Chapter 15 – Film Night.
There was a buzz in the air the following day and each of the ten school's participants were either apprehensive or excited as there was only three days until the trial.
Pippa had an announcement to make that would more than likely calm the majority of the students down. Apart from the couple of issues Ethel had caused, the ten schools coming together was going smoothly. She stood Infront of the dining hall that morning.
"Good morning". She sang with a smile to all the students.
"Good morning, Miss Pentangle". Every student chorused even those from the other schools had joined in.
"I would just like to say that my fourteen competitors will need to meet Mr Light-Ray in his classroom around eleven, there's some other things he would like to discuss with you all. Also, as its Friday night as per usual we have film night and I believe its sixth years turn to pic a film".
"Yes" Martha shouted with a fist bump.
"Please do not ask what the trials are, a trial has been set per school that everyone has to do, I am only aware of mine until Monday morning, the staff from each school with be out in the forest Sunday evening to set their trials up. A reminder to all the faculty from other schools, there are three days left for you to use the forest to your advantage, as well as our resources. Please be aware that we still have classes in session until three o'clock. My staff will have the right to remove you from their classrooms when its relating to our students or they feel the resources are being abused. The last thing I would like to say is that before coming in here to watch a film this evening which is at eight O'clock, that there will be a station for you to make a banana split, there will be an abundance of toppings all I ask is that you please not waste it".
Pippa sat down and the room was rather loud with chatter and excitement, it wasn't often that there was ice cream making stations put on.
"Please simmer down, I can't hear those on my table". A member of staff from Wolfram Academy spoke with a flick of her wrist so that her voice resonated around the hall. Everyone in the room could hear her voice loud and clear. The students spoke much quieter from that point.
An older student who had long blonde hair and bright blue eyes with a pleasant personality came skipping up to the first years, a few other of the Pentangles competitors where walking amongst the tables to speak to the others.
"Hi Verity". Zack said to the blonde skipping girl.
"Hi Zack, Hi Millie. Is it OK if I call you Millie or do you prefer Mildred?"
"Hi Verity, Millie is fine". Mildred replied.
"Just letting you all know that tomorrow morning if we aren't called in class for preparation that all fourteen of us are getting together to talk through team tactics. It would be helpful if your there". Verity said with a smile.
"Sounds great, hopefully we will see you there, if not it will be in prep". Zack responded whilst Mildred nodded.
At ten to Eleven the fourteen competing students from Pentangles all met in the main foyer as some of them had no idea where Mr Light-Ray's classroom was. As it turned out it was under the school via a hidden passageway behind a bookcase. The classroom was set up for rock climbing and various other activities.
Miss Pentangle, Mr Light-Ray and Miss rein were all in the classroom.
"Let's start with finding water when you can't find a body of water, then I will move onto foraging and the best way to find shelter". Miss Rein stated. She then went through many different ways of finding water and she had each student have a go. She then went through the safe foods that would be found in the forest as well as the poisonous plants and berries.
Mr Light ray took them through rock climbing with and without harnesses, he assured them that it would be essential for them to practise this. Each time they achieved the wall it would go higher as well as being much more difficult. Some of them found it easier than others.
"Here are some practise targets that are human, animal and plant shaped that will attack in their own way, your job in this lesson is to defend yourself" Miss Pentangle stated. The students had no idea what she was talking about until one that was shaped like a Dabbat El-art which was a tall carnivorous animal hybrid plant. This plant was a blood red with large black spots. It had six petals for a mouth which had hundreds of many round shaped black eyes. Its mouth had hundreds of razor-sharp teeth that went further down its stem than the naked eye could see. The Dabbat attacked with its own roots and moved across the floor and around the walls in many ways. This had many students backing off including Martha and Verity. "We will continue with the defence later today and over the weekend".
The staff were clearly not messing around, and they wanted to ensure that they would be able to find the essentials which included food, water, and shelter.
After their late dinner the students were back into their training.
The Dabbat El-art was in the middle of the room when they all walked in, Miss Fountain was stood next to it. The other three teachers from that morning had positioned themselves at the wall to watch and help instruct where needed. Miss Fountain did a refresher on the plant as the staff knew that the students would more than likely come across them. "A Dabbat El-art is not to be taken lightly; you are not allowed to kill any, should you come across any. However, you are permitted to defend yourself against it, these hybrids are being carefully monitored as there is less than a hundred of them left. They attack in all manners. Especially from below and above you, they are rapid in movement and are quite aggressive and rightly so after what their species have had to endure". She went through different ways that would potentially trick them and how best to get around them. They each had to have a turn trying to get past one without waking it and defending themselves against it. Most managed not to wake it. The other targets were being left for the following day.
That day flew by with no problems, though it was dawning on some of the students that were competing that the trial was getting nearer, some were having to be given a few calmers. Weatherleys and Amulets had a few that had to be sent to Mr Spellman for a calmer.
The films that were picked out to everyone's amusement was The Hunger Games followed by Divergent. There were always two films on during movie nights as it gave everyone the option of either watching one, both or none. Martha had chosen Divergent and Tobias had chosen The Hunger Games. They had strategically come up with these as there would be some things that they could take note off and bring up in their meeting the following morning.
There was a large round table in an adjacent room from the dining hall. In this room was a large round table with plenty of whipped cream, an array of fruits and an array of sweets. Naturally there was flakes, ice cream of many flavours and sprinkles, as well as minstrels, jelly tots, smarties, liquorice, chocolate buttons [white, milk and dark]. As well as many other sweets that they could choose from. There was a sign that read.
TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU WILL MOST LIKELY EAT
THERE IS PLENTY TO GO AROUND
Every student had to wash their hands before entering the room at the hand washing station next to the door for sanitary reasons.
Mildred, Sapphire, and Zack picked up a large banana boat each and headed to the round table.
Enid and Maud weren't too sure which size to pick up and there were small, medium and large options.
"Pick up a large, just put in what you will most likely eat". Mildred called to them.
They soon joined the other three at the table and helped themselves.
Mildred put some banana halves in her boat and then scooped some chocolate orange ice cream into her dish and added a flake as well as smarties, minstrels, chocolate orange segments, mini marshmallows, sprinkles and a generous amount of whipped cream.
Once the students got their banana boats and drinks and were in the dining hall, the staff then helped themselves to theirs.
"You are very similar to Mildred". Pippa told Hecate.
"How so". Hecate said in a shocked tone as she didn't seem to be anything like Mildred.
"For starters you have picked the exact same banana boat combination as Mildred, and she reminds me of a younger you when we were friends at Cackle's".
"The chocolate orange will more than likely be popular". Hecate stated as she cocked her eyebrow with disbelief. Though it was true Mildred was a happy go lucky kid which is how Hecate used to be, they both loved their magic and they both had similar tastes apart from clothing choices and personalities.
The staff and students thoroughly enjoyed both films, most of them including all of the staff had never heard of them. At the end of the night a member of staff from Weatherley's stood up.
"Who ever picked these films, is a genius".
Martha and Tobias stood up and bowed as the hall erupted with laughter.