The forbidden Forest

Natalie walked through the forest, silent and resigned. She was looking....hunting...in the dark....for the thestrals.

Hayley stumbled through the dense trees, and stopped when she heard someone walking. Blueberry poked her head out of Hayley's robes, as Hayley pulled our her wand.
"Hello"?" Hayley said tentatively, "Who is it?"
She looked at Blueberry, frowned, And walked forward, "Nat?" she said, when she saw the back of the person.
"Is that you?"

Shadow pulled her hood back over her face, heading back to the school. She had just had her weekly power surge, and was not looking her best... as in, you could tell something was up, so she hid herself.

Shadow cursed under her breath as she spotted Hayley and Natalie, moving away to walk around them.

Natalie ignored Hayley...and walked on....slowly...haunted by the call of the thestrals.

Merlas raised her head, ears flicking. She was staying with the thestral herd to blend in, and had sensed people coming.

Natalie walked on, unafraid of anything in the forest....or the dark. She just felt her way through the dark trees.

Merlas dipped her head down again, munching on some grass.

Shadow sighed, stopping and turning back, deciding to go and see Merlas.

Natalie smelt blood shift somewhere near her...but ignored this also, and walked on.

Shadow walked carefully, picking her way through the roots and branches in the forest before she came across the Thestral herd.

Natalie walked on, silently, not even watching where she walked...

Shadow watched the herd from a distance, sighing silently.

Natalie sighed dreamily as she reached the thestrals. She got onto the nearest one in one swift movement, and flew off on it into the distance.

Merlas raise dher head to look at Natalie and ambled over slowly.

Natalie landed again, and fixed her eyes on Merlas. She just stared at the horse for about five minutes, then walked gentally over to it. She patted the horse on the neck affectionately.

Merlas bowed her head to nudge Natalie softly, sensing something wrong.

Natalie stared at the horse, eyes red and without pupils, and teeth pointed.

Natalie suddenly stumbled backwards and screamed in pain...the thing possessing her sucking the life out of her.

Shadow had been watching Natalie and Merlas careflly, and now ran down to her friend, concerned.

Natalie dropped to the ground, convulsing with pain.
She retched violently, and blood poured from her open mouth.

Shadow looked around desperately for the thing that attacked her friend, but saw nothing so she concentrated on healing Natalie.

Natalie retched again, expelling more blood.

Then, her whole body was lifted off the ground.

The evil spirit possessing her exited her body, and face Shadow.

Natalie lay, weak and tired, on the ground.

She rolled over to look at Shadow.

"Destroy it..." she gasped, "it's nothing but trouble...destroy it."

Shadow glanced at Natalie. She then glanced at Merlas who Lay down next to Natalie and draped one feathered wing over her for protection. Shadow then turned to face the spirit, her eyes demonic with fury.
"You harm my friends, you deal with me." She hissed.

Natalie looked at the spirit and frown at Shadow.

"Don't go demonic Shad...it's not worth it..." whimpered Natalie.

"I'm in control of it Natalie." Shadow assured her friend.

Natalie smiled slighty, and went into a deep, coma like sleep.

Shadow snarled at the spirit.
"So, you here just to pick on my friend, or do you have something else to go for?"