First time at the lake (Open)

[Luna Alice James]

Luna was walking when she saw the lake. She smiled and ran to the lake, she had never seen a pretty lake in her life. When she got to the lake she put her hand in the water. It was pretty cold even though it looked warm. Luna decided to sit down on the grass and just relax. She was carrying her notepad and also a book. The book was about dragons her foster dad gave it to her before she left. She started to read it but she stopped because she started to feel lonely. But then she heard a meow she looked and it was her cat Artemis the black cat. She smiled and started to pet Artemis, but she knew to herself that she need other friends besides her cats.

[Luna Alice James]

Luna started to think what she should do but after ten minutes she didn't know what to do. When she went to pet Artemis she saw that she was gone. Luna started to get worried because Artemis never left her side. Luna looked at the lake hoping that Artemis wasn't in there but she wasn't. Then all of a sudden she heard a meow, she looked up and saw that Artemis was in a tree. She started to get worried because she started to think that Artemis might fall and hurt herself. She started to climb the tree but she fell down very hard, "Artemis please come down." said Luna very softly.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare was on his way from the lunch room to the lake, hoping to meet Michael, when he heard meowing and the small voice of a girl. He looked over and saw what had to be a first year, as small as she was, trying to coax a cat out of a tree. He had a moment's thought about that, recalling the phrase Stereotypical Gryffindor Hero Complex, but shook it off. He really didn't have much choice. There was no way he could leave her there, and at nearly 6'2" he was pretty sure he could help. He swept his hand through his multicolor hair, then turned to approach. He'd find Michael later, or maybe Michael would find him. "Do you need some help?" he asked.

[Luna Alice James]

When Luna heard Dare, she turned and looked at him. Luna nodded as she started to look at the ground. She was getting shy and timid like always when she met people for the first time. Then she started to wonder why he wanted to help her, he didn't know her and she didn't know him. Then she started to think that he just wanted to help her which made her happy.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

It had been so long since Dare had really paid attention to people that he'd forgotten just how small first-years were. He was a good foot and a half taller than the girl and hoped his reputation hadn't preceded him. He knew he could be intimidating sometimes, but the Daily Prophet had made him out as someone he wasn't.

Dare's moss-green eyes softened when he looked at the girl, then up into the tree. "I'll get her down for you," he offered. "What's her name?" He looked at the cat, judging whether he could reach her or if he'd have to go in after her. He was pretty sure it'd be the latter.

[Luna Alice James]

Luna looked at him and got out her notepad, she started to write on it. Then when she was done, she showed him her notepad it said: 'Her name is Artemis and Thank you.' She looked up and saw Artemis just sitting looking at them. Luna hoped that Artemis didn't do this on purpose. She also wrote on her notepad which said now.[/i] 'Sorry about this.' Luna wrote this because she hoped that she wasn't bothering her.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare didn't so much as blink at the fact that the girl hadn't spoken, but looked at the notepad and nodded. "It's no problem," he said. He had no idea if she was deaf, or if she just had a sore throat, but he made sure to face her when he spoke just in case. "Artemis is a cool name," he told the girl, then turned back to the tree.

He jumped slightly to catch the lowest branch, then used it to pull himself up into the tree, something he'd done so many times it was second nature. When he was close to Artemis, he held out his hand as a gesture of peace and called softly to her. "Here, kitty kitty. Come here, Artemis."

[Luna Alice James]

Luna smiled when Dare said it wasn't bother and that Artemis was a cool name. She then watched him try and get Artemis. 'Please Artemis please go to that guy.' thought Luna to herself hoping that Artemis would do this. Her blue/green eyes looked a little scared for her cat.

Artemis looked at Dare and meowed at him. She started to walk towards him then all of sudden for no reason it looked like she glared at him. But she was still walking towards him and stop when she was near him.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare blinked at the cat. For all that he liked them, he understood dogs far better and hoped that the cat wasn't smelling Elouai on him. He wasn't sure how good cats' sense of smell was. He made a rather successful repeat of Artemis's meow, then wiggled his fingers slightly. "Come on, Artemis. I'll scratch your ears if you want," he offered. It was one thing climbing up a tree to rescue a first-year's cat, but another entirely being unsuccessful at it.

[Luna Alice James]

Artemis looked at Dare wondering if she could trust him. But she heard he would scratch she became happy and walk up to Dare purring.

Luna was getting pretty happy this was the first time Artemis came to someone else other then herself. She then started to hope that Artemis wouldn't bite or scratch him.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare kept his word, scratching behind the cat's ears and under her chin, all the same places dogs loved. He didn't know if cats learned words like dogs did, but he decided to assume they did, since the cat had come to him. When he was fairly sure she'd accepted him-- and hoping he was right --he said, "I'm going to pick you up, okay?" He fully expected to get scratched if he jumped down with the cat in one arm, but unless she crawled up on his shoulder, there wasn't an easier way down.

[Luna Alice James]

Artemis looked at Dare after he scratched behind and under the chin . She looked a little happier than she was and she looked down at the ground. She got an idea and jumped on his shoulder and just laid there. She was still purring because of being scratched where she liked it plus she wanted it to make it easier for this guy who was helping her master.

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare looked down at the girl waiting on the ground. "You've got a smart cat," he observed. He lifted his gaze again, looking around the tree before deciding on the best way down. It was a lot like the way up, but he was careful not to shift the cat. If he could avoid surprised claws in his shoulders, he'd be happy. Besides, he had to admit to himself that the purring was pleasantly relaxing.

When he'd reached the ground, Dare knelt rather than making the girl stretch up to get her cat. He had a sudden visual of himself as a knight in shining armor with a purple, blue, and green feather sticking from his helmet. His lips curved into a smile. "Artemis, my lady," he said, bowing his head for a moment.

[Luna Alice James]

Luna smiled sweetly and blushed when Dare called her my lady. Luna grabbed Artemis out of Dare's hold and started to pet Artemis like she hadn't seen her cat in like five years. Artemis started to pur harder. After about minute Luna put Artemis down and wrote on her notepad. She showed Dare it said 'Thank you very much'

[Dare Blackwood-Hardt]

Dare gave the girl a smile. "It's no problem, really," he said, then, "You're welcome." He was so used to deflecting compliments that sometimes he forgot you're welcome was often the best response. "What's your name?" he asked. "I'm Alasdair, but people call me Dare." And not for the reason most people guessed, but that was no one's business but his and the friend who had given him the nickname.