The Serpent and The Bird

The Crow and The Wolf.

She had to wait until it was very late and Natty's slow breathing indicated that she was sound asleep. She had prepared a little bag with all the things she would need, so an extension charm was imperative.

She couldn't apparate to the location or the goblins could trace her magic back to her, so she was going to fly half way there and walk the other half. It was going to be a total of two days of walking, so she needed a tent. Professor Fig had been kind enough to lend one to her on their last talk, big enough to sleep 10 people. Plenty of space for her.

She left the Gryffindor common room, luckily completely empty a those late hours of the night, the mumbling of the Fat Lady and other frames at her back, complaining about her not letting the sleep. She didn't turn around to face them.

She wasn't stopping for anyone.

Everleigh exited through the clock tower door, knowing that prefects didn't linger around there for a long time. Even though that was the spot were students like to gather to smoke Dill to pass their time. But there was no one there as her steps took her to the gardens outside. Putting the hood of her robe on, she invoked her broom from inside the little purse, and the Firebolt flew out majestically.

She mounted it and kicked herself upwards, floating in the air gracefully.

Her journey was just beginning.

Her pulse quickened at the thought of Sebastian finding out she had left in the middle of the night again, without saying goodbye. He was going to be furious with her. Anne and Ominis would come around, but Sebastian...

He was far too stubborn to forgive her right away. She regretted for a second her decision making, especially after they had reached a not-trying-to-kill-each-other-all-the-time point in their relationship. Or whatever they were. But she told herself she would much rather have him angry and alive, than dead because of her.

After that, it was easier for Everleigh to fly away into the night and leave the castle grounds behind.

She flew for hours, until the sun was high in the sky and unpleasant on her eyes, and the cold air made her shiver. It had to be midday by now, and the halfway point was near. The only thing that had kept her in the air fir so long was the murder of crows that seemed to be accompanying her. There was one in particular that would caw every time her eyes closed for too long, like it knew she wasn't supposed to fall asleep. Its eyes were opaque, as if it had no vision, yet it was flying right next to her like it could sense her presence. Like she was one of its own. She felt terrible when she had to part ways from the birds, receiving their song in response as goodbye.

She leaned forward and seek for the ground, finding a clearing away from the path that she could spend a few hours in, resting. It looked like it would be snowing soon, so taking shelter was the right choice. First, she set up the proper enchantments to protect herself of unwanted visitors, and then she set up the magic tent. From the outside, it looked like a glorified canopy that would only serve to sleep. But the inside was outstanding.

It was like an entire cabin was fit inside of those flimsy walls.

She sat in one of the couches by the fireplace, after casting an Incendio spell to bring it back to life. She was so tired, her body wasn't even responding to her anymore. Everleigh looked at her hands, red and swollen from riding the broom throughout the whole night, in the unforgiving winter of the Highlands. She closed her eyes, resting her head on the back if the couch, letting out a long breath.