She was able to travel through the halls without trouble. It would seem she had picked the perfect time to sneak out, while everyone was at dinner. The ability to blend into shadows came in handy as well.

It was colder outside than she had expected. But of course. She was always cold when she needed the medicine. The more she needed the Chishio Draught, the more she shivered. It had nothing to do with temperature or weather.

Quickly, her feet leaving practically no tracks and making no sounds, she ran to the trees that lined the edge of the Forbidden Forest. She needed no light. She could see very well.

When she was certain that she was within safe distance of the castle, she extracted her wand from the folds of her black kimono and said in a clear voice: "Accio."

Within seconds, a cauldron came barrelling towards her, from the direction of the castle. She magically snagged it in mid-air and lowered it gently to the ground before her.

Shinrei peered at the contents. It was all there. The herbs. The snake skin. The goat spleen. The raven's eyes. Illegal. But it would save her life.

She slowly levitated the cauldron and made it drift alongside her as she walked further into the dark forest.

She tried very, very hard not to think of later. There was only now.

The lead wolf stopped and gave a short bark. He could smell something that he had been told to watch out for. The Leader had told them that there was danger if they smelt a human that had raven's blood. They knew that the Leader's companion was part Raven, and they knew a thirst for protecting her.

The wolf pack conferred over their course of action. There was no time to summon the Leader. One was sent to carry a message to him while the others would observe and help as best they could. Help being most likely a sharp reprimand.

***

Back in the castle Randal was not aware of the wolves discovery. He had not yet had chance to tell them about his discussion with Shinrei, nor that she was responsible. As Shinrei brewed her potion he was unaware that his wolf pack were closing in on her, seeking to trap her and punish her for her misdeeds.

For Shinrei, it was almost freezing as she ventured deeper and deeper into the heart of the Forbidden Forest. She went northward, instinct telling her not to go in any other direction as there might be others there.

The north was thickest and least accessible to others. Her senses had that strange idea, and she was following it like a person underwater fighting to reach the surface.

Her eyes were the only light that cut through the dark, save for the pale slivers of moonlight that managed to reach the earth past the thick branches of trees overshadowing her. Mechanically, she floated the cauldron onwards, her wand hand shaking slightly, her cloak brushing growth and her sandal-clad feet moving noiselessly.

She strained with her ears. She would hear when there were other creatures close by and---

A rustle. Growls. A low, rumbling exchange from deep within the earth. Someone or something--she wasn't quite sure, but deep inside she knew it wasn't human.

But Shinrei Hikari would never succumb to fear. Once upon a time, she had bested much worse.

After what seemed like an eternity of walking, she reached a tiny clearing, in the shelter of two large trees that seemed bending towards each other in a grotesque sort of embrace.

She looked around, her eyes narrowing, then lowered the cauldron to the ground. A few minutes later, she had a magical white-coloured fire burning beneath the cauldron and she was adding herbs to the base of the concoction.

No more hour-long simmerings. She couldn't care any less if the potion had lesser effect by the dose.

Shinrei took a deep breath, then began incanting a prayer of guidance and salvation to the Kami in a low voice as she stirred and waited for the intervals in which to add more and more ingredients.

The wolves continued to surround Shinrei. There was a feeling of unrest amongst them and the wolf that was in the lead was having a hard time trying to control them.

A howl echoed through the forest. And was quickly cut short with a brief yelp. The wolf that had howled had been reprimanded. For the moment they watched, tense and ready to pounce.

***************

High up in the air a single Raven circled above the trees. Spotting the wolves creeping as if tracking prey he swooped lower. There might be a tasty morsel left for him if their catch was good.

He settled lower making to perch on a tree. As he did so he was a little surprised that their prey seemed to be a girl. He settled himself on a tree branch to get a better look.

Looking around he saw the cauldron and the collection of ingredients on the ground. He couldn't believe it! Ravens eyeballs!

"Corrrrr Corrrrr!" He took to the air and dived straight at Shinrei!

~How dare she use those! They might have been his brother's.~ "Corrrr Corrrr!" He dived straight at her eyes. ~An eye for an eye!~

There was howling, growling, all around her now. How they moved so quickly as to encircle her was beyond Shinrei. She surmised that they knew this place much better than she did--it was their habitat, not hers. She was merely an intruder, and a desperate one.

It was too late to cast an offensive spell. She would not do so even if she could. They were not to be harmed. They were merely protecting their home. Shinrei could understand such a thing very well.

Even if the ones surrounding her were wolves of prey.

She would have to go by the trees. She was, above all, a ninja. An honour she had earned by virtue of training, not the accursed drug that she could never cleanse herself of.

She was about to cast a dissipating spell on her potions things when she heard an angry squawking from above. An angry bird of prey-- Something was diving straight down at her, very quickly-- But not so quick enough.

"Koori-ha!" her hand shot into the air, with her wand pointed at the raven, issuing icy energy that would suspend the bird in mid-air. She hoped it would be enough to buy her time. To allow her to escape.

The cry from the first raven had alerted the rest of the flock. They came to see what the fuss was about.

Looking around they followed the first raven's lead. They flew in waves at Shinrei, angry at raven's eyes and at the way their fellow raven had been stopped so...

The wolves were startled by the appearance of the ravens and they were no longer thinking along the same lines. There was no control and the younger wolves began to growl.

First one then another began to draw closer to Shinrei. They were in plain sight now, openly prowling round her.

Escape was the only option. Shinrei took a millisecond to murmur an apology to the raven she had frozen in the air. *I was attacked. I have no intention to hurt anything.*

The wolves and ravens were now forming a circle around her. She was going to be cornered if she did not move. How could she explain her plight and sickness to these creatures? Not even humans would understand. *She* did not even understand.

It was all wrong, all evil, all not meant to be--but here she was.

She made her decision then. She waved her wand in the air, stirring up a tiny hurricane of smoky mist and leaves that would effectively distract those surrounding her.

Shinrei reached for the clasp of the black cloak behind her neck. It would only serve to slow her down. She could not afford the risk.

The garment rustled through the air as it came off, a black wave that momentarily shielded the small girl from the view of the ravens and the wolves.

*NOW!*

She was up on the tree, bounding with feline ease and grace. She poised to leap to the next tree, then the next. It was her best chance at escape.

As Shinrei leapt from three to tree something was stirring... As she leapt to the next tree she it vanished! She fell to the ground, her Ninja abilities saving her from any damage from the fall.

There HAD been a tree there, but now in the space where it was stood an eight foot tall creature seemingly made of old wood and green leaves.

"Once more this night I find creatures of flesh invading my realm!" It spoke with a old, deep voice, like old wood creaking. "Assurances from those in power were that none shall enter here without my leave. Perhaps I should reconsider allowing Hogwarts to remain!"

It looked down at Shinrei. "Little thing. You have tried my patience to it's limits..." All around them bushes grew thickly, baring any means of escape.

"... Let the creatures of the forest take you!"

From above the Ravens circled, prepared to dive again, from behind the wolves came, snarling teeth bared, and from in front the spiders came.

"Your honour will be to feed the forest"

The vanishing tree had made her fall straight towards the ground, in a grotesque sort of dive. She managed to reach the ground with the use of both hands, to cushion the impact, then used the momentum to make a lopsided somersault that allowed her to land on her feet, half-kneeling and breathing rapidly from the shock.

Shinrei looked up at the creature. A man-tree, tall and overwhelming. A dishevelled tengu, a demon from the nightmares of children.

"Please, I meant no harm," came her choked plea, half-lost in the growls of the wolves and the eager clacking sounds of the spiders' pincers. Too many creatures around her, most of them too big.

*Please,* her mind and heart called out to the winds, *please, kami-sama. I cannot die like this. I have not yet served my people.*

Her lips formed the words, a quiet cry, as the creatures and plants of the forest began to close in around her. "Help me," she petitioned silently.

*************

Randal felt uneasy. He needed to be somewhere else, although he was not sure why. It had been too long since he had seen his wolf pack and caught the news.

He finished his dinner and wandered over to the Ravenclaw table.

"I'm going to er... stretch my legs. Maybe I'll see you outside when you have finished." He didn't know if she would know what he meant by 'stretch his legs' but it was the closest he could say to it.

Branwen smiled at him. "I could always come with you, unless you don't want my company." She feigned a disapproving look.

Randal nodded and headed out of the hall.

As they approached the edge of the wood they noticed the group emerging from the trees. Randal noted the expressions on the faces of the different students. Concern was evident from Sarah, anger from Mahou and a little bewilderment from Marvo. He also noticed what no one else had, a wolf lurked on the edge of the forest, watching him eagerly.

"I will be with you in a minute," Randal told Branwen and walked over to the edge of the forest and stopped, bending over as if examining something on the ground.

Branwen had wandered over to the group, but did not even have time to say hello before Randal joined her.

"Marvo, I think that I could do with you help. Would you follow me into the forest. I think that there is another student in there that could do with some help."

Randal had quickly learned from the wolf hiding on the edge of the forest that the group had been leaving when he had arrived, as well as the information that the wolves had found the 'attacker of ravens'. The wolves definitely had a way with words.

However Randal did not wait for Marvo or his reply, but headed into the forest. As he moved into the trees he whispered a spell that would leave a faint yellow trail on the ground.

Now out of view his image shimmered into the cream wolf as he ran, almost in a single leap. His mind reached out to the pack. He could feel them faintly in the distance. He pushed himself to a fast gallop and headed in the direction of the sound of their minds.

Randal slipped past, muttering to Marvo and the others, slipping around and touching the floor, looking at traces of nothingness that Raphael couldn't see. Traces, blinding the others, spiders slipping into the woods as if possessed, losing interest in this prey, looking for another. Another in the forest. He leant to Nimue, and whispered: "the spiders left us alone for a purpose."

But then Raphael was gone, dark, hunched in the moonlight, out of sight of Nimue and over with Sarah, whispering in her ear, too: "stop the others following, I won't be long, I promise, see you up in the common room," he said, as Randal made towards the forest slowly.

Raphael had gone in to the woods after Mahou looking for something.

Now, Randal, and soon Marvo, would go into the forest too. As the others talked in tightly hunched circles, Raphael slipped off towards the castle, vaguely.

Until he turned, slipping out of sight in the darkness, and sprinted as if trailed by a demon, making for a yellow pathway through the forest that Randal made. And also making for where the Spiders had been. Because, he had watched where they had walked, and so in the darkness, with the flames in his eyes illuminating the darkness as if it was on fire, Raphael headed off Randal, unaware that the other had changed into a wolf. And unaware that Marvo would soon be on the same trail, following.

And all Raphael knew, as he took to madness, was that every part of him yearned to be in the forest. Part to rip the spiders apart, with no petty restrain, or to be ripped apart, cacophony of blood. Part to find the person in the forest, to add the Ravenclaw stamp that he knew he had the ability to do, for in a forest, he knew he could fly across the land. And part for a memory of something he knew that was so near, somewhere, in the forest.

********

Marvo pulled himself up. He really REALLY didn't want to go back into the Forest. But the words 'could do with you help' coming from Randal were enough to make it worth while.

"Yes. Right. erm...What?! What IS it with the Forest! Has someone put a sign up saying 'playground' or something?"

Randal had already gone by this time but that didn't stop Marvo grumbling. "I don't know! Lizzy? You say here with the others, get them back to the Castle. Kat, coming?"

He knew Nimue would be extremely useful in the forest, but also knew Randal would not be happy if she 'found out' about him, and he also felt Mahou needed to be looked after too.

He followed the yellow track Randal had places, grumbling all the way "Grumble..... Students... Grumble..... Too many legs.... Grumble..... Buy a fence!..... Grumble..... ripping my new robe..."

Kat looked a little baffled by Randal running off so quickly. And even more so at Marvo asking her to go with him. He usually asked her to stay out of trouble. But then if there were more spiders...

"Ummm.... I'll come."

But he had already started to follow Randal mumbling about students in the forest.

Kat had to run to keep up with him as he followed what looked like a yellow path through the trees. She decided that staying quiet would be the best plan.

As soon as they were clear of the spiders and the forbidden forest, Andy sank to the ground like a dead leaf. All he did was stare at the sky and breathe slowly. He lay there motionless for about ten minutes until finally he got up quickly and with an excited look on his face said, "That was great fun!"

Andy had loved every single minute of it. He had ENJOYED being scared. He had ENJOYED the adventure. He had ENJOYED almost getting killed with his closest friends.

All of a sudden he looked to his right and saw Kat, Marvo, and Randal going into the forbidden forest yet again.

'Think they're going to leave me here do they?' Andy closely followed them not even making one sound.

Branwen watched first Randal then Raphael, Marvo and Kat all disappear. She could tell there was something wrong. The ravens were up to something.

Without waiting to see who else was going to follow she headed into the forest following the others on the yellow path.

******************

The cream wolf ran on to meet the pack. He yapped loudly and then howled. "How dare you attack a student like this," he roared in wolf language at them.

Some of them backed down, but others were proving more difficult. He took a running jump over the hedge that was growing around the area and landed in the middle.

He saw Shinrei and the forest spirit. The spiders, ravens and some of the wolves were closing on her.

The cream wolf fought his way to Shinrei, nipping legs and running between them.

In front of her he stood his ground, growling loudly. Whatever she had been doing she did not deserve this...

Shinrei was very surprised when a cream-white wolf landed before her and proceeded to somewhat shield her from the other creatures. The wolf was growling loudly, almost angrily.

Why? A wolf belonged to the pack, did it not? Why was this one taking her side?

Whatever anything or anyone intended to do for or against her, Shinrei would not be going down without a fight.

She reached into her robes for her wand. The willow slid into her hands and she clasped it with determination. Somewhere deep inside her, she was crying out for the Chishio draught. She barely had enough time left before the attacks came.

But, as it always had been, survival for the moment was the most important thing.

"Zenryoku de ikimasu," she whispered shakily, to no one in particular. *I'll attack with all my strength. If need be.*

Branwen moved swiftly, she had quickly abandoned Randal's marker, she had no need of it as all around she could hear the Ravens calling to her. The time she and Randal had spent together here helped her find a safe passage, and the tree spirits knew she was no threat.

The more of the Raven's story she heard, the more the rage welled up inside her. She was finding those last pieces to this abhorrent jigsaw in what the Ravens called down to her. And they were confused, why was she in that form? Their protector...their leader...their Queen.

She ran, her anger keeping her moving but she was noticeably out of breath when she reached the ring of trees. She took a moment of deep breaths.

"Let me pass" a rich, melodious voice ordered, it was Branwen's voice but different...older...it carried more authority and it was a voice not to be argued with.

The Spirit of the Forest was aware that the ravens had called their Queen. A daughter of the ancient ones yet mortal flesh.

Still it was in his gift to allow her safe passage. Without word or gesture the signal was given and the vegetation enclosing Shinrei parted to allow Branwen entrance.

**********

Nimue was not a happy young woman. She had given her word that she would not re-enter the forest without leave of its Spirit and within a few minutes three of her close friends had dashed back in along after Randal Fudge.

She didn't even notice that Branwen had entered as well! She looked at the remaining three, Sarah, Mahou and Nathaniel - realising that Raphael was also not there either.

"None of you are to even THINK about going back in!" she said and then turned to Nathaniel, "Where is Raphael? Nathaniel, please don't tell me he's gone back in as well."

Nathaniel blinked slowly at the ground. Remembering it opening up under him, the fall into the caverns below...

Blink.

Nimue's words caught his attention and he looked up sharply. "He'd better not have gone back in. That place isn't for he or I."

***********

As Dumbledore sat at the table in the great hall a small fairy popped into existence in front of him. She was dressed in a green floral dress and there was a slightly green glow around her wings.

"The Forest requests your presence immediately."

That was all the fairy said before it disappeared, leaving on the table a small gem that would act as a locator to find the Spirit of the Forest.

Dumbledore nodded in acknowledgement of the fairy's summons.

Taking the gem in his hand, he got from the side of the room a large oaken staff, which was carved with ornate designs. Something that spoke of his own authority in such matters.

Walking down towards the Forest he happened upon the small group comprised of Mahou, Nathaniel, Nimue & Sarah.

"Well, what is going on here?"

Nimue couldn't help be aware of Mahou's stance and mutterings.

She was at a loss to know what to do. She had thought she and Mahou if not friends were at least on the road to becoming such. Why was she so angry with her now?

Nimue focused her attention upon Professor Dumbledore giving him a quick account of the events. There was no point denying that they had been in the forest or that the others had re-entered.

The Headmaster's look was grave as Nimue spoke to him.

He then addressed the small group. "You are all to return to the castle immediately." There was no room for negotiation.

He addressed Nimue specifically, "Miss Hawkwood, I would charge you to advise Professors McGonagall and Snape of my whereabouts. I trust I shall return to the school shortly but have no doubt that this is a serious matter."

He took her nod as an acceptance. He smiled briefly at the group and then turned and entered the darkness of the Forbidden Forest making his way swiftly to the appointed place.

Sarah had been standing somewhat to one side of the group in the shadow of the trees. She edged closer to the trees as she could while Dumbledore was focused on the others.

She slipped behind the tree and began to whisper, "Raphael... Raphael... please can you hear me."