Patrolling Ⅷ

The centaurs marvel at the mark before they turn their attention to the pale glowing serpent figure in the moonlight. Hissing in satisfaction, Nadira proudly declares, "This colt by the name of Firenze, ye shall be the next tribe shaman, and shall forevermore be the intermediary for your tribe be it between the wizards, and ye, and including me. And so, I have spoken and so it shall be."

A trace of surprise appears, and relief appears on Magorian's face before he bends his head and kneels. The herd members emulated their Chief's actions, before Magorian loudly says, "So shall it be according to thine will, Guardian."

"So, mote be," whispered in chorus the centaur herd, before rising to their feet after their leader. The centaur's gaze at Firenze with a mix of emotions but the most common one being that of awe and newfound respect. The shaman was the herd spiritual and magical leader, but most importantly the strongest seer of their tribe.

A quiet smile appears on Firenze's face as he limped forward, and the centaurs make way to let him pass. Under any other circumstance, they would have aided the colt without any word, but the colt would become the next Shaman, and none dared to offend the successor. And a centaur always prided themselves on walking on their own four limbs even when wounded, it was a constant reminder that they were free and not slaves nor beasts of burden as once in their tumultuous ancestor's past.

The centaurs scatter forward as some aid the wounded to their feet, while others steady those still under the influence of the Acromantulas hunting venom. In a practiced manner, the centaurs gather their own and depart following behind their tribe's Chief and the Shaman successor. All too soon, the centaurs vanish into the Forbidden Forest returning to their village.

Floating leisurely in the air, Nadira slithers through the air and towards the still gaping figure of Hagrid. Hagrid gapes up at the serpent as Nadira draws close, before turning sideways and smacking him on the head with her tail. "Ouch! 'Dat hurt!" Hagrid exclaimed as he rubbed the sore spot on his head.

"You are lucky, Rubeus Hagrid, groundskeeper of Hogwarts," Nadira chided. "I would not have been so lenient with another. However, I cannot deny the treatment of the Forest inhabitant which you treat as your own, and there are many among the inhabitants of Hogwarts that speak well of you and have interceded on your behalf. But make no mistake, groundskeeper, I do not give second chances, and there will be no other such repeat as this."

"Right, 'er guardian," Hagrid croaked as he glanced nervously at the serpent and then at Rowan, who approached them. "Pst, Rowan, what is a guardian?" He whispered in a loud voice.

Rowan stares deadpanned at Hagrid and resists the urge to roll her eyes as it was fairly obvious to all that Nadira had heard his whisper. "Nadira is the guardian of Hogwarts," Rowan matter-of-factly stated. "It is as simple as that. No more and no less."

"Blimey, well, I suppose 'dat changes some things," Hagrid muttered, before glancing up and saying, "And I won't say a word of dis here to anyone, I promise!"

"And you shan't," Nadira solemnly said as she turned to the giantess that was still warily crouching on the ground. "Swear on your life's blood giantess that you and your mate and children will not speak of me or lest your life is lost."

The crouching figure of Fridwulfa slowly rises to her full height and casts a long shadow blocking out the moonlight. "Aye, Serpent," Fridwulfa whispered, before taking a crude bone knife from her person and slicing her finger. A large drop of blood the size of a bucket swells up and falls to the ground.

"Swear on life's blood or death shall come upon me, mate, and broods," Fridwulfa vowed as the drop of blood fell to the ground. However, before the blood drop splattered onto the ground the blood drop begins to glow as it splits into four smaller drops and darts at the four family members. Rather than splashing the four, the blood drop instantly is absorbed without leaving any trace behind by their bodies.

Nadira makes a humming sound, before darting closer to Rowan and rubbing her cool scales against Rowan's cheek. The tips of Rowan's lips twitch in a suppressed smile as she gently reaches over to fondly scratch under Nadira's chin causing the snake to purr in pleasure. Glancing over at the astonished face of Hagrid, Rowan says, "You best be settling your family, Hagrid. There will be plenty of time to speak at another time."

"Right, you are Rowan," Hagrid fervently said, before turning to his gaze towards his face. "Mum, er Fiflor, and Grawp, if ya'll just follow me, I'll take you to a nice, cozy abandoned cave that will fit you all," before muttering, "Lumos," with his wand.

It was something that Hagrid would never get tired of doing with his wand as he at a swift pace leads the way out of the clearing. Fridwulfa grunts and nods at her mate to follow as Grawp peeks around stares at the floating, but beautiful serpent with child-like awe. However, upon noticing that he was being left behind, the ground shakes as he rushes off to catch up

Certain that Hagrid is gone, Rowan puts her wand away, before gently pushing off the ground and floating into the sky. Nadira whirls about happily and hisses in parseltongue, "Tis mother's gift, yes, protector?"

"That is correct," Rowan replied as they rose higher above the tree line, before darting off at a rapid flying speed.

"Not fair, protector," Nadira complained, before leaning forward and dashing forward to race. The two of them skim over the treetops as Nadira's figure turns into a white glittering dart. Nadira lets out a giggle as she pulls forward and whizzes past the guardian leaving her far behind. Turning back to peek, the joy evaporates from Nadira's serpentine eyes as she notices that the protector has stopped racing with her and slowly descended through the treetops towards the ground below.