TRIAGE AREA

Coraline assigned several interns to stay behind and watch over the hospital, where the patients in need of the most attention would be staying, and guided the rest to the triage within the library.

She was in a hurry to get everyone settled in. The triage area took up one whole side of the circular room. She had the elves remove every study table to the storage areas and now, there were six cots, separated by mobile starched while fabric room dividers. Each cot area was self-contained with its own small table filled with enough potions to treat a variety of maladies quickly.

In the center of the room stood the library kiosk and beyond that, the dueling training area was set up.

Coraline turned to her student volunteers. “I will finish up the last few things here with the rest of my interns, giving you all enough time to practice. You will find everything you need on the other side of the library. Good luck to you.”

She left them all, taking her interns with her, and began the busy work of turning the triage into her own space.

The last hour has passed like a blur, but Willow didn't mind. The busy work kept her mind off what was going on--and what might happen. Nurse Coraline at least seems to know what she's doing, Willow thought. She also noticed the librarian going around helping out. She noticed there was something like a heavy wooden cover over every book shelf in the library. They know how to prepare, she thought, then remembered some of the stories she'd heard about the school's past.

When Nurse Coraline said they could start practicing, Willow looked around. There were 8, 9 others in the library, and she thought about who would be the best ... and that was when she noticed the girl with the oh-so-serious expression on her face. I think I found someone good.

She wandered over to her and made introductions. "Hi," she said. Willow held out her hand. "I don't think we've meet. I'm Willow. And you are?"

Annie wandered over to the other half of the library, slipping out of her apron and her jacket. She was unbuttoning the top button of her pink blouse when a girl, whose apron had two small red stars under her name, introduced herself.

“I’m Annie,” she said, shaking the girls’ hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Willow. I don’t think I’ve seen you around either. I’ve only met one other person from your coven. Keith Domingo—do you know him?”

Willow nodded, her face brightening. "I met him first night in," she said, removing her own apron and jacket. "Haven't seen much of him since." She eyes Annie closely. "Did you take the Friday class with Madam Chai?" Willow was smiling, curious if Annie had been up against Chai's "zombies" yet.

Annie giggled, remembering the odd opponents they faced during that class. “Yes, however, those strange things don’t seem to be anywhere in sight…” She glanced around the room. “The leg lock spell was pretty draining. I don’t know if I’m ready for more of the same today.”

Annie scanned over the primer left by Professor Douglas. She was not optimistic that she would get most of them to work. “Have you done much dueling yourself?”

Willow shrugged, pulling out her wand. "I took Madam Chai's class last year 'cause I wanted to try out for the dueling team this year." She gave Annie a warm smile, thinking back when Annie mentioned how draining the spells had been. "I know what you mean about draining. But a lot of that ... it's just getting keyed up, the adrenaline flowing."

She patted Annie on the back. "Once you start really doing this, you'll be surprised; you'll feel like you have all the energy in the world afterward." She turned a whimsical look upon Annie. "You'll do this great. Don't worry."

Annie pasted a smile on her face and nodded, pulling out her own wand. She took her place opposite Willow and stood perfectly still—her head held high.

She took a long breath through her nose, holding it for two heartbeats, and then exhaled. Drawing up her wand, she readied her stance.

“Ready, Willow,” she said.

“Relashio…”

Effect:
Automatic

Attack:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

9

Willow was nearly ready when Annie started to cut loose on her. Willow thought she'd go for something simple--mostly because she was rusty.

She whipped the wand around side-armed. "Locomotor Mortis!'



Effect:
Auto

Attack:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

98

Annie felt her legs go stiff as the attack hit. She stared down, unable to move from the waist down. “That’s interesting,” she said, looking up at Willow. “Let’s see if I can make something work stuck this way.”

She grinned and lifted her wand, pointing it directly at Willow. “Silencio”

Effect:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

84

Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D20.) :

14

Attack:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

34

Willow barely had time to think, Wow, got lucky with that one, when Annie said something about trying a spell and whipped something off at her.

"Damn--" Willow blurted out, then brought her wand down quickly, thinking she needed something a little more advanced. "Langlock!" she cried, hoping she could shut Annie up first--


Effect:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

13

Attack:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

41

and the leg lock mod: Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

7

Willow breathed a sign of relief. She felt Annie's effect go off, but it whizzed right by her. As for Willow's ...

"I hate when that happens!" he said, laughing. "If you'd hit me you could have beat me like a rag doll!" As Annie's legs freed up she said, "Ready go to 'gain?"

Annie breathed a sigh of relief that the only thing she’d suffered so far was a pair of stuck legs. She took a minute to stretch and then said, “Sure, here goes.”

Lifting her wand, Annie tried something a little more complicated.

“Expelliarmus.”

Effect:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

28

Attack:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

89

Willow was ready to turn it loose. Girl is okay, she thought. She's takin' it in stride--

Willow decided to go for one she'd been practicing--on no one. So lets see ... "Silencio!"


Effect:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

56

Attack:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

36

Things were pretty much going the way Annie thought. A whole lot of nothing special. I wish Kerry were here… She imagined him flying. Somehow she knew his partner made him uncomfortable. Or maybe my mind is just running away from me.

She shrugged, deciding to try out the most ridiculous spell in the primer. She raised her wand and stared into Willow’s eyes, imagining her unable to see…

“Obscuro,” she said, sending the spell from her wand.

Effect:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

25

Attack:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

1

What, the hell...

Was that???


Hummmm ... *scratching head* Damn, Annie, you were more fun face plantin' on a broom.


Suddenly all the lights around you go out. And stay out for 5 minutes. This throws Willow off and she doesn't attack, and Trevor... If looks could speak, his would say, "Whacha doin' to my library, Krum?"

Hey, what's that scream I hear? The girl next to you may have a shattered wrist--

Who said magic is easy?

Annie couldn’t believe her luck. These spells were just too much for her already exhausted mind to handle. She felt her resolve slip, and wondered if Willow would ever be able to knock her out with something powerful.

While the lights remained off, Annie closed her eyes and tried to ignore the screaming. She thought of the red haze outside and the two fliers zipping past on their brooms. Of course, she knew who one of them was. The other, however, was a mystery. Her eyes flew open when the lights popped back on.

“Ready, Willow?” She readied herself, adjusting her stance and fired another spell.

“Impedimenta.”

Effect:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

15

Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

7

Attack:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

99

Willow waiting with their little cone of lights off. She remembered something like this in the Manor when she was trying Relashio, blew something and set the stage on fire even though nothing shot out of her wand. Go figure magic, she thought.

The moment the lights popped on Annie was set and ready. As she was launching her attach, Willow decided to simplify. "Silencio!" she cried as she went into a crouch and pointed.


Effects:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

54

Attack:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

23

Willow shook as she felt something pass her. No, not pass--she felt it on her body. Man, if she's gotten Impedimenta off, I'd been messed, she thought.

Willow wasn't waiting. She kicked in as soon as she stopped shaking just a little. "Relashio!"


Effect:
Automatic.

Attack:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

41

Annie was ready. As soon as Willow sent her spell, Annie fired off her own.

“Expelliarmus,” she countered.

Effect:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

99

Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

8

Attack:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

43

And just like that--Whap! Willow--and her wand--were knocked back about 2 meters. "Nice one," she said as she picked herself up and looked for her wand, but she was thinking, That's a 4th Year spell! How the heck...?

To get hit with that by Madam Chai was one thing--she really didn't expect a 1st Year to pull it. I couldn't get it, she thought as she slowly turned. I almost broke Madam Chai's arm that one time....

"Oh, well," Willow sighed, then launched her attack-- "Impedimenta!"


Effects:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

46

Attack:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

41

Annie was shocked when Willow—and her wand, went flying. She was about to apologize when Willow was on the attack again. Instinctively she raised her own wand and sent a spell back.

“Langlock!”

Effect:
Automatic

Attack:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

80

This time Willow knew she wasn't going to be so lucky. The moment Annie got her attack off Willow felt her tongue swell up and stick to the roof of her mouth.

Damn, girl, she owned you. Willow let her wand drop to her side. "Ku uoo gmm ee fiiteee mimmmums?" she mumbled. She sat, her eyes dropping to the floor while she waited for the spell to wear off.

As soon as her spell hit, Annie felt awful. "I'm really sorry, Willow. Take all the time you need."

She shuffled toward the kiosk, checking to see if anyone had come into the triage since they'd begun their training. All of the beds were still empty. Sinking to the floor, her back resting against the booth, she scrutinized the others who were still practicing.

Annie spotted Willow getting up from the floor. "All better," she called, rejoining her. "Let's keep trying. You still need to nail one." She gave the second year a smile and held up her wand.

"Impedimenta!"

Effect:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

77

Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D10.) :

9

Attack:
Annie Krum carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

6

After having her tongue locked to the roof of her mouth for 15 minutes, Willow was ready to do some dusting. She didn't have anything against Annie, but she wanted to score at least more than one time--and with something other than a 1st Year spell.

She thought about jumping to the side, but decided against it. Instead she struck head on. "Expelliarmus!" she shouted.



Effect:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

32

Attack:
Willow Chapman carried out 1 launched of one (D100.) :

29