Camping in the forest, what could go wrong?

If there was one thing to get her moving it was the threat of an impending second attack from a creature more vicious than the last they encountered. Upon hearing that there may be 'other things' following the blood trail she didn't need any more encouragement to get up and do something, not even Judge's threats could frighten her more than the idea of an impending doom to await them should they stay. Batty jumped to her feet and joined Judge in helping Noel, she hesitantly took his arm.. atleast that's what it felt like, she was too scared to even look. Too much blood.. she cast her eyes to the ground.

"A.. alright. I'm up." for now.. "which way did we come from?" she asked, suddenly realizing she had no clue which way was the right direction back to the castle. They'd taken so many different turns that all she knew was the way not to go. How was Noel anyway? What did really happen anyway? She couldn't deny the fact that she was very curious indeed, she glanced up at her friend very quickly but all she could focus on was the blood. god... he was dead. They were all dead. Nothing mattered anyway.

No Yes no YES. jus' shut yer mouth batty

Judge... she shivered. But it gave her an idea. Batty fished her wand out from her pocket and laid it flat in the palm of her hand and whispered quickly

"point me" the wand gave off a life of its own and began turning wildly at first before deciding on a location. "t.. this way" she stuttered, and took the lead to the East, the opposite direction of where they were pointed at.

( Judge & Ozzy Bones & Noel Beckett )

Oz didn't imagine finding a camp site, much less a burning camp fire. Sham was sniffing around letting off low whimpers, "Children? No damn way! In the forest? Christ."

He wasn't sure if that was what Sham was saying but in his heart only students were foolish enough to camp in the forest. He hoped nothing serious had happened.

With his wand he pointed it above his head, "Lumos!" And a bright powerful light erupted from the tip and with his booming voice he yelled into the darkness the light wouldn't touch, "Kids if ye can hear me hark my words, COME TO ME AND I WILL SEE YOU SAFELY TO THE CASTLE!"

Protecting the kids was his only responsibility, one he took very serious.

"You're a funny guy, Judge," Noel said, an aberrant compliment from someone who would have usually torn Judge a new asshole.

Noel let out a stark laugh. A Slytherin? Doubting a Gryffindor's bravery? In what universe did that even make sense? But for now, Noel was thankful for the coordinated cooperation between Judge and Batty. As the Hufflepuff slid one of his arms around her lithe frame he felt much of the burden lifted from his toil. Later, when they were out of this mess, Noel would dwell on just all the sorts of ways he felt towards Batty now and the events that took course this evening, but for now his awareness remained stilted to the present and just how they were going to get the hell out of these woods.

It was then he noticed Batty wincing visibly at his wound. Was it that bad? Batty was hardly a reliable indicator of what was 'bad' but her expression concerned Noel. Still, he shuffled forward as she started towards the castle, and ultimately the trio's salvation.

It was then he heard the professors distant shouts and dread filled his gut. Kids? The group of them were surely budding into adulthood. After all, they had been out there in the woods on Professor Murphy's encouragement. Hardly children, but not quite adults either. Even incapacitated Noel was a bitter supercilious bastard as any. "Fuck that," he breathed into the night air, watching the condensation drift up towards the full moon with chagrin. 

"If you say anything Batty, I swear I'll hex you." Judge, on the other hand, he worried very little for. For once, he thought, the two of them were on the same page.

Batty Riggs Judge

Don't say.. anything? Batty exchanged a nervous look with Noel, but decided to keep her mouth shut as instructed. She just kept trudging him along, she could no longer feel her shoulder which was now numb from the weight. Her eyes were focused on the dim light in the darkness of the caretaker. But as they got closer she couldn't help but wonder what exactly Noel meant.

'Don't say anything'... what did that really mean anyway? Did it mean 'don't say anything so the caretaker doesn't spot us?', or did it mean 'don't say anything when the caretaker reaches us so he doesn't notice the gaping wound?'

Could nothing be said??? And if nothing was said in the first instance should they not be moving TOWARD the light? Unless it was okay, which left option two... Batty looked once more at Noels wound and winced. How did you not say anything about that. How exactly would Noel try and handle that kind of situation? Imagine just how incredulous it would be to act like there was no blood around and that the caretaker was imaging things. 'What blood? oh this? It's ketchup. I like to apply ketchup to my body and lick it off at night, whats it to you?!' she imagined Noel saying quite convincingly.

Batty stifled the outrageously out of place giggle. If Noel wanted to get out of this without the caretaker noticing she needed to do something. Batty stopped momentarily, gently prying Noel off her achingly sore shoulder and onto Judge's, silently she mimed with her hands, urging them to go in one direction that wasn't within the Caretakers glaring light. Without further hesitation she planted a gentle kiss on Noel's cheek and then ran off into the direction of Hogwarts caretaker, Ozzy Bones.

"Oh thank goodness!" she cooed as she got close enough to the Professor. "It's my kitty.. shes lost.." Batty cast her eyes down and wondered if Noel would be better off with Judge pulling him along. "---and then I got lost... " she added "but shes still lost" Batty gulped and looked at the barbaric wild man caretaker with pleading eyes, she'd never lied so blatantly to any forms of authority before, but now that she'd done it she found it wasn't nearly as bad as she'd imagined it would be.

"She went that way" Batty pointed in the opposite direction from where she'd come and hoped she could buy enough time for them to get out of here.

"Come on mate," Judge huffed as he watched Batty fade into the dark, "Ol'Batts is buyin' us some time."

The only flaw was how to get Noel to safety without anyone noticing, to hide the blood that now covered them both, and how to explain to ANYONE that Noel was attacked by a fucking werewolf! Noel hadn't thought this threw and it worried Judge to all Hell.

"Wha' tha' fuck is yer plan mate? You know yell fuckin' turn and then wha'? I'm all fer keepin' us out of trouble, but someone will find out!" Judge barked at Mole as they trudged threw the forest, "Sweet Jaysu you seem tha' blood yer pale ass is leakin'?"

A stunned Noel nearly called after Batty, at first not realizing the Badger's stratagem. Rubbernecking between trees he watched her back disappear into the night and heard her voice just barely out of ear shot, unable to make out whatever she was divulging to the Professor. The muscles in his back relaxed once he realized the subterfuge, and suddenly he felt an uncommon appreciation towards her. He nearly stumbled on a protruding root, but caught his step and leaned his weight into Judge. If he were the contrite type he might have felt bad seeing that Noel was markedly more stocky than the very thin Slytherin, but fortunately for Noel the more Judge spoke the less badly he felt.

Noel had just been attacked by a werewolf and Judge was asking him if he had a plan. Somehow between the excessive blood loss and being mauled he hadn't managed to formulate a thought past getting the hell out of the forest and back onto castle grounds. His jaw tensed and the skin pearled tightly. 

"I'm going to The Greenhouse. No one can find out," he responded shortly before falling entirely silent. He remained muted for the remainder of the two boys trek back to The Grounds, a trip that felt like it lasted for an eternity. 

Ooc: Sorry to cut it short, but I think it's as good of a time as any to wrap the thread up. You can continue posting if you want and just act like Noel is being all pissy and silent. 

Ozzy eyed the girl with heavy suspicion, "Is that so?"

Sham barked at the girls story and this made Oz smile, "Sham says your full of it, I heard a very distinct howl tonight. I am far foolish, is anyone else out here? Are you hurt?"

She had no reason to be afraid because Oz was a gentle giant and only wants to help her. He lowers his wand offering his hand, "Sham will fetch your kitty, don't worry he's gentle," Sham agreed with a short bark, "We are going back if its only you, if anyone else is out there their problems will be on your hands."

Ozzy turned and began his walk back to the castle, he wasn't taking chances.

(I play Judge too. So I'm good to wrap this up! So we all share a secret? Can I get a pm to know where this is going?)