Fictober23

I never said it would be easy 17/10

Going on patrol in the forbidden forest to destroy Poucher's camps was an everyday occurrence for you and Poppy, but Ominis, Garreth, and Sebastian couldn't stop complaining. You and Poppy had been destroying camps and freeing beasts for over a year now, and you constantly thought about getting some help, but not them, not those three.

"This is the stupidest thing we have done" Ominis complained and you couldn't agree more with him.

"Please guys, it is important," Poppy was leading the way into the forbidden forest to the location Dorran, your centaur friend (probably he wouldn't call you his friend, but it didn't matter). He heard they'd captured a Unicorn and asked for your help to rescue it. 

You were having dinner with the boys when she entered the Greate Hall and they wanted to join you. Ominis wasn't as enthusiastic, but still insisted on coming along. They were lucky to have Poppy there or you would have abandoned the three boys to their fate the moment you set foot in the forest.

"How far is it?" asked Garreth

"It has to be somewhere around here" Everyone followed her in silence for a while. The further you went there was more silence, only overshadowed by the sound of their footsteps, not a sign of animals or beasts, which meant the camp had to be close.

"Did you hear that?" Ominis suddenly broke the silence "I believe we are close"

You started hearing voices that became louder as you kept walking. Finally, you arrived at the camp, this one was way bigger than the ones you had infiltrated before.

"Merlin, Poppy!" you whispered "This is like three times larger than their regular camps"

"Well, I never said it would be easy. Unicorns are hard to capture and they are way too valuable, the party being this big means they have it. Good thing we brought help this time" She pointed her wand at Garreth, Ominis, and Sebastian. 

"How are these three idiots going to help us? To get caught faster?" 

"Hey!" shouted the three idiots at the same time.

"Quiet!" whispered Poppy, she took your arm and walked you aside to have a private conversation "We don't have many options, we need them and we don't have much time".

"C'mon Mc, we came to help" Garreth was slightly upset with you.

"No. The three of you will stay hidden" You order them. It was their first time dealing with a poacher camp, you didn't want to risk them like that "Poppy and I will manage"

"MC, you need our help. Besides, I'm Hogwart's best duelist" Sebastian stood up ready to make his way into the camp, but you grabbed him by the neck of his sweater and dragged him back to a bush.

"Do you need me to kick your ass again so you remember who is the best duelist here?" He looked at your arrogant smile and frowned.

"Guys, focus" Poppy wasn't  looking at you, she was examining the camp "There!" she pointed at a big tent not too far  from the spot you were hiding "A lot of Poachers had go in and out of that tent, but not staying too long so they aren't putting on a show, I bet they have the Unicorn in there."

"You are the expert" you mumbled.

"Here is the plan" Poppy turned back and kneeled, she then started to draw in the dirt with her wand "MC and I will sneak in the tent, I need you three to make a distraction on the other side of the camp and come back here in case we need back up. Do you think you can manage?"

"No" said Ominis, and Sebastian lightly nudged him. 

"It should be easy enough." said Garreth taking some bottles out of his pocket "Good thing I brought my new brews, I can't wait to see what they do"

"Good. So come back here and if you see Poachers going inside the tent, follow them in and help us"

"No! Keep the distraction going until I come to find you" You erased Poppy's last stroke and stood up "And for the love of Merlin don't get caught"

You walked away giving big strides and Poppy followed you.

"Why do you want them away?" she asked you, catching up with you. 

"Because they are not used to this type of quest, Poppy. I don't want them to get hurt or killed."

You two hide behind a few bushes close to the big tent and wait for your friend's distraction.

"You worry too much. They are big boys and great wizards, they'll be fine."

"I hope you are right." Suddenly you heard an explosion and saw a lot of Poachers running to the other side of the camp "That's our cue"

You and Poppy put on the Disillusionment charm and approach the tent. When you got in you put a silence charm on the tend, in case things got ugly. Inside there were still five Poachers guarding a cage so you and Poppy attacked them with Stupefy as fast as you could, making them fall unconscious on the floor. 

"We don't have much time before someone comes to pay a visit to this little guy" You approached a little golden foal who was tied up by legs and snout.

"You poor baby. You are not even silver yet!" Poppy was horrified, you were about to ask her what she meant by that, but then remembered, you've seen it in your Beasts book, foals unicorns are golden and turn silver before reaching maturity, while adults are pure white.

"Those bastards" you mumble, looking at the baby unicorn.

 "Where is your mum?" Poppy asked while she untied him using her wand.

You heard voices approaching from outside.

"We have to go" You tore the side of the tent with the end of your wand. While Poppy and the Unicorn passed through, you walked to the main entrance of the tent "CONFRINGO, CONFRINGO" You cast the explosions on different spots of the end so the Poacher stayed busy putting down the fire before trying to hunt you down.

You followed Poppy into the woods and started looking for Ominis, Garreth, and Sebastian.

"They aren't here yet Poppy" your voice came out shaky. What if they got captured? What if Ominis tropped? And if Sebastian fell into a trap? Or if Garreth's potion explored before he threw it?

"I'm sure they are fine. I still hear a fuss on the other side of the camp"

"I shouldn't have let them come.  I can't let them get hurt!" you felt your heart rising. You had to go find them and save them, but before you could take a single step back to camp you heard someone come out of the bushes.

"Aww did you hear that guys? MC is worried about us" Sebastian stood in front of you with a mocking and arrogant tone, followed by Garreth and Ominis.

"Where you worry for us darling?" teased Ominis.

"Shut up" you answer, annoyed. You hesitated momentarily, then grabbed them by their sleeves, pulled them to you, and hugged them. "Yes, I was". 

"No need to worry MC" said Garreth "Those Poachers don't even know what punch th... Godric! Is that a Unicorn foal?"

"Yes, isn't he gorgeous?" said Poppy, petting the little thing "We have to go before they realize he is gone."

All of you ran through the forest followed by the unicorn, leaving the camp behind as fast as you could. You started hearing crickets, and wolf howls in the distance. About twenty minutes later you saw a slight white glow getting closer.

"Guys, this way" everyone followed you. The glow was getting brighter until you saw it came from a grown Unicorn.

"That has to be his mum" Poppy let go of the foal and he galloped to his mother.

The five of you were speechless, while the mother caressed her baby. What happened next you couldn't believe it, the grown unicorn looked in your direction and bowed before all of you. Then they walked away and disappeared in a matter of seconds.

"Are they gone?" asked Ominis "I can't longer feel them. I've never sensed something like that before. How did they look?" Sebastian and Garreth described the scene for him.

You smile, feeling happy they came along after all. You parted your glance from them and looked at Poppy who had tears running down her cheeks and the biggest smile you had ever seen.

"Are you okay?" you asked.

"That was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen" she answered, cleaning her tears.

You put your arm around her shoulders to hug her.

"Come on, let's get back to the castle before those Poaches find us".