Telescope Eyes ((Closed))

[Caitlin Martinez G7]

The pain was almost unnoticable with how numb her fingertips her. Caitlin scratched her way to the top of the cliff that overlooked the lake at Hogwarts. Her hair was thrown infront of her face and her hands were dirty and bleeding with how many times she had scraped them on the rock from trying to stop herself from completely falling to the ground. Granted, she wasn't wearing the right type of shoes for climbing, but she hadn't expected to be scaling a cliff. In fact, Caitlin hadn't expected anything to happen like it had. She sucked in air as she reached up and pulled herself further up the cliff. Tears were stinging her eyes and blurring her vision but she couldn't wipe them away. So they fell. They fell and fell. Her breathing became labored as she continued to climb and cry at once. Caitlin's grip slipped on one of the more slippery rock edges and she gasped as her hand flew behind her and then banged down beside the cliff. Groaning in pain, and in desperation, Caitlin struggled to keep her grip on the cliff. She swung her arm up and grabbed onto the cliff, pulling herself up even more. What was she thinking? Coming out here alone? Well, there was no point in turning back now. She was already more than 2/3 up the cliff.

With that thinking, Caitlin continued up the cliff, ignoring the horrifying pain throbbing in her right arm. The top was in sight and Caitlin didn't want to go back down when she was so close. She wasn't sure how people could just do this regularly without any problem. Well, most likely it was during the day with someone next to them. They weren't stupid enough to climb a one hundred foot cliff on their own. Not like you. Caitlin bit her lip and reached up once more, feeling grass beneath her fingertips. She pulled herself up, sliding on her belly onto the grass. When she felt she was finally, and completely, on top of the cliff, Caitlin rolled over to her back and stared up at the sky. The only sounds were of those from the forest and of her heavy breathing. After a few moments of collecting her breath, Caitlin sat up and inched even further away from the edge of the cliff. It would be a nasty fall. Bringing her knees to her chest, Caitlin pressed her forward to her knee caps. New tears poured from her eyes and she could taste the saltiness of them on her tongue as she sobbed.

A howling wind blew by, causing Caitlin to shiver. She hadn't worn anything but her cloak and her uniform. She had no protection against the biting cold whatsoever. She looked up as her body tried to keep her warm and through the cloudiness of her tears, she looked at the moon. For that moment, the sobbing stopped and so did the wind. The moon was the same in every place. It always went up and it always went down and it was always there, even on new moons. Caitlin wiped at her eyes with her clean hand and when she could see again, the moon was still there. She stared at the moon awhile, feeling it's calming affect on her. It was so peaceful. So wonderful. Just then, two fireflies buzzed by her. One continued on its way while the other flitted around her head. Caitlin smiled softly as it's body illuminated the circle in which Caitlin sat upon. It stayed there awhile, the buzz louder than most things. Caitlin reached out and tried to grab the firefly but it buzzed away, but only a few inches in front of her. She grabbed again and it went further. "It wants me to follow it?" Caitlin stood and started to step when she rolled her eyes, "That is a preposterous thought. Fireflies can't understand anything."

There was a sharp buzz, an almost angry one, and Caitlin jumped. "I'm sorry, but can you understand me?" Another buzz, but this one sounded like it was confirming what she had asked. Surprised, but not completely shocked, Caitlin nodded. The firefly flew around and then danced a bit toward the edge of the cliff. Caitlin took a step closer, and closer, and closer. Finally, she was at the edge and watching the firefly fly down the cliff as if it were falling only to pull up short just before it hit the water and to come back up to her and buzz. "You want me to jump? But that water must be freezing!" Caitlin took a step back but something kept her at the very edge. The firefly buzzed angrily and then there was that howling wind again. With a scream, Caitlin plummeted down the cliff to the lake. I hate fireflies. Was the last conscious thought she had before hitting the freezing water.

[Caitlin Martinez G7]

When she woke up, it was as if she had been dipped into a steaming hot bath tub. Her limbs ached and seared with pinpointing pain as she tried to sit up. The only part of her body that didn't hurt were her eyes, which she opened. To her right was a small fire and to her left there were trees. Caitlin tried to sit up some more and look around at her surroundings. Surely the firefly hadn't started this fire. That would be absolutely ridiculous. Caitlin nearly screamed out from the sudden pain of her lower back. It was as if someone were taking a drill to it. At least when she had been unconscious she hadn't felt any horrifying pain. Hot tears welled up in her brown eyes as she collapsed back to the dirt ground. She couldn't do anything but lie there and hope the pain would go away. Slowly it began to fade and her mind would allow itself to wander again. Who had saved her? Who had brought her here, to this clearing which she was certain was in the Forbidden Forest, and start a fire to warm her? Caitlin bit her lips, that were turning slowly from blue to their normal pink colour. Whoever had done it, she owed them a big thank you. They had saved her life.

Caitlin let out another painful scream and this time it turned into a sob. She cried for the pain and for herself for a few moments and then she felt a hand on her lower back. The fingers of the hand moved in rhythmic motions and slowly eased the pain away. Caitlin's scream died away into the night and her tears stopped flowing. She didn't turn to see who her saviour was. She just let the pain completely ease away. Finally, it was gone almost completely and the saviour took their hand from her back. Caitlin closed her eyes, counted to ten, and then reopened them. In front of her stood a boy who appeared to be her age if not only a little older. He wore Ravenclaw robes, so that gave only a slight hint to his house. He had hair that fell around his ears and was out of his eyes, it was a dark dark brown. Almost darker than Caitlin's. His eyes were what quieted Caitlin from asking any questions. A clear blue, a blue so deep that not even a submarine could find its way back to the surface. He was tall about 6 feet orso, and he had a look to him that suggested he didn't like many people. Not only did his hard exterior and face suggest that, the fact that he was in the Forbidden Forest past curfew suggested that.

The fire crackled, jolting Caitlin from her thoughts. She cleared her throat, "Um...thanks.." she whispered as she massaged her legs. The boy nodded and then reached over to help her with that. Caitlin was thankful, because even the slightest movement of her hand sent piercing needles up and down her arm. "I'm Caitlin." She spoke quietly, or perhaps it just seemed quietly. After all, they were in the Forbidden Forest. The boy smiled softly, his eyes lighting up. Telescope eyes. Caitlin thought as she kept her gaze on him. "What's your name?" she asked, trying only to be polite. She didn't think it was very polite of him to just touch her legs and not introduce himself, although she was entirely greatful for it. "Brantley Chapman." He spoke suddenly and quickly, as if the information Caitlin had just heard could alter the world forever. Caitlin smiled kindly, "Is that one name? Well Brantley Chapman, I must say it is a pleasure to meet you. Under the circumstances, that is. Why is that I feel like my limbs are on fire?" She grit her teeth together and tried not to wince from the sudden pain in her left ankle.

Brantley tilted his head to the side, slightly confused it seemed, but then shook it as he moved his hand down to her ankles. Caitlin welcomed the relieving touch. "I saw you fall off the cliff. You looked like you were about to jump for awhile there and I didn't want to jump in and rescue you if you were just looking at the scenery. When you fell I was already in the water before you were. The water must have been so cold that you were knocked unconscious. I brought you back here and used a familiar spell to warm up the limbs. When the body is subjected to that much cold water and then warmed up as quickly, yet slowly, as you were... your limbs tend to feel like they are on fire." Caitlin nodded slowly, understanding what he meant completely. He spoke with such elegance, but he didn't talk over you like most Ravenclaws did. He spoke to her with words she understood. "How are you feeling now?" Brantley asked after a few seconds. Caitlin wriggled her toes in the air, apparently he had taken off her shoes and socks. "Much better, thank you." She smiled brightly at him and turned to gaze at the fire. She could still feel his telescope eyes on her. But Caitlin didn't care. For once, she wanted them on her.