As Diego walked through the outdoors in March, he felt content. It was a nice day out as he did a little spin along the way. He liked being outside and the fresh air was welcoming. It didn't take long for him to arrive at the lesson.

"Hi, Professor Paton!" Diego smiled brightly. Blinking as the board mentioned Hippogriffs. They were going to be working with them today! He liked the sound of that, as he almost ran to take a seat and watch the Hippogriffs, specifically, Hippie & Skippy who were his favorites to see as they looked to be frolicking together.

A beautiful day and one of her favorite classes…it was a win-win for Nadia as she made her way down to the pastures in time for Care of Magical Creatures. Curious to see what wizarding animal would be the latest topic of study. Ah, there was her aunt in a usual spot waiting for them. “Good afternoon, Professor,” she greeted the woman with a smile. An expression that widened as she read the note written across the whiteboard.
Hippogriffs were the subject of today’s lesson?

She looked back at the professor with a knowing look as she took a seat as requested. Yes, she could certainly observe the hippogriffs, creatures she knew almost as well as their fellows at her home reserve. This day was just getting better and better to the Gryffindor.

Ah, the students were arriving. That hadn't taken long at all. Hadleigh's warm smile remained as she turned her gaze from the Hippogriffs onto the young first year. "Hello, Mister Melo-Dreamer. Ready for today's lesson?" It appeared as so to her as she watched him nearly run to take a seat. It warmed her heart to see her students so excited to learn and work with the creatures.

The next one to make their way over was one she knew very well. She hoped the seventh year would really enjoy this afternoons lesson. "Good day, Miss Atreyu-Rehman. I'm sure you've been looking forward to this lesson for some time, yes?" Her smile never faded and the look on her hazel eyes was indeed a knowing one.

With a glance around the pasture for any stragglers, Hady gently clapped her hands to capture everyone's attention. "All eyes on me for a moment please. I'm sure you can all guess what today's class will be about?" She raised a hand and gave it a grand wave out towards the hippogriffs. "Hippogriffs. Take a look at them now if you haven't done so already. Do you recognize them all? What can you tell me about Hippogriffs in general? What about these ones here in the pasture? How well do you know them all? What do they like to eat? How do you greet a Hippogriff? Tell me anything you like about them." Begor they jumped into their activities, it was important to know as much as they could about the creatures they were all observing right then.


OOC: Thank you for joining us! There's still time to jump on in as always. The lesson has only just began. We're starting off with some straight forward questions... What do the students know about Hippogriffs? There is no wrong answers! I'll be moving on in about 24 hours.

Nyle arrived at the pastures with an eager bounce in his step, his satchel of supplies slung across his body and a notebook clutched to his chest. He had taken the long way around the castle to get here, hoping to spot the first signs of spring unfurling from the soil. The crocuses were beginning to poke through the thawing earth, and he had spotted a cluster of coltsfoot by the edge of the Greenhouses - a sure sign that winter was retreating.

As he approached, he caught sight of Professor Paton’s familiar figure with her ever-present whiteboard and offered her a jovial wave. His gaze flicked to the words scrawled across it, and his heart gave a happy little leap. Hippogriffs! He had always admired the creatures from afar, drawn to their striking nobility, but he still felt that spark of nervous excitement every time he was near them. He knew respect was key - one wrong move, and a Hippogriff would not hesitate to remind you of your place. Thankfully, he had always been described as immaculately polite so as long as he was himself things ought to not be too disastrous, surely.

He carefully made his way toward the seating area, mindful of where he stepped, lest he disturb any delicate sprigs of new growth. The breeze ruffled his hair as he lowered himself onto a seat, his fingers already itching to jot down observations. One Hippogriff - a stately gray one with mottled feather - dipped its beak into a watering trough, while another stretched its wings, shaking off the lingering chill of winter. To be able to fly like them would be...

Nyle exhaled softly, settling in, as Professor Paton officially began her instruction. The Hufflepuff straightened in his seat, his gaze flickering between the professor and the Hippogriffs before him while he listened. He already had a hundred thoughts blooming in his mind like seedlings pushing through soil he had just admired, but he took a moment to organize them before speaking.

"Hippogriffs are omnivores," he began. "They eat small mammals, birds, and insects, but they also graze - I've read they’ll eat certain plants, especially ones with high iron content to help with their flight endurance." His fingers tapped idly against his notebook as he continued. "Things like dandelion greens, thistles, and even some varieties of moss. Some Hippogriff handlers grow iron-rich herbs in their pastures to keep them healthy—like stinging nettles or anise hyssop or vicia hirsute!" Then, as an afterthought, he tilted his head. "I wonder if they have any preferences for magical plants. Maybe they'd eat moss nurtured through mooncalf dung or valerian roots in the wild often as something calming - like how we might have a cup of chamomile tea - since they can be temperamental." He jotted a quick note to research that later, his curiosity already sprouting in new directions.

Diego nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, Professor. Very excited!" He couldn't lie, he wanted to jump and give them a big squishy hug. But he knew better, as they would take him running up with his arms wide as an offensive gesture.

Diego continued staring at Hippie and Skippy frolicking around, his attention eventually was called with the start of the lesson. What did he know about Hippogriffs? Well, not as much as the Hufflepuff nearby. He was pleasantly surprised with all those facts, which made him feel a little insecure. Just a little, because that student was older than him. "Erm.. they're very proud creatures! They look soft and probably are the squishiest to hug, but it's important not to run up and scare them! They're very strong and defensive." He said nodding. "I also think, they're like us where everyone is different in some way. Skippy looks to be very fun frolicking around while Hippie is more of a follower since I see them running after Skippy." The boy could go on, but for now, that was all he felt good about sharing in the class.

Nadia bit back a chuckle as Professor Paton met her knowing look with one of her own, realizing she didn’t want to be too familiar since the class would begin soon. “Of course…” she remarked. Who didn’t want a hippogriff lesson at some point? They and dragons certainly deserved the attention, even if she was a little biased. The hippogriffs they were certainly obediently keeping an eye on certainly seemed to notice they were being watched.

As the lesson began, the seventh year turned back as directed, nodding in answer at the rhetorical question. With the real questions, Nadia let her classmates speak up first to not be too much of a teachers pet on the subject at hand. “Hippogriffs are classified as XXX by the Ministry, which explains that while some may deem them scary and dangerous, if you behave right and treat them with respect “ a nod to her young housemate who mentioned how prideful they were, “you’ll be fine. Only approach slowly and with a bow towards them, waiting until they echo the movement to straighten and tentatively move closure.”

No sudden movements.

Elena had been delighted upon arriving to class to discover the hippogriffs in the pasture. And that they were being instructed to observe them, which meant that they were going to be the focus of the lesson. She knew what they were, and recognized that they were hippogriffs upon seeing them, but that was about the extent of her knowledge. She knew they existed, but didn't really know much about them. She was eager to learn more. Though it meant she couldn't contribute much to this first question. She did try to listen carefully to her classmates answers, especially when they seemed pretty confident in what they were talking about. Approach carefully and treat them with respect, she could do that.

Even though Elena didn't have much prior knowledge, she did want to be able to contribute something. So she raised her hand to give her best shot at an answer. "Some animals like to be on their own, while others like to be part of a group better. These ones here seem to get along well and like to hang out in a group."

This was the one class Antony ever looked forward to, but it would be easy to think otherwise, since he had arrived as quietly as he did for any other class, grabbing a seat just before the lesson began.

Hippogriffs, hm? This would be an interesting lesson indeed.

There was a lot to be said about these creatures - their desire for mutual respect the clearest of all - and he was content to let other students chime in first. Didn't want to appear too eager, y'know? Besides, it was easier to decide his own answer once the possibilities were narrowed down a bit. If he even decided to give an answer. Sometimes it was easier to just listen and pretend to take notes.

Today, however, the Ravenclaw was in a pleasant mood, so he finally raised his hand. "Hippogriffs lay eggs, usually just one at a time, and it generally takes about twenty-four hours for them to hatch."

The range of creatures that she not only taught the students about but that they worked side by side with was many. Yet, it never ceased to amaze her how much the students really knew about each one even before their lessons began. To say that she was a proud professor would only be an understatement.

"That they are. Our Hippogriffs here at Hogwarts are always given a variety of foods. To keep them healthy and happy, I like to offer something different each day. Though some of our Hippogriffs here, just like all of you have preferences for what they enjoy most. You'll all get a chance to find out who likes what meals best shortly." Not every hippogriff wanted rodents everyday while others would eat different small birds all day. "That's also correct. There are various plants around the pastures for them to munch on sound they get hungry while out here. Now that, is a very good question. One that I would love to discuss with you if you decide to look into it." Hadleigh smiled warmly. There was nothing at all wrong in letting the student do their on research from time to time!

That enthusiastic nod from Diego reminded her so much of her daughter Bryony whom she could already see bouncing in the seat she was sat upon. "One of the proudest when it comes to demanding respect from all of us. Like any creature that you meet, it's very important to always go slow and be respectful.. so yes, running at them with open arms for a large hug may not be the best way to show how much you like them." It may very well result in one of the students getting injured and that wasn't what she wanted to have happen in any of her lessons.

Of course Nadia was ready. As was several others, Paton knew for sure. "Any creature could be intimidating if they become frightened or agitated. Always bow first, nice and low, keeping your eyes solely on the Hippogriff that you are hoping to approach. Only when they respond by bowing back to you is it safe to move any closer." Give respect to receive respect. Paton would show this in a few moments.

This was okay! The entire purpose of these lessons was for the students to learn more about different creatures and to be able to safely work with them. "That's a wonderful observation, Miss Petrova. Hogwarts Hippogriffs are very used to being together as nearly all of the ones out here on the pasture this afternoon have know one another for many years. Quite often you will see them all together or in smaller groups but there are times when even they need space to be alone." Every now and again even a Hippogriff needed time on its own to graze on some plants, fly around the grounds some or take a nap!

Hady nodded. "A Hippogriff will mate for life and when a baby Hippogriff is born, a nest is built for the egg usually by the mother Hippogriff. One single large fragile egg is then laid and within twenty-four hours a baby will hatch from it. Within a weeks time that baby will be able to fly."

As each answer had been given, it magically appeared on the white board near her. Not seeing anymore hands raised, Hady moved on. "I would like for you all to get up and follow me to meet our Hippogriffs. You will each be able to select one or more if you choose to move around to work with this afternoon. You may talk to them, brush them if you feel okay to do so, feed them or simply walk around and watch what they do. But remember.. bow first."
As if on cue, one of the largest and oldest Hippogriffs, Gray Feather had made his way over towards them all. Professor Paton bowed low at the waist, her eyes locked on the Hippogriff before her. There was no hesitation before Gray Feather bowed back and Hady straighted up before walking over to him and smoothing a hand over the feathers on his neck. "Respect and patience is a must. There are many Hippogriffs out here today for you all to spend a little time with and get to know. I have some buckets around with brushes and others with different snacks that they all like. You may go about on your own or with a friend if you like." As for her, as always she would be very close by to keep an eye on everything.


OCC: Our activity portion is here! So it's simple, the students are to greet/how to any Hippogriff(s) of their choosing and get to know that one! They can just observe, feed or brush them! Please don't play for the Hippogriffs! You'll have about 48 hours before we move on.

Diego listened to each of his classmates' responses and answers. He thought some of the facts they shared with Professor Paton were interesting. He always felt a connection to bird-like creatures. Since he already know how protective they were, he felt confident that they'll understand him when he tried to approach them.

Afterward, he got up with the rest of the students following Professor Paton to where all the Hippogriffs were enjoying the day. He thought about going over to Hippie who seemed to have decided to relax on the ground watching Skippy from a distance. Diego waited until they made eye contact with him before he said, "Hello... I'm Diego. Very pleased to meet you." Before he bowed low like the Professor showed them, keeping his eye contact. He tried his best not to blink as they stared at him with curiosity. Now he just had to wait until they decided to bow back.. if he could keep his eyes open long enough.

Nadia listened to all the other answers being given, as well as the information that Professor Paton was giving. Some sparking memories where in reference to stuff that she had witnessed the creatures previously. Births on the preserve, both hippogriff and dragon, were an exciting and powerful time. Soon enough they were being called to gather for the lesson’s activity and the Gryffindor didn’t need any more encouragement to get to her feet and follow her aunt. Her steps calm and measured as she unconsciously prepared herself for actions she had been doing since she was eight.

…the age that had become tradition that the Atreyu-Rehman children had had their first head to head encounter with a hippogriff.

Now to see who to visit with. Grey Feathers had claimed the older woman while the younger lion headed towards Hippie and Skippie. Nadia decided to check in on another familiar griff, the seventh year picking up a bucket and brush on her way in the direction of Helios, a favorite of hers. Pausing at a respectful distance, she bowed, lowering the bucket to the ground and waited patiently for a response. She almost wasn’t sure at first that he had noticed her, but finally there was a sense of movement in her line of vision and sure enough as she tentatively raised her gaze the hippogriff was bowing causing her to smile brightly.

“Hey Helios…” she greeted as she made her way closer.

Nyle gave a small nod, his fingers tightening slightly around his notebook as he processed the professor's response. His expression remained neutral - pleasant, even - but there was the faintest flicker of something subdued in his eyes. He had hoped for more, just a little something to build upon, a morsel of new knowledge to tuck away like a carefully pressed leaf between the pages of his mind. Instead, he was handed the familiar encouragement to pursue the answers himself. Not that he minded research - he loved it, actually. But sometimes, just sometimes, he wished a lesson would offer something he hadn’t already started wondering about on his own. His grip eased, and after a beat, he gave a small, thoughtful hum under his breath, eyes drifting back to the hippogriffs. Most likely he would take her up on her offer to stop by her office, though. Chances were that his wonderings would keep him up late at night otherwise.

Very little time to fret about these things when they were already being called upon to go greet a hippogriff, however. Couldn't they still, you know, handle flobberworms?

Still, Nyle had chosen - or rather, been drawn to - a hippogriff with striking, silvery-gray feathers that darkened to deep slate along its wingtips. Its eyes, keen and intelligent, shimmered like pools of polished river stone, cool and assessing as they regarded him. This was Waterwings, surely named for the almost fluid way he moved, his plumage catching the light like rippling waves. His front talons, sharp as any well-kept herbologist’s shears, flexed against the earth, and his massive wings shifted slightly, as if already considering flight.

Nyle swallowed. HARD.

All around him, the other students were beginning to step forward, some more hesitant than others, their voices hushed with a mix of awe and uncertainty. Professor Paton had made it look effortless, but Nyle knew that one misstep, one careless display of arrogance or fear, and he could be sent away - or worse.

Another, dry, gulp performed by the Hufflepuff.

Breathe, he reminded himself as he concluded his timid approach, then carefully, deliberately, he bent at the waist in a deep, respectful bow. His blonde curls slipped forward, momentarily obscuring his vision, but he kept his posture firm, eyes lowered just enough to show deference...but not so much that he couldn't see Waterwings through his eyelashes.

And then, heart pounding, he waited.

All of this Hippogriffs attention had been on Skippy. It was true that they were inseparable and usually no more than a few feet from one another. However, right this moment their vision was being blocked by a small human child standing before them. Hippie met the boy's gaze holding it all the while. Not finding any reason to fear the boy, Hippie lowered himself into a nice low bow. Hello, child.

Ah, yes. Helios recognized this young lady. She was a frequent visitor at the barns and often stopped at his stall to greet him. Therefore, as regal of a Hippogriff as he is, not much time was taken before a deep slow bow and locked eye contact was made. Come say hello now.

Obviously the young human lad was drawn to his striking good looks. Waterwing had the most gorgeous color of feathers in the group. Not to mention, he was the strongest and elegant of them all. Hence why HE was the leader. Ahem, he was. There was no doubt about this fact. In his deep dark eyes anyhow.

Let it be known that he should be bowed to. By everyone. Waterwing didn't move a muscle or blink an eye as he studied the young human boy child before him. Nice posture, good form. Not as good as this Hippogriffs though, watch as he oh so slowly slid his long legs forward and bowed in return after what only may have felt like ages to Niles. He was welcome, by the way. Not everyone got this Hippogriffs attention.

Elena was a little bit nervous about approaching the hippogriffs. But she supposed that Professor Paton was right; any creature could have an adverse reaction to somebody approaching it with disrespect. The hippogriffs weren't inherently dangerous, they just liked to be treated nicely. She could hardly blame them for that. As long as she approached slowly and bowed as necessary, it would be fine.

And so that was what she did. Elena liked the look of one of the smaller ones. Partly because it looked slightly less intimidating than the others, and partly because it sort of reminded her of her. You know, if she was a hippogriff. She didn't know if it was younger than the others or just smaller. She approached it slowly, with a cautious smile. "Hello," she said politely, when she got closer. Then she lowered herself into a respectful bow, making sure to keep eye contact with the hippogriff as she did so.

And there it was…the returned bow. The sign that it was pretty safe for her to respond further and move closer, not that Nadia had really doubted that he wouldn’t allow her…at least eventually. It was always on the hippogriff’s timeline after all. Unless of course he was having a bad day or something which she got. Even as much of an extrovert that she herself was there were times when she wanted nothing to do with anyone.

Nadia straightened up and scooped up the bucket holding dead ferrets and a brush on her arm before walking over to Helios. “Hello my friend” she remarked again with a bright smile, reaching with her free hand to give him a good rub on his neck like she knew he liked. “Care for a brushing?” she asked with tilted head.

Hadleigh had the softest yet warmest smile on her lips as she watched each one of the students make their way towards a Hippogriff. One by one those same students stood their ground, respectfully and one by one they were receiving bows in return from the Hippogriff of their choice. This was a fantastic sight to see for a Professor! Especially for those younger years and the ones that seemed a little more nervous and hesitant than others.

"Absolutely wonderful work everyone. You've all already accomplished the most difficult part in today's exercise, getting one of our beautiful friends here to accept your presence." Hady paused to let her words sink in for a brief second before continuing. "If you haven't managed to get one of the Hippogriffs here to bow back to you, don't fret there's still plenty of time to do so. If you have managed to do so, you may go ahead and get to know them better. Perhaps a brushing or a treat is in store for them this afternoon." Whichever the students decided was just fine.

"I would like you all to think back to how at the start of our lesson I mentioned that most of the Hippogriffs that we have here have been around for quite some time. You may be able to see it in how they act, how they move and even in how their bodies have changed over time. Take a minute and really look at them all before answering these questions..." Another pause was taken to give them all that time. Have a good class, a really good look. "How does a creatures features change as they age? What about their eating habits? Their movements? In what ways might we have to adjust how we act around them or or care for them?" There was no wrong answer, Professor Paton simply wanted to see what came into their minds when they thought/a countered an older creature.


OOC: Hello, hello! I'm terribly sorry for the delay again, I'm still having Internet issues on top of having been quite sick for several days. I'm back though and I'll be trying to keep things moving swiftly along! Our second set of questions has been asked, feel free to let the kiddos answer however they please! Annnnnnnd as always they can keep working with their Griff's!

Just when Diego was on the verge of tears and blinking, Hippie bowed. They really bowed! Diego's smile widened before he walked over to give them a good pet. "You're even softer than I imagined. That's a good thing!" Diego's fingers glided over the soft feathers. He could just about hug them now, but for now he would keep respectful on their boundaries. "I think I'll snag you some extra treats."

But before Diego could do that, the lesson was continuing with a question. "Erm... I think like us humans, when Hippogriffs get older they'll move slower. They'll want to be more careful and not harm themselves since bodies get worn down overtime. I think it just means we show even more respect for them, because not every Hippogriff gets to live a long life." Diego hoped that was correct.

Oh, goodness no! No one was meant to be in tears. Not even if it was from staring so long and hard at a hippogriff as they waited for it to bow in return. Thank the heavens that Hippie bowed back when he did! Hady smiling to herself when saw this happen. Sorry about the disruption but things had to keep moving along, otherwise they would all remain here in the pastures all day. Not that this was a bad thing, but as a Professor she knew her students had other classes to get to after hers.

Yes. This was the type of reply she liked to hear when asking questions such as she had. Pure respect for the creatures in their care. "Very good. It is true that they do age much faster than we do because they don't live nearly as long as we as humans do. This is why we must take great care of those that we care for." Take care of others as you hope they would care for you. She was glad the students really were taking to heart their lessons.

"As our creatures age, hippogriffs included sometimes they need more space and much more care. This is why at times it is best to allow them to retire and move them to somewhere they can be even more well cared for. Like a Hippogriff reserve. A special place where they will be with other hippogriffs." A small break in what she was saying was given to see if they were picking up where she was going with this. "Now as you all know, some of our Griff's are quite up there in age and deserve to live out the remainder of their life in peace and contentment on lots of open land. This is why I have made arrangement for a few of them to go live on the Atreyu-Rehman Hippogriff Reserve at the end of the week." Yes she knew this was big news and it would surely upset some of the students buuuuuut she hoped they would understand this was best for the Hippogriffs. "In return we have received five hippogriffs from the same reserve that you will all get a chance to meet and interact with now if you would like."

As Hady spoke, the disillusionment charm she had placed on the newer Hippogriffs was lifted and they were now visible out in the pasture. It was very clear these five were much younger than the other Hippogriffs, two of them being very young at only about two years old. "You may go greet the new Hippogriffs if you choose to or you may continue to work with the one you're already with now. Take you're time with our newer friends here, they are still getting used to being at Hogwarts with us." They had only been here a few days in secret just so she could reveal them during this lesson.


OOC: And we are moving along! The big reveal that the students didn't know about has been made! The arrival of FIVE knew Hippogriffs... Even if sadly some of our current Griff's will be moving to live at a reserve.

If there were another legtimate reason for tears to appear in Diego's eyes, it was hearing a number of the Hippogriffs would be going away. Diego looked around, most of them were here a long time, like before his dads were even born. And his parents were old. So... it did make sense, but it was still sad.

Diego loved seeing the Hippogriffs and maybe he could ask his parents about visiting the Reservation when school was over. But the good thing was seeing new Hippogriffs. Diego attempted to give Hippie a nice hug, cause he needed it. "I hope you're not going away, but if you are, this won't be goodbye forever... I love you." He decided to wait on the new Hippogriffs, he didn't want to scare them or make Hippie feel abandoned. "Erm, you like a good brush right?" He picked up a brush. "You wouldn't mind if the new Hippogriffs came over? Maybe you could introduce me if you already know them." He gently rubbed the feathers before taking the brush over it. Nice and slow.

Nyle barely breathed as Waterwings considered him, the weight and majesty of the hippogriff’s gaze making him feel both incredibly small and incredibly seen simultaneously - which was incredibly overwhelming. The moment stretched impossibly long, the world narrowing to the space between them, the earth beneath his feet feeling suddenly insubstantial. And then, graceful as a river bending to the pull of the earth, Waterwings lowered his head... long legs folding ever so smoothly into a bow.

Nyle's heart practically stopped. He bowed. He actually bowed.

The rush of exhilaration left him dizzy, lightheaded, a little bit enchanted and a little bit ridiculous. If Waterwings had miraculously rumbled out his name just then, maybe something vaguely resembling Niles instead of Nyle, he wouldn’t have minded in the slightest. In fact, he might have kept it and rebranded himself entirely. f that's what this magnificent creature deemed him to be, then who was the Hufflepuff to argue!

Honestly? Not a bad trade-off for the single greatest moment of his life. Well, currently rank as the single greatest moment of Nyle’s life ... but there are a few experiences that could one day surpass even this - such as the discovery of a new plant species, or cultivating an extinct species back into existence, or seeing a rare bloom like the celestial bramble which only releases its glowing ethereal spores into the night sky once every century under the right lunar alignment.

The bow meant that the second year had permission to touch the creature, but Nyle lacked the confidence to do so just yet - even with gentle coaxing by the professor to perform some basic grooming essentials. Instead, Nyle listened carefully to Professor Paton's words, the gentle breeze around him carrying the earthy scent of the pastures. He took a moment to observe Waterwings and his regal air, finding that he couldn’t help but notice the subtle changes in the hippogriff’s posture, how his feathers seemed slightly more ruffled, the glimmer of wisdom in his deep eyes. He was aging, the second year supposed, but in the most dignified way, as if time had only enhanced his strength and grace. It reminded Nyle plants he admired, those that grew stronger with age, their features becoming more intricate and fascinating as they matured. Like the Adansonia that grow more striking as they age, developing deep, twisting bark and an almost otherworldly appearance and more storied in appearance OR the Paphiopedilum that grow and produce larger, more elaborate flowers as time goes on for the most whimsical display of natural artistry.

Nyle glanced at Waterwings again, taking in the slight shifting of the hippogriff's talons, the way his head tilted slightly as if contemplating his own age, his own changes over time - or perhaps the Hufflepuff was projecting again...something he was becoming rather notorious for doing. "I imagine with these creatures, we’d need to be more patient with them," Nyle offered thoughtfully. "Just like with plants - and, er, people - and of course creatures like hippogriffs... everything needs different care as they get older. When they're young, they might have more energy, so they can handle a bit more excitement and exercise..maybe faster metabolisms so they require more frequent feedings and stuff.... But as they age, they start to slow down, and their needs change. That's just, well, that's natural and ought to be expected. Some older plants sometimes become more delicate and need a bit more attention, like less sunlight or a softer touch when you handle them. It’s the same with Waterwings here, I would reckon. He might not like being rushed as much as the younger hippogriffs do or brushed as vigorously or maybe he will like longer brushings. He knows his own pace and appreciates a little more time to adjust. Mum often talks about how everyone needs different kinds of care as they heal. Sometimes it's about being gentle and knowing when to give them space or when they're ready for something more. It’s all about listening and understanding their needs."

As Professor Paton elaborated and revealed the path ahead for a majority of the hippogriff herd, Nyle’s thoughts drifted through a mixture of understanding and internal conflict. He wasn’t particularly saddened by the announcement of the older hippogriffs moving on to the Atreyu-Rehman Hippogriff Reserve. It made sense, really, and felt like part of the natural cycle of things and not all that different from seventh years graduating and moving on to the next progression. His gaze shifted to the new hippogriffs that had just become visible. They were young, fresh, their movements energetic, almost electric in comparison to the steady grace of Waterwings and some of the others. A small, guilty pang struck his chest. He couldn’t help but be drawn to the idea of getting to know these new arrivals. They were like fresh seeds, untested, waiting to grow into something special. They'd need care, too, but in a different way. Yet, as he turned back to Waterwing, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of responsibility to the older hippogriff. It felt almost disrespectful to turn away from him now, just because someone younger had appeared. Waterwings had his own rhythms, his own needs, and Nyle had been honored to build a connection with him today so he certainly wasn't about to waste this opportunity - especially with the potential of it being the last! It was like deciding to ignore a well-cultivated plant in favor of something fresh and new seeds, without considering the time and care already invested. It would be like leaving a plant half-repotted, abandoning its roots simply because something shinier had come along.

But then another thought nagged at him: what if it was cruel to ignore the younger hippogriffs entirely? His mind scrambled between two choices, neither of which seemed perfect. If he stuck with Waterwings, was he disregarding the needs of the newcomers? If he moved away from the older hippogriff to greet the younger ones, was he doing a disservice to Waterwings, who had already shown him trust and respect? Professor Paton, of course, had made it clear that they were free to approach either group, but for Nyle, the decision was herculean to make. It felt like one of those delicate moments, like trying to prune a plant but unsure of how much to cut back. Too little attention to the young ones might seem cold and dismissive and he never earn their trust due to a poor first impression.

The choices felt impossibly cruel in their own way.

With a sigh, Nyle glanced over at Waterwings with a smile, feeling a deep, unwavering respect for the hippogriff’s dignity. "I think," he whispered softly, "I'll stay with you for now, Waterwings. I won’t forget about the others, though, but you deserve some pampering so I hope it would be alright if I gave your feathers a brush."　The blonde picked up a brush, his fingers hesitating as he turned it over in his hand, inspecting it with a quiet curiosity. He gently rubbed it against his palm, testing the bristles, feeling the softness and the way they moved. He tried a few more, each with a little scrubbing motion, until he finally found the one that felt just right - a perfect balance of gentle and effective - and turned back to the hippogriff with gentle strides towards his flank to begin grooming.

Not much, if anything at all, that had been said by the young boy registered with Hippie. Neither did that hug. The older Hippogriff didn't put up a fuss about it or move away though. Whatever was going on, he could sense that he need not fear this young human. The tone of voice and actions were all slow and gentle. Hippie liked that very much. He also really liked being brushed in this particular manner, how did Diego know?

What a relaxed Griff he was right now. Please, continue with the brushing while he made himself nice and comfortable in this grass.

Being a Hippogriff, Waterwing was simply glad that HE was being paid attention to right then. As he deserved honestly. Did he know or understand that some of the other Hippogriffs were leaving? No, not really. However he was highly aware of the fact that new ones were also in the pasture. As long as his space was given to him when he commanded it, everything would be okay.

His gaze never fully left the young boy as a brush was selected and the boy made his way back towards him. He knew full well what those were used for and so long as none of his feathers were harmed, he was more than proud to enjoy a nice brush down.

Sure enough just as Professor Paton had stated, six Hippogriffs were unveiled from the disillusionment charm making themselves known. Four adult Griffs, the oldest no more than eight years of age and two others clearly being quite young at only one and two years old. Each one doing its own thing, grazing and wandering about the pasture. Yet, all of them regard the students with curiosity.

The two youngest and smallest, Kestrel and Kite slowly making their way over now.

Such brilliant minds her students had. Even at such young ages, the responses that some of them gave were so heartfelt and thought out. Proper sweethearts, all of them. And it was needless to say that Nyle's reply made her smile just as everyone else's had. "That's exactly correct. We all need someone to care for us at one point or another in our lives. The same goes for all of our creatures here at Hogwarts and all those around us." Hadleigh paused briefly, her gaze shifting onto the Hippogriffs before returning back onto Nyle. "I would agree. Being gentle and taking our time to show each other and the creatures that we care, that we are here to help them whenever they need it is always important." The same goes for knowing when to give one another space.

"We still have about twenty minutes left to our class. Take that time to tend to the Hippogriff you started with and give a few moments of your time to our newer Griff's if you choose. I will be walking around if anyone needs any assistance with anything or has any questions." This meant she could keep a close eye on them all but also give the students and their chosen Hippogriffs space to feel safe and relaxed with each other.

Paton's wanderings around the pasture also gave her the opportunity to clean/refill the watering stations that were set up for the Griff's to drink from. It also gave her a good chance to observe all the Griff's together and how they were getting along and settling in.