Intervention Upon a String

Chapter Five

The song of the night inside the Forbidden Forest was that of great beauty and warning. Every chirp, growl, snap of a twig, and howl had to be take into account for safety. The crickets were merely a background symphony but pierced the night with ferocity as the shadows of a fire licked the trees and made them dance with a trick of the light. Everything seemed to grow in the dark and loom inwards giving you the sense of being eaten. The silver clouds rolled swiftly across the moon and starry sky and a slight breeze rustled the leaves in the canopy. Truly, this was beauty. Senses alert to their fullest extent and soaking in the plethora of stimuli the forest had to offer; the ground heavy with crispy leaves and moss and....fish bones.

Marcus belched. The crickets paused for a moment....then continued again. Angelina laughed.

It had been a pretty unproductive day. The trio of travelers (including the unicorn, which Angelina named Harvey for some reason) had felt so tired after their meal that they really didn't have it in them to walk. Of course, this was decided after Marcus came back from the river for a drink and Angelina was already fast asleep with the unicorn. Rolling his eyes, Marcus sat and kept watch. Occasionally, a creature would crawl by but nothing to catch his interests or alarm him. Marcus thought this was very unusual. They were definitely deep into the Forbidden Forest but had yet to encounter anything more peculiar than a harmless unicorn; not that he was really complaining. The last thing they needed was more trouble.

Without letting Angelina really know, he had begun to lead them north the next morning. Luckily, Angelina didn't catch on and taunt him with it. They stuck close to the river and followed it. Harvey bleated in hunger as fish was not a staple diet. He could only graze on the soft grasses of the meadows they crossed but Angelina knew that if they didn't get him to his herd, he wouldn't get the proper nourishment and would die.

After miles and miles of walking, the forest showed no signs of letting up. The trees, if anything, actually became more mangled and thick with vines. Many of the trees in that part of the forest were dead and mere hollow stumps with crooked and dry branches. Their twigs spiraled up to the grey sky and showed no signs of life. The forest somehow went from a lush green paradise to a heavy and ghostly wasteland.

"Um," Flint said. "I think...we need to turn around."

"And go back? That's such a waste of time. Let's just get though here," Angelina said and kept walking.

"Johnson, you don't think this is weird? We just walked from summer to winter, here."

Angelina cocked an eyebrow. "So are you admitting you went the wrong way?"

"Funny that you mention that, bitch, seeing as we've been walking north all day," Marcus sneered and pointed to the sun.

Angelina's face dropped. He was right. When had they changed direction? Did they need to change it again for different scenery? That was foolish. It wasn't like trees could kill. "Come on," she said quietly.

Carefully, they stepped into the wasteland of large and knotted trees. They were thick and winding and swayed in a cold wind. Marcus was right; it almost felt like they did change seasons. "I don't like this," he grumbled as they walked over dried leaves.

Angelina made sure Harvey was close to her side. "Neither do I but we have no choice."

Marcus ignored her. They'd grown more distant since their little quarrel by the river. "How are we supposed to eat anything in this dump?"

Angelina rolled her eyes. "We'll just have to walk fast and get to the other side, won't we?"

"Other side? There is no other side! Look around you!"

"Aww, ickle Marcus isn't afraid of some scary trees is he?"

Marcus's face went red with rage. "Listen, bitch! I'm getting real fucking tired of your lip!"

"Feeling is mutual."

The unicorn peered around and then walked over to Marcus. Having enough of both of his travel buddies, Marcus leaned up to break a rather large branch off of the nearest tree. At first, he intended it to be simply a walking stick but now that Angelina's unicorn started to follow him again in the height of his frustration, he decided the stick could be used for better uses. "Bitch," he growled. "I'm warning you. Get this stupid horse away from me or I'm going to play Quidditch with its head." He had the stick ready like a bat as the unicorn sniffed at his shoes.

Angelina turned around and narrowed her eyes. "Lay off Harvey already. He's not doing anything to you," she said. "You're such a g--FLINT, LOOK OUT!"

Marcus had been readying the bat as if getting ready to swing but when Angelina screamed, he looked at her and then turned around just in time as something rather big, hard and heavy hit him in the chest. The wind was knocked out of him and he flew back several feet. The unicorn bleated in fear and ran over to Angelina.

At first, Marcus thought he'd been through a tornado and dropped out of the sky onto a pile of bricks. Whatever hit him did so with meaning and he fell onto his back in a daze. Blinking several times, his vision adjusted and he saw that the looming trees above them were no longer silent and still with death. They were now quavering and swaying in a wind that wasn't there. Suddenly, it dawned on him. They were in a forest of Whomping Willows.

Without taking time to really soak this in, Marcus rolled over and scrambled to his feet just as a large and knotted branch slammed onto the ground where he once laid. Angelina ran over to him. "We have to run!" she said.

"No shit!" Marcus coughed, still winded.

The two of them and the unicorn began to sprint through the deadly forest, dodging swatting vines and crushing branches that made the very earth shake. Angelina screamed as Marcus yanked on her arm right as a large branch was just about to swat her in the face. Harvey ran behind them as fast as his little legs could carry him. Marcus hadn't let go of Angelina's arm. He dragged her through the hazardous wasteland and their breaths hung in clouds as they panted in the cold air. All around them, branches were twisting and thumping and trying to hit anything they could.

Marcus ran with all his might, making sure that Angelina was right behind him. Daring a glance, Angelina also peered over her shoulder to see where Harvey was. She was horrified to see him shaking and stuck on some vines behind them. "Stop!" she cried out, yanking her arm from Marcus's grip. "Harvey!"

Marcus spun around and saw Angelina starting to head back. He grabbed her again. "What are you doing?"

"I have to go back for Harvey!"

He looked past Angelina and then pulled her out of the way of a branch that slammed down next to her. "You can't go back there!"

"Marcus, I can't leave him!"

She started to run again but this time, Marcus really pulled her back hard. Without saying a word, he began to sprint towards the unicorn. Angelina began to follow but was stopped by a rather painful wallop to her stomach by a flailing branch. She landed hard on her back.

Marcus was running full-speed towards Harvey. The trees were whipping in his face. After jumping over a swinging branch, he came to the terrified unicorn and saw that his back hoof was stuck in a knothole. It was amazing he hadn't been hit! "I fucking hate you," Marcus growled at Harvey and then proceeded to yank his hoof out of the hole.

Harvey quickly shot forward and ran towards Angelina while Marcus turned and began to run as well. However, he wasn't quick enough and was hit in the back by a flailing branch. He fell forward and tried to scramble into a run but another branch caught him in the ribs and sent him slamming into the trunk of another Whomping Willow. He hit the tree hard and cried out as he heard a snap in his leg. Somewhere in the distance, Angelina screamed his name and he knew he had to make a run for it. But for the life of him, he couldn't get up. The pain in his leg was too great and he cringed and groaned in agony.

Then suddenly, Angelina was there at his side. She looked at him with wide eyes and saw his twisted leg. "Marcus....," she whimpered.

And then one mighty branch of the tree they so desperately hid under raised itself up to the sky again and prepared to strike. The two of them watched in horror as it came down and the last thing Marcus saw before closing his eyes shut tight was Harvey running to them.

The unicorn stopped in front of his two saviors and bleated as if urging them both to get up and run. Angelina screamed and went to push him out of the way of the descending branch when suddenly, as if in suspended animation, all of the trees stopped short of the baby unicorn and paused before slowly going back up to their resting spot.

Marcus felt Angelina cling to him in fear and heard the air move as the branch came down with sickening speed, but then he felt nothing. He didn't even hear the branch land if it missed them. Silence. Marcus opened an eye and then both. He lay at the base of the Whomping Willow with Angelina and the unicorn. Angelina was staring transfixed at Harvey and then looked warily at the branches as they all rested.

"The fuck?" Marcus asked.

"The unicorn. It has to be. Even the trees know not to harm him," Angelina said in astonishment.

Marcus braced himself against the trunk of the tree and stood gingerly. Angelina scurried up to her feet to help him. Digging in his pocket, he prayed that his wand was intact and was relieved to pull it out in one piece. Yet, to his horror, he didn't know any healing spells for his leg.

"Give it here," Angelina said and motioned for the wand.

Marcus handed it over with no objection. Obviously, she knew some healing magic and muttered a spell at his leg. He felt a tingle below his knee where the break was and then an almost sickening twist as the bone realigned itself and healed instantly. Angelina gave his wand back with satisfaction. Harvey stared at them both and let out a huff. "Come on," Angelina whispered and urged them to walk, staring warily at the silent trees.

Though Marcus's leg was no longer broken, it was still rather tender and he limped on it gingerly as he followed Angelina out onto the path. The unicorn pranced around and strayed a bit and the trees nearest Angelina and Marcus quivered in tension only to go silent again once the unicorn hopped back; confirming Angelina's suspicion. She decided she should write a guide to the Forest when she got home with the first rule of survival being: travel with a unicorn for personal safety.

The trio snuck through the trees, keeping themselves as small as possible. When they traveled far enough where the trees took on a different shape and no longer loomed over them, they sighed and relaxed.

"Marcus, we need to stop for the night. You can't keep putting weight on your leg," Angelina said.

"We should keep walking," Marcus said, limping past her. He didn't want to appear weak even though his leg was sore.

"Marcus, please. You haven't slept in days and you need to give your leg at least a night's rest."

"No."

Angelina shivered as a cold breeze kicked up. They still had a couple hours of daylight but the dark clouds made it seem later than it already was. She hugged Marcus's jumper against her and looked around. The Whomping Willow ordeal had left her rather shaken. She wanted to stop and get her bearings but she knew Marcus wouldn't rest if it would make him appear weak. Sighing, she knew she'd have to take things into her own hand again.

"I'm setting up camp," Angelina declared.

Marcus spun around. "What? Why? We can get in a few more miles, woman. Stop slowing us down."

"I'm tired and so is Harvey. Can we just bloody rest for a minute? You owe it to him, anyway. He saved our lives."

Marcus rolled his eyes. "Bollocks. I want to get the fuck out of here already."

Angelina ignored him and began to collect firewood. When Marcus realized he couldn't hear Angelina's footsteps behind him, he glanced over his shoulder curiously and saw her trying to start a fire. "What are you doing?" he called.

"What does it look like?"

Shoulders slumped, Marcus knew this was a lost battle and trudged back to her. "I need your wand," Angelina said. Marcus gave it to her silently and she set her pile of wood on fire. It was bigger than the previous piles to block out the oncoming cold. "Sit down," she said, patting the ground next to her. Too frustrated and tired to argue, Marcus did as he was told silently. He slouched and stared lazily into the fire. Angelina put her hand on Marcus's injured leg gently and examined it. "Does it hurt?"

"No," Marcus lied.

Angelina smirked. "That was very noble; what you did back there."

He closed his eyes. "Don't start with that shit."

"Thank you for going back for Harvey."

"I said 'don't start'," Marcus warned her again.

Angelina smiled again and patted the unicorn. "And thank you, Harvey, for saving us."

Marcus rolled his eyes. Angelina looked at him again as the sun was setting. He was staring into the fire with a tired expression, still breathing out of his mouth ever so slightly from their excursions. Pausing, Angelina took a deep breath and stood. "I'm going to get more firewood," she said. "I'll be back in a second."

She walked off into the barren forest only slightly and picked up whatever wood she could find. The trees out here were scarce and dead and burned easily but quickly. The night was cold so she gathered what she could. As she bent down to pick up branches and twigs, a revelation came over her that she knew all along but wanted to deny the minute Marcus pulled her from the quicksand. He was a huge git; a pompous, womanizing, git but sometimes Angelina caught glimpses into a rarer personality she knew other people seldom saw. She'd underestimated him. So far during their adventure, he had been the responsible one, the one who always told her what not to do and then saved her when she did it anyway. Angelina actually began to shame herself. She was supposed to be the brave, reliable Gryffindor. If Flint hadn't been with her, she realized she'd be dead by now. Angelina grinned. Maybe he did deserve that snog after all. What harm could it do?

Angelina carried her bundle of wood back to the fire. Marcus was lying on his back with his hands on his chest, staring up at the swirling clouds above. The sun had set and casted an eerie purple haze across the night sky. The air had become crisp and rigid. Angelina shivered and put some more wood into the fire before wiping her hands off and sitting next to Marcus. "You should get some sleep," she whispered.

Marcus suddenly, and unexplainably, got to his feet. Angelina stared at him with curious worry as he walked away. "Where are you going?"

"Can I take a piss, princess?"

Angelina blinked and then clicked her tongue in annoyance. She hated when he called her princess. Staring back into the fire for a moment, she got up as well. Now that she thought about it, she had to do her business too. She headed off into the opposite direction as Marcus.

Many thoughts were going through Flint's head. Mostly thoughts of how bloody tired he was. Angelina was right; he hadn't slept really since they got to the forest. But that was survival talking...or was it? He had to keep guard, to be the strong one, and keep them from becoming something's lunch. This would be a whole lot easier if Angelina wasn't so naïve. But still...she wasn't all that bad. She kept their spirits up at least. In the worst way, Marcus thought, shaking his head with a grin. He finished his business and headed back to the camp. Angelina wasn't there. "Johnson?"

"I'm having a pee. Don't you dare come in here," she called from the woods.

Marcus snorted and plopped down next to the fire again. He was thinking now of how they were going to get home and when. These woods never ended and seemed to grow stranger and more perilous with every step. He tried to think of Quidditch, of keeping guard, of eating a huge meal when he got home; anything but how tired he was. Marcus yawned and then cursed himself. His body was sore and exhausted. The warmth of the fire didn't exactly help his struggle to keep alert either. He didn't even remember closing his eyes...

Angelina finished her little trip from behind a tree and trudged back to the fire. She was grinning because in her mind, she had decided to kiss him. How inappropriate to come to this decision while relieving yourself but it happens. She could see Marcus lying there again on his back. "Hey Marcus?" she began but stopped when he didn't say anything crude in response. Then, she realized she couldn't see Harvey...oh wait...yes she could. Angelina stepped closer to Flint and realized with adoration that he had finally fallen asleep, even if against his will. And Harvey lay on the other side of him curled up and sleeping as well against him to keep warm. Angelina settled on his other side and held her hands over the fire. Marcus opened his eyes a bit.

"I'll keep watch," he muttered and fell instantly back asleep.

Angelina chuckled. "You do that, wonder boy." She watched his relaxed face and saw the shadows of the fire move over him. Guess the snog will have to wait until later but this will do in the meantime. Angelina leaned down and kissed Marcus softly on the forehead.