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Post by Silver Blackwood on Mar 10, 2009 17:40:13 GMT -5
Silver had been watching the sky for hours, now and then pausing to scribble a line or two in a leather-bound journal. It was easy to write at night this close to the full moon, but Silver was tense all the same, expectant somehow. He'd heard the faint sounds not far off, but there was so much alive in the woods that he'd only listened long enough to be sure it wasn't approaching him before he'd gone back to his solitary evening.
Then the color of the light had changed.
Silver's head snapped upward, and his eyes widened. For some moments he could only stare in bone-deep shock. Then he was on his feet, and every sense was on alert. He knew how likely it was that one of the prefects would see, or the Head Boy or Girl, whichever was on duty, but it was so close. And he was no Gryffindor.
Still, he sensed no danger, and right now, his senses were stretched tight, highly aware of everything. He was no Gryffindor, but tonight, with things as they were, his instincts compelled him to approach rather than skirt around. He moved between the trees, stepping over barely-visible branches and over leaf-filled holes that he knew far better than any student should have after less than a year. But the forest was a haven for him, and he knew the way.
He could feel when he was close, and he slowed, quieted his breathing further. Could it be right? Who had made the Mark? Silver's thoughts flickered toward Michael more than once, but he knew better, and so he focused on listening, on scenting any danger nearby.
He only just saw the slender fallen form not far inside the boundaries of the forest. He pulled his wand at last, and with one last, intense check of the area, murmured, Lumos. It was a soft light, but it was enough. Was she dead? He looked up, then back down at her. It didn't feel right.
Silver took a deep breath, then moved to kneel beside her, pausing before reaching out one hand that stopped less than an inch from touching her. He felt warmth, but that meant nothing. "Hello?" he asked softly.
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Post by Lafra Seyrrou on Mar 11, 2009 8:35:31 GMT -5
The voice made her flinch, why couldn't they leave her alone? She wanted to rest... to sleep, but this time was much different. The cold hiss was gone, instead this voice was much softer. Her eyes were barely able to open up. She shifted her head a bit to the side, trying to get a glimpse of who it. She was barely able to see through her hair, but the absence of a dark hood reassured her.
She barely parted her lips to speak, but instead of words, a soft groan sounded. For a second her shoulders tensed before relaxing again, she wanted to get up, save herself the shame of just lying there, it really sucked not being able to depend on herself.
Her shoulders tensed up again as she tried to push herself up, and once again she failed, her shoulders relaxed as her breath game in deep gasps. She wouldn't accept this, she wanted him to just disappear, to just leave her there, maybe later she coudl wake up and drag herself to the Hospital Wing.
Lafra finally gave up, her body was not tense anymore, her brain not trying to force her body to do something she incapable of doing. She would just let whoever this person was to decide what became of her.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Mar 11, 2009 12:08:31 GMT -5
She was alive. Thank God. The affirmation did wonders for Silver's ability to think, and he moved his wand, trying to see what had injured her. He could smell it now, the coppery tang of blood, and his own blood quickened in response. Then he could see it, shining black in the night, a thick strip of blood at her waist, more at her side, her shoulder.
Silver's mind revolted, throwing ghosts of the past across his vision, ghosts of pain and terror. He fought them, keeping as large a focus as he could on the image of Dare and everything he'd done. Without that image, he would never make it through the panic.
"Stay awake," Silver demanded. His usually soft voice was wavering slightly, but it was as strong as he could manage. "Just one more minute. Stay awake just one more minute." How many times had he heard that? It felt like it had been hours.
Silver shrugged out of his jacket, then moved to wrap it around the girl, working to move her as little as possible. His jacket could die, for all he cared. It was the best bandage he could think of. "Stay awake another minute," he repeated.
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Post by Lafra Seyrrou on Mar 11, 2009 12:24:15 GMT -5
As her eyes were slowly shutting, his calls made them open up again. She growled a bit, she didn’t want to stay up for another minute. She wanted to sleep. Lafra turned her face against towards him, now getting a better look at his face. She never recalled ever seeing him before. Her eyes searched his chest and saw the Ravenclaw symbol. Once again her eyes darted to his face, but even after figuring out he was in her house, she couldn't recognize him.
She knew that this once, her stubborn ways would have to be pushed to the side. Watching him wrap something around her made her shiver, even in this state the prospect of being touched by a male wasn’t pleasant, and it always scared her. However, his touch was so gentle, he barely made her move, and at this she was grateful.
Lafra felt her eyes want to shut, but her brain screamed to her body not to allow it. She’d try not to pass out, her mind wouldn’t allow it, somehow his repeated calls allowed her to stay awake and prolong it. Lafra tried to move her hands, but even that was hard to do. She felt her fingers twitch then managed to pull them over her abdomen.
“Cr…ap.” She managed to finally choke out. Even at a time like this, it had to include cursing. Lafra wanted nothing more now than to sleep and just ignore him, but once again at the sound of his voice she managed to pull through and barely open her eyes to look at the dark forest.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Mar 11, 2009 12:34:28 GMT -5
Silver felt something near relief at that. It was an intelligible word, and that was what mattered. At this point, if she got angry with him it might just keep her awake even better, not that he'd piss her off on purpose.
"Stay awake," he repeated. "Tell me your name." He glanced quickly over his shoulder in the direction of the castle. If someone didn't show up soon, he'd be forced to move her, and that could go so wrong in so many ways.
Hopefully he wouldn't freeze the moment there was definite contact the way he usually did. It seemed blasphemous to even consider a reaction like that at a time like this, but he considered it all the same. "Tell me your name," he said again.
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Post by Lafra Seyrrou on Mar 12, 2009 1:21:02 GMT -5
"Lafra." she was glad she managed to say it in one breath, maybe it had something to do with the fact that she was relaxing. Lafra's eyes turned towards the hovering bright green figure. Looking at it made her angry, it was enough to keep her awake. Lafra's eyes were almost fully open as she leaned back. Her fingers slightly clutching the jacket that was around her frame.
Lafra flinched slightly when an angry growl resonated from her chest. The wounds she had were now burning as she was aware of her surroundings, she may not have been able to move, but her sense of sound was on high alert, listening for the sound of crunching leaves... or anything for that matter.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Mar 13, 2009 6:59:47 GMT -5
Nobody was coming. Silver's attention spread to take in as much as he could, then focused to sound, but he only heard the sounds of the nighttime forest. His brows knitted together as he turned his attention back to Lafra. "My name is Silver," he told her, forgetting for the moment his usual clause that his name was actually Sylvester. He thought for some moments before finally making a decision.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to need to... pick you up. It'll be warmer in the hospital wing, and maybe the nurse will let you sleep, but you need to stay awake just another minute or two." He mentally cursed SWIM and its crappy Charms program. He still wasn't quite caught up, and he wasn't going to attempt an immobility spell if he wasn't sure it would do what it was supposed to.
Silver didn't wait for Lafra's permission. He needed to do this before he chickened out and both of them spent the next hour stiffening in the cold. He was gentle, and as careful as possible, making as little contact as he could while still lifting her into his arms. He kept his mind on getting back to the warm castle, forcibly ignoring how very light she was.
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Post by Lafra Seyrrou on Mar 13, 2009 12:43:50 GMT -5
She tried to nod, but she didn't even have enough strength for that. As he lifted her, she made sure to gently grab on with the tips of her fingers, a way to reassure herself that she would be fine.
"Si..Silver... thanks."she managed to say in between her breaths. Lafra kept her eyes open, barely, but she could make out her surroundings. The usual awkward feel she would get around guys touching her was gone, she knew that his intentions were selfless, she felt the corners of her lips turn up int a small smile, at least it wasn't painful to do that.
Lafra sighed, she wasn't as cold anymore. Although her robes were blood stained, his jacket and the small amount of body heat coming from Silver was enough, in fact, she was quite comfortable in his arms and just wanted to fall asleep, but for now, she would stay awake just in case the person came back to finish the job.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Mar 13, 2009 15:18:04 GMT -5
"You're welcome," Silver said quietly. He almost went quiet, his reflex to withdraw into thought strong as ever. But he needed to keep her awake. She'd be safer that way, and maybe he could distract himself, too. Maybe he could keep the rush of his blood at a reasonable level. Maybe he could keep the memories at bay just that much longer.
"Lafra," Silver said, hoping to get her attention with the sudden use of her name, "Tell me what House you're in. Tell me what your favorite class is. Mine's Defense Against the Dark Arts." Another class he wasn't caught up in, but Hogwarts had such an amazing program that he was enjoying it.
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Post by Lafra Seyrrou on Mar 13, 2009 16:32:04 GMT -5
She listened to his voice, it took a while for his words to register in her mind. She was about to drift into unconsciousness, her mind was a mess.
"Ravenclaw." her voice was weak, but she was able to say it, maybe it had something to do with how it was much more comfortable here than on the ground. Her head, swam, what class did she like? Not sure she answered him the best way she could, it surprised her that she was able to say it again without having to take breaks between each word.
"I don't like classes, I like reading and writing." despite her voice being barely above a whisper, at least she was able to answer. Her breaths were slowly stabilizing, she could still fell the pain, but concentrating on her surroundings and his voice was much easier.
"Mythology would be fun." the would in her words was obvious enough to let him know that she would have taken the class, but something was obviously holding her back from doing that. Her mind swam with images, her parents, her cousin, her aunt and uncle, then the hooded figure. That one image was keeping her awake, and of course his voice.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Mar 14, 2009 20:40:22 GMT -5
"You write?" Silver asked. There was part of his mind that leapt at that, part of his mind that clung to that connection and jumped ahead to things he didn't have the time or concentration to over-think right now. Another part of his mind scolded him, and he walked faster now.
"I write, too. I was writing when..." Silver winced when he heard himself. "I was writing earlier," he corrected himself, strengthening his voice again in the hopes of keeping Lafra's attention. Why in hell were the grounds so big? "What do you write, Lafra?"
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Post by Lafra Seyrrou on Mar 15, 2009 2:14:32 GMT -5
She didn't notice him correct himself, she was too busy trying to form an answer. Her voice wasn't quivering, but her brain was still a mess. She tried to move a bit, but flinched at the attempt, her fingers instinctively tightening at his shirt.
"Anything, everything." she said each word slowly and took another sharp intake of breath, she would try to go on, just so she could stay awake.
"It comes naturally to me sometimes. Like..." she paused and bit down on her lower lip, she had shifted a bit and her side was hurting even more than before.
Lafra looked up, she could make out parts of his face, while others were hidden in a shadow.
"...my thoughts translate to words on paper." she had notes books stacked high in her dorm, most were just random words that came to mind, things that made no sense to anyone else but herself. It was an outlet for her, mentally and creatively.
Lafra wanted to hear his voice again, something about it reassured her that she would be fine. Usually she would have cringed away from someone holding her so closely, but right now, that part of her was asleep.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Mar 15, 2009 12:57:44 GMT -5
"Yes," Silver agreed, the word little more than a breath. He had to make himself concentrate on his steps now, but they were so close to the castle! So close and then he only had to get to the hospital wing. Still, he found himself waxing poetic all the same, despite the inappropriateness of the situation. He adjusted his arms slightly to keep her from trying to move again, then worked to make himself speak, anything to keep her going.
"It's like, there's too much to think about and you can't catch it all, so..." It was so much harder putting things to words without a quill in his hand! "I'm crap with words when I don't have my quill," he said at last. "We're almost there, Lafra," he added.
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Post by Lafra Seyrrou on Mar 15, 2009 13:09:22 GMT -5
A slight smile was there on her lips. He seemed a lot like her, although, she could be good with words… when she was angered. Other than that she preferred solitude.
“Write in your mind.” It was an odd statement, but maybe he would understand what she meant. Lafra had always pictured herself writing when she couldn’t physically do it. As if the quill and parchment were right before her, only she wasn’t using her hands at all to make the quill move.
Lafra could see the castle approaching slowly and a relieved sigh escaped her lips. Lafra knew that reaching the castle meant comfort, security and sleep. The idea made her eyes droop a bit, she could relax, she didn’t have to worry about someone attacking them. She would be angry if Silver got hurt, he helped her and the prospect of him getting hurt for helping her would drive her insane.
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Post by Silver Blackwood on Mar 15, 2009 13:20:25 GMT -5
Silver felt Lafra relaxing against him, and his arms tensed. "Lafra, wake up. Just another minute! I'll feel like an idiot if I'm talking to myself," he tried, his voice strengthening again. He wouldn't let her go to sleep. He knew how hard it was, but they hadn't let it happen, and somehow he'd made it. Somehow she'd make it.
"I can't write in my mind," he said, hoping to distract himself as much as keep Lafra awake. "It takes too long, and I need to scratch things out, I'm always re-writing. I'll rewrite things I wrote months ago if I think I can do it better." Yes, he understood what she meant, but he'd always found himself incompetent without his quill, except with people he knew very well.
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