Substance of my soul -Alex-

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase thought that he spent most of his time in the forbidden forest. Literally. At least this time he was doing something he liked to do. He decided that the thestrals needed some tender love and care from him. He hadn't spent time with them in a while, and he always used to.

He had just landed on the ground after flying around Hogwarts with one. Chase liked flying on a thestral better than flying on a broom. Like he had told Brent before, it soothed him to fly in the air on one of them. Thestrals were his favorite animal. Hands down.

Smiling to the thestral he had just flown, he pet it gently. Making sure the thestral knew he meant no harm even though he had just ridden him. Thestrals had a short memory, and it was easy to trigger their attack reflexes. "Pretty boy..." Chase coo'd to it mindlessly.

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

_{Oh, well if Professor Jackson isn't here or there either, he must be in the forest. Alex hated the Forbidden Forest. It was shrouded in mystery, gloom and filled with strange creatures. Why couldn't Chase be in an office or something? But here Alex was instead, trudging carefully along a beaten dirt path that he had been pointed to. Apparently Chase wouldn't be too far in. And Alex seriously hoped so.
The young man clutched the straps to his backpack and peered around with wide, deep amber eyes, alert and ready for anything sudden. Or so he thought. Any rustle or crunch noise startled him greatly, causing him to laugh weakly at himself. He was being silly and he knew it. What Alex did to catch up with friends on his day off...
A few minutes later, Alex could honestly say that he was spooked. S certain paranoia that he was being followed by some hideous creature was setting in. So he picked up the pace. He wanted to reach the end of this dirt track and find Chase.
Alex glanced over his shoulder while he walked hurriedly, not really taking care where he trod. It was only matter of time before he stubbed his foot on a tree root like it did. With a gasp, he felt his balance throw him forwards. Alex's hands brushed the forest floor as he almost fell, but he recovered in the last moment. Looking up he saw Chase! Along with.... Things that he'd probably only ever imagine in nightmares. They were a living skinned horses? And... They had bat like wings?
Alex was white as as ghost.
"Ch-Ch-Chase?!" Alex squealed. It had been louder than intended. And more higher pitched than hoped for. It had bordered on that of a strangled shriek. Alex was spooked. It wasn't his fault.}

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase didn't really know what was going on as he heard a voice call out his name in a stutter. It was... loud. Chase looked over to see Alex standing there, looking thoroughly freaked out. Chase didn't think that he liked being in the forest much... "Alex? What are yo- Ah!" Chase began but was interrupted.

Apparently the thestral hadn't liked the new person coming and talking kind of loudly. The thestral was bucking and scratching on his hind legs. Successfully scratching Chase across his chest, tearing through his muggle shirt and creating a probably very deep wound. "Shit!" Chase yelled before reaching for his wand in his pocket and pointing it at the thestral. Thinking of the spell he had been taught to use on an animal that was out of control and deadly. He hit the thestral in the chest, forcing it backwards as it was knocked out cold. It'd wake up in a few hours probably.

"Fuck..." Chase said as he felt the pain hit him in his chest. He pulled his shirt off his body fast, trying to just get the pain over with. He laid back on the forest floor and looked down. It went across his chest diagonally and was really deep. Blood was all over his chest. Chase didn't think he had gotten nailed by an animal before as bad as this one.

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

_{Alex brought his hands up to his mouth, forcing down a scream that would of been everything but manly. The monster had began to lash out! Alex's mind told him that they were going to die. It was a drama queen.
And relief that he had felt on seeing Chase stun the creature had faded away on seeing his friend. A crimson stain was growing on his shirt, concentrated around a large gash on his front. When Chase yanked off his shirt and fell to the forest floor..... Alex didn't immediately know what to do. There was a reason the Healer was specializing in Potions and not in general maladies. Blood and Alex didn't get along too well. He hadn't told anyone for fear of mockery but he had fainted during one of his tests to advance from Healer-In-Training.
"Mierdaaa." Alex cried, snapping back into reality. He swooped down to his friend's side and whipped out his wand. The wound was deep. There was blood everywhere. He tried to ignore his light-headedness - Chase needed medical attention.
"I-I'm sorry, I-I just wanted to find you." Alex stuttered. He trailed the tip of his wand along the length of the gash, a small yet bright white light shining on its tip, where it touched the wound it left the skin glowing for a couple of seconds. Alex was disinfecting the cut and it wouldn't be painless.
"I-I can stop the bleed. Tranquilízate y confía en mí."}

[/i]


ooc:: trans. "Calm down and trust me."[/sub][/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase couldn't remember when he was in this much physical pain before. His chest was pounding from the pain, thumping hard. He could feel himself losing so much blood that it wasn't healthy. "It wasn't your fault." Chase told him with his teeth clenched together from the pain. He shouldn't have taken his eyes off the thestrals. That was for sure. He couldn't imagine what Brent would think when he told him a thestral attacked him. It wouldn't be good for Chase's debate about how they were harmless....

Chase looked up at Alex who was hovering over him, through his pain he had managed to stutter out. "I'm... I'm so-sorry I'm bleeding everywhere..." Chase didn't even think about how stupid of a thing to say, because it was a Chase thing to say. To apologize for bleeding everywhere. He wished Brent was here to hold his hand, honestly. But he had Alex. Which was a good thing considering if this happened without him, Chase didn't know if he'd be able to make it back to the castle.

Chase couldn't wrap his head around what Alex was saying. He knew some spanish from being friends with Alex for so long, but he wasn't anywhere near fluent. "I don't understand what you just said." Chase admitted, he was about to mention how tranquiliízate sounded like tranquil, which meant calm, but he didn't have time. Alex had clearly done something to the cut, and it was roaring even more with pain. "Ahhhh! Fucking A!" Chase shouted as he brought his hands up to his hair so he could put on that because of the pain. "Allleeexxx" Chase whined to him, he wanted the pain to stop.

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

_{It was breaking Alex's heart to cause Chase so much obvious pain. If the cut hadn't been so serious he would of gone about it a different way, a less painful one. But there was just so much blood everywhere. It was all over Chase, the floor and Alex's hands. He'd need a Blood Replenishing potion, that was for sure. He didn't know if he had any more in his Healer kit.
"Its o-okay, Chase." Alex whispered shakily, bringing his free hand up to gingerly place it on Chase's arm. He had finished cleaning the cut but he hadn't finished yet. It was still bleeding.
Alex placed his wand to his side and rummaged with that hand in his backpack for a small tin box. He snapped it open - a basic Healer kit which they were to carry everywhere should they be summoned to emergencies.
The young man fished out a silver vial and uncorked it with his teeth. He tapped it against his wand, making it glow and bubble. He looked at Chase with a "this is going to hurt me more then its going to hurt you" look. He moved his hand and crouched low over the injury, vial in one hand, wand in the other. In two fluid movements he poured potion over the injury and then conjured a bandage directly onto the wound, sealing the magical fluid there. It would burn, sting and cause distress in general. Alex placed his hands on it should Chase be tempted to rip it off.
"I've finished, I've finished." Alex whispered shakily, feeling under the bandage how the potion cooled to provide pain relief. He'd keep to himself just how much that potion was going to cost him, seeing that he had used it while he wasn't working nor called to an emergency. It was an expensive solution made with watered down phoenix tears.
"It should stop hurting now....are you alright?"}

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase literally couldn't believe how much pain he was in. He wanted it to stop. Why couldn't he have just passed out so he wouldn't have to feel the pain! When he looked at Alex, he saw a look that told him more pain was coming. He gripped his hair as tight as he could to prepare for it. He felt the liquid hit his chest and immediately the pain started. He screamed out in pain again. This pain didn't last long though, and soon Chase actually felt a bit better.

Taking long deep breath, Chase let go of his tight grip on his hair. It was still hurting, but not nearly as much as it had been. Chase could actually breathe without feeling a sharp pain. It was more like a achy pain right now. "Ye-yeah. I think I'm fine. But Goddamn did that fucking hurt!" Chase laughed at himself, which caused a "Ow" to escape his mouth with a pained expression.

"Thanks... for... you know. Saving me and all." Chase smiled at him before looking down at the cut, which was covered by the bandage. "Is... is it going to scar?"

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

_{Panic over. Chase was out of danger now. Alex blew out a long sigh and sat more relaxed, as if he had been deflated some.
"I caused this though.... I spooked that....that... Whatever it is." He risked a glance over at the fallen thestral and snapped his gaze over at Chase again. Alex had paled once more and there was alarm clear on his face. "Is it dead? It....looks dead. Already." Alex said in a quiet voice, shuffling forward and more away from the creature. It looked like it had been born in hell, it was certainly something nightmarish. When Chase asked if it would scar, Alex's face fell even more and his eyes wandered over to the bandage. He wanted to tell his friend that his handsome body would remain unblemished, he really wanted to, but it would be a lie.
"I-I had to rush it... I've accelerated the healing process.... It'll scar... It was a serious injury, I had to..." Alex brought a hand up to his face and wiped his eyes, smearing a bit of crimson over himself without paying attention. "I'm sorry..... Will Brent be mad at me?"}

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase knew Alex was right... that technically him speaking scared the Thestral. But it wasn't all Alex's fault. "It wasn't like you knew what was going to happen by saying my name, Jay. I shouldn't have looked away either. I wasn't thinking about the thestral, just that I was surprised someone was in the forest. Normally I'm alone out here." Chase gave him a small smile.

"It's not dead. Just stunned. He'll stay that way until I revive him, or in about an hour or two. He's not vicious normally... I had just flew on him." Chase said, trying not to move as much as he could even though it was feeling better.

Chase really didn't need to hear the answer to know. He knew that deep of a cut would scar. He honestly didn't know what Brent would think. "I... I don't think he'll be mad at you. More mad at me because he always tells me how dangerous Thestrals are. Which they really aren't. They're just... misunderstood." Chase loved thestrals, still did even after this. It was just a cut.

"You might want to clean your hands, Jay." Chase said before reaching over to grab his shirt, wincing slightly. He found a clean spot on it and used it to wipe the blood off Alex's face. "They're full of blood... I'm sorry..."

[Phoenix O. Night]

_{Chase saying it wasn't his fault didn't put him at rest. But he just brushed it off. What had happened, had happened. And Alex was going to be paying for his error with some of his savings. He picked up the silver vial and threw it into his bag, not wanting to look at it. Stupid thing cost at least two weeks salary. But, to save Chase, it hadn't cost hardly anything.
"You can't apologize for bleeding, Chay." Alex snickered, screwing his face up while his friend wiped away the blood. Chase was too sweet. "But you do need some more blood in you.... Let me see if I have one more blood potion. I think I borrowed the last one yesterday." Alex pulled himself away from Chase, turning pink, and batted his hands away to lie him back down on the floor. He got his tin agan and began to rummage around in it.
"And.... Don't let that thing come around while I'm here." Alex mumbled rather meekly. He knew most magical creatures were innocent things and acted on pure instinct most of the time, so it couldn't be blamed for lashing out. But Alex had to say that he was sharing Brent's opinion of Thestrals.
"Today's my day off... And you're the only one that I haven't met up with yet. I saw Brent, helped him rescue his beer and went to the tower, and I saw Reid and went for a drink with him too. You're the only one I haven't had a drink with." Alex smiled, still digging around in his Healer kit. It was a surprise just how many vials were rammed in here. He had to have at least one Blood Replenishing potion in here. The idea of helping Chase stagger to either the Infirmary or to where they could apparate didn't appeal to him.}

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase did kind of know it was silly for him to be apologizing, but he just couldn't help it. It was in his genes to apologize for absolutely everything. "I can..." Chase said with a laugh, wincing in slight pain. It seemed to be going away more and more though. Chase thought he might be a bit sore for a few days. Or more... Oh well. Chase would be fine. At least he was alive.

"Don't worry about that... I only lost a bit of blood. I'm not even that lightheaded." Chase told him before trying to prove it by sitting up. He put his hand over the bandage to hold it there. When he sat up, his chest roared with pain, but his head immediately made him feel sick. He stuck his hand back on the ground to make sure he didn't fall over. "See... fine..." Chase smiled at Alex. Hoping he didn't notice.

"And that sounds fun. Do you think it's okay if I drink right after this?" Chase asked him. He wasn't too sure, but he knew he could go for a beer right now. That was for sure.

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

_{Alex frowned. His tin had failed him. There was not a single Blood Replenishing potion to be found. But he had found something that would take away more pain. It was time to change the gauze anyway - the potion that he had applied before couldn't be left long on his skin.
"You can, I guess, but you can't overdo it. You've got less blood to break down the alcohol in." Alex shook his head slowly, pushing Chase back down onto the forest floor. He gingerly pulled back the bandage and his face twisted in disgust on seeing the ugly injury. He hated stuff like this. It made him feel queasy. He made the old bandage disappear and gently began to wipe away the excess potion. The injury had sealed itself but it still looked angry and raw to the touch, the skin around it was tinged blue from the potion. Alex got the paste and held his breath while he dabbed some on the cut. He was almost touching the gash - groooooss.
"This'll battle off infection. And it'll give you more pain relief on the area. But you'll still feel like you got kicked in the chest by a horse." Alex applied the new gauze and wiped his hands, stained red, blue and now yellow too on his shirt. "What is that thing anyway? Its....ugly. I'm not gonna lie." Alex pointed at the creature - Chase hadn't said what it was yet and he was curious to know. Alex was rummaging around in his bag again after tidying his things away. He got out an energy bar and handed it to Chase. Alex was ashamed to say that he lived on those things when he had long shifts.
"Eat that. Then we can go find ourselves a drink to cheer ourselves up."}

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase smiled crookedly at Alex. "Less blood means drunk faster, right?" Chase laughed as he let Alex push him back down on the forest floor. He hissed in pain slightly. He hoped that would go away soon. Somehow he figured he'd be hurting for a bit. His mind kept wondering what Brent was going to say when he saw the scar. He hoped he would be too mad.

"I kind of figured the pain would probably still be there somewhat. Thanks, Alex." Chase smiled at him before wincing because he was touching the wound with something. He still felt loads better since right after. "And it's a Thestral. A winged horse in a way. They look that way because of their main thing. People can't see them unless they're seen death, so they kind of look like death in a way." Chase smiled thinking about them. "They're my favorite animal... I love them." Chase knew his eyes were probably glowing.

"Okayyyy." Chase said before opening the energy bar like a good little patient and taking a bite. "Who says I'm not cheery?" Chase said before sticking his tongue out at Alex. He wasn't mad, he wasn't depressed. He was happy. He didn't care that he had just been attacked.

"Uh. I really should do something with him..." Chase mumbled. Probably more to himself, but loud enough that Alex would have no problem hearing. Chase didn't want to just leave him there in the forest completely passed out. That would be mean...

[Alexander Jay García Torres]

_{Alex spied how Chase's eyes seemed to twinkle when he talked about Thestrals. Sick. He was in love with creatures that, in a way, symbolized death? Sick.
His thoughts went to the first patient he saw pass away. He had seen a couple more since then but the first was always the worse. The only thing he had really to be thankful about was that any deaths on their ward had either been inevitable and hadn't been his fault either.
"You know what I'm going to ask now, don't you?" Alex frowned slightly and looked from the unconscious creature to his friend. "Who've you seen die?" And Alex couldn't help but hope that he'd just gotten himself into a deep, emotional conversation. He didn't know what he'd do if Chase answered with something heart-rending. Maybe...he shouldn't of asked. Darn curiosity, always getting the better of him.
"You may be cheery but...me?" The young man shook his head. "I need a shower, I'm in the Forbidden Forest, I almost pissed my pants seeing a Thestral and then once again on seeing my friend mortally wounded. And I need a shower. And I hate the forest." Plus there was also the fact that he had to pay Merlin-knows-how-much to replace that potion.
"So yeah, Jay needs a drink. A strong drink. Not like Brent's cheap, watery beer." Alex got to his feet and dusted down his trousers, he didn't know why though, it didn't really make much difference. He held out his handa to help Chase up, hoping that he wouldn't force too much of his weight on him. The spaniard was pretty weak and, well, muscle weighs more than fat. And Alex had just saw Chase's body. He had quite a bit of sinew on him.
"Just leave it. Serves it right for going crazy and scaring the life out of me. You dare bring it round while I'm here...." Alex narrowed his eyes, thinking how to end his threat. "...you dare and you pay for all of the drinks. For the next...however long I say."}

[Chase McKinney-Jackson]

Chase hadn't thought about Alex asking who he had seen die. Brent was the only one that Chase had told this too, but he supposed Alex had a right to know. "I saw my mother die." Chase told him with a sad smile. "She died in my arms." Chase probably remembered that day more so than any other day. That or when his mom had gotten his first drum set for him.

CHase laughed at Alex, "Of course you would." Chase chuckled at him. They were both basically covered in blood, but Chase didn't care. He was used to dirty stuff like this all the time. Taking care of hurt animals, etc. Although it had never been his blood before. "We can go get something strong." Chase said with a lopsided smile.

"They really aren't dangerous though. You just took it by surprise is all... They're actually nice. I swear!" Chase defended his thestral. "But I won't bring it round. I'll just let it wake up after the spell wears off. That might be the best anyways. They normally don't like being hit with a curse." Chase said smiling at Alex before he grabbed his hand and pulled himself up. Using more of his feet than anything since he knew Alex was weak. He winced in pain, but at least it was subsiding.