Wake The Sun

[Derrick Breckenridge]

Derrick moved from his crouch to take a seat on the gnarled root on which he had been standing on just a few moments before. He watched as they ran ahead to investigate and Derrick really couldn't begrudge them such a pleasure because after all he had just done the same. At least they were traveling in a pair though as most should in dangerous situations. Derrick in no way minded being the odd man out seeing as he had after all intended on traveling into the forest by himself. Now though he was watching their backs as they had watched his moments before. Derrick usually didn't like not knowing what was behind him in such situations but it didn't bother him here. He was confident enough in his own abilities that if something should happen he'd be able to handle himself.

It was in that moment though that Derrick rose with a bolt his wand gripped in his hand and pointed just above Maya's head. They had stopped and upon stopping a rather large spider descending and was now looming over her head. It was as if adrenaline surged through Derrick's body and with one swift movement a jet of red light exploded from his wand.

"Stupefy."

The spider had fallen behind Maya and Derrick now approached it disregarding anything his companions may be saying. Two minutes was a long time but Derrick would rather not risk any further dealings with the spider. Looking down at it he felt sorry for a moment but at the same time knew he was doing it so that they would not have to be injured. It was after all quite large for a spider but that was probably to be expected of creatures in the Forbidden Forest.

"Reducio."

The spider shrunk and with one deft movement of his foot he squished it. Derrick checked above quickly for others but saw none immediately. He wanted no questioning of his abilities but expected some possibly. Most third years didn't know spells as such but it was just large amounts of time spent in the library that had gotten Derrick to this point. Sighing he stepped ahead of them giving them both a curt nod.

"Let's get moving again."

He didn't know if they would follow or if for that matter there would be protests but either way it was of no consequence to him. If worst came to worst Derrick would trek on alone.

[Luke Anthony Torrington]

(OOC: apologies for the absence)

Luke felt stupified himself as he noticed the gigantic spider which had just been blanked by Derrick's wand. He was at a loss for words suddenly. Literally, nothing seemed to conjure itself from within his throat... least-ways nothing terribly coherent. There was a little Afrikaans coming up mingled with the remedial bits of Zulu he knew, so that it all sounded more like Belgian-based French gibberish with a Dutch-German accent. He supposed he'd look back on this moment of weakness with a grin and perhaps a laugh, but right now it was much graver than that.

Spiders were not a favourite of the Hufflepuff. No indeed. Along with cobras and mosquitoes, spiders were on the not-so-welcomed-guests list in Luke's head. Cobras could be heard before they went into attack stance; mosquitoes were often guarded by the nets they handed out at Prince of Wales school in South Africa, but spiders... seemed like one never really knew under the venom trickled through one's bloodstream that a spider had attacked or was about to, least-ways. Yeah, no, spiders were a very big no. He didn't precisely hear what Derrick was saying to both he and Maya as he couldn't break his gaze at the suddenly reduced spider.

"Yini... ukuba... yini... ukuthi???"

[Maya Castillo]

Maya gasped as the spider thudded to the ground behind her. She would have continued to stare at the spider if she had not been so curious as to who had cast the spell. She couldn't say that she was surprised when her gaze fell on Derrick. Anybody who was brave, or stupid, enough to wander into the Forbidden Forest by themself had to know at least a few devensive spell, but Maya was still impressed. He was only a third year, and he could still preform these spells aswell as Maya could herself.

"Thanks," she started to say, but the greatful expression on her face quickly dissappeared as she watched the younger Hufflepuff squish the now hepless spider under his shoe. "You didn't have to do that," Maya said a frown creasing her brow, and her mouth set in a stobborn way. Maya wasn't one for killing helpless animals, even spiders, which she didn't particually enjoy. Maya sighed as she made to follow Derrick, after all they couldn't leave the third year daredevil to wander alone, that would just be asking for trouble.

It was only when she took a step forward that she realized that she was still holding on to Luke's hand, and he seemed rooted to the spot his gaze fixated on the dead twitching spider. Suddenly he spurted out words of what sounded like jibberish to Maya, but maybe it was another language? "Um...Luke?" she asked using her soft, gentle, soothing voice that she usually reserved for skiddish horses, "You ok Luke?" She tugged a little on his hand, hopping the pressure and her voice would snap him out of it.

[Derrick Breckenridge]

Derrick stood waiting still for them to follow. It wasn't that he was in a hurry but they had dwelled more then long enough in this clearing. Derrick could of course if they hesitated any longer just go off on his own but he had, as much as he hated to admit it, grown to enjoy their company. They didn't bother or pester him about his actions or other such things and just let him be well himself. Derrick appreciated that more then anything and as he waited silently he hoped that he would not in fact have to abandon his fellow Hufflepuffs here in the clearing. The shocked look that now covered the face of Luke though made such a thing seem possible though as the boy seemed to be frozen in his tracks. It was a spider and it had not managed to do anything to him so really what was there to be afraid of? In Derrick's opinion this was just part of life and so what if it had been large it was now dead and taken care of what more could one want? Derrick though shook his heads a little too knowingly at her words.

"From what I've heard they travel in packs hopefully that was one that strayed away from the group. Even if it was it'd be up in two, three minutes tops and back to it's herd to let them know what we did. I'd rather kill one then worry about having to deal with a whole pack of them."

It was as he said what he had heard about the spiders that dwelled in the forest but he could of course be completely off. Shaking his head at himself he wondered if the girl somehow thought Derrick had enjoyed doing that when it was quite the opposite. Animals no matter what size or type were for the most part Derrick's forte and he loved learning or spending time with them. As much as he wished he hadn't had to stun the spider and crush it he knew that really was the only option available at the moment. If any other would have presented itself Derrick would have been more then happy to go that route but no other had in his mind so the spider had met it's demise. After all it's intentions seemed to be going after Maya so while Derrick felt bad he didn't feel all that bad.

Turning he listened as Luke mumbled what he assumed to be jibberish or possibly some language Derrick didn't know. Either way Derrick had no firm grasp of what the boy had said so what exactly could he do to comfort him? Turning he looked with a quirked brow waiting much to his disdain for Luke to move or speak in a language Derrick understood. Either option though at the moment seemed rather impossible for some reason so Derrick turned once more and gazed out into the forest hoping to see something interesting but also on the look out for anymore possible spiders. Derrick did not relish or even like to entertain the idea that more of the abnormally arachnids would cross his path again today.