You all know - well, at least if you had paid attention in class - that Professor Lang does have office hours most every day.  Those are in a building on the Central Campus.  But it is now later than she would be there. Mei does remember that she also has an office on the Witherbloom office and often is there doing her research on the physiology of artificial life-forms. 

Considering the footprint with the bent nail, it seems like quite the large shoe, but you would think it matches with most of the shoes with the Strixhaven issued uniforms.  Although, the shoe is not so uncommon that non-Strixhaven people might not have them too.  You'd guess the other humanoid prints are the same general type. The frog-like prints seem to be bipedal - there are no sign of a second pair of prints. 

The prints seem to have come off one of the main paths. And head along the edge of the pond. 

“Ah, actually, I guess we’re past her general office hours, aren’t we?” Mei says as she emerges from the bushes, now realizing what Piero meant. “Which leaves her Witherbloom office!”

Joining Guardok to point out the campus on the map, a few leaves fall from her damp sleeve onto the paper. Mei smiles at the genasi, a bit of dirt smudged on her cheek. “Maybe we could ask for directions when we get there?” It’s absently that she adds with a glance up at the clouds, “My father was in Witherbloom. I wonder if they were classmates?”

Guardok checks out the direction to Witherbloom Campus, "I don't suppose that is the same direction as those prints you were found? It makes sense to me that someone messing with wildlife might know a bit of the Witherbloom arts themself".

When Mei mentions her father he replies, "You're second generation Strixhaven then? None of my family had heard of Strixhaven until a few years ago".

(Just dropping this here, Mae has finally made it back to her room in Dresar Hall, resting and getting ready for work that night at the tavern.)

Mei stares up at the sky a moment longer before blinking and looking from the prints to the direction of the Witherbloom campus. “I'm... hm... I'm not sure? But a frog-like creature would certainly blend in better there too!” The amateur investigator starts back towards the main path, forgetting her shoes and socks in the grass.

(To clarify...) The footprints go to and from one of the main walkways to the pond.  Once the prints are back on the paved path you really can no longer follow them. Witherbloom campus would be the closest in the direction the prints immediately were going.  But, you aren't far from the Firejolt Café which is on the main road leading to that area.  If you were headed other places you might go the same way.  So the direction is not definitive at all.

Without much hope of following the footprints, the groups makes their way towards the southeast of Central Campus and the path to the Witherbloom Campus.  It's a bit of the walk, but they eventually find the area becoming more filled with grasses then swampland.  The path now consists of wooden planks with a guardrail to both sides. They are elevated a couple of feet from the marshy wetlands below.  You see a large building that seems to be more like something that grew out of the swamp.  It seems to consist of a number of pods with planked walkways between.  

Piero, who has followed along with the group, nods towards the large building. "That must be Widdershins Hall. I'll bet that's where we'll find Professor Sharpbeak." 

"Professor Sharpbeak?", Guardok replies to Piero. "You think she is better suited than Professor Lang to help us?".

He is surprised Piero had tagged along in truth, his roommate had been friendly enough when they were in their dorm, but hadn't semed too interested in socialising outside of that environment.

He decides it best to renew his image of the footprint now, not wanting to it disappear even though Mei had a sketch.

"I guess any of the Professors will be able to direct us where to go at the least".

Knap trots along trying to piece together the puzzle but he’s distracted by Piero’s presence. Knap studies the elusive floor mate. Why is he tagging along? who or what has caught his eye?

Knap is curious if anything or anyone has drawn piero’s attention in particular. 

"Yea, yea. Lang," Piero says, waving his hand dismissively as he admits the slip of tongue.  Around you, there are a number of Witherbloom students heading to various places. Some alone, some in groups.  You don't pick out any professors immediately. But you will soon teach Widdershins Hall.

Knap, considering Piero, does not seem to notice him taking any particular interest in any particular person. He simply seems caught up in finding out what happened.

"Let us visit Professor Lang in Widdershins Hall then." The purple-skinned Tiefling says with a nod to Piero and Guardok, then starting to head towards the large building Piero pointed out.

Mei follows quietly after the others, lost in thought. 

You all make your way inside Widdershins Hall.  While outside you were wandering through soggy marshlands, inside is quite dry and cozy. Other students are coming in and out, and you see a small desk near the entrance with an attendant.  

The purple-skinned Tiefling walks up to the small desk by the entrance with determination and addresses the attendant. "Excuse me but we are here to see Professor Lang in an urgent matter. Unfortunately we have no scheduled appointment but I'm quite certain she would want to hear what we have to tell her." Malvyn says with calm confidence and a polite smile.

Persuasion if needed: 21 

"It really is rather urgent, and Professor Lang is the perfect person to help us out", Guardok adds as he looks up to the attendant. "Oh, and we should mention we are her students, we justb had a class a little while ago".

Persuasion: 2+5=7 (Haha, no better)

The student attendant, a tall male firbolg, give Malvyn and Guardok a long glance. "You are most welcome to the heart of our Witherbloom campus," he says in a deep voice.  His hair is a rather distinctive brownish color with a hint of green.  It almost looks like it has dried, plastered against his head. "Our most esteemed faculty have their office and workshops in that direction."  He points down a passage to your left.  It seems to lead to another pod that is a part of this main structure. "Professor Lang's office will be in that direction." 

"Thank you Sir, your help is much appreciated." The purple-skinned Tiefling says with a polite smile and makes a motion for the others to follow as he proceeds in the direction the Firbolg indicated, giving Professor Lang's door a firm knock as he reaches it.

Following along, a barefoot Mei is not-as-inconspicuous-as-she-thinks as she tries to get a good look at the firbolg's shoes. 

((Perception: 19))   

Guardok follows along after Malvyn, "Well he was helpful. Not sure why I thought he would need convincing".

Piero tersely says, "He gave us directions. That is why he's there." 

Mei's somewhat overly long examination of the Firbolg's boots gives her only a strange from him.  He actually lifts his boot, giving her an unexpectedly good look at the bottom of his boot. "My apologies, might there be something I could further assist you with miss?"  He glances down at the floor at where his foot had been located. "Did I step on something of yours?" 

Malvyn had proceeded down the indicated hallway with any others that chose to follow. It doesn't take long until you locate the door with 'Professor Verelda Lang' printed on the door.  It is in an area amidst several other doors, all with names of various faculty members.  As the Tiefling knocks, you hear a female voice reply, "One moment."  After a brief pause it is then opened by a Halfling man in a Witherbloom student uniform. "Hello. How may we help you?"  With the door opened, you can see that it leads to another hallway, with a number of handful of doors, most of them open, before entering what seems to be a larger space.