The thestral slowly and cautiously followed the trail of scrap meat to the edge of the forest. His ears were pinned back against his head, and his large leathery wings were raised slightly. His milky white eyes scanned the edge of the forest nervously.

He could see he wasn't alone... he could see others in the shadows of the trees.

Yeah, Jez was well aware she wasn't technically allowed in the Forbidden Forest. But she wasn't exactly in it, was she? Just ... near it. A few metres away from the edge. So she technically wasn't breaking any rules, right? Unless someone wanted to get a tape measure.

She was just minding her own business when a big black dragon-horse-thing came to the edge of the forest. Jez stifled a gasp, stepping back slightly. Good Merlin almighty. A thestral?! How could she even see the thing? Jez kept very still, half hoping the creature wouldn't notice her, but also really wanting it to. Like she didn't have many of those life-threatening opportunities in her life.

The weather was getting colder and colder and Daichi wasn't forgetting his scarf any more from his dormitory. He wrapped it tighter around him as he walked over the grounds.

His first idea was to go to the lake and check it out but after seeing a suspicious young girl near the forbidden forest, his curiousity grew stronger. Looking around in the hope none of the Professors or Prefects were near he too walked carefully towards the forest.

Okay, so he had seen it wrong, the girl wasn't technically in or at the edge of the forest but he was still curious as to why she was staring and hiding... "we aren't suppose to be here..." he whispered the moment he was beside the girl and peered towards the edge of the forest.... when he saw a weird creature the girl was probably looking at. "What is that?"

How long has it been since she last stepped on the Hogwarts Grounds? Because of the many schoolwork that they already had plus the start of Quidditch Season, only now did the the young eaglette had the chance to roam around again. That was her thing, strolling around the grounds and just waiting for Mr. Henry the Squid to make an unexpected appearance.

However, it seemed like there was a more unexpected event happening right now. Then and there before her eyes. Two students on their way to the Forbidden Forest? But they weren't supposed to right? Where was Mr. Murdoch?

Beezus' first instinct told her to go and fetch the Groundskeeper but as she walked closer, she found out that the two persons standing near the fence were her friends. Jezabel and Daichi! "Jez! Daichi!" Beezus called out as she ran towards them, completely forgetting about going to Mr. Murdoch. When she arrived at their side, she noticed they were looking at something. She frowned. 'What were they looking at?' she asked mentally. "Errm..is something there?" she inquired for she couldn't see anything.

Daichi hoped the girl knew what it was because despite vaguely remembering seeing a picture of it in the CoMC textbook, he couldn't remember what was written about it. He was about to ask something again when he heard a voice shouting his name and probably the girl's name from behind him.

He jumped a bit in surprise and as he looked back he noticed Beezus running towards them. Eeeeh... "Ssssh calm down!" he said as he gestured a finger towards his lips before pointing towards the weird black creature.

What in Merlins beard?! She had to ASK if something was there?!

Helloooooo! it was right there! "That!" The Slytherin whispered as he pointed directly towards the horse. "That black winged creature" seriously if Beezus didn't see it she must be blind.

That?! That? That what?

Beezus frowned more in confusion. What in Merlin's beard was Daichi talking about? Then he said something about a black winged creature. She quickly shifted her eyes from the boy to the forest. A black winged creature? "Huh?" was all she could say.

All she was seeing on the forest were trees, spooky and large trees at that. But a black winged creature? He must be hallucinating. "Daichi, I..I..all I see are trees." Beezus told him after a few seconds hesitation. Was she the only who can't see it?

For a long time the black Unicorn watched the Thestral in silence from behind a thick of tress. Then with the cautious grace of a deer it stepped into the open and trotted towards the Thestral...not too fast but not too slow. It's deep black mane tossing like waves, it's slender, spiraled horn flashing against the sky.The Unicorn's deep, wise eyes glanced around cautiously as it moved interested in what the thestral was doing.

When the Unicorn was within a few yards of the creature, it flared it's nostrils and with a shake of its head whinnied at the thestral as if saying hello.

The Unicorn could sense the children in the distance. It turned its head slightly towards the noise of their high pitched voices while pawing the soft dirt under its hoof.

Jezzabelle had just watched as three people made their way down to the Forbidden Forest. It was forbidden she shouldn't have followed but curiosity grabbed at the lion and she made her way there. Standing on the outskirts she squinted and looked into the trees.

WAS THAT A UNICORN!?

What was it doing? Was there another creature there? One she couldn't see. She just stared and then it turned it's head to the other group. Remaining silent Jezz prayed a Professor wouldn't show up. It wouldn't really be good for her to lose house points for standing on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest.

Huh? was that all she could say? Yup , she IS blind. Daichi looked back at the winged horse and by the way that the girl Jez was looking at it too , he knew he wasn't the only one who could see the creature. So that meant that Beezus was the weird one.

"You only see trees?" he asked in amazement and shook his head. "I see trees AND that black horse... you're not playing with me right?" Because it wouldn't be funny.

A movement in the corner of his eyes caught his attention when he saw another creature walk out of the forest. Now this one he knew! His mouth fell open as he saw the unicorn walking closer to the thestral. "Are they..greeting each other?" he asked no one in particular as he watched the Unicorn turn his head towards them .

Another movement on his right caught his attention yet again and he saw a young girl walking towards the outskirts of the forest! WHAT WAS SHE DOING?! even the three of them had been watching from a distance but to go to the edge!

The slytherin recognized Jezz from Diagon Alley and he tried to get her attention. "Pssst! Jezz! Come back here!" It was dangerous getting so close to the forest!

Everyone will break rules, right? Hades wasn't excluded. In fact, he was one of those to break most of them if it won't get him into trouble. Since he was already outside, he decided to sneak into the Forbidden Forest. What can it be in there that made it forbidden for students to enter? Of course, he had his wand at the ready.

Not far ahead of him, he saw three silhouttes. Hades squinted his eyes and raised his wand at the direction. Slowly and carefully, he approached the silhouettes until he got clear view of them. "Daichi!" said he relievingly, lowering his wand. "What'r you doing here?" that implied to the rest of them too. It seemed like Hades was the eldest among them.

Okay maybe she was too close. Jezz looked at Daichi and moved towards him and the group he was with. "What," she said softly. "It's not like I was in the forest. I was just standing a little closer. Getting a better look." She wasn't going to get any closer.

From this point though she had to squint a little more to make out the unicorn. "Is there another creature in there with the unicorn?" She still couldn't see whatever it was. what reason would there be for a unicorn to stop so close.

What is he doing here? Why was HE pointing his wand at THEM? oh wait..he lowered it again. Looking a bit suspicious, because he knew Hades liked trouble making or atleast breaking the rules, the Slytherin pointed for the nth time towards the edge of the forest. "Looking at that unicorn and that black winged horse over there" he said quietly before turning to Hades again with a raised eyebrow. "You weren't planning to go in to the forest just now, did you?" he asked because if he had, Daichi was happy he was here since he didn't want Slytherin to loose points. They already were at third place which was not acceptable in his book.

Despite Jez being sorted in Gryffindor, she wasn't a bold brave stupid one that jumped right in to action. And he smiled a little when she walked towards them. "Nothing, it's just... the forest is too dangerous to get close to and i don't want you to get hurt" he said truthfully.

He saw her squinting her eyes as she looked back at the forest and he chuckled. He felt like a baby sitter right now...despite Hades being older. But he gave her the same amazed look he had cast Beezus when she asked if there was another creature with the unicorn. "Uhm.. yes, a black winged horse... i don't know what it is" he answered as he blinked at her.

Should he take Beezus and Jezz to the hospital ? because clearly they were getting blind...

Jezz smiled at Daichi, "I wasn't going to get hurt...but thanks for watching out for me." Kurumi would have her head if she had gotten hurt...or at least she though the older lion would be worried.

"Black winged horse...." She thought long and hard about what she had read in her Care of Magical Creatures text. Then it hit her. "It's a thestral," score one for reading, "I won't be able to see it." No and she was glad she wouldn't be able to. "Only those who have seen death...can..see..." She let her sentence fall and felt her heart break for the older boy. Who's death had he witnessed?

Hades was about to say no when Daichi asked whether he planned to get further into the forest, but changed his mind when the younger boy pointed to the unicorn. It was... Beautiful! Such pure creature! Looking awestruck, Hades took a few steps closer. Suddenly, the thought of Daichi saying that he saw a black winged horse snapped him out. Hades turned around quickly. "What do you mean black winged horse...?" questioned the elder boy, raising his eyebrows.

However, he had an idea what Daichi meant. Walking up towards the younger Snake, Hades patted his shoulders. "Daichi..." he sighed. "Do you personally know anyone who's no longer alive? Someone who's... Dead." It was hard for him to say that. Hades didn't like bringing up the past that could hurt someone.

Daichi looked back at the Unicorn and the black horse on the edge of the forest and listened carefully when Jezz said it was a thestral. It sounded familiar but he was never a hero in CoMC so it wasn't like he went ooooh! when he heard the name. He did however blink at the younger girl for knowing and he frowned when she trailed her words away.

He didn't like the look of ...what was it? sympathy? on her face and he was about to ask what was wrong when Hades suddenly patted his shoulders! What the?

Confused, the third year looked from the two creatures back to the students and the words made him turn his stomach. "I..i.." was the only thing he could say. Daichi made a movement with his arms as if he was pressing something against his chest, a plushed duck named Mr.Duckles he had carried in his first year but was not here anymore.

He was both confused and a bit angry at their question. He had never accepted his mother's dead and now they brought it up! He had already punched Professor Williamson for reminding him (accidently of course) and he wasn't someone who would fight. Figthing his emotions inside of him, he turned to look at Hades. "That's rude and not the place to ask someone EVER!" he had shouted the last word and looked away. Hoping not to have startled the creatures...

How confused Daichi looked was enough for Hades. The eldest between them felt guilty for bringing that up. As a senior and friend, he felt sorry for Daichi. When the younger boy snapped off at him and a girl who was apparently the youngest among them, he let go of his shoulders and listened to him. "I'm sorry," he mumbled, looking at the ground. "I didn't know..." that Daichi had lost someone in his life. From how he acted, no one can tell that the boy went through such hardness.

"The girl's right. It's a thestral," he turned around, looking at the empty space where the thestral was supposed be (as pointed by Daichi). Both his hands were in his pockets, warming themselves. "Only those who have seen death can see it," fascinating creature indeed. Luckily Hades was brilliant at Care of Magical Creatures.

"I didn't ask," Jezz said thinking he was also upset with her. She hadn't witnessed her grandfathers death, but all this talk about death kind of struck a hard spot with her. Even thinking about magical creature made her think of that joke of a class that caused her a good weeks worth of nightmares. She missed him terribly now and she needed a distraction or she'd start crying in front of everyone.

She looked up and just stared at the unicorn. A black unicorn. It still seemed so majestic and magical. If only she could pet it. If only she could walk right into the forbidden forest and pet it. She shifted her weight and looked down.
"The girl has a name," she said softly. "It's Jezzabelle, but you can call me Jezz." Or whatever. She didn't really care anymore. The professors called her Jezzabelle her friends called her Jezz. What's in a name? The which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet? Yes, she was well versed in Shakespeare no matter how old the reading was.

Selena was just taking a STROLL. There was nothing wrong with walking on the school grounds. Clarke was still under cage-arrest but that didn't mean that Kent couldn't enjoy a walk with the Slytherin. Skipping, Selena hugged Kent in her arms, looking around as she did so - even daring to venture a bit closer to the Forbidden Forest.

Because that place was creepy.

And scary.

There were REASONS why Selena did NOT go to the forest... one being... it was forbidden. And two. It was scary. And dark. And creepy. And full of -

Students?

Were students even allowed in the Forbidden Forest?! Selena was pretty sure NOT. The Forbidden forest was called the FORBIDDEN forest for a reason, because it was forbidden. SO. Being a PROPER prefect, she was so going to prove the Aparecium wrong, Selena ran towards them all with her hair flying behind her and a purple colored pygmy puff in her arm.

"HEY!!!!" Selena exclaimed, beaming at all of them. Maybe they were on a trip with a professor or something, y'know. Because they obviously had an explanation for being here. The Slytherin prefect bounded over, bouncing up and down in one spot as she looked at all of them. "We're not supposed to be here... It's dang- UNICORN!" Selena exclaimed, plopping Kent on her head so she could point at the creature properly. And.

It was PRETTY. Could she keep him? Or her? She had a name for the horsey already - CORNY. Because she was that original.

Daichi knew they tried not to make him angry or uncomfortable. But, he just didn't like talking about it. "So.. you two and Beezus can't see the creatures that means i'm ...not normal?" okaay, he had said that wrong. "I mean, since i saw...and you didn't...uhm..." he started to bite on his lower lip as he looked back at the edge of the forest.

This was exactly the reason why he ALWAYS avoided talking to people who asked about his past. He would either turn around and walk away or smile and pretend he hadn't heard anything. The last one would be the best one to do now. Daichi sighed deeply as he smiled brightly at Hades and Jezz. Showing them not to worry about him.

This pretendence was surely going to get the best of him one day...

Looking back at the Thestral and Unicorn , both had something interresting to them. Especially since they were both black... he had never seen a black unicorn before...oh wait, he had NEVER seen a unicorn before.

Another shouting voice made him jump again and as he turned to look who it was. He gasped a little seeing the badge on her clothes. Prefect... oh boy, this wasn't the first time he had to encounter a prefect. First that Gryffindor boy at the Duck pond, then Kurumi and now.... her. What was her name again?

"Uh, we were just... watching..and uhm..." dang- UNICORN? O_____o what the?

Daichi just stared at the Prefect and her...clearly, short attention span. "It's a Unicorn , yes cool right"? he asked. "I still think the Duckies at the pond are cuter though..." he mumbled and looked at the pygmy puff on top of her head. "There's also a Tristol..or something like that"

aww man, why did he say that?!

Too much to be absorbed. Beezus just stood there open-mouthed and wide-eyed as her eyes finally caught sight of a creature. Was Daichi talking about the same thing? The black horse? But why didn't he say it was a unicorn? Because yes, that one was a unicorn. "Daichi..I think that's.." but all she was about to say was caught hanging when another student joined them. And they were talking about a thestral.

'THESTRAL? THESTRAL? What was a thestral?'

And a few minutes after, there arrived Hades, saying that it was indeed a thestral. Just what in Godric Gryffindor's sword are they all talking about? That wasn't a thestral. It was a unicorn!

However, judging from how they were talking. It seemed like there were actually two creatures which aside from the unicorn, the other one she can't see. "I don't see it!" Finally..another statement from her after just listening to the others converse.

She needed an answer from any of them. WHAT. WAS. A. THESTRAL?!

Just then, that Jezz said that the ones who see it are those who saw death. Why can't she see it then? Her father and sister are dead. "I can't see the thestral!" Beezus frustratedly admitted once more. "Why can't I? My dad and sister is dead!" Now she said it. Dazed and confused, she wiped her hands on her face.

That's when another student arrived and.. O_______O It was a Prefect! Oh! They were so in trouble. Yet, it seemed like she wasn't there to scold them for she too seemed to be fascinated by the black uni---Waiiiiit! Hold it?! "The unicorn's black! Is a unicorn supposed to be black?" she asked no one in particular.

Selena blinked at the boy in confusion, finger still pointed at the unicorn. He was confusing her with his slow talk. She wondered if she ever sounded like that. Selena raised her hand from the pointing position to use it to pet the purple pygmy puff on her head.

She nodded her head. Yes. Very cool. Like... epicawesomemazing cool. She also heard the boy's muttered comment.

"Psssst... pygmy puffs are cooler than ducks," Selena whispered to him in a hushed voice before ANOTHER look of confusion crossed her face. What in cruppy's name was a Tristol? Selena looked around, not stopping on her pygmy puff petting as she turned around... and around, looking for another creature. "What's a Tristol?" Selena asked.

Because she had absolutely no idea.

Just like how she couldn't remember why she was in here. Actually...

She did. "HEEEEYYYY!! We're not supposed toooo beeee heeeereeeeee," Selena said in a sing song voice as she picked Kent up from her head, hugging him and starting to bounce up and down again, using one hand to point towards the LIGHTER side. Also known as the side where they were SUPPOSED to be. "Forbidden Forest is called FORBIIIIDDDDEEEEEN for a reason!" Selena added. Though she DID want to get closer to the unicorn... and ride it. She wondered if it ran really fast.

And there was the question about it being black. Did Selena have any idea?! Psht. Of course...

not.

Jezz turned to look at the older girl that had arrived with a Pygmy puff and sighed just a little frustrated, "It's not like we're inside the forbidden forest. We're just observing from the edge. Live a little. Observe from the outside." Yeah it was weird for her to be thinking so recklessly but, eh.

She looked at Daichi and Beezus and gave them both understanding smiles. "Okay my grandfather passed away when I was eight. I can't see them though because I didn't watch him die. Daichi, you're completely normal. Don't worry." Simple. She felt her eyes water just a little at the mention of it though and she looked away.

"And for those who have just arrived," she said looking at the pygmy puff girl, "We are discussing thestrals." She sighed again as the girl mentioned not being there. " Again, we're just on the outskirts. We're not actually in the forest." That would be stupid and dangerous. "The rules say to not be in the forest. I therefore conclude we aren't breaking any rules."

Turning around to the Gryffindor girl, Hades smiled at her. "Pleasure meeting you then, Jezz," at least she wasn't a Hufflepuff. "I'm Hades," as in the God of Underworld, yes. He got that. The sudden appearance of the prefect made his eyes widened. Hades needed to think of a quick excuse. "Well... We..." he stuttered until Selena had her attention on the unicorn. "We thought we saw something, so we want to take a closer look," said he, glaring at the younger students to go along.

Hades shrugged at Daichi when the boy said he wasn't normal. "You're normal, but there's something special about you," explained the elder boy. "Only those who had witnessed death can see thestrals," which was why Daichi alone can see it. It was the perfect time for Hades to boast about his expertise in Care of Magical Creatures.

Glenn had seen people going into the forest so she too, after hesitating slightly, headed towards the forest. What could happen? She lived beside a forest for Merlin's sake and nothing had ever happened to her family when they went in there. Glenn neared the imposing, dark trees and shivered, nervously twiddling a strand of hair that had come from her ponytail.

She neared the edge of forest, so close to those trees. There didn't seem to be anything impressive in there, maybe this was just a group of friends going on a dare... Merlin! What was that? Glenn whimpered and turned, there wasn't anything there. She felt herself relax and then the thing breathed out. A small steam of air came out of what must have been it's mouth but she couldn't see it, it was invisible and right. Next. To. Her.

She dragged her eyes away from the thing and saw something. A horse? Wait, no. It had a horn! A Unicorn? She knew those existed but, a black one?

Glenn was about to move closer when she heard the invisible thing again, she let out a small cry and shivered again but not because of the cold, because of that - thing. She could be brave when she knew what she was standing up to, but this - what even was this thing?