Witch's Duel

Willow the Siamese witch ducked out of class during 5th period. No one would miss her during flight practice. They probably wouldnt even notice her absence. Besides, she had overheard one of her classmates say that he saw a giant werewolf in the neighboring forest. That would be epic. 

After about twenty minutes of hiking around the woods, getting cobwebs caught in her ears, she was just about ready to give up, when she saw the familiar sparkle of magic nearby. Why would another student be so far out away from the academy? In her curiosity, she snuck closer to see what they were up to. She looked through the trees, and saw... a werewolf? Using... magic? That didn't make sense. Werewolves we're not intelligent enough to use magic, nor did they look like this. The being in front of her resembled a human, with canine traits. A pair of ears sat atop her head, and a tail, with vines wrapping around her ankles. She was using the magic to grow and make nearby flowers bloom. 

"She must be a nature spirit!"

Willow thought. She never had seen one before. She snapped a twig, trying to get closer to the beautiful giant. The creature's ears swiveled in Willow's direction, and her eyes narrowed, dropping the bloom that she was carefully caressing earlier.

"Oh shoot!" 

Willow thought. She went over her lessons in her head. She couldn't think of a single thing. Were they aggressive? Spontaneous? 

Before she had time to formulate a plan, the leaves moved out of her way, and the spirit was looking over her. Willow's eyes darted back and forth, looking for an escape route.

"Are you a student? You aren't supposed to be out here, are you? It's still part of the school day, if I'm not mistaken. How would your teachers feel if they knew you were out here?"

Willow's mind both calmed down and raced. She wasn't in danger, but she might soon be in trouble.

"A-are you a student, too?" 

Willow asked. She looked the right age, and she was around the school.

"Don't make me laugh. Is it because I'm a teenager? Do I look like I'm dressed up in one of those nightgowns you people call a robe? Looks can be deceiving. I ask you again, why are you here?"

Willow raced through scenarios in her head. What excuse could she think of?

"Well, I heard of a very powerful sorceress that looked like a wolf, and... uh... I was hoping she could teach me something?"

Flattery might work. She saw the creature doing magic, so she must be able to do something interesting.

"Oh, have you now? My name's Circe. Circe the nature spirit. I'm often mistaken for a werewolf, perhaps you heard I was one, hmm? Dreadful things. Anyway, very well. I accept your brief apprenticeship."

Circe held out her hand, and Willow hesitated. Circe sighed.

"Don't you want a good excuse as to why you're out here? If you go back now I'm sure someone will have noticed."

Willow nodded, a smile on her lips, and put her paw to Circe's hand.

"Let's begin."