And so it was that the girl met the Phoenix, and an unspoken friendship ruled between the two. Several nights a week, when thoughts consumed her in its pain, she escaped to the Forbidden Forest, seeking Sythe. Upon finding him, she'd curl up with him, murmuring her fears and sorrows into the early of the morning. Sentences trailing off into soft murmurs, she'd fall asleep, only to be awakened, several hours later, by the soft cooing of the Phoenix.

Liquid tones of pale pink and light orange tainted the morning sky, shades of pastel sweeping upwards into the immaculate white canvas. Songbirds, all trilling happily at the day's coming, serenaded joyfully to the slowly rising sun. The very top of the burning sphere had begun to peek over the distant hills, allowing tiny slithers of warm, golden radiance to enter through the treetops of the Forest.

Having wandered deeper in the Forest then usual, Sythe and Haruka could be found, sitting in a cavern in the midst of the haven. The ground was carpeted in dirt, hoof prints breaking the smooth ground. It was easier for Sythe to write in the soft dirt, claws easily piercing through the depths of the mud. Haruka felt much better then she had in years, her heart not as heavy as it was before. Gaze was reverted hell wards, towards the scratching foot of the Phoenix.

'L-I-F-E I-S A-L-W-A-Y-S W-O-R-T-H L-I-V-I-N-G I-F Y-O-U L-O-V-E,' Sythe spelled out, hazel-colored eyes turning towards Haruka in a meaningful glance. 'D-O Y-O-U L-O-V-E?' Haruka gave a shiver as his gaze turned to her. She did love, but it was a rather personal confession for only her ears.

"Well," she began. Her answer was soon drowned out by the thundering of approaching hooves. Haruka tensed as the sounds grew louder. She could see the flickering shadows of the creatures by the mouth of the cave. Sythe had stopped scratching at the dirt, staring at the entrance as well. Silent words passed between them as they tried to slink out, unnoticed. Thinking them rather witty, Haruka sent a smile towards Sythe, trying to duck into the cover of the woods silently.

"Humans..." A deep male voice called out. The chief of the pack stepped forth from the ring of centaurs. Beautifully carved face was contorted with rage, long dark chocolate locks brushed away from his face.

"Humans.?" He had said humans. Plural. But. Only she was there. Plus Sythe, but he was a Phoenix. She glanced around, thinking that somehow, she had managed to miss another student wandering about in the restricted section of the School Grounds.

"Do not act stupid, girl! Foal though you may be, your petty acts of innocence do not fool us" he thundered, crossbow lifting to point at her. The others gave angry neighs of agreement, raising their own crossbows. Arrows were loaded, heads glinting as they were aimed at her.

"Humans?" she managed to say, unable to say anything else. What was he talking about? She cast a side-glance towards the Phoenix, who was flapping its wings furiously, clicking its beak.

"Insolent young human, do you dare to take us for idiots?" Long tail lashed flanks fiercely, and some of the centaurs even reared upon their back legs, all letting out loud roars and cries of anger. The arrow shot towards the flapping Phoenix, and the lead centaur roared, "That, you blind young fool, is a -" But what the Phoenix was, Haruka didn't get to find out. At that precise moment, Sythe had spiraled upwards with a piercing shriek, the flames caressing his tail feathers sparking.

Another shriek erupted from the enraged bird's throat, embers flying from his wings. Haruka dodged a streak of flame, and looked up, her fear forgotten in her confusion. Had the Centaur lost his mind?

"Er." she said, attempting to speak, "Um, he - he doesn't look - much like a Human." She stuttered for a few seconds, fear coming back as the centaur reared on his back legs, front ones kicking the air powerfully.

"Do you dare correct a centaur?" he cried, brandishing his crossbow, as his fellow centaurs advanced a few steps, all looking extremely forbidding. The furious bird flew in tight circles, beady eyes full of panic. Yet another shriek from Sythe, and the lead centaur's eyes flashed with anger. "Enough!" he bellowed. "I will not have Humans defiling this ancient forest! Foal or not, you have insulted us! We are the centaurs!" With a deafening whinny, the herd thundered forward. The noise their hooves and wild battle cries made was unbearable, and Haruka turned, stumbling as she ran. Branches slapped her face, vines entangled her feet, and she no longer cared about trying to stay silent. All she wanted was out.

"Diffindo," she gasped, pointing her wand wildly at the vines. They snapped, but she tripped, landing hard on her knees. She almost whimpered. Almost. Haruka silenced herself; she would not make a sound of pain, she would not let the Centaurs have that satisfaction.

"Foolish young foal," one cried. "You cannot run faster then us!" Wild neighing laughs rang out, and Haruka felt her temper rise. She pulled herself up, flushing angrily.

"Stupid horses!" she yelled, clutching her wand. "Conceited donkeys! You think you know everything, don't you! Well you're wrong!" Chest heaving, she carried on bellowing, anger shoving out her fear. "FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I'M NOT A FOAL! OR DOES THAT NOT PENETRATE YOUR THICK SKULLS?!" DO I LOOK LIKE A HORSE TO YOU UGLY MULES?!" Deadly silence fell. Nobody moved. Even the forest was quiet, the usual birds silent. Haruka gave the ring of Centaurs a nervous look. Never had the silence seemed so loud. It was only then that she realized Sythe had gone. Her eyes flew up, watching for signs of the Phoenix. Where could he have flown off to? Surely the noble creature wouldn't leave her alone?

Her attention snapped back to the centaurs as one extremely ferocious- looking female shrieked out, "Mule! Half-breed! What do you take us for, pitiful human?" Others agreed with wild whinnying shouts and raucous jeers.

"A load of hogwash," she mumbled to herself, rebellious feelings pounding in her body. However, that melted into fear as the Centaurs, who clearly had heard her, stamped towards her, closing the already small. Without warning, a loud scream broke out from one of the smaller Centaurs.

"KILL HER!" And Haruka went down in a mass of stamping hooves.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" came a muffled shriek, and several centaur hooves stabbed the air as their owners were carried into the air, floating helplessly. Or not so helplessly. The floating creatures instantly shot down arrows towards the girl, and she dodged them. A few arrows hit her sleeves, and one thudded into her shoulder. She twitched painfully, biting her lip. One hand flew up to clasp her shoulder, and it came away sticky with blood. She slowly sank down, grimacing, but she would not whimper. She would not whimper. She looked up just in time to see the arrow notched on the bow, and she heard, rather then saw, the whole herd step back, allowing room for the lead centaur.

"It was not wise of you to come here today, young Human," he said quietly, dark eyes observing her. She didn't reply. It was over in less then a minute. Sort of. As the arrow flew towards her head, a flash of pearl-black streaked by, and a long piercing cry came with it as the Phoenix thudded into the ground, the arrow having struck him by the stomach. Haruka stared blankly at him for a second and then rushed over, stumbling in her haste.

"You came back," she whispered, flipping the bird over. "You didn't leave me..." One eye opened as it came a weak sort of warble. It stood up, swaying slightly before facing the centaurs. Haruka started; she had forgotten about them. As the lead Centaur spoke again, his voice had lowered to a furious hiss, and he seemed to be having trouble getting words out.

"You - young - whelp - You taint our forest floors with your kind, and you bring that with you!" He spat viciously at the Phoenix, was had begun a loud screeching tirade at him. Kicking his hooves the Centaur thudded towards the two, tail lashing brawny flanks. A wild unearthly neigh erupted from him, and the whole lot cannoned forward. The ground shook under their mighty steps, and the first kick caught Haruka in the stomach. She was bowled over, coughing as she fought to breathe. Another kick was made, and feathers floated down as the Phoenix was sent flying, shrieking. Before another hoof could be kicked, the bird had dashed madly towards Haruka, claws sinking into the back of her robes, and it flew furiously, dragging her away from the horde of enraged beasts with adrenaline-pumped energy.