Alistair walks through a silent forest on a rainy cold day. He can hear and feel the twigs breaking and bending beneath his all black Sperry's "maybe this wasnt the best choice of shoes.." Alistair states to himself. As he continues walking he sees a worn path and decides to follow it. The path led to a crystal clear lake and Alistair smiles, he dips his hand in the water. The water is icey cold. The sun is setting now and not a peep of another soul has been heard. The familiar sound of the breaking twigs has broken that silence. "Hello, is someone there?" Alistair drops the hoodie off his head and awaits a respond.

"Hello is someone there?"

Melody stops in her tracks, her cat Jinxy stopping beside her. Jinxy mewed softly. Melody hesitantly called out "yes!" Would a attacker call out first if they thought someone was there? They'd most likely sneak up on her wouldn't they?

She walked until she saw who had called out. Whoever he was, she didn't recognize him. "Sorry if I startled you," she said sheepishly. "I was just walking my cat." Jinxy brushed against her leg and fixed the man a curious stare. Melody stood just there, not sure what to do now. Perhaps she should leave and be on her way. Not that she had a particular destination in mind.

Alistair notices that the cat doesn't take immediate liking to him and he gets kind of offended. "he doesn't like me? Every cat likes me.." he gives her blank stare.. So are you like your feline?" he extends his hand politely "im Alistair" he laughs a bit and states "im new and young" with a chuckle he tries to lighten the mood. "what do you say we get out of these woods? go back to the school?" Alistairs sincerity shined through as he states "im not scary, not one bit" That goes to his knowledge. Alistair can be scary given a breaking point in his emotions. Merlins academy was already bringing out the best in him, even if he didn't know it.

"Err, my cat is a she," Melody corrects. "She reserves judgement for strangers. I don't really have any opinion of you. We just met after all." She pauses before adding "yes I suppose I am like my cat in that way. I'm not sure if that's a bad thing."

"I'm Melody. Also new here." She notices that he doesn't give a last name and she doesn't give her's either. Its not necessary to anyway.

She thinks about what he says next. He did seem sincere but the not scary thing wasn't exactly true. She can defend herself although she'd rather not have to. She looked back at her cat briefly as it would make the choice for her.

"Err, sure. I remember the way back." Maybe going back to school was the safer option.

Melody's charismatic attitude has thrown Alistair off guard, he didn't know what to say "I ermm im sorry, I will always remember from here and now that it is a female.
Alistair was arrogant, but he wasn't naïve. Alistair Knew that females were in fact the dominant subclass and the untapped potential in females was enormous if only triggered.
"Melody will you walk back to school with me?" Alistair stated "I mean no harm" he said with assurance
"if anything we will defend ourselves against threats, but I think we are good"
Still that hand he placed out is still available knowing melody bent over to show attention to the feline to show her influence.

She was surprised by how suddenly taken back he was. Maybe she hadn't reacted how he had expected. Shocking him hadn't been her intention though she didn't feel quite as nervous now.

"Yeah, I will. I suppose your right, there's not really much in this forest." It wasn't like the Forbidden Forest around Hogwarts. No giant spiders or centaurs. At least she didn't think there was. She'd rather handle the centaurs if there was any of those. She had met giant spiders before and they weren't friendly.

Realizing she never had shaken his hand she did so now. "Sorry. I don't know where my manners went."

Alistair gently shook melody's hand "alright well let us get going. I can embrace the darkness if I must, but im not a fan of it" alistair smiled "besides we have about a 25 minute walk back." He looked around to the best vision the falling night had given him. "Plus im also pretty sure that magic might be somewhat forbidden on these grounds" alistair took a look at jinxy "you'll transform into something terrifying and keep us safe wont yuh jinxy?" He nodded his head up and down in a sort of hypnotic like gesture that made everyone agree with a nod as well. "So.. you say this is also your first year?" Alistair figured a conversation would keep their minds of the dark, the cold, and the time.

Melody let go of his hand. She wondered what he meant by what he said. It wasn't that dark out. She wasn't sure if they had enough things to talk about for twenty five minutes but then she didn't mind a quiet walk.

She knew that he might be right about that although she would use her wand if she must. The thought of Jinxy transforming was interesting but if her cat could transform she would wonder why she never let her know.

"Yes, what about you?" she asked. He certainly looked older than she is but then people started studying at different times in their life. "If your a student too I mean."