Thinking on Right and Wrong (Open)

[Sessilee Locklear]

Sessilee exited the school out to the lawn and looked about for a place to sit on her own and meditate to ask the spirits once more for some direction on what to do. She sat down in her little corner of the lawn and folded her legs. She leaned back on the ground and looked up at the late afternoon sky. Coffee colored hair spilled across green grass as her lids closed over chocolate brown eyes.

In a moment she was out of her body and among the stars, pure and seeking the answers to her questions. She awaited a spirit or one of her power animals to approach her as they often did when she was in this state. Hearing nothing but the sound of her own heartbeat, she waited.

After a few moments of sensing nothing she spoke her question out loud from her soul. "What is the best path for me?"

The question echoed throughout the cosmos as many asked the same question every day. Yet still Sessilee did not feel any spirits approach her.

She was about to accept their silence when she heard an echo back to her.

"Your decision is one that alters many lives beyond your own... you must make this choice on your own judgement."

Sessilee hesitated. This voice was a powerful one. If all the spirits were in agreement, then she would receive no further answers to this question. Since she'd sat here long enough to accept silence as an answer, she supposed that no creature would allow her to gain any help in this matter from any other.

She slowly opened her eyes, letting the dark shadows fade from view. Her stomach rumbled as she realized she'd sat here for a couple of hours in her wait for an answer. Looking down at her shoes she sighed to herself.

That voice had been very powerful; the spirit of someone who was very wise and strong and old. A spirit strong enough to keep any other from answering her, possibly. This meant her next question to the spirits would be one that helped shape her future. So what would she ask? Where to find the nearest hidden chamber? Or how to deal with the ministry? Even so, there were no guarantees of a specific answer.

The sun was beginning to set and Sessilee still sat thinking on her predicament. She'd waited too long, it seemed... time was running out. She would have to decide what to do. Did she play puppet for the ministry in return for her funding? Breaking rules and possibly disobeying the teachers? Or did she confide in the headmistress and ask for forgiveness, hoping that there would be a way to continue coming to school here... but that would be a long shot, wouldn't it? Who else would have the kind of funding to bring her here from the Rockies?

Sessilee sighed. She felt right here. Her spirit was settled here so easily. Surely that meant she was supposed to be here.

Her stomach let out another angry grumble as she tried to stand up. She wouldn't be able to make any decisions without some food...

[Lyall Asiah Jordan]

Lyall had just gotten his broom back from being repaired and was antsy to try it out. He was picky about the way it handled especially during matches and didn't know if perhaps someone had laid a harmless jinx on it as way of a joke. He'd had it back from the shop a couple of times and it had bucked him like a bronco once, and the other time had done nothing but spin in circles. Those thoughts ran through his mind as he made his way down the stair case and out the giant castle doors with broom in hand.

With his mind on his plans for when he got to the pitch the form lying motionless on the carpet of green until he'd nearly tripped over it. He was snapped from his world by a screech of a creature from the nearby forest just as he was lifting his right leg to take the step that would have ended with the Aussie native sprawled like a drunkard across the landscape. However he'd bypassed that finale thanks to the jolt from the screech and instead stood dumbfounded that the form was in fact a girl. Though upon closer inspection he became worried, because of the recent string of attacks now taking place on the grounds, as her breathing was rather shallow and at the time her expression had taken on one close to frustration or pain, he couldn't discern which.

Unsure if he should yell for or go get help Lyall stood stationary and assessed what he could see of her. So far as he could see she didn't have any outward signs pointing to an attack by the beast. Thus, figuring it wasn't that, and perhaps she'd just decided to take a nap or something to soak up the few rays from the fading sun that the abundant clouds were allowing through, he decided to announce his presence and see if he'd get a response. "Miss....? Are you alright?" he spoke, his voice a tad louder than normal.

He retreated a pace to await her answer, just to make sure he hadn't misjudged his guess that she wasn't harmed in any way. Though slight worry still clouded his features his stance was relaxed as he held his broom, having near forgot about why he'd set out that way to begin. After a minute he thought he saw her eyes flutter open but he wasn't sure. "Miss....? Are you alright?" he asked again, awaiting a response.

[Christopher "Kite" Anderson]

Kite was already flying around high above the grounds, leaning forward on his brooms and peering into the Forest. He was almost keen on seeing the creature, though from this safe height. A chill went up his back, reminding him of the attack... the blinding pain, then the sudden black as he was suddenly swept into unconsciousness. Hello, Darkness, my old friend.

He then tore his gaze away in time to look down and see a speck walking towards another speck. He curiously tilted his head, and gently swayed in the wind, slowly moving down through the high mists, and finally getting in close enough to see it was Lyall, the Ravenclaw Seeker. He smirked a bit. Coming out for practice? Good lord, if only he had the sight... Kite was known for his Eagle Eyes, and was capable of chasing down the Snitch fairly well, in his opinion. Sure, he didn't always get it, but he's always given the other seekers a run for their money, even having surprised Lyall, the 6th year seasoned Seeker that has made Ravenclaw proud.

He then turned the nose of his broom back towards the Forest, peering at it once again, then began gliding down gracefully, letting himself flop sideways, hanging onto the broom with his legs. Upside down, he let his head hover next to Lyall's before seeing the girl, and asking her if she was ok. He frowned, then smiled. This was the American girl, the one who was brought here apparently through some kind of Scholarship or something. She seemed to be a rather nice girl from what he saw. He then took in a quiet, but deep breath.

"Oi. Isshe dead?" he said loudly, right in Lyall's ear. He would then back off a bit, so if his sudden words caused Lyall to flail in shock, Kite wouldn't get an unlucky punch to the face. He smirked, looking at the girl, and nodded. "I wouldn't worry about her. She must be meditating or something... I'm sure if whatever it was that hurt me had gotten to her, she'd be in pieces." he said, crossing his arms, seemingly immune to having been upside down for the past three minutes. He kept letting his eyes dart to the forest, keeping his eyes on the line of trees cautiously (CONSTANT VIGILANCE! As Mad-Eye Moody once said), and he suddenly felt nervous being this close to the ground. He frowned again, knowing that they were sitting ducks out here, and wondered if...

Ah. There.

He looked up at a window and saw Professor Anvion looking down towards the forest, and then followed his gaze, seeing the Gamekeeper walking along the edge of the Forest, putting up barriers. He eased up, and sighed, looking back towards the girl, and Lyall.

[Sessilee Locklear]

Sess looked up into the eyes of two boys she'd not known were there until just then. She tilted her head, coffee colored hair spilling over her shoulder. One boy was flying about, obviously looking towards the forest now and again. She had heard him say she was from America, distantly and she looked over at the Ravenclaw.

"I'm fine. Sorry if I startled you." Her voice was perfectly natural, as if she'd not just been lying on the grass like some passed out fool. "I was just asking the guidance of any spirit that would listen... apparently they didn't like my question..."

Sessilee looked towards the forest. She'd heard of the attacks... but since she was certain it was not a wolf, and little was known by her about this creature, it meant very little to her. "...It's hard to be scared of animals when you've spent your whole life being told they're symbols of wisdom..." her mutter was gentle, as if she were a little hesitant to admit that she was afraid of the attacks. Her father had told her there was no animal in nature that did anything but what it's natural spirit commanded. Which reminded her of something else.

"Doesn't it just attack boys, anyway?" The comment wasn't snide or short, it was curiosity laced with honest concern.

She noticed then the teacher that was putting up some sort of barrier and her eyes seemed to darken. That creature might have come from a chamber, for all she knew. Even better, might have been sent by the ministry, like herself; but was a danger to all. Her dilemma was still at large in her mind. Her deep chocolate colored eyes darkened. Sess was at a road block. and no one could help her make this decision, from what she understood.

And as she was standing there looking so serious... her stomach growled and she sighed, pulling a few strands of hair forward and braiding them distractedly, pretending she did not just make a total fool of herself before two complete strangers.

Sessy looked at their brooms. Oh yes... that's why they looked familiar... Quiditch players. She wasn't obsessive over the sport, but she knew a bit. It was hard not to; it was possibly the favorite sport of the school, if not the wizarding world. A few words resounded through her mind

"Going to practice?" She asked, glancing between the two's brooms. Noticing that one hadn't seemed to know the other was there her eyes glanced up at the Griffindor again. He struck her as the typical Griffindor. His eyes told of a craving for adventure.

"...Or maybe you think you're out here for some sort of adventure... to see what there is to see?" Her eyes took on a slightly harder more accusing expression as she glanced back towards the forest. "I warn you... you approach any creature that does not want to be approached, and it will make sure you regret it..." her hand instinctively went up to her right arm and clasped it gently, making it look like she was simply crossing her arms before her. Perhaps those scars would never heal... but they had taught her a measure of respect for any creature that did not desire company, and perhaps even a few that did.

[Lyall Asiah Jordan]

Lyall had seen the Gryff seeker hovering quite a distance off the ground as he'd been headed to the pitch but had lost sight of him as he'd nearly tripped over the prone girl. So really it was no surprise to Lyall when the other boy had drifted over to pull a smart-assed maneuver such as the one he had done. The effect it had on Lyall was only to make him side step a pace and look at the inverted Kite. "Well, genius since she's breathing, although shallow. I doubt for that happenstance. Though she could be hurt, which is why I'm still standing here, not in the pitch schooling your know-it-all butt. Though I'm assuming that since the beast only has a taste for males... It wouldn't have been that. " he said heatedly.

He looked back toward the dark-haired girl, thinking he again saw her move even minutely. Though his attention was directed back toward the kid on the broom glancing nervously at the forest ever few seconds. A sigh escaped his lips and a evil glint shown in his eyes as he taunted the mud-haired kid. "What, you waiting to catch another glimpse of your girlfriend? I doubt she'll be around much longer as there are rumors going around that the high ups are getting rid of her tonight." He remarked snidely.

A movement from the form lying on the ground had his attention focusing on her once more. As her eyes opened he smiled, and her smooth almost sweet voice carried to his ears the reassuring thoughts he'd needed since he'd near broke his neck having not seen her. "No need to apologize, I was just on my way to practice and near fell over ya. I'd just hoped you hadn't been harmed by the beast of the forest if she'd changed her likes all the sudden. I've heard of that, there are a few older men and women back home who practice it. It sounds interesting." He responded, his distinct accent taking over now that he was not pestering the younger brooms man.

Lyall had spent most of his younger years around the 'monsters' of the deep both magical and non, seeing this he was used to 'swimming with the sharks' so to speak and giving any creature the respect and breadth they deserved. Though this beast that had been placed in the forest had him afraid more because it was an unnatural cross breed that had some how come into existence. There were theories being tossed around by the older students and professors who weren't so tight of lip, each one more dangerous or just plain stupid than the next. A second reason he wanted nothing more than to avoid the creature at the greatest costs was because it seemed to lure boys and men into it's clutches while left the girls and women well enough alone. He wondered silently if a gender changing spell would confuse the thing, then wondered why he was wondering that in the first place.

He responded to the girls inquiry, "Well, our Care of Magical Creature's professor has had a run in with the thing I believe. Though it seems to prefer male flesh. I suspect it is because it is part Sphinx." his voice carried only the truth and held no accusations for her. While she had adopted a serious expression her tummy had other ideas as he heard rather comically. Nodding he reached into the pocket of his jeans inside his robe and pulled out a Snickers bar, handing it to the girl he realized he hadn't introduced himself since he had in fact been rather rude in his vigilance over her while she was meditating. "Here ya go... This should help at least til meal time. By the way, I'm Lyall.. I am sorry about interrupting your vigil. The jerk fluttering around like a butterfly is Kite. " His voice carried a hint of laughter through out his apology as he figured he'd looked rather silly standing over her when she'd opened her eyes.


He looked at the broom he'd sat on the ground while waiting for a response and picked it up, intending to now continue to the pitch for practice. He gave the girl a smile but aimed a heated glare at the kid still hanging around. "Don't you have something better to do? Like let me show you a thing or two on the field.... Unless you're worried I'll ream you too harshly.?" He taunted Kite, his smile for the girl still playing for her

[Christopher "Kite" Anderson]

Kite's face went hot as the older male referred to the monster as his 'Girlfriend'. He gritted his teeth, suppressing his desire to hurl and endless swarm of violent language in his direction. Usually, they'd pick on each other, even go to 'yo momma' jokes, but this time... Lyall just didn't get it. He looked away and ignored the fellow Seeker, and childlishly pouted towards the ground, having righted himself on his broomstick. He tried to keep the emotions in, the fear and pain that he still felt over almost dying... if it wasn't for Aunt Kaliana visiting him daily, he might have gone insane. He crossed his arms and brought his attention back to Lyall, who called him a butterfly.

"Oh, oh no, you didn't!" he said, imitating an American valley girl, and pointed at Lyall. "At least I don't go flaunting my balls and breaking a bone every game! A Butterfly's got grace, mister 'it hurts when I pee cause I'm such an awesome seeker!'" he could have done better. Much better... but he was off today. His back hurt, and he hated being this close to the ground... all in all, he just wanted to fly into the clouds, forget there was ever a forest, a castle, and this Aussie smartass and just... float forever. His broom rose a bit off the ground.

"Yeah, yeah... you and your 'challenges'... I'll accept, but I'm not leaving her out here, man-hating-beast or not." he spat stubbornly, looking back towards the forest, a chill running up his spine... why did he feel like this? He went from fearing nothing but deep water to fearing deep water and everything that moved. This frustrated him greatly, almost to the point where he wanted to go home... he missed his mother terribly, and the fact that she had been here up until yesterday killed him... he didn't want her to go. That young boy, the one who wondered who his father was, wondered if the broom was his ticket to freedom, wondered why the older students made suggestive comments about women and cats for whatever reason, wanted his mother. He felt lost, almost dead, almost like his entire life was without worth now that he had been so close to losing it... what had gotten into him? His depression creeped up to him like a feline ready to pounce as he turned, as if distracted by a sudden sound, to hide a tear that suddenly made it's presence known. He was never like this... but now, he was. This deep down feeling that there was nothing more to life than death, all from one snide comment from his rival... What a wuss, he thought to himself.