Antwone squeezed Tetrus's hand with equal force, "A pleasure, I'm sure." The man smelled foreign, as did his accent.

As Tetrus turned away from him to talk to the rest of the group, Antwone put two and two together. The centaurs must have been causing a sort of a ruckus and the other members of the department had brought peace offerings for the prideful creatures. Antwone dug into his rucksack to find something of value:

Inside he found a picture of Jezzabell and him holding hands back in their Hogwarts days, a picture which saved his life weeks ago. That would be no good. Another item was a family heirloom, a golden watch, which he received from his uncle the day he came of age. Certainly the centaurs would not take much interest in such of a thing. The last novelty he found was a small vial which he had used from time to time. It was very valuable and very rare. Antwone couldn't actually afford it when he had stolen it years ago from Diagon Alley, back when he used to run with the werewolf underground. Maybe this could have been his way of "giving back." He took the cork out the tip of the vial and sniffed its contents.

Yup, those are the phoenix tears indeed.

Antwone had known that centaurs enjoyed the magic in healing and astrology. He didn't have anything astrologic to give but phoenix tears should have done the trick. He slipped the vial back into his rucksack and waited for the others to make their way into the forest.

He watched as Tetrus casted a spell and threw it into the forest. Homenum Revelio, Antwone had thought. Tetrus was an intelligent man, he was. But why was he looking for human presence? Were they not looking trying to appease the centaurs? Antwone wanted to ask Tetrus this question but did not want to seem foolish. He stood silent and waiting for the call to move in.

Violet turned her head to examine the new arrival. Her purple eyes, bright even in the mottled, misty light of the forest, looked straight at him. She noticed three scars on the left side of his face, which told her immediately that this was someone who had already faced danger before. She shifted her jar so that it ws tucked under her left arm, and extended her right.
"Violet Silvermoon. Head of the Beast Division. I assume you are one of my new employees--pleasure to meet you, but I'm afraid now is not the time to make acquaintances. There will be time for that after the mission." She spoke quickly but not unkindly.

She shook her head at Tetrus's inquiry. She didn't have any questions. In her opinion the sooner this was started, the better. She narrowed her eyes, trying to see further into the mist which was becoming heavier.

Antwone turned to Violet face-to-face, becoming suddenly aware of her dazzling eyes. The fog around her seem to accentuate the glow in her irises. Just as quickly as he was taken aback by her appearance, he put back on a facade of concentration and professionalism. He took her hand briefly in a shake and then let it go, nodding his head, "Name's Antwone Thomas."

She turned from him and looked in Tetrus's direction. Antwone redirected his attention to the Department Head as well.

Tetrus Santana seemed impressed with the sheild, he was welcome to it.

Just after Pandora, June arrived. Pandora had to fight hard to keep a look of disbelief off her face. Short robes, peep toe sandals and Louis Vuitton? Where did this witch think they were going on this misson, Milan? The telescope that she had produced was beautiful.

Crack
Katalin, the girl who had wanted to come and speak to the centaurs alone arrived with a goblin made sword.

Crack, Samson Vane appeared. After saying his hellos Samson, who had been sat near Pandora in the meeting, reluctantly handed over his telescope. He didn't seem to want to let it go and Pandora wished she had an extra gift so that he didn't have to.

Crack Violet Apparated into the forest.
She had brought a jar of fire. She explain that it was everlasting.Gubraithian fire? That was seriously impressive. Of all the gifts, Pandora thought that this would impress the centaurs most.

Another crack and an unfamiliar young man appeared. He introduced himself as Antwone Thomas. Antwone was tall and had familiar looking scars across his face. He looked at the group, taking in their appearances and the things that they were holding. He didn't seem to have brought anything with him. He hadn't been in the meeting, so he probably didn't know he needed anything. Pandora wondered how that would go down with Santana.

As Santana cast a spell which caused an orb of light which floated into the forest, Antwone was digging through his rucksack, considered a few items and then put them back. Perhaps he did have something to give afterall.

Santana asked if they had any questions. Pandora shook her head, all the salient points had been covered in the meeting and she just wanted to get on with the job.

She nodded her head once. Antwone Thomas, she would remember that. She gave him a smile and turned her attention back to the rest of the group.

Everyone had brought a gift, just as Tetrus had asked. Violet saw a few telescopes, a shield, basilisk venom, and even phoenix tears in addition to her everlasting fire. She had a feeling that the centaurs would be pleased with the offerings---probably a stronger feeling than most, as she had worked in the centaur offices previously.

CRACK!

Everyone's favourite Tempestuous Redhead appeared.

She didn't want to be here THIS time either. And she CERTAINLY didn't understand why Being Division needed to be represented.

Not to mention she was still in a mood from the last meeting she took.

Whatever was in the Forest was in for more than it bargained for.

Pandora looked at the new arrival, not sure if they had met or not. One thing was certain, whoever she was, she did not seem to be in a good mood.

Pandora wondered how many more people they were waiting for.

Tetrus’ lip curled into a grin as no one threw any questions at him, they were set to begin as soon as Mayes arrived. Crack. And the Being Division Head was in attendance as well. Tetrus simply have her a glance before eying the tip of his wand.

A small, yet beautiful, light red orb head appeared at the end of it. Apparently, there was human presence after all.

“Good thing I brought your division along after all, Mayes.” He said, his face cracking into a sinister smile.

Taking five steps forward, he proceeded to turn around and address his department. “My friends, I believe the time has come for us to advance into the forest. For the time being, stow you’re offerings, and draw your wands. As the sun continues to set, the conditions will only become trickier.” And that, was the understatement of the year.

With a swish of long, black dread-locks the man made his way into the dense fog that marked the opening of the forest. The darkness was seemingly imminent, so with a minor swish of his wand lumos was casted. No danger seemed to impede… yet.

ooc: if you were late arriving to the forest, just RP like your character has been there the whole time (:

Antwone stored his vial back into its rucksack and withdrew his wand, lifting it up with a flick of his wrist, a large, bright orb encircling its tip, illuminating the tree branches.

As Tetrus strode off with broad steps, Antwone made an effort to stick close behind, keeping his eyes and nose peeled for any sign of movement. It had taken a while for Tetrus's charm to find any human life-form in the forest. Whoever it was, they were in deep. Deep enough to allude Antwone's keen senses. Deep where the forest was most untamed. And wherever they were, they would certainly feel the effects of the spell washing over them.

They would know we were coming.

Antwone gave a side-glance to Tetrus who seemed confident in his stride. Whether or not they knew a group from the Ministry were on their way did not seem to concern the dread-locked man at all. Perhaps he wanted them to know that someone was on their tail. Still, Antwone was a bit uneasy not taking a more surreptitious approach to the unknown foe. Even more so, he was uneasy not knowing what they were looking for, besides centaurs.

Pandora followed, wand out and lit. If the the centaurs had not felt Santana's spell, they would probably hear the group coming. While she was trying be as quiet as possible, snapping twigs underfoot was unavoidable. Pandora stayed focused, trying to see into the gloom.

Violet took out her wand. She tapped her jar and it shrunk to the size of a thimble. Another tap, making it Unbreakable, and she slipped it into her pocket. Now was when the important part started. She lit her wand and set off after the fading figure of Tetrus. She would be sure that the group advanced more carefully this time.The spell that had just been cast by the department head would not go unnoticed by the centaurs. Violet raised her wand a little higher, as she could not rid herself of a sense of foreboding.

June's golden hair lashed at her hollowed cheeks as she swiveled towards her Department Head. Her smirk was one to shame Salazar Slytherin, and dimples that were nonexistent in her usual scowling state were now gaping. They seemed child-like, giving her an eery porcelain doll appearance as a high, piercing laugh resonated through the silence. She twisted her manicured nails through her loose curls as she made her final steps towards Tetrus, hips swaying, almost staggering, eyelids drooping, and an expression of absolute ecstasy saturating her being.

"Glad I could make your week, Tetty." As she hissed her response she twirled the telescope around her wrist, deftly, surveying her- UGGGGH- boss with indifference. "This is the job I'm suited for. You know. Fighting. For the good. Or whatever. Otherwise this lovely ingenuity just sits. June doesn't like sitting. No, no."

It was more than a hint. Her hunger for power was not a hunger- but an insatiability. She was voracious for the texture and taste of authority. And she was certainly ready to vomit desk-job. The fluorescent lighting of the Ministry building added lines to her face and the pudding cups at the Cafeteria were fattening.

June blinked dully at Antwone, clearly unimpressed by his tardiness. She was June Naruja- SHE- and had managed to be on time though other things did demand her attention outside the Ministry. Last time I checked the world did not revolve around incompetent children in bad fashion. He should have stayed in his office. Eyes narrowing cattishly she looked over her coworkers, slightly snorting. Incompetent. That did seem to be the word of the day.

Without a further remark she stepped forward into the Forest, nearing night fall, nearing fate and the fated half-breeds. With her heart pounding, and a decidedly 'lost-it' or insane expression overtaking her snarling lips, she withdrew her wand. Ooooooo yes. This would be fun.

Antwone sniffed the night air, thinking he had picked up a track when the blonde witch strutted passed him, vaguely pushing him aside with her hip to speak to Tetrus:

How in Merlin's pants a witch like that could get into the Magical Creatures division was beyond him. He rolled his eyes, lifting his wand a little higher ahead of him to examine a nearby branch. He stopped, letting the group go on ahead of him as he sniffed one of the leaves, a strand of fur stuck from the end of it. He plucked the string of hair and inhaled it briefly. He couldn't be sure with the blonde witch's perfume mucking the scent but he was almost certain:

Centaurs.

He knelt down and felt the ground, feeling the grooves and mounds of the earth. They were overturned by hooves. Briefly he took another sniff to be sure and then continued on to catch up to the rest of the group.

With a short jog he caught up to Tetrus whose paced did not seem to slow at all.

"Sir," he whispered, trying to get pass the blonde witch who turned her nose up at him. "Sir, I found this a few meters behind us." Antwone held up the string of hair to the burly man.

Pandora notice that Antwone had fallen behind the group she turned to see him straighten up and run to catch up with them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antwone Thomas

"Sir," he whispered, trying to get pass the blonde witch who turned her nose up at him. "Sir, I found this a few meters behind us." Antwone held up the string of hair to the burly man.

He was hold a few strands of hair out for Santana's inspection. That sealed it for Pandora, she knew exactly what he was apart from her new collegue. If he had picked up the scent of the Centaurs already, then the Centaurs definately knew that the wizards were in the forest, they just weren't showing themsleves. Pandora held her wand out infront of her, trying to see where they were and trying to work out why they were staying concealed.

Kass put the horn back into her pocket- and took in a deep breath. She surely did not enjoy centaurs, seeing that he expierence in hem was sarce. Hope resided in her that everyone else's knowledge would make up from her lack of.

Time for the fun. Kasandra's hand ruffled through her short hair and let it turn to a bleach blond. Her bright blue eyes framed in dark black eyeliner looked into the forest, and she took out her wand. With a flick the end lighted up, and she followed everyone else

Tetrus' lip curled at June, the girl's powerful aura would seem intimidating to most. She wasn't above blasting out unforgivibles, that, the department head was sure of. "No one around this parts likes sitting, sista." He winked at her methodically and continued on through the forest without another word.

That man, the new person, had caught up again. He had something in hand, something very curious.

It was odd how he'd spotted the hair, he either most have a very keen eye; or, he had powers that normal wizards did not. Tetrus would be sure to check the werewolf registry when they returned to level four tomorrow.

For the time being though, the department head simply raised an eyebrow at the man. "Hmm, interesting indeed brotha." Taking the hair from him, Tetrus ran his finger across it feeling the texture. It was absolutely that of a centaur, there was no doubt there.

"It would not be wise to drop your guard." He addressed his Department, hoping that they were staying on task. The hair was prove that danger was certainly looming.

Hearing twigs crack in the distance, Tetrus shined his wand in that direction. Ah, it was simply a thestral. Yes, Tetrus could see them. "Beautiful creatures, they are." He said rhetorically, as he stopped for a moment to admire it's haunting beauty.

Violet raised her wand up even higher as her ears picked up the snapping of twigs nearby. Tetrus had stopped. She saw nothing. She blinked a few times and looked more closely. She could see where invisible hooves pressed down on the forest floor, but she still couldn't see the animal. It must be a thestral, she realized. Violet had never seen someone die. Well, she'd seen animals die, but apparently it didn't count. Tetrus, it seemed, could see the thestral. Violet came to the decision that there was no immediate danger, at the moment. But there was still a feeling of unease hanging in the air like the mist that crept closer.
"We should move on," she said softly.

Santana listen to Antwone with an odd look on his face. Perhaps he was trying to work out if Antwone was a werewolf.
Pandora thought he was right on both counts. She had always seen the Thestrals at Hogwarts and had always thought them to be beautiful. She watched as the Thestral moved off into the forest and Pandora thought, just for a moment that she saw the hind quarters of a centaur in the gloom. She blinked and it was gone.

She was aware that Violet was standing close to her, looking at the ground.
Pandora agreed and waited for Santana to indicate which direction that the group would move in. She had her own opinion of course, but the Forbidden Forest was not the place to challenge such a complex man.

Kasandra quietly followed behind- minding her own buisness. She kept alert, looking back and forth with her wand tight in her hand. Her blue eyes bounce around from tree to tree and she listened to the conversations going on about her.

It didn't take long for them to stop it seemed. She looked up over at Violit, but she seemed to not pay attention to whatever was going on, and then looked over at Tetrus. Thestrals- they were... chilling creatures that is for sure. "Something entrancing about them for sure." She said in reply to the department head.

After Tetrus's acknowledgment, Antwone hung back, sticking closer to the center of the group. He had brought too much attention to himself, showing Tetrus the hair. When they got back to the Ministry he knew he would be questioned and he'd rather have kept a low-profile.

As he stepped back further into the group, he smelled the thestral before it broke a few twigs, garnering Tetrus's attention. Shame washed over him as he looked at the skeletal being.

"Beautiful creatures, they are," Tetrus had said as Antwone bumped into Violet who was speaking softly, almost to herself. He nodded his agreement to her and lifted his wand higher above his head as he sniffed the air. They are close. But again, the blonde's perfume was filthing the air with a repellent against the natural scent of the forest. Antwone winced, wishing he had had some sort of authority to tell the witch to come to work without getting dolled up.

Most of the group was quiet as they moved on, all of them listening to the forest, he was sure. Night was beginning to fall almost completely as the forest began to thicken and the night sky was being covered by branches and leafs.

Katalin was looking around the group and wondered when they will find the centaurs. She heard some twigs being stepped on in the distance, "What was that?"

Violet took an involuntary step to the side as something brushed her. She looked over her shoulder to see who was behind her. She gave Antwone a slight nod and turned back to the invisible creature in front of her. She'd never thought it odd that she couldn't see thestrals, and for all it was worth it was better that she couldn't. It didn't seem like something she'd get used to, suddenly seeing them just because she saw someone die. Violet brushed her side bangs out of her eyes, keeping her wand raised high.

June's head swiveled as Antwone leaned called their attention to whatever diminutive find he had discovered. Bet he's quite proud of that. Better give the lad a gold star, she thought, snorting shrilly through her nose and catching a waft of her Chanel No. 5. It only bothered her more that Tetrus seemed impressed--or that the boy seemed interested in impressing Tetrus. Brown-nosing nauseated her as cheap cologne and dollar store wine did. However if the sucking up was done to her... Quite another story. She was, after all, worthy of it.

Yes. Feel free to call her Your Majesty.

Flipping her golden hair behind a shoulder she shifted her narrowed gaze to the thestral, the corners of her lips turning slightly. The beast's cautious step had little resemblance to the canter of a centaur, but the distraction didn't bother her. "A favorite of mine," she rung, her posh accent chipping through the deadened air in a whisper. "Their exclusivness... Is appealing." She thought it right that not everyone could witness their ethereality-- just the privelleged.

It was hardly necessary to remind the blonde (but yes maybe her coworkers who did seem rather ADDish) that her guard was needed during this assignment. Though she seemed at ease, eerily so, with her wand's tip resting against her temple, every cell was abuzz with anticipation. The mere thought of a curse's warm glow surging through her wand was exhilirating. The thought of its effects was unreal. A strong sense of domineering power consumed June, and she could feel the forest tense. Here, a bird shuffle its feet uneasily. There, a thestral flared its nostrils. "They're nearing." The comment was more to herself as she positioned to a more en garde stance and beamed.

"A piece of work that woman is, isn't she?" Antwone whispered to Violet, tipping his wand in the blond witch's direction.

He winced again as the scent of her perfume burned his nostrils. She obviously was vying for some sort of attention from Tetrus. Her words made Antwone chuckled to himself as he eyed Violet again, rolling his eyes.

He looked back down the path ahead of him, beyond Tetrus and the blonde witch who attempted to chat him up. The night sky was completely hidden by the canopy of the Forbidden Forest and their was a cold draft passing through the group. The wind was heading from west to east, away from the perfume and through the forest instead. Antwone caught a whiff but could only pick up the same unicorn and foal heading further west, away from the group, and there were a few doxies pestering a clabbert a few meters away in a tree.

Violet glanced over to the woman Antwone was indicating. Ah, yes. June. She smiled widely. "Well, self-confidence can be a gift....If taken in small doses anyway. I admit it's harder to take full-on like this. But be thankful she's not full of something nastier than an oversized ego," she whispered back.

Violet looked into the trees. The way the faint moonlight shone on the mist and the branches was eerie. It was easy to imagine something sinister here tonight. But there was still a very good chance that when they finally met the centaurs, the gifts that they had brought would allow them to talk instead of fight their way out. It would not be wise to jump to conclusions.