The Chase Begins [Tag Merit]

Esma stumbled a little when the Time Turner had stopped, catching her balance quickly and immediately grasping at the little trinket hanging from her neck, as if she were not alone. As if someone were already there to take it from her. She looked around slowly, braced for running if the slightest sound gave the hint of another presence.

She was alone.

Straightening a little, the adrenalin running through her veins started give way, and the heavy scent of damp wood and distant animals left her feeling dizzy. Slowly, still listening as intently as she could, Esma started to back up towards a tree, her hand still tightly gripped around the Time Turner. One her back hit the tree, she slid down to the floor, her other hand moving to grip tightly on her bow. Just in case.

The forest was quiet, thankfully, without a sign so far of any human interference. Perhaps she truly was alone now. She did not know for certain if there was another way of coming back to this time, or if anyone would be crazy enough to come back and chase her. It wasn't safe to assume that no one would come, of course. All she could do for now was rest.

Merit had remained in the forest for a while after her sisters had moved on, towards the castle. She intended to join them, but she wanted to remain for a moment, in case the Undesirable showed up here. They had tracked her travelling back to this moment in time, but upon travelling there themselves Merit suspected they'd wound up appearing before the girl had herself, meaning that at their new point in time, the girl was still in the future, their present, and that they would have to wait for her to appear. Because of this, Merit had decided to stay in the forest for a while longer, just in case. The sisters had arranged that, should any of them find the Undesirable, they would send red sparks into the air from where they were. They also had matching scarab beetle necklaces which would come to life and speak, and relay messages, should they need to communicate. They needed the Undesirable's stolen time turner to get back, after all.

Luck was on her side, it seemed, for she heard a noise behind her and spun around. Merit, whose wand was already out and clasped in her hand firmly, quickly cast a spell to silence her footsteps, and she began to stalk through the trees towards the noise, keeping in the shadows as much as possible. There was a slight hill, which she now climbed, and she made sure to keep her eyes and wand focused on anything that might jump out at her.

She saw something move, and her wand's aim settled on it, as she targeted it silently. She crept closer, momentarily losing sight of it as the two of them moved amongst the trees, but then her eyes found their target once more. She approached it, making no noise as she went. It was a human, not any kind of wild creature, and she could tell it was a young girl. There was her target, she was sure. She raised her wand.

"Confundo!" She whispered sharply, as she jerked her wand in the girls direction. She took another step closer, and with another jerk whispered "Incarcerous!"

With a small yelp, Esma rolled to her side as a voice broke the silence of the forest. Had it not been so still, she doubted that she would have heard the slight whisper. Flattened against the ground, Esma ducked the second spell and looked up to see a tall, foreign looking woman pointing a wand at her. One of the Ministry officials sent for her. That was quicker than expected. She brought her wand from her pocket as quickly as possible, knowing that there was no sense in reaching for a weapon she was more accustomed to. If this woman was really sent by the Ministry, she doubted that an arrow would fly faster than one of her spells.

"Stay back," Esma said erratically, though her hand stayed steady as she held the wand, directing towards the woman. "I know why you're here, and you're not stopping me now. Leave me alone now and I won't hurt you."

Merit bit her lip in frustration as the girl ducked out of the way. She slapped the tree that she was partially hidden behind with her free hand before stepping around it and focusing her wand on the girl. They were locked in their places, staring at each other for several seconds, before Merit took a small step closer. She didn't say anything, she refused to reply to the girl.

"Petrificus totalus!" She sent another jet of light at the girl, darting to the side quickly in case the girl tried to retaliate before she was hit by the jinx. "Incarcerous. Wingardium Leviosa." She sent the spells at the girl with only small intervals between each one, before ducking behind a tree for cover, if it was required. She glanced back towards the girl, determined to not lose sight of her.

The moment that the woman took a step forward, Esma dove to the side, keeping low and continuously moving as she knew that the spells would keep coming. The pile of leaves only a few inches away from her shivered violently as the spells meant for her hit the ground. The last spell came too quickly, though, and with a scream that came from both a sense of surprise and anger uttered forth as she found herself yanked into the air.

Fortunately, the woman seemed to have hesitated a split second, ducking behind a tree for protection. Her breath quickening, Esma quickly reached behind her and set up an arrow in its bow; the split second was all that was needed. She aimed the arrow directly at this woman, unable to help a small smile reaching her lips. Even hanging practically upside down in mid air, she was sure she'd be able to make this shot.

"If you do anything to me," she said, voice shaking, though less so than before, "I'll shoot. Now let me go."