Into the Woods

[Isabelle Valentina]

Isabelle walked briskly down the stone steps, the wind blowing her long cloak out from behind her. She had agreed to meet her new friend, Sage, in front of the forest just as the sun started to go down. It was 10:00 now. Isabelle clutched her cloak around her, shivering slightly in the breeze. In one hand she held her wand, though she wasn't sure how much help that would be; she only knew two spells. In the other she had an old-fashioned lantern. She wondered why Hogwarts, so advanced in magic, didn't have flashlights lying around. How...quaint.

There was no sign of Sage yet, but Isabelle was confident the girl would show up. She was actually very excited for their excursion, and she could already feel her heart starting to speed in anticipation. While she waited, Isabelle took a hair-tie from around her wrist and drew up her long, chestnut hair into a simple bun. Her clothing was tight and black -- she had learned from her last adventure with Margo. A nightgown did not qualify as exploring material.

The forest loomed in front of her, full of secrets and hidden excitements. Where most people saw danger, Isabelle saw opportunity. The forest couldn't be that bad; in fact, Isabelle heard rumors of centaurs and fantastical beast living in the thickets. She had never seen a centaur before, unless you counted those in her storybooks back home. Suddenly, there was a rustling in the bushes near the castle. Isabelle's heart jumped into her throat, and she held her trembling arm aloft. Her wand pointed shakily into the darkness. "Sage?" She called softly. "Is that you?"

 

[Sage Ottavi]

The forest had never been something that Sage feared. She wasn't the fearless type, but she was the type that didn't let silly things be things that she feared. Which was what the forbidden forest was. It was meant to be scary, but really it was just a forest in a school, how was she meant to be able to know what was in it, or be scared by that. Wandering down to it, Sage was running a little late. Nothing planned, just Sage had forgotten to go until that point. She stood not to far from the forest just staring at it. Breaking the rules didn't bother her, nor did the forest, and this was the first time, that Sage actually felt a little excited. She wondered if the other girl, Isabelle was already there. Sage decided she might just be able to sneak up on her, if she did this right. Sage smirked to herself. She made her way to the forest. Sage very easily noticed the girl, the gryffindor girl that Sage would actually say was her friend. Which was odd, considering that it was usually a lot hard for Sage to be friends with someone, but this girl unlike all others that she had met was interesting. The girl was pointing her wand in the direction of what appeared to be a bush. Asking if it was Sage. Sage stifled her laughter, instead closing the gap between her and the girl, walking quietly behind her. She leaned towards her, "now, Isabelle," Sage said quietly as she stood mere centimetres away from the other girl. "It's a little early to have your wand out, don't you think?" She gave a light laugh, and waited to see what Isabelle said, Sage had only brought her wand, though she noted the other girl's lantern. What use would that be. Surely, just the magic light of their wands would be enough.
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