in quodpot," she grinned. "I think Nurse Ducote might have some," she suggested giving his hand a little pat.

"I'm ready Professor," Michi nodded.

	From: jake_frost	Date: February 14th, 2011 01:09 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Even though his nerves were still on edge and his hand still stung a little, Jake was pretty disappointed that it hadn't been a monster that had come through the trees. He was further disappointed when the professor predicted the rest of their mission would be a quiet walk.

Jake shrugged and responded halfheartedly, "yes ma'am, professor, I'm ready.