Irwin nodded. He always enjoyed a good chat.

Zoe bent her head down causing her soft blue hair to cascade down covering her face like a blanket. "Thank ye," she said in a near whisper. No one, girl or boy had ever complimented her features before. Her parents had, of course, but she considered those comments obligatory. She bit the side of her lip and nodded as she flung her hair back over her shoulder. "Aye, I do. I sing some of the songs on the moors when I'm out runnin' round like a feral child as Mum likes te say. Rudyard Kipling, I don't think thought his masterpiece would be quite so...changed but then they animated Edgar Alan Poe. How about ye?"

“You’re welcome,” Drew said quietly. Then at Zoe’s comments about running around like a feral child, he had to grin. “One of my nicknames is wild child…sort of a play on my last name, plus the fact that I take off on Fleet and stay gone as long as I can. I don’t mind at all being alone in the woods with just Fleet and Dodger. The moors are great too. I explored some of them when we visited my grandfather…and now my uncle. The family home is a bit further north into Scotland than our place which is right on the border.”

Getting back to Disney, Drew grinned and nodded. “I grew up with Disney movies and musicals of all sorts. Dad introduced Mum to them when they were dating and she’s been hooked ever since. She will admit they are one of the main Muggle things that she loves and won’t give up. She sings the songs around the house a lot of times, but it’s better if I don’t attempt to sing.” He laughed. “Of course Dad being an author and Mum a historian, we’ve also had to read every story and book the movies are based on and compare. Both versions have their good points and we enjoy both.”

" Uncle Derek likes ta call me a timorous beastie," Zoe said giggling, "He's the one that gave me my raven Eorm Reven. I like wild child though." She wondered who or what Fleet was but was afraid to ask, "I love being outside on the moors. My parents bought me a dog for Christmas, Reggie. He's a Scottie doggy, and he's built for the terrain. Right on the border sounds good too, ye get English and Scottish things. But I admit, I love the Highlands. Jona's in Glasgow. My Uncle lives in Aberdeen. I'm kinda in the middle of them."

"I do nee sing well myself. Dad says that's why the moors sound so sad, cos I was singing," Zoe laughed. When he said his dad was a writer she was surprised. "Dad's a writer too," she said. "I grew up on the myths and books and stuff. Are ye muggle-born then? Both Jona and I are." She wanted to make Jona feel included and hoped she was. Socialising was still really new to her.

The little green creatures reminded Lysandra much more of a frog than a monkey. They looked somehow odd with their glowing red spot on the forehead. However, much more docile a being than the water sprite called Kappa who also has a monkey-like appearance with webbed hands and who feeds on human blood. „Irvin, do you know how many young they have when breeding?“ Lysandra asked, thinking it must be several so the stock would have adequate progeny.

Jona remained fairly quite during the whole conversation between Drew and Zoe. She had tried to pull him into the conversation, but he wasn't feeling it. Somehow, Drew always made Jona feel inferior and stupid and he was beginning to be sick of that feeling. So why put himself through it? He was a bit sad about it, because he'd looked up to Drew for a short time. But these things pass and Jona knew that. He smiled faintly when Zoe brought him into the conversation, but smiled even wider when Professor Cassidy said it was time to get back on the bus. Jona jumped out of his seat and grabbed everyone's plates from the table, rushing them to the dish drop-off and running back. Jona jerked his head at Niamh, telling her to join them on the bus. He gently looped his arm around Zoe's and said loud and obnoxiously (what better way to get rid of Drew?), "WELP! LOOKS LIKE WE GOTTA GET BACK ON THE BUS. SOOOOOOOO NICE TALKING WITH YOU, DREW. DEFINITELY SHOULD DO IT AGAIN SOMETIME. SOON!" He waved a hand without a care in the world towards Drew. "Tata!" And walked away with Zoe. He was playing. Mostly.

@/Raven @/leafling19 @/Paddy

((ooc - Sorry the disapearance. A friend of mine had a personal emergency and asked me to house/dog sit for them and I stupidly forgot my laptop. I also have issues when I try posting while on my phone. I'm back though))

Drew laughed at both Zoe’s nickname and that of her raven. “A Scotty dog?” he smiled. “I bet he’s cute! Dodger’s not a purebred but I love him regardless. And yeah the border is cool, though I wouldn’t mind spending more time in the Highlands.”

“Your dad’s a writer too?! ” Drew asked in surprise. “Cool!” He would love to talk to Zoe more about that. Shaking his head at her question about his lineage, he said, “Half-blood; Mum’s a witch from a pureblood family and Dad’s a Muggle. I’d really like to talk to you more about writing though, but I need to get back to Mallowsweet. I don’t want to just abandon her.”

He was about to head back to the table when Jasper announced they were leaving. Before he knew it students were filing on the bus and Jasper had escorted Mallowsweet away and helped her onto the bus. Drew sighed. He needed to go find the young centaur and apologize. He hadn’t meant to leave her for so long and really had it been that long? He wasn’t sure, but was still going to check on her.

Turning back to Zoe’s table, Drew’s eyes widened in surprise at Jona’s rudeness. What the heck was the brat’s issue??! He watched as the kid pulled Zoe away and shrugged with a sigh. “Maybe later, Zoe,” he said in a quiet voice. Why fight it? He waited while the others boarded the bus and then trailed the last students back on.

The clabbert was a little interesting, but not Drew’s style. He moved to a vacant seat away from the others and sat quietly. He did glance around for Mallowsweet but didn’t see her close by. He caught a glimpse of Magnus, but figured it was better to just stay by himself and watch whatever animals Irwin showed them. So much for his happier mood and making a few more friends.

((no worries, welcome back))

"Aye, I think he's adorable. Knitted him a scarf for the winter on Christmas day. I named him Reggie. Jona has a pup too. Ah, so that's who Dodger is, yer dog." Zoe smiled.

"Aye, he is." Zoe nodded. "Alright. Sure. Ye go ahead."

Then they were called to get back on the bus and Jona dragged her off. The boy seemed a little upset so she let herself be dragged. She started knitting as the bus moved. The monkey-frogs didn't interest her in the slightest and she kept knitting. "Do ye find these interesting?" she asked Jona.

Magnus had come out of his trance and was equally bored with the Clabbert. "Whatcha think we'll see next Drew?" Magnus asked. "I loved George the most so far. 'E was cool as 'ell."

Irwin smiled at Lysandra. "About one a year, like monkeys. What we've been doing is after a baby is old enough we trade some with other sanctuaries to help mix up the gene pool so to speak. Sometimes move some of the older ones out too."

Drew looked up as Magnus came over and spoke to him. “Hey, Mags,” he said and had to smile at his friend’s comment. Trust Magnus to help him feel better without even trying. Comfortable with his friend, Drew shook his head. “George wasn’t as cool as my winged beauties,” he teased, knowing Magnus would understand. “He and the occamy were both pretty amazing but I love the horses most over all we’ve seen. Wonder why George is the only creature so far that has a name? As to what the next animal will be…I hope it’s something exciting. Maybe a hippogriff. That’d be cool.”

"Pfft," Magnus said, "your 'orses need to at least look more vicious, put some fangs on 'em or something." He laughed at his idea. "Actually I do like 'orses at lot. Probly cos there's only one. Can you imagine trying to name every single one of the animals? Though maybe they are but figured the tourists don't care. You could ask. Hmm, yeah they are more dangerous so I'd agree that'd be cool. Though I do like these monkey-frog-thingies teeth."

"Huh?" Jona looked back at Zoe, dumbfounded. Was she knitting? "Well, yeah, of course. I think I might've been one in a past life. What d'ya think?" He gave a big grin to show off all his teeth. "My teeth pointy enough?" Then he split his bangs apart to show off a shiny red pimple on his forehead. "I even have a pustule on my head!" He poked it with his finger, cringing at the sensitive spot. Looking back of at Zoe, he asked, "You aren't interested?"

She giggled at his show of teeth and rolled her eyes at the pimple. "Eh, not really. Christmas tree light frogs do nee really do it for me I guess. Then again, I think I was hoping for something more...er... fierce."

"Hm." Jona seemed a bit disgruntled and turned back to watch the frogs as they monkied around. "You want fierce and scary then go back an talk to Drew."

He stopped short, though. It was one of those comments that you regret saying as you say it. And so, Jona immediately apologized for making the comment. "I just...I dunno. the guy bothers me. What can I say? I thought he was so cool, but lately..." He shrugged and let out a frustrated sigh as he continued to watch the Clabberts. "It's stupid. I need to get over it and just try to make friends." Looking back over his shoulder at Zoe, he tried for a smile that seemed surprisingly genuine.

Zoe didn't know what she'd done, but Jona was upset. Then came the clipped comment telling her to go and she bit her lip. The sting up building up tears hit her eyes but she blinked them away. "Do nee worry about. I'd only thought fierce cos normally those are animals ye see at the end." she said shrugging. "Maybe he's trying too. Everyone's been a little off today. I wanna make friends too. And maybe that's what he was trying to do. Relax, be yerself. If it happens it happens."

His back was turned, so Jona never saw the tears in Zoe's eyes, but as he leaned back in his chair, he noticed the extra shine they'd taken and meantly kicked himself in the head. "Yeah, you're probs right. Sorry. I get into these moods sometimes and then it's really hard to pull myself outta them." He sighed again, built up withso many emotions that an eleven-year-old should not know. He peered up at Zoe from under his bangs and whispered, "You're a good friend..." He hugged her and finished with "...even when I'm not."

Laughing at Magnus’ comments, Drew teased, “What is it with you and teeth, wolfie? Though I will admit the puffy with fangs was too cute.” He smiled remembering that incident with his friends. “Horses have teeth and hurt plenty if they nip you. Let’s not give ‘em fangs.” He nodded at the comment about names. “Yeah, that makes sense. I might ask Irwin about it though since this tourist cares.” Drew grinned, but he wasn’t about to say that he’d sorta named, in his head, the three horses he’d been feeding. With mischief in his eyes, Drew said, “Maybe you ought to become a dentist. You can look at teeth all day, every day.”

"I get in moods some time too," Zoe replied. Her next reply came quieter, "Many times, I'd sit and watch other people have friends, go to Hogsmede happily chatting and such. I made up topics they would be talking about--gave them names if I did nee know them. It was my way of having friends. I did nee mind but a few times. Those where the times my moods would be hard to get out of. Where I'd cry in my dorm and no one would notice. Eventually I'd pet Lloyd and Tails and we go and run with out shoes--till I was too tired and fall asleep on the lawn. Sometimes I'd wake with a blanket on me. I guess its the house elves. Anyway, the moods pass." She smiled at the hug. "Ye are good friend." Then she poked his nose. "Now, I over heard Irwin say there's a giftshop. What do ye think we'll be able to buy? I got some pocket money. I worked a bit during the break."

"Eh, can I 'elp it if that makes 'em cooler? Look at me puff Buffy. She's a little black puff with teeth. She's so cute and they wiggle with her. She seems to like 'em. And me bird ain't got teeth and I love 'er too." He stuck his tongue out at him. "But think about it, vampire 'orses...now that'd be wicked." Magnus nodded. "Ask 'im then. Nah, that's a boring job for me."

“Buffy is a cutie,” Drew smiled and then snickered as Magnus stuck out his tongue. “Okay, so yeah, vampire horses do sound pretty cool. Black with red eyes and fangs…long flowing mane and tail. Just picture one coming out of the fog toward you one night. It’d be like a Friesian except with fangs. But I think thestrals are as close as we can come.”

Magnus' eyes went dreamy. "Man that'd be sooooooo cool. I should draw one! Glad you came to your senses and realised they would be awesome!"