Eris, Gabe (Eris's dog), and the girls traveled through the Forbidden Forest. It was dark and cold and everything around them was dead. It was like walking into a used coffin while still smelling the scent of the dead body.

Gwyn and Catrin were holding each other's hands, neither of them daring to let go of the other. Emerie was behind them, tucking her wings in out of fright. Nesta was holding onto Emerie's shoulders from behind. And Morrigan was trying to not look so afraid even though deep down, she was shaking in her cloak.

Eris, leading the way, stopped suddenly, causing the girls to bump into each other one by one. Eris bent down and dipped two of his fingers into a puddle of clear water. The water was sticky like cheese but without the pizza.

"Um, Eris, what exactly is that?" Nesta asked. Eris glared at the substance on his fingers. "What we're here for. Unicorn blood." Nesta can practically feel Emerie shuddering in front of her. "I found one dead a few weeks ago. But this one...was hurt badly. I don't know how though."

A howling sound came from the forest, causing everyone except Eris to jump in fright. Turning back to the frightened girls, Eris continued. "So, it's our job to find them. Emerie, twins, you're coming with me."

"O-Okay." Gwyn spoke as Catrin, and Emerie nodded.

"Nesta, you go with Morrigan." Nesta and Mor glared at each other but didn't say anything to one another. "Fine. But I'm getting Gabe." she proclaimed as Gabe sot his head up at the mention of his name. Eris shrugged. "Fine by me. He's a bloody coward." Gabe only whined.

---------------------

"Wait until my father hears about this." Mor complained as she, Nesta, and Gabe traveled through the forest to serve their detention. "This is a servant's work." Mor continued making Nesta snort a bit. Mor glared. "What's so funny Archeron?"

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were scared." Nesta smirked.

Morrigan growled. "I'm not scared."

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

Yes, you are."

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

Another howling sound broke apart the sissy argument. This time, a little aggressively.

It was silent for a moment until Nesta spoke. "Let's keep looking."

"For once, I agree." Morrigan replied as they continued their journey through the forest, Gabe following them close behind.

After a while, Gabe looked off into the distance and began to growl. "What is it Gabe?"

"Look." Mor pointed making Nesta look in the same direction

There before her was a dead unicorn. Its body was limp, but they couldn't see its blood. But that was not the reason she was so terrified. There was a black hooded figure crouching down near the unicorn. It looked like it was....no, it couldn't be.

The figure looked up and snarled at the girls, the unicorn's blood dripping from its mouth.

Morrigan screamed and fled along with Gabe, leaving Nesta with the mysterious figure. The figure moved closer to her swiftly. Almost like it was floating off the ground. Nesta had begun to back away, but she tripped and fell on a branch.

Before the figure could do anything, a galloping sound was heard, causing the figure to retreat further into the forest. Upon its retreat, Nesta had noticed that the galloping noise came from a horse. Well, more like a man mixed with a horse. At least the man part was at the front and not the back.

"Nesta Archeron. You should not be here. You are known to many creatures here. The forest is not safe at this time. Especially for you." The man (or horse) warned. Nesta pressed on for answers. "But what exactly did you just save me from?"

"A monstrous creature." The man replied taking a step forward as Nesta stood up on her feet. "It's a terrible crime to slay a unicorn. Drinking its blood will keep you alive even when you're at the urge of death. But...at a terrible cost."

Nesta was afraid to ask. "What...kind of cost?" The man gulped, frightened that he'd scare her, but Nesta was persistent. "Please tell me," she said. The man sighed. "Once the blood touches your lips, you will live a half-life. A cursed life." Now, it was Nesta's turn to gulp. "But, who would choose such a life?"

"Can you really think of no one?" The man asked, allowing the young Slytherin to think. She thought back on how she first learned about Amarantha. How she was a cruel woman and not even a High Lord would dare speak her name. But...could she really be alive all this time?

"Are you saying...that the thing that tried to attack me before just now...was...Amarantha?" Nesta theorized. The man leaned his head closer to her. "Do you know what is hidden in this school at this very moment, Ms. Archeron?" Nesta knew the answer to that question. "The Sorcerer's Stone."

"Nesta!" Nesta turned her head to find her friends Emerie and the Bedara twins. They were accompanied by Morrigan, Eris, and Gabe.

Eris looked at the man with recognition. "Hello there Balthazar. I see you've met our young Ms. Archeron. You alright kid?" Eris called out earning a nod from Nesta. "Nesta," The man known as Balthazar begin as Nesta turned back to him. "This is where I leave you. You're safe now. Good luck." Balthazar replied before riding deeper into the forest, leaving Nesta and the others to see the fallen unicorn.