I Dare You! (Open)

[Derek Foster]

He shouldn’t be wandering around, right, Derek knew that. He should even be there, and yes, Derek knew that too. The Forbidden Forest was a dangerous place, well, Derek wasn’t so sure. He had heard stories about the place and he was well aware of the restriction, he wasn’t a rebel, but he was definitely drawn to the place. There was just something about the mystery that was looming over the thick forest. It was terrifying, yet at the same time it was inviting. Sure, he knew he could get in trouble, but, for some odd reason, despite knowing the risk and the consequences, Derek decided upon his better judgment he should at least venture into the forest once throughout his school career. Preferably earlier considering if he had been seventeen by the time he decided to break the rule, he could use the plea of ‘not knowing any better’. At eleven, the forest seemed too big and scary, plus he was too young. At twelve, he wasn’t any better and he barely knew enough spells. At thirteen, well, Derek decided it wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Sure, Derek could wait another year. He would be fourteen and then perhaps slightly more adequate to take what the forest had to offer, still, it felt like it was better to get over it as quickly as possible. So, there he was, at thirteen on a freezing morning, standing at the edge of the forest. He took a step forward, pulling onto the hem of his t-shirt before taking two steps back. “This is a bad idea,” He said to himself, at the same time trying to gather courage. He took three steps ahead and then stopped. “I’m so going to get into trouble,” He mumbled, but, this time instead of stopping, he took a couple more steps and with each step he grew both braver and scarier and before he knew it, he had left the edge, standing about six meters deep and for some reason, the forest didn’t look at all that scary.

[Kisten Hayes]

Kisten had come back to Hogwarts a little early, he'd heard there was some sort of party going on and well any excuse to get out of the house and away early was good enough for him. However when he got there he didn't feel much in the party mood at first and decided to take a good look around the castle and grounds, getting himself reaquainted with the old place. Besides it was early morning and who in the hell started a party at an ungodly hour loke that unless it was still raging from the night before?

Kisten made his way up from the station in Hogsmeade and instead of heading straight for the castle doors he wandered down the lawns and found himself drawn to the dark edge of the Forbidden Forest. He'd been in there once before during the last school term, for the purpose of testing out some of that luck potion for a homework assignment, it had just seemed like the perfect excuse to go and check the place out. It had been an intersting if kinda scary experience and he hadn't been back in since but for some reason right at that moment something was drawing him to the dark and creepy looking place.

As he stood on the edge of the treeline Kisten peered through the thick trunks and was pretty sure he could see another person moving about amongst them, not that far into the actual forest. Well why not see if there really was or if his eyes were just playing tricks on him. Kisten hurried into the trees along one of the main paths following the figure he was sure he could see.

"Hey, is there someone else in here?" He called out lamely, but not too loud just in case it attracted any unwanted attention from something else in those trees. Kisten kept walking pretty sure he could hear the other person talking to himself.

[Derek Foster]

Bored, realizing that all the stories he had heard in the past could probably very well be made up to scare the young ones, Derek felt at ease and relaxed. He leaned over on the nearest tree and took in the view that lay out before him. It wasn’t as terrifying as he had imagined. Blame it on the culture and old scary movies; he had thought that the tree would give at least a better representation of the forest that had been known to scare off anyone who didn’t know better off of their socks. To be honest, the trees looked normal, big as they may be; there wasn’t anything sinister about the branches or the bark. There are just trees, no evil spirits, nothing that could harm him. At least that was what he thought or hoped until he could hear faint footsteps. He wasn’t walking; therefore he was sure it was not his. Alarmed, Derek pushed himself off of the tree into a tense straight up posture.

A moment later, he could hear a voice, young but he could not determined how young. It sounded human, but the story of which he had heard of the forest came flooding back in and leaving him shivering slightly. It can’t be good, his head poked around, trying to see through the assortment of trees as far as the thickness would allow. Nothing, not even a soul. He stood, rigid and unsure of himself. If it was another student, he could have company, if it wasn’t, he could be in trouble. He had only two choice, one swiftly make his way out – which he couldn’t see how he would be able to do, and second he could answer the call. Derek stiffened. It was a bad idea.

But, “Who’s there?” He said, finally, keeping on guard and moving closer so that he would stand backing a tree. Well, at least he wouldn’t be attacked from the back. Unless if the voice came from a tree, well... He would rather not think about it.

[Kisten Hayes]

His question did get a reply and Kisten was pretty sure that it must be another person...of course his mind raced with all the possibilities of strange magical creatures speaking like a person to lure him to his doom but he tried not to think on that too much and just follow the voice he could hear.

It shouted back to him, asking who was there and Kisten felt more reassured that it was another, probably, student going by the sound of the voice. First instinct would be to always ask Who, seeing as the What's don't tend to give you an answer.

Pushing through the trees and wincing as some thorns scratched their way through the back of his t-shirt Kisten shook his head and decided he should probbaly call back a reply or risk freaking the other boy out more so than he probably already was.

"Ahh, my name's Kisten, I'm a student." He called out, stopping in his walking and feeling the need of a reply before he carried on. The path didn't look at all familiar and the thickness of the trees had made the early morning air seem much darker and he could no longer see the figure of the other boy off in the distance. "Who are you?" He called back, figuring that was the best place to start off, even though he'd really wanted to ask 'where are you?' but the 'courageous' Gryffindor that he was Kist didn't want to come off as cowardly.

[Derek Foster]

Derek tried to open both his eyes and ears, trying very hard to put all his senses on high alert. He wondered if worse come to worse, he would definitely much rather be dead than having to hear his mother’s piece of mind. At last, a voice came, calling itself Kisten and a student. A student, well, that was just great; Derek thought. He could be a prefect and then Derek would no doubt end up in detention. There goes his perfect record and he would definitely hear from his mother. For some reason, Derek couldn’t help but felt slightly relieved that one; his mother was a muggle, therefore he would receive a normal letter full of nag instead of a howler and second; it was human or at least he’d like to think Kisten was. He wouldn’t know how to deal with a Sphinx or some large beetle. He was sure the Defense Against the Dark Arts haven’t got to that chapter yet.

“Are you a prefect?” Derek called back. Alright, for a Ravenclaw he can be somewhat stupid. If Kisten was a prefect, it wasn’t like he was going to be honest. He would need to catch Derek red-handed. With his back still against the tree trunk, Derek craned his head, trying to look at the scenery behind him as far as he could see, hoping he would see wherever Kisten was.

[Kisten Hayes]

Kisten carried on peering through the gloom of the trees until a bright spark of an idea hit him. He was a wizard, he had a wand and he could do magic...well some magic and at the very least he knew how to turn his wand into a torch. Digging it out of his pocket, he'd managed to get used to carrying it around everywhere with him like most of the other students seemed to do and had even found it came in handy sometimes. He didn't really know a great number of spells yet but it was always fun to practice the ones he did know when he could.

"Lumos." He muttered, lighting the tip of his wand and casting the small beam of light around him. That was a little better he supposed. Ok so it did created some weird and twisted shadows as it pooled through the thick undergrowth which were kinda creepy...ok maybe it wasn't so much better after all.

He'd called out to the other boy he had seen and then heard through the trees asking who he was and hoping to be able to follow the sound of him talking to where he was located, hopefully without getting too lost. The last time he'd wandered into the forest had been to test out that luck potion from potions class and well he didnt have any of that this time to help him get out of that place.

Kisten waited for a reply and it came, not an answer to the question he'd asked like he'd been expecting, but yet another question. It stumped him slightly and Kist frowned, "What? Am I a..." Then he laughed slightly, "Oh no, hardly...I just saw you come in here and, well, for some reason decided to follow too seemed like a good idea at the time." He called back out, muttering the last a little lower as he shone the wandlight around and still could see nothing of another person through the thicket.

[Derek Foster]

Every fibre of Derek’s being tensed as he waited for the reply from the voice. He was unsure of what to do other than to continue standing backing the tree hoping that he would not be ambushed. As fear was enveloping him, Derek missed the incantation the boy chose to speak and made no remark regarding it nor did he remembered that he was a wizard and he could at least defend himself with few known spells – spells he had taken the liberty to learn but rather not share for fear that it might make him look as if he was showing off. He did not spend two years flying under the radar just so that he would end up caught using advance spells. At last, the answer came. Great, a puppy; Derek thought. It was merely a figure of speech but he had no intention to speak it aloud just in case whoever it was out there would be offended. The last thing he wanted was to duel someone older than he was merely because he had offended them.

“Right,” He called back, still unmoved. Still, Derek knew he had to come out of his hiding place sooner or later. No one in their right mind would stay in the Forbidden Forest for too long for fear of the number of creature that could be attracted to their presence. Considering all of his options, Derek knew that there were very little he could do. “Fine,” He said finally, conceding. “I’m coming out,” He called, pulling himself away from the tree trunk and turn towards the direction the voice was coming from earlier. From the distance, he could see small illuminated light, but not enough to make out the face of the one who had cast the spell. Oh great, why didn’t I think of pulling my wand? Derek mumbled but made no attempt to reach for his.

[Kisten Hayes]

Kisten was beginning to feel a little nervous, the replies to his questions that he'd been calling through the trees had been minimal at best and answered pretty much nothing that he'd asked. As paranoid as he was feeling already his mind started to wander and create all of these freaky possibilities of just what it could be lurking between those trees. Surely it couldn't really be another student like he thought, anyone else in their right mind would have at least answered him rather than carefully avoiding the questions...only someone or something with something to hide would do something like that right?

His mind raced with all the possibilities of just what he might be talking to through the undergrowth and as he heard the words 'I'm coming out' Kist began to panic and wish that he wouldn't. Holding up his wand, on guard just in case...not that he knew any really useful spells for defending himself, he needed to take DADA this year he decided, and waited for the footsteps to grow closer.

He peered through the darkness, training the wandlight around until he saw the outline of something that did look human approaching. He swallowed hard and steadied himself for what might come crashing through the undergrowth towards him, he wouldn't look nervous...he wouldn't be seen as a coward.

"Umm ok, I'll just....wait here then..." He called out a little lamely, but glad he managed to keep the nervous quiver out of his tone.

[Derek Foster]

Derek wasn’t sure on whether he should laugh or find himself completely terrified as he heard the voice answered back. Alright, what was the name again? Derek racked his brain trying to remember the short conversation between them. It was easier to recall names from a history book compare to a name introduce under such circumstances. “Uhh... Right,” He called back, arranging his steps still all too carefully through the forest. Leaves and branches crack under his footsteps allowing the eerie sound of which could have been accompanying a character as he or she was trying very hard to hunt a prey. Finally, after what it seemed to be like an eternity, Derek could make out the face of the boy who now he remembered to have introduce himself as Kisten. Staring and slowing his steps, he deduced that the boy could have only been around his age. The most he could be was a year older.

“I’m Derek Foster,” He said simply as he came into a stop just a few steps away from the boy, relieved had long swept over him and decided to linger as he realized how he was no longer in any immediate danger. Not unless the boy decided to grow an extra arm or two. Then, he might worry. “And I’m not armed,” He added, in an attempt to make a humour. It probably came out wrong; Ravenclaws hadn’t been the wisest when it came to proper humour.

OOC; Sorry it took me too long to reply, I was down with something.

[Kisten Hayes]

Kisten tried to trace the noises he could hear of the other boy moving through the forest with his wandlight, but the trouble was the cracking of twigs and crunching of leaves seemed to be coming from all around him. He settled eventually for simply standing still and holding the light high, it cast some weird shadows but it left him illuminated in a sort of spotlight and lit a little of the forest all around him.

He wasn't long in having to wait for the other boy to appear through the bushes, Kist felt vaguely pleased that he'd been looking in the right direction and hadn't jumped and embarassed himself as the figure emerged from the foliage, and it was as he stood in front of him that he introdcued himself as Derek Foster.

"Kisten Hayes," Kisten nodded in reply, he'd said his name before but it felt only polite to repeat it. He lowere his wand and smiled as Derek claimed to be unarmed...was that some attempt at a joke Kist had to wonder.

"And well that's good for me I suppose...but maybe not so good for being in this place." Kist looked around him and frowned, "I swear I haven't moved from this spot but it looks completely different than it did about five minutes ago." He shook his head, maybe it was just the nerves.


OOC: Not a problem

[Derek Foster]

Derek could only nod when Kisten decided to repeat the introduction he had done so earlier. Maybe it was out of courtesy or maybe he had thought Derek hadn’t heard him. Either way, Derek decided it was best not to over-think it. Derek averted his eyes as Kisten spoke of the forest, it was not a decent thought, the idea of the forest might be changing, but from what Derek had read, he had never found any evidence saying that it would be changing its scenery. “I look pretty much the same for me,” Derek offered as he turn to look at Kisten again, “Fog and more fog,” He added without much thought. It was meant to be a joke, but well, he was never a stand up comedy kind of guy.

As the silence filled in and Derek realized that he had forgotten something, he opened his mouth to speak again, “I’d say nice to meet you, but...” he began as his eyes wander through the forest yet again, “...I think we could both agree to save that for a better time of place,” He added as his gaze return to Kisten. “And in the meantime, maybe we should find a way out?” Derek suggested as he started to map out the place in his head and retracing his steps at the same time. It was proven far more difficult seeing that he could barely see a meter ahead of him.

[Kisten Hayes]

Kisten laughed slightly, not that anything Derek had said had been particularly funny it felt more like a nervous twitch and did nothing to relieve the tension that was growing the longer he stood in that one spot. So yeah following the other boy into the forest had really not been such a good idea but he supposed it was better than being lost in there alone.

"Well if it all looks the same to you then I'll put it down to me just being paranoid then." Kist replied with a shaky grin. "But yeah fog, not exactly helpful in trying to find your way around this place."

He looked around the small clearing, casting the dim wandlight, which seemed to growing more and more ineffective the more he tried to actually use it. "Yeah there's definitely got to be a better time and place for all the niceties of meeting someone, I couldn't agree more." Kisten nodded, he hoped not too eagerly though, didn't want to come off as one of those people who just followed others and had no mind of his own...given that a whole lot of their interaction could well have given Derek that impression Kisten was keen not to make it worse.

"Yeah a way out would be good. Trouble is, I can't really remember exactly the way I came in now, none of these paths look particularly familiar..." Although he'd not been paying huge amounts of attention to the path he took in the first place, "Soo you're best guess is probably as good as if not better than mine...any ideas?"

[Derek Foster]

Derek was not funny and he knew that all to well to take it personally when people don’t laugh or do laugh at his lame jokes. So, instead of jumping with excitement when Kisten laughed at his futile attempt to laugh at the grim situation, he simply shrug it off and let his eyes wander again to continue mapping out an escape route from the forest. They had to go out soon or risk getting apprehended by a Professor. Losing house points from his house wasn’t that high up in Derek’s to-do list even if he had any to begin with. “We’ll just try to retrace our steps,” Derek offered as his eyes fell onto the ground to check for footprints. It was dark and he could hardly make out any of the footprints that were left on the forest floor and even if he did, there was no telling it was either his or Kisten in the first place and they could very well end up more lost than they were to begin with. “But, there’s no guarantee,” Derek stated, voicing out his concern.

It was getting later than he had hoped and for the first time since he had been in the forest he finally pull out his wand and muttered; “Lumos,” illuminating just enough paths for him to see. “We’ll try this way,” Derek suggested as he pointed out to his right and started to walk without waiting for Kisten to protest or agree on his choice. He could make out a faint trail of what he guess was probably his. It was good that his uncle had once took him out camping like normal muggles does or else he wouldn’t have a clue of what to do. Yelling for help would get them out of the place, but, in the same time it would attract unwanted predator as well as house point deduction as soon as a staff member find them wandering around late as well as being in the forest.

[Kisten Hayes]

Kisten nodded at Derek's idea of attempting to retrace their steps in order to find their way back out of the forest. It was a great idea, perfect in theory, in practice not nearly so simple as it sounded. Kisten had a vague inkling as to which way he had wandered in through the trees but couldn't say with any confidence and sureity and certainly didn't want to end up looking the fool when his misplaced confidence would be proven wrong.

"Sounds as good a plan as any, guarantee or not it's better than just standing here and waiting for someone or something to find us." Kisten replied, beginning to feel a itch between his shoulder blades as if they were being watched and was suddenly feeling more eager to move than he had been since first emerging through the trees.

Watching as Derek lit his own wand and picked a path out of the almost circular clearing, deciding that was a good one to take he began to walk down it and Kisten didn't question he simply decided to follow. It was heading in vaguely the direction Kist had been thinking they needed to head, pretty sure the two of them hadn't followed exactly the same path into the forest in the first place, so with any luck it would lead them back out to the safety of the castle lawns.

Thinking that they may just get away with this, get out scott free, oh and y'know learn that it's not a good idea to go tramping through the forest alone and with no real way of finding your way out again should you get lost, when Kisten heard something a little way off through the trees behind them.

It was a vaguely slithery sound, throwing up the slighest rustle of leaves that made Kist sure it wasn't footsteps, at least not another persons footsteps. He shivered and hoped he was just imagining things. "Tell me I'm being paranoid and that you can't hear that too?" He said to Derek, while keeping his eyes set firmly on the path they were taking and quickening his footsteps slightly.

[Derek Foster]

Derek had no idea retracing his steps would be harder than it looked like. His uncle certainly did not make look hard. In fact, he made it look so easy that Derek believed that he could have easily done it himself. Well, guess it took a personal experience for him to actually learn that sometimes the easiest looking approach might be the hardest. But, Derek was not one to give up easily; he kept his steps steady as he searched for signs of trampled leaves and broken branches around him. It was definitely not as easy. There must have been a dozen if not more students who thought it would be fun to wander into the forest and had left a trail of their own that could get him confused. “The school’s south right?” He asked as he squint his eyes trying to get a better look of the direction they were going but did not receive the answer he was expecting to. Instead, the answer he got was Kisten asking him another question.

“Heard what?” Derek asked in return. He had been so focus on finding the trail he hadn’t been paying attention to the sound of the forest except for the fact it was eerily silent. Every now and then, from a distance, sounds of wings fluttering around and leaves being blow away by the wind would break the mist. “Hang on,” Derek stopped in his track; it was obvious they weren’t getting anywhere. “I’m going to try something else,” He stated before muttering, “Nox,” and the light at the tip of his wand was extinguished leaving the only source of light from Kisten’s wand. He placed his wand on the palm of his hand, half expecting to fail as he hadn’t had much practice with the spell before speaking as clearly as he could, “Point me.” Luckily for Derek, the wand spins and pointed slightly left to the direction they were taking. “This way,” He said and broke into quick assortments of steps.