it is the COURAGE to continue that {counts}

[Professor Kara Turner]

[Jacqueline Darkangel]

There was a rush of wind as a woman in her late twenty’s set down on the ground with a noticeable thump. Her long red, bushy, wavy hair tied up in a ponytail and tucked into a hat; a thick, warm, woolly cloak wrapped round her short frame; upon her hands she wore gloves – despite that summer is upon them, the high air was still freezing. She swung her leg out over her broom and taking the small trunk off, she brought the broom to act as a rest stick. The woman’s keen hazel eyes took in the scene around her. It looked as though she had landed within a borough of homes. So much for making her appearance go unnoticed. She had thought to land a little out of town and walk the rest of the way in. Her gaze landed across a sign not one hundred yards away. “Woodland Park”. So she was within the residential area, she hoped no one was home, otherwise she had a lot of explaining to do, and right now she was not up for that. Not until she had a cup of tea, rest, and then another cup of tea.

With a sigh, Kara Turner picked herself up, and began to walk in the direction she thought would lead her to the town. From there she should be able to find somewhere to stay, settle in. Though she had no intention of staying for long. She just wanted to catch up on news of Greens. As a former student and Professor of Greens Academy she couldn’t help but worry and wonder about her town. She had been on the run for nearly a month now, and no matter how much Kara tried to avoid thinking of it, she still did. The Graduation; where Professor Hermione Weasley went into labour. Followed closely, mere minutes, by the explosion from the Ministry Offices. From there it was just a blur. The panicked thoughts crashing upon her from those around her; the sheer number of wounded making their way into the Healing Tents, trying to stabilise them and keep out their moans of pain – both out loud and within. The rush back home to the Creatures. The following day’s packing and transferring of the badly injured Creatures. From there she has travelled far way, back to Africa at first, then New Zealand, then to South America, before she finally ended up here, in Providence.

She knew Greens was on the brink of a war. She had thought she would stay through it, stay with Laura, and help protect the country. Instead, it turned out she was a coward, and she fled. Many times she thought to turn right back, but every time she did, she went in the opposite direction, running away. She was in over her head; did the guards around her mind collapse and the prevailing thoughts of fear overwhelm her? Entirely possible, she found herself to of fainted within the Healing Tents, her sister had to move her far away from the battle. The events just kept playing over and over in her mind. It was a wonder she hadn’t gone stir-crazy yet, though she felt close to it. Coming to Providence was the best way she could think to help indirectly. She was too scared to turn back to help, perhaps she could help her School from it’s sister School – Providence Academy for the Gifted. It may have taken her a month, and while it was not Greens, it was the next best place. She was turning up unannounced, yes, and she had no idea where to go next, but she was determined to get in touch with Headmaster Love, or anyone from Greens, and learn the situation.

She had walked with determination, but now that stride faltered. What could she do to help? The doubt niggled at her, a frown appearing at the edges of her mouth, and creasing at her brow. After all, she had ran, she had abandoned her fellow witches and wizards, her comrades, her students, her friends… The trunk dropped to the ground. The woman tore off her hat in anger at herself, and then she sank upon the trunk, her face pressed into her hands and hat. Tears of doubt escaped, but then Kara told herself off. She had come this far, she wasn’t going to turn away for the fifth time, not when she is so close. Not when the Sister School to Greens was just a few miles from her. Not when she had finally gathered the courage to do something to help. Anything to help. She looked up with renewed determination, to see no one. She was lost, she knew this, she had no map, she had just arrived. She sensed out, no one was home within the houses. Wait! ”Who’s there?” She called out, turning round to where she thought she felt the presence. Her hand tightened round her wand, ready for an ambush should the person coming be anyone meaning harm.

[Jacqueline Darkangel]

Jacqueline soared above all those below in the cooling evening sun, her wings spread wide as the gentle breeze caught and lifted her in the air, her worries and cares fading like the clouds under the suns fading gaze, she had never felt so free, the drawings that she had done in the class room those many weeks ago now a reality, as she drifted among the clouds high above the school and land and its people below. Dropping to the ground as silent as the warm breeze that blew around her, she felt her feet touch the damp ground of the hiking trail path, she had been out stretching her wings after being cooped up in the class room, as she had flown she felt free and at ease, but now she had landed, the trees gently blowing around her soothing her tired and bored mind with nature’s lullaby, she heard weeping. The soft cry of a lonely heart and, as if drawn to it, she moved carefullytowards the sound. She tucked her wings gently behind her and walked a little down the trail, her mind wondering to who could be so alone to come here to shed their sorrow in such a lonely place. Jacqueline stepped forward hearing a woman’s voice cry out.

“You are ok, I mean you no harm, despite what you may think of my appearance.” she said softly, her wings moving behind her but never fully opening, their white feathers shining in the fading light of the evening sun catching the last rays in their angelic presence, as she moved forward to show herself.
“My name is Jacqueline Darkangel, I heard your weeping” she spoke softly, her voice mimicking the breeze that blew in the harvest meadow on a summer’s day. “you do not have to tell me, I am merely a passing stranger” she smiled warmly as she stood “are you on your way to providence, if so we travel in the same direction as that is where I have come from and am returning too “reaching into her pocket she slippedhankiea small white hanky moving forward she kept her distance crouching to one knee she held out the small white piece of delicately embroidered cloth for her to take.

Jacqueline looked at the woman in front of her, the red hair and crumpled hat held tight in her hands. Jacqueline also noticed she sat on a trunk “forgive me for asking but it seems you have traveled along way, why give up now when you are so close to your final destination” she asked a little confused

[Professor Kara Turner]

The sight before her only served to confuse Kara. Her grip upon her wand loosened, her look of warning faded to one of surprise. Had she finally dropped dead out of exhaustion? For the stranger she had felt was one of myth. An angel. Kara was brought up cocooned within the Wizarding World, but her father was still a Muggleborn, and taught her the traditions and beliefs of that world. What stood before her now looked like one of the Lords Angels. She had never seen a creature like the stranger before. The closest are Veelas when they change after being angered, but this young woman clearly was not a Veela. In all her five years as Healer and Researcher of Magical Creatures, this was a first for her.

The younger person spoke, and despite the calm and reassuring way she did, Kara leaned away. Her grip tightened once more around her wand, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Once upon a time, not long ago, Kara would smile at the stranger and say hello. But she had since learned a hard lesson that not everyone is a friend. Whatever had happened to the woman who welcomed a stranger into her home? The war changed her she suppose. Or perhaps it was the limited human contact over the last month. While it may of only been a month, Kara was once a very social person. The young woman - Jacqueline as she introduced herself - mentioned her weeping. "I wasn't weeping, merely frustrated with myself." Kara stated coolly, the accent obviously that of one from the English country.

Merlin she must be tired, Kara hardly ever spoke to another like that. She sighed. "I'm sorry, it was a long flight, I'm tired and cold. I didn't mean to snap at you." Kara apologised kindly as she reached up a hand to brush away a loose curl from her eyes. In answer to the question if she was on her way to Providence Proper, she merely nodded. After all, no one needed to know her business who weren't to know. All Jacqueline needed to know is that she is heading there. Despite herself, Kara found herself smiling at the kindness of the stranger as she held out a handkerchief. But she declined it, she felt no need for it as she only shed one or two tears. And those where only ones of frustration. "I'm fine now, thank you."

Kara watched the woman's gaze go from her hair, to her hat, and finally to her trunk which she was sitting on. She didn't really mind. Anyone would be curious about a new arrival, especially one who turned up like she had. At Jacqueline's remark though, Kara let out a bitter laugh. "I still have a long way to go Miss. But I'll get there again one day." She glanced away from the stranger, to the surroundings. It was getting darker now, she hadn't realised she had arrived so late. The shadows around them had grown longer, the suns golden hues turning red as it prepares to dip below the horizon and sleep. She turned back to study the person before her. Generally Kara could easily discover if she was trustworthy, but she'd rather didn't use her talent. Coming to the conclusion to trust the stranger so far, Kara nodded to herself.

"Prof - Kara Turner." She introduced herself. Deciding to leave off the title of Professor, a little late. At the most she felt the stranger was being truthful with her, and that turn deserved the same from herself. "Would you mind terribly showing me a place I can stay for the night? And tell me where I can find the Academy for the morning?" She asked, remembering her offer to walk with her into Providence.

[Jacqueline Darkangel]

Jacqueline was slightly taken aback by the woman's abruptness but could not blame her, for what would she have looked like coming out of the woods her wings held out behind her like great white sails on a ship, she moved back tucking the hankie back in her pocket , nodding as she said she hadn't been weeping merely frustrated.

"It's all right " she said "I shouldn't have just come out like that , next time i will speak first" she smiled hearing she was fine" please call me Jacqueline" , Jacqueline looked slightly surprised "I couldn't help notice you're from England? " she asked as she heard the faint twang of the English accent as the woman spoke it sounded strange after all these years to hear a voice in her own accent.

"I am from England too" she said hoping the were not to far apart in there locations that they could have once passed in her long hard travels. "its nice to meet you Kara Turner, may i ask if you will be teaching at the school , please don't think me a nosy person, its just i noticed your trunk is well worn and with your slip before it told me you were a professor" she looked at her.
"there is an Inn a short ways down the trail, if we are to get there before night fall we should go now" she said stepping forward again to help the woman with her trunk .