The early morning December chill would have warded many away from the lake, especially those wanting to keep warm and fight waking up just a few hours longer. The sun hadn't even started to lighten the winter sky but there was one soul out and awake at least. Breath steaming in front of him, Elian watched the sweat roll down his nose to the ground silently counting as he continued his routine. Every morning before dawn he was out here by the lake running and exercising. He would have done it closer to the school but this was the only spot that he and the headmistress could agree upon as a safe distance and open area for his archery.

But that wouldn't be done just yet. He wanted to be able to see first. He had been practicing in the dark with enchanted moving targets but he had to finish this part of his cycle first. Standing up as dawn began to break he tossed off his shirt and took off running. The cold didn't even bother him. He had stopped noticing it years ago. It also helped that he had been exercising for almost an hour now.

As the sun finally rose Elian made his second circut around the grounds and portion of the lake. Coming back he finished up before kneeling by the water and splashing his face. He then moved on, slipping on the arm and hand guards he used, forgoing his shirt, as he picked up his bow, slinging the quiver over his shoulder. A quick spell had targets up at different places and just as he saw the sun fully break the horizon he let his first of many arrows fly.

Every morning, rain or shine, Zelig Trumble went swimming in the lake—sometimes with Raine Almasy. Occasionally, he saw other people swimming, even though the like was recently very, very, very cold. Lately, it actually hurt to swim, and the feeling of the cold air against his wet skin made him feel like it was much colder outside than it actually was. Zel got out of the lake and pulled his wand out of the pocket of his robes to dry his clothes before he froze too much. Zel put the robes on over his clothes and shivered. His pale skin was tinted with blue, as it did every time he was cold—pale skin like that always revealed if Zel was embarrassed, overheated, too cold, or frustrated. It was aggravating at times,  but he had learned how to deal with it.

 As he had finished drying himself off, he saw one of the 7th years running around the lake. Zel waved at him politely, though he didn’t make any move to engage him in conversation. Zel was familiar with Elian, though they had never really spent much time together. Elian was in the year above Zel, and a Gryffindor to boot. The only Gryffindor that Zel really talked to was Sophie, and sometimes she seemed like a Hufflepuff to him because she was so compassionate and caring.

Elian had half waved as he went on with is run. He knew who Zel was, they had talked in passing a couple times. When Elian had found out he was a werewolf it hadn't bothered him in the slightest. By that time he had already seen enough of the younger student for that to be just another fact of life. He kept one eye on him as he started his archery as unfortunately the albino boy was near one of his targets. And Merlin forbid that he shoot near a student, the headmistress woul have his head mounted on her wall.

Turning as he enchanted the targets to start moving he spun on his heel and fired a shot gasping as he heard a thunk of the arrow hitting the rock, and a rip of fabric. He had seen Zel stand up at the last moment in front of the target he was aiming for, and luckily adjusted his aim quick enough that it caught his robes. Running over to him he gave Zel a worried  but apologetic look.

"I am sorry. I wasn't expecting you to stand in front of the target. I'm not trying to kill you I promise," he said with a nervous laugh adding with a mutter. "Though Odessa would say I was hunting the students."

Never had Zel felt relieved that he was so skinny and his robes so loose! Though now, there was a hole in them. He was no good at mending spells, so he’d have to ask someone for help later. He jumped as the seventh year approached him and gave Elian a look of absolute terror. Hunting students? More like hunting werewolves! At least he was apologetic, but maybe he was only apologetic because he had missed, and didn’t kill Zel with some sort of flying weapon!

He picked up his stuff nervously and gave Elian a suspicious look. “I-it’s okay. No harm done, right?” He was slowly backing away. Obviously it wasn’t okay, Zel was frightened! The poor guy was chronically scared, and the fact that an arrow almost hit him didn’t help. “D-do you usually shoot arrows at students?” He asked, fiddling with his robes. That hole was ghastly. He wondered if he could hide it until he got someone to help him fix it. What if someone asked him questions? He didn't want to explain that Elian had just attempted to murder him-- at school no less!

Elian could only watch Zel as he began to freak out, he didn't verbally say anything but the Gryffindor could see it in his face. Holding up a hand he grabbed the arrow and slowly put it back in the quiver before slowly reaching and mending the cloak. Standing up he looked at the younger werewolf boy. Reaching out he put his hand on his shoulders. He was calm as he smiled at him. It wasn't a mocking smile, but the kind he would give his siblings when they had had a nightmare and didn't want to sleep alone.

"I swear I don't ever shoot at students. I didn't mean to," he said softly moving away. "I am so sorry. But my target really is right behind you, I wasn't expecting you to be there as I was shooting. I don't hunt students, and I don't hunt werewolves. I just make the jokes remember?"

He moved back from Zel and pointed to a target right where his head had been a moment ago. "I'm not tring to kill you. If I was I would already be in Azkaban. I know that does nothing to soothe you. But I promise Zel, I'm not trying to kill you. I don't kill or shoot my friends."