Disclaimer: I own nothing recognisable.
Teddy stumbled through the Forbidden Forest under the dim light of the new moon, squinting in the darkness as he tried to remember where he was supposed to be going. His hands clutched tightly at the worn satchel in his arms, the material fraying from use and the colour fading in certain patches.
He would have never dared to enter the dark and ominous forest at night if it hadn't been for the hushed conversation he had overheard in the library earlier that day. Teddy had tucked himself behind a section of bookshelves with a blanket and pillow, his head buried in a book as he struggled to stay as silent and hidden as possible.
"I heard a Ravenclaw say that the best chance to see them is during a new moon," one girl whispered softly.
"Really? But we'd never get permission to go and see them, it's the Forbidden Forest after all," another girl practically whined in response.
"It wouldn't hurt to try though, when are we ever going to get to see an entire herd of unicorns if we don't," the first girl spoke harshly, glancing around for anyone listening in. they hadn't known that Teddy had been right behind them, nor that they had peaked his interest as soon as they had mentioned unicorns.
Teddy was fascinated by magical creatures. He had always had a soft and nurturing soul, and on more than one occasion he'd found himself adopting abandoned and hurt animals that he came across. More than that, he loved to watch them. He loved to learn about each creature's nature and the way they interacted with one another without involving himself. Separating himself from the situation allowed him to really analyse their behaviour, and he had always been interested in the way unicorns interacted and cohabitation within their herds. It was an opportunity he couldn't pass up on.
Finally Teddy pushed through the trees and into an open meadow. The light still shone dimly, but it was no longer needed for him to see. The creatures were luminescent, ethereal in a way Teddy had never believed could be real. The way they moved in the light was practically effortless, and as some grazed he couldn't help but to feel emotional that he had been able to see such a beautiful and calming sight. As quietly as he could, he pulled out a battered and well loved sketchbook from his bag, flipping it open to an empty spread. A small tin of graphite sticks clattered as they tumbled from his bag, yet somehow didn't disrupt the herd in their grazing.
Shuffling further into the tree line, Teddy sat down and began to draw, frequently glancing up at the herd before looking back down and correcting proportions or certain features as he sketched. This was what he loved to do whenever he came across a new creature, sketch them in his book before adding a list of attributes that he noticed while watching them. The meadow was tranquil and he felt calm sitting, sketching and watching. Teddy never wanted to leave.
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