Patrolling Ⅵ

A large tree splintered in half, and with a loud groan falls forward onto the running centaur underneath that cannot outrun it. Firenze leaps to the side frantically, but not enough as he sprawls forward and lets out a groan of pain at finding that one of his hooves is trapped under the full weight of the fallen tree trunk. Stunned, he feels the earth violently shaking and turns his pale-blond head towards the source of the direction. His light sapphire eyes widen in distress and awe at seeing the giantess mercilessly advance with no intention of halting until all her enemies were dead and crushed underfoot.

"Firenze, I am coming!" Rowan shouted as she ran in a zig-zag pattern lest she is struck by mistake by the fierce giantess, who was attacking and swatting away anything in her way including the acromantulas, who had been frozen and were stuck to the ground by Rowan's spell.

The frozen spiders were swatted away like toys by Fridwulfa. The spiders had easily been sent flying, but at least they were still alive if not hurt upon being thrown into trees and the ground. Dazed the acromantulas lay on the ground but fix their eight black, beady spider eyes upon the giantess with vengeance in their eyes. It was solely because of Hagrid, that they had even accepted the other three giants in the first place. But now, they would return to their father, Aragog, and tell him their tale of woe. (Not that their father would listen, he always forgave Hagrid for just about anything. It was rather unfair, really.)

Panting with a painful stitch in her ribcage, Rowan points her wand at the enormous tree and gasps, "Wingardium Leviosa!" With a loud groan, the tree rises slowly in the air as Firenze kicks forward and removes his hoof from underfoot with a painful hiss.

Seeing that Firenze has freed his foot from under the tree trunk, Rowan fiercely concentrates as she moves her wand and swings the tree with full force at Fridwulfa, the mother of Hagrid.

Fridwulfa is largely taken unawares as a large tree truck hurtles towards her with full force. With a painful grunt, she is knocked back on her rump and falls to the ground with a thunderous shake. Blinking her eyes in disbelief, she narrows her eyes at the witch, and centaur lying further ahead on her path. The witch had spoken for her human son, but it was a lie. All humans are liars, all giants knew that!

Fridwulfa lets out an angry roar and pulls herself to her feet. Reaching for another branch, she suddenly comes to a halt at feeling a piercing bloodthirst directed at her. She had only felt such fear once and that was with Wurfbog. Freezing in place, she slowly lowers her hand and finds that the entire battlefield has gone silent.

Peeking at the centaur and witch ahead, Fridwulfa sees them gazing into the sky. Slowly turning her head and peering upward, her eyes widen at spotting a sight she had never glimpsed before in her entire life. Hovering in the sky is a serpent with white glistening scales and the brightest sapphire-colored eyes with a matching gem embedded in the serpent's forehead. And even more particular beyond the snake's flying ability is the tiny white stubs at the side of the snake's head signaling the first growth of horns.

"Guardian," Magorian is the first to speak as the centaurs respectfully kneel before the flying serpent. The acromantulas do the same as their pincers clatter together in unison.

On the other side of the field, Hagrid blankly looks ahead as do the two giants behind him. "Blimey," Hagrid whispers mostly to himself and finds that his mouth is dry as he tries to swallow and lick his lips. "How'd I miss such a beauty? I reckon it's a Great Horned Serpent. But they 'dere on the new continent, and don't fare well this far up north. Must be some sort of new deviation."

While Hagrid loses himself in his thoughts regarding the mystery behind the fascinating creature before him, Nadira slowly flutters down keeping a frigid gaze on the giantess before her, before lightly landing on Rowan's shoulders. Rubbing her face against, Rowan's cheek, Nadira hisses in English, "Protector, why are thou here? And what manner of ill-mannered creature dares to enter the lands under my protection without an invitation nor request?"

A loud gasp can be heard from Hagrid, who cannot believe his eyes nor his ears. He knew that some ancient magical creatures could learn to speak such as Aragog, but they were far and few in between. But this magical creature was still young, how was that even possible?!

Rowan gently reaches up and traces the budding nubs of the future horns of Nadira. "Hagrid, the Groundskeeper of Hogwarts reunited with his family," Rowan explained. "However, it is true he did not ask, he was merely wishing to grant them shelter."

Nadira turns her head and peers at Hagrid with slit-serpent sapphire colored eyes. Her tongue tastes the air as she says, "Is this true, Groundskeeper of Hogwarts?

Hagrid gulps and peeks at Rowan, who with a minuscule tilt of her head nods at him. Swallowing loudly, Hagrid says, "Er, it's true, Guardian, Miss. Dis here is my mum, Fridwulfa, and my younger brother, Grawp, and my mum's mate, Filfor. I reckoned it'd not be too much trouble to have them here for a bit as there's plenty of room."

Nadira flickers her tongue in thought, but before she can speak the harsh of Bane can be heard. "Guardian! This is preposterous! You cannot allow Giants to roam in these here parts. They are nothing but vile vermin that feast on the flesh of any being be it human or centaur even!"

"Is this true, Giantess?" Nadira asked as she turned her sapphire gaze to the stiff crouching figure of Fridwulfa.

"No, Guardian," Fridwulfa slowly answered. "First mate was human, and son is wizard. We come to son, safe here. No safe in old nest. War comes."

Nadira is silent in thought until once more Bane steps forward to speak. "Guardian, surely, you cannot believe the lies of these Giants! They know nothing but violence and murder! We cannot negotiate with one such as them!"

Seeing the Guardian creature on the witch's shoulders, Bane shouts, "Guardian, please do not believe the words of the witch-." Bane's words are cut off with a large groan as he has been most violently kicked in the ribs by Magorian. The fool was going to get them all killed!