Winter rolled up her sleeves and started gathering the ingredients. Her partners were two speeds from Star's Potential. Winter sighed as they watched her wearily, "Do you guys want to help at all?" They both narrowed their eyes at her in response. Winter shook her head and continued working. It had been all but ten minutes, Winter had just started crushing mixing the ingredients in the vial when Brenna stood with her shoulders squared and professed that she was done. Cornell sauntered over to check her work. He made a low grunt of approval. Sam and Winter finished at the same time. They made eye contact from across the room, seeming to have something heavy and unspoken in the air. Jax and Lucas finished next. Winter peered at them as they shared a small smile. For some reason, she felt a soft pang of jealousy. She couldn't tell if it was for her twin or Jax. She tried to uncover her feelings when she noticed two of the boys from her class goofing around. Cornell hadn't acknowledged them so she decided to speak up, "Guys, that's dangerous. You can't play like that around Pink Nightingale." They heard her but couldn't stop their momentum in time, knocking into Brenna's vial. Quick as a viper, M.J. moved himself over her. He sucked in air, wincing at the potion burning through his clothes and on his skin. Immediately, the illusion over his body faded. He seemed to grow in presence and size. Winter rushed over to them, "Are you okay?" M.J. nodded. Brenna put an arm over him, protectively. Winter lowered her head to hide her face. She worried the pride from how well her plan was working would show. Winter glared a bit at the boys, "I told you, now apologize." They mumbled an apology and rushed out of the room. Winter sighed, turning her attention back on M.J., "Try to cast an illusion." She watched M.J. strain but nothing happened. "From the looks of it, I would say it just put a block on your powers. Can you stand?" He got up, but Winter noticed Brenna kept her hand gently on M.J.'s arm. "I'm not sure how long the effects will take to wear off, but rest and keep me updated." She glanced at Brenna, "Keep an eye on him." Winter got a tight lipped nod in response.
Winter glanced at Cornell who seemed to pay no mind to the incident that took place under his supervision. She couldn't help but wonder why they were forced to make such a dangerous potion for class. Was this the intended outcome? Her eyes roamed the room as everyone seemed to be finishing up. Cornell shouted, "Once you are done with your assignment, place your vials in the cooler at the front of the classroom." Coolers. They were going to store them, not get rid of it. Winter fiddled with her bracelet as one of the speeds took her vial and put it in the container. Winter surveyed each of her friends and spoke into Leo's mind, "Get everyone to meet me in the empty classroom two halls over." He nodded. "Sam included," she added and watched him scowl slightly. When all the vials were placed in the coolers, two of the men Winter recognized from her interaction with Della grabbed them and quietly left the room. She took note of the direction they headed as the door closed behind them.
When they were dismissed, Winter made her way to their meeting point. One by one she watched all her friends trickle in. First Leo, Mandy and Layla. Then M.J., Jax and Lucas. Sam made his appearance last and everyone eyed him suspiciously. Winter had already filled him in on everything the night before, so he knew better than anyone what she was about to say. She rubbed her hands together, "Okay we have the annual field trip in a little over a week. I say we discuss our plan to stop the monsters." Mandy's eyebrows furrowed, "What do the monsters have to do with the camping trip?" Winter gestured for Leo to answer, "The monsters are being created in the same woods our trip takes place." Jax mumbled, "Why would that be their hotspot?" Winter nodded. Lucas put a finger on his chin, "So you think if we try to track one back to their lair, we could find the person who's making them?" Winter waved her hand, "That's wishful thinking," then her eyes met his, "but yes." Layla rubbed at her eye, "Isn't that dangerous, considering that place will be swarming with them?" Winter raised her palms, "With great risk comes great reward. Imagine we actually manage to stop them at the source." Leo nodded, "That gets rid of our most insistent issue." Jax squinted at her, "And how do you manage to do that?" Winter smirked a little, "Well first we're going to need bait." They all looked at each other as she chuckled, "Don't worry, I'm not volunteering any of you for the role. I'll do it, since it's my plan." Leo and Jax were about to protest when Winter put up a hand and went on, "I'll act as bait and see how many end up surrounding me. I'll provoke them a bit and see what they do while some of you wait in the brush." She could tell by the look on his face that Leo didn't like her plan so she added, "And you guys can jump in if it looks like I'm in trouble." Jax gibed, "Thank you for giving us permission to save you, Knight." Winter rolled her eyes, "Look, do we want to stop them or not?" They all went silent at that. Everyone in the room knew how big of a problem the monsters were becoming on campus. She put her hands on her hips, "Worst case scenario we end up in a brawl with the monsters, outnumbered, while one of us stays on their tracks and finds the nest. Best case scenario, they take me to the nest directly." Leo grumbled, "Both are wishful thinking." Lucas stared at her, "No matter what someone's going to get hurt." She met his gaze, "Let's all hope that person is me."