"Is she alive? Is she breathing?" Miss Drill asked, pacing back and forth as Miss Hardbroom tried to make sense of what was going on. She studied the small, crumpled heap on the ground, covered in mud--a young girl--badly bruised and battered.

Miss Hardbroom extended her spell-casting fingers and gingerly took the girl's wrist in her hand. Miss Drill held her breath, waiting. "It isn't strong, but there's a pulse there." She said finally, and a wave of relief washed over both teachers.

"I don't understand!" Miss Drill cried as Miss Hardbroom continued assessing her vitals. "What was such a young girl doing outside in a storm like that one?! How did she end up here? Is she a student?"

Miss Hardbroom glanced at the girl's face, barely able to make out features through dirt, leaves, and scratches, her hair all tangled and strewn about. She reached out and delicately ran a finger across the girl's forehead, pushing some hair to the side. "She doesn't seem familiar."

"Is she a… witch?" Imogen asked cautiously.

Miss Hardbroom pondered this and looked at the girl, sprawled out across the ground. Carefully, she opened the cloak that covered her body, heavy and soaked with rain, and gently removed it to conduct the examination. The girl's legs were tangled and one arm was lying limply at her side. The other arm, unseen by Constance before, rested lightly across her chest, and at the end of it, her small hand held out spell-casting fingers. Constance sighed. "Yes," she confirmed. A witch. A little witch--knocked out cold--still holding one hand tightly in advanced-magic-mode, probably trying to save herself from whatever had caused this to happen.

Constance shook her head, incredulous. "I don't understand it myself, Miss Drill." She said softly, addressing Imogen's previous hysteria. "Whatever transpired, she's in bad shape."

Miss Drill put her head in her hands—her mind spinning with silent prayers.

"We've got to get her inside quickly. Summon Miss Cackle and meet me in the staff room," Constance ordered. She rested one hand on the girl and the other on her own arm and took a deep breath. Imogen blinked, and they were gone. Sighing, she started trekking back to the castle, wishing for once that she could do what Constance could do.


A/N: Verrryy short chapter, sorry! I just felt this part was good enough to stand on its own, plus after that huge cliffhanger, I think finding this much out so quickly is a huge dose of awesome!! Wait, is this another cliffhanger?! :-P More is already written, and I'll definitely keep updating if you gimme more reviews! Oh, and sorry, Blondie, no bunnies!! LOL… thanks so much everyone for encouraging me to continue on writing with full force! All reviews greatly appreciated—please, PLEASE let me know what you think so I can make the story one you enjoy! :o)