Kappas don't like metal, eh? Wonder why... In fact, why they didn't like metal seemed a much better question than why they didn't like fire.

"Well... Kappas are sea creatures. And so they would naturally like water. And water is the opposite of fire, basically. So it's like waaaay outta they're comfort zone, probably. Or could be harmful, I guess. Like you wouldn't put a penguin in the Sahara." Would you? "But, why don't they like metal? Ooh, is it cuz metal rusts?" Eh... That sounded dumber out loud than it did in her head.

As a distraction to what was sure to be funny looks and a teacher saying how dumb her question is she started fiddling with her gumboots. Gumboots? Now who thought of that name? Sounded......chewy. She slid her finger in the tops and moved it around her leg and wiggled her toes and splashed and stuff. She was growing kind of fond of them.

Chris listened intently began to scribble notes on his parchment. He glanced nervously at the water, nobody had better splash his paper! Then another question was asked. "Professor besides the obvious reason a Kappa would dislike fire, because they are water creatures and fire would dry out and then harm it; is it possible the Kappa despises the fire so because it is a dark creature?" he asked

Patroclus couldn't help but tap his toes in the water, as he took notes on the Kappa, it was still early and the boy didn't feel fully awake yet.

However Patroclus decided to speak up on this Question, "Sir, I think they hate fire due to what fire can do to water, heat it up. Any creature I think would quite afraid of sitting in a boil pond, watching as they are cooked alive."

What a grim thought, and horrific end to the creatures, the boy thought

Eirian grumbled as the second half of her answer, which answered the whole "aversion" thing, was ignored. This was why she loathed going to class... But she might as well try again. Once more. Gritting her teeth, she listened to him talk, then the others. Fire. They had all answered for fire, which was obvious. But metal... "Perhaps they dislike metal because of the specific alkali metal grouping, which reacts with water to evaporate it and to form hydroxides." It was probably wrong, but still... Maybe it would make sense...?

Kappas. That was the special guest in the class. As Annie heard the many questions, answers and theories about the aversion Kappas felt for fire and metals. "Well...it requires this science, doesn't it? That when hydrogen, in this case an element part of the water, causes oxidation...to metals, maybe whatever the metal produces, a hydroxide makes Kappas sick...or something." She was just guessing. But good try, wasn't it?

Gold raised a hand. "The obvious reason, I feel, would be the chemical effect fire has on water, sir," she said. "Evaporation. Kappas need water to survive, in more than one way - not only is it their natural habitat, it is also a source of their strength." The water-filled hollow on their heads. "Fire threatens both, so it would be natural for a Kappa to dislike it."

"The other reasons could be that they're scared of light or exposure - perhaps they prefer darkness, or take fire - or light - as a sign that they've been hunted out." Maybe.

Dianna jotted down notes as the Professor spoke. She wasn't really knowledgeable about Kappa's and so tried her best in recalling.
"Well..erm..maybe it's because fire might extinguish the water they have on the top of their heads..thus weakening them..erm..yeah.." she said as she lowered her hand.

Emmy raised her hand, "Um, is it because fire would evaporate the water in the top of their heads? Because that would drain their strength, wouldn't it professor?"

"I'd say it's for quite a few reason, some of which already mentioned though I believe a kappa would hate fire as well cause they dwell in shallow waters and with just a bit of fire their home could be gone", Herminny responded with her hand raised high.

Delilah thought as she took notes. She raised her hand. "Isn't it because Kappas are water creatures and the fire would weaken them?" She asked.

"If you did try to mix them, which one would you still have though?" Truebridge answered.

"Excessive heat, yes." Truebridge agreed. "Thats a possibilty."

"It could well be evaporation that they are wary of." Truebridge agreed.

"True." Truebridge nodded.

"We can ask the Kappa that." Truebridge suggested. "We'll see what it has to say about metal."

"Drying them out, sure. How do you think the dark creature theory might relate to fire?" He querried.


"That might take an awful lot of fire though."

"Thats a good theory." Truebridge answered.

"Good. It is interesting to see how muggle science can apply in our own world."

"I like that you are thinking outside the box. Evaporation is one of the reasons, but certainly they might associate fire with other things that are unpleasant to them."

"Good try. Though usually it is water that extinguishes fire rather than the other way around." Truebridge nodded.

"Evaporation. Yes."

"Alright. Thank you." Truebridge nodded.

"It can if there isn't much water around, and a lot of fire."

He looked around. "The other consideration, when it comes to fire, is that the Kappa enjoy nature and a natural environment. Aside from a slight risk of evaporation, if fire burns the plants, grass, trees and so forth that are on the banks of the waterway the Kappa lives in, then it will often force them to move elsewhere, somewhere that people or animals will still visit.

"Can anyone tell me what Kappa like to eat?"

There was one thing she remembered after reading those small notes about magical beasts, which included the Kappa. And it wasn't pretty...She raised her hand and spoke, as loud as her voice could get, well...not really.

"They might prefer to feed from human blood." Blink, and then she shivered at the thought. "But...if they give...something I can't remember with the person's name, he won't...attack nor want the blood of that person." Ewww. Annie was not liking that little fact about Kappas.

"Well beside the gruesome thought of Kappa's eating human children, they enjoy cucumbers," Patroclus answered, it slowly dawning on him that there was probably a Kappa in the room....
"Their love of cucumber has even resulted in a sushi roll being named in their honor"

Hoefully it was fed.....or he longer was considered as a child....

Oh, hmm, where was her thinking cap today? Obviously, not where it should be. Taking a few notes on what the Professor said, and hearing the next question, she was just about to answer when a few others already did; causing her to cringe at the answers.

Which begs the question, the Professor wasn't going to be setting one lose in the classroom was he? With their appetite for human blood and CHILDREN, it would be logical not to get near one! But alas, the flood in the classroom was indication enough that they were indeed, going to be meeting one. And hopefully ONE.

For now though, less panicking, and more listening and notes.

"I've read that kappa will also eat adults as well at times as greusome as it is. Athough I do think it's much better if people keep them appeased with cucumber. Though I do wonder why the persons name must be inscribed on it. Would a unskathed cucumber work. If not,why?", Herminny asked with her hand raised high.

"Kappa eat small children.. and cucumbers," Eirian answered. What an odd combination... "Zat's why zey will leave you alone if you throw a cucumber at zem with your name carved into it."

After slipping on rainboots and wading through ankle deep water she had chosen to stand next to Xylon, of course. Water demons? Bleh.. But it didn't dampen Rae's mood at all, she was still unusually happy. Rae had no idea what Kappa's ate... Not that she really cared either. She stood silently and resisting the urge to jump right there and make a splash.

Raiden flicked a glance once more at his classmates before raising his hand again.

"The book says the blood of humans, but Japanese faerie tales and folklore often have them set on eating whole humans. And they're actually said to not be very picky about whose blood it is, child or otherwise. I suspect it probably just attacks children more because they're easier to overpower than adults."

Smaller prey was easier prey, after all.

Erm... Everything was beginning to add up in Ellie's head. Whether she was right, or not, she didn't like it. Water. Plus Kappa discussion. Plus, they eat PEOPLE?! AND he said 'We can ask the kappa that.' That all equaled KAPPA IN THE CLASSROOM!!!!!

"Professor... There's not going to be a kappa in here is there? I mean if they eat people and such..." YIKES! She was worried. Very worried. "But you said 'We can ask the kappa that.' I don't know if you know, but it sounds like you're implying that there will be a kappa here." And she was NOT ready to be eaten yet! "And...er..." Safe to say she was a bit nervous. A bit. More than a bit. But just a bit more. A bit more than a bit nervous.

Professor Truebridge had praised her. That was something she wanted to write in her diary. Capture the moment, you know.

Gold raised a hand. "It's said that they crave cucumbers, and small children, Professor," she said. BAD water-demons! "But some Indian folklore also record 'monkey-eating' Kappas. Personally, I think they might also feed on fish, sea-plants or the like, because I suppose small children and cucumbers aren't always easy to come by."

Rae wasn't really listening to class... Like she ever was. But she heard a familiar voice, that girl that went pillow sliding with her Evelyn, and Destiny that one night. Huh? Who was being eaten? Rae shrugged then waved the younger Ravenclaw over. She could chill with her and Xylon. Yay. She still eagerly wanted to splash in the water.

Listening to everyone else answers however, especially Gold's answer, Evelyn couldn't help but wonder. "Have Kappas ever eaten other Kappas?" she asked, before gesturing to Gold. "Like she said, children and cucumbers could be hard to come by, and if they do eat fish and plants...then what if those were scarce too?"

Unless, they could last on one human child for an extraordinarily long time. Like camels, who can go without water for a long time. HAHA! Relating the kappa to a camel. Everyone knew a Kappa was cuter!

Ellie eyed someone. A certain someone she recognized. From a certain 10 minutes or so of fun on a certain pillow in a certain corridor on a certain second floor. Well she was eyeing them because they waved. And she looked around her and saw nobody waving back. And since she kinda knew her, she realized it, the wave, was meant for her.

She splashed her way over to the Slytherin and gave a smile of greeting.

Marie did not like the way this discussion was going. It really sounded as if they were going to see a real Kappa here in the classroom. How else would they be able to ask it any questions? And if it liked to eat children why would the professor have one here... in a claaroom full of children.

Raising her hand she said, "Professor, I heard that if you throw a cucumber with your name carved into it to a Kappa it will not harm you. Is that true?" If so WHERE are the cucumbers?

Crud!

She should have planted some in herbology.

Water demons who like to eat children. How.... sad. Xylon raised a hand. "I believe they eat adults too, if they can't find children," he said matter-of-factly. Smirk smirk. Awesome water demons!

Could he slip an arm around Rae? Truebridge would probably be mad.

Well. At least she was here. With him.