New year, new life, new start. on Cascade Hall

Headmistress Marnett

June 09, 2006 11:00 PM

The Opening Feast – Year 4 by Headmistress Marnett

Headmistress Marnett knew she should be calm and collected on the first day of the term. The staff and especially the students would expect it, after all, and she never was one to fret or appear particularly worried. But it had been two years since she last stood in this place, as the head of Sonora about to welcome a new set of first years. And, much against her logical mind and generally down-to-earth disposition, the headmistress was feeling quite paranoid as to how her school would fare over the course of this term.

This past year, or at least the half in which Lucinda was present to witness, had been pleasantly peaceful. Everything went on without a hitch and Sonora once again seemed to gain well-deserved respect from the community. It was nice, as well as a much needed rest. The year before, however. That was an entirely different story. Utter disaster didn't even begin to describe it. The school, staff, and possibly a few traumatized students were left in to suffer the consequences as the weather system, keeping Sonora in livable conditions throughout the year, seemed intent on destroying everything. The entire, horrible debacle finally ended anti-climatically when a prairie elf vigorously cleaning the school was discovered as the source of all the problems. And then there was the year before...pleasantly peaceful once again. The headmistress couldn't remember if the year before that was at all unbearable, but the chance of this term being “pleasantly peaceful” was beginning to seem rather unlikely.

As it was, nothing yet had gone awry. The students had arrived by way of the usual stuffy, uncomfortable covered wagons. They were escorted into the Cascade Hall as Tavarius Mims the painting of Sonora’s points keeper looked on, commanding them, like any old, stodgy professor would, to stand straight and quiet down. Most important to this evening, the first years were once again each given a chalice of clear, bubbly potion at their table and then, as one large group, told to drink. Upon drinking the potion, each student would turn the prominent color of their house: a bright blue for Aladren, deep red for Crotalus, a sunshine shade of yellow for Teppenpaw, and of course a mud variety of brown for Pecari. It was as the traditional sorting ceremony decreed, and as the founders, amused as they were with rattling the new additions, would have wanted.

And now, with this important part of the night out of the way and the first years fading back to their original skin tone, it was time to enjoy the best part of any feast…the food. Of course, a speech was required of her first. She never did like to prolong a student’s hunger more than necessary, so of course, it would be short.

Headmistress Marnett stood, appearing even more fragile and worn than the previous year, and cleared her throat in an attempt to gather everyone’s attention. When it quieted down, she began her speech.

“Welcome to Sonora Academy. First years: seeing all these new, pleasant, colorful faces has always been one of my favorite parts of our opening feast. I am very glad to see that you have arrived in one piece and I am sure you will find that the rest of the year is much more enjoyable than a ride on one of our covered wagons.” She paused for a moment and drew her eyes over the student population. “I suppose all our returning students would like to hear is that it is time to eat, correct? Well, I will not delay any longer.” Lucinda smiled and the large feast appeared across the hall in an instant. The school year had officially begun.
\n\n

Subthreads:

A school to look forward to, by Meredith Lail with Elly Eriksson, Meredith

A "Blue" first year by August Todvin with Grail (Gray) Markner, Gary Steffin

Returning once more to chaos by Tally Adams with Kaylie Brockert, Tally

We've come to overrun the school... by Jake, Bella, Josh, and Matt Santoro

Leonardo and Gil Idoya by Make way for the twins! with Tony aka Plant Dude, Leo Idoya

Everybody needs somebody... Right? by Pepper Jones with Amber Carey, Pepper

Four feasts and it's still not boring... by Mia Kerova with Stephen Baxter, Mia, The Craven Twins, Ash AND SORREL, Sorrel and Ash, Ash and Sorrel

It's Good to be Back by Jenna Howard with Chrissy Mathers, Jenna

A feast fit for a cat by Oscar with Professor Kiva Kijewski, Professor Kijewski

another year of early mornings, homework and frustration! by Guenther Heindrich with Zack Dill

Here reluctantly, but here just the same. by Morgaine Carey with Saul Pierce

New year, new life, new start. by Melanie Rose with Dillon Welsh

A Slew of Surprises by Helena Layne with Lila Gringe

We're ba - ack... by Anne Wright and Geoffrey Layne with Gwenhwyfar Carey, Connor Pierce

Back in...yellow? by Earl and Eavan Valentine

0 Headmistress Marnett The Opening Feast – Year 4 1 Headmistress Marnett 1 5

Meredith Lail

June 10, 2006 12:12 AM

A school to look forward to, by Meredith Lail

Meredith Lail’s short, light blonde hair was a mess by the time she reached the school. Meredith enjoyed the wagon ride more than may have been expected. It was more fun to make a game out of trying to stay still than to let the bumps and bruises bother her. Having fun was part of her nature. Pence didn’t have the same nature. Her brown mouse squealed in his cage with each bump while Meredith laughed, sliding out of place. She was taken aback by the sight of the school below her and even more so when she got inside. It’s not that she wasn’t used to magic. Magic was part of her life. The school was really stunning, especially the room she and the other first years were ushered to, Cascade Hall. She couldn’t help but give a raised pale eyebrow to the picture giving her and the others orders before the first years went inside.

‘It’s a male version of mama,’ was the very first thought to scroll through her head. She had a strong urge to walk by the man's portrait hunched over and that’s just what she did. Her brothers’ influence got the best of her many times.

Meredith straightened up again when she got inside the hall. She was pleasantly surprised when she entered Cascade Hall. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but that wasn’t it. Her light blue eyes fell on the falls rolling down the walls. It was magic she didn’t have in her house. Well it was more of a manor than a house, but she didn’t care how big it was. She barely spent time in it anyway. One wouldn’t think she was connected to a wealthy pure blood family by the way she looked. She wore simple jeans and a green tee shirt over her average eleven year old body. Most of her time was spent either running around on the ground with her brothers or her friends or up in the air on her broom beating bludgers around or tossing a quaffle with someone. Hitting the bludgers was more fun though.

The best part of arriving at Sonora was getting the bubbly drink. She thought it was just a welcoming thing for the new kids, but it turned out to be how she was sorted. Her fair skin turned a deep muddy brown, even more so than when she and her brothers had battles with mud after a good rain. Well it was mainly with Max and Anthony. Ryan thought he was too old for playing like that. So he was 20. Big deal. Her twin brothers were 16 and real mischief makers especially with their mother. They knew how to drive her just to the brink. It really was a funny sight. They didn’t do it to be cruel. They just fun with her since she’s a muggle and doesn’t understand most of what the twins do. Meredith rubbed her skin to see if it would simply come off. She grinned when it didn’t. That was something she’d let her brothers know about.

Meredith frowned a little as the brown finally began to fade from her skin, but didn’t think much on it as the little lady in front made her speech. She became that much more excited when she was assured there were cooler things here than the wagon ride. She’d have to find them. When the Headmistress finished and said they could eat, Meredith had to blink a few times to make sure she was seeing the tables right. Food appearing out of nowhere? Magic was the best. It was moments like that where she wondered how muggles got on without it. It was possible but it couldn’t be as cool. Meredith began putting food on her plate and taste testing some. If one could imagine it, the food was better than her mother’s cooking. That was a feat. For a dainty woman who didn’t like to get messy in the least, she sure knew her way with the kitchen. Meredith spotted the chicken across the table just out of her reach and the student next to it and across from her.

“Hey,” she started casually, “Could you get that for me?” One might expect a first year to be shy since they were new. Meredith Lail? Shy? People who knew her would laugh themselves silly if you said that.\n\n

0 Meredith Lail A school to look forward to, 0 Meredith Lail 0 5

August Todvin

June 10, 2006 12:23 AM

A "Blue" first year by August Todvin

Not even an entire day had passed, and already August Todvin was very unimpressed with everything having to do with his new school. Leaving home hadn't been as bad as he'd thought it would be, though. Being an only child, he didn't have the benefit of being able to watch older siblings head off to school. His mother didn't cry that much and his father didn't try to give him a ton of last minute advice. His parents had simply hugged him and sent him on his way to the covered wagon that was waiting to bring him to Sonora.

That was where the good stuff ended, though, as far as August was concerned. There had been what seemed like a hundred other people in that small wagon, and it was quite an uncomfortable ride. Bumpy, hot, stuffy, and the older students would not shut up. They ran their mouths the entire way there. August wasn't much of a "people person," and he had never been so happy to get out of a place as he had been to disembark from that wagon and put some space between himself and the others. Even then, he was still irritable. He'd never been to the desert before, and it was hot. Really, awfully, hot.

And now, August was seated in Cascade Hall, and even he had to admit it was pretty impressive. It was much cooler inside, the waterfalls were soothing, and he liked the muted colors of the place. The smell of food cooking made him forget about the queasiness he'd felt during his journey, and now that he'd seen the other kids who were first years like him, he felt more at ease. They all didn't look too bad. His mother's final words to him before he climbed aboard the wagon echoed through his mind.

"August, keep an open mind, okay? If you don't shut people out right away, you might surprise yourself."

Glasses of clear liquid had been set down in front of August and all of the other first years, and they were instructed to drink while the rest of the hall looked on with great interest. Chuckles rippled through the hall when certain "changes" began to happen, namely all of the first years turning different colors. August was slightly horrified when he looked at his hands, which had turned a rather severe blue color. The others around the table had turned red, yellow, or brown, but a few others also turned blue like August did. When he looked at them, he couldn't help but smile. He soon caught on that this must be the "sorting" that he'd been told about.

The Headmistress said a few words, and then it was time to eat. August helped himself to an extra large portion of mashed potatoes and dug in. The food in his stomach helped to further dissipate his earlier grouchiness, and he looked around the table at his fellow first years. In an incredibly bold move (bold for August, anyway,) he took a breath and spoke.

"Uh, hey everybody. I'm August."

He felt like he should say something more, but he couldn't think of anything, so he quickly looked back down at his plate. He really hoped that somebody would say something, otherwise he'd feel pretty stupid.\n\n

0 August Todvin A "Blue" first year 0 August Todvin 0 5

Tally Adams

June 10, 2006 1:47 AM

Returning once more to chaos by Tally Adams

Tally entered the Cascade Hall wearing a black knee length pleated skirt and a yellow top for house pride beneath her school robes. Her hair had a new wave to it and her skin was a nice tan thanks to spending all of her time out by the pool. She had spent the morning in the company of Chrissy and Helen, which ended up being far too much girl-time that Tally would have liked. She ended up in a skirt, hair done in a fairly decent way, and eyeliner on. Liner in which Tally fought tooth and nail to not have to wear. She lost. And now Tally felt entirely awkward entering into her fourth year at Sonora.

Her summer had been completely dull with an occassional pout of something completely random. Since she turned fourteen during the summer, her father and brother had spent much of their time away, leaving Tally at home with no one to keep her company except Angel, the family house-elf. The good thing about it was that her father had built them a pool. He hadn't wanted her to socialize too much with the neighborhood muggles for fear she'd have an 'attack' which was a nice way of saying allowing her emotions and emotions of others to completely overwhelm her. A lovely trait her mother had passed down to her.

However, those short months of being back in New York, Tally had discovered that the neighborhood kids, ones who had once been her friends, had dubbed her 'the weird girl' because she was off at some unknown school during the year and when she came home she couldn't tell them anything about what she did there. Not only that, but all the boys had a bet to see whom she would date first. Bobby Johnson ended up kissing her much to her surprise, but she had turned him down on being his girlfriend. She didn't even have a good excuse why. He was the 'cute' one out of all the boys. Still, it was for the best.

Tally sat down at the Teppenpaw table and waited patiently for the sorting to begin. She clapped at the appropriate moments (whenever someone became a Teppenpaw) but otherwise sat with her head in her hands to wait for the food. She knew as soon as the sorting was done she'd be able to go find her friends. She was happy to see that the old Headmistress was back, that meant that Bulla was probably their Head of House again. Briefly she wondered if he had another charms book coming out. Charms was her favorite subject and she already had his other books.

But soon the Headmistress was speaking and saying it was time to eat. As the food arrived, Tally's eyes wondered the hall in search for familiar faces. Occassionally her green eyes would land on someone she knew, but she was really looking forward to seeing Mia or Kaylie or even Sorrell again.\n\n

6 Tally Adams Returning once more to chaos 41 Tally Adams 0 5

Jake, Bella, Josh, and Matt Santoro

June 10, 2006 2:37 AM

We've come to overrun the school... by Jake, Bella, Josh, and Matt Santoro

Jake walked into Cascade Hall in the lead of his three siblings. He turned fourteen a long while ago, but only just had a growth spurt over the summer. He stood now at 5'8. He was rather happy to be growing and his Papa said that by the time he hit 17, he should be at least 6'0 in height. Jake was holding him to it. Not only was he taller, but his hair, which was usually kept short, was grown out and hanging around his ears. This was mainly because they had been far too busy this summer to have bothered with any haircuts. But, really, Jake liked his hair.

His summer had been spent in Madrid, his days spent lounging around outside or practicing Quidditch with his family. Usually it was play Quidditch. He even worked out some strategies with the help of his many cousins and Uncles. Julia even came out for a week and worked on them with him. Half way through the summer, Jake had met Anita, she was a girl who lived down the road from his Abuelos home. They spent a lot of time together when Jake wasn't spending it playing Quidditch. Paul dubbed them boyfriend/girlfriend, but neither of them actually called one another that. And even though his siblings tried to pry how many bases the two of them went, Jake and Anita decided to keep that a secret. In the end, his summer had been a great summer, but now he was ready for Sonora and to see his friends again. Though Bella claimed he was only interested in seeing his 'lady' friends.

Izabella Santoro entered the hall one step behind her older brother. The youngest girl of the family, Bella was growing up rather nicely. Her black hair had a new layered look to it, her already tan skin was even darker and her shirts were slightly filled out more. She was thirteen and she made sure she looked the part.

Her summer hadn't been quite as romantic as her brother's had been. She spent much of her time in the kitchen helping the women. Because, according to her abuela, if a man was left in the kitchen, he'd starve. If she wasn't in the kitchen, she was up in her room reading or updating her diary. She barely even spent any time playing Quidditch. Truth was, she enjoyed the game, but was beginning to enjoy other things more. By the time summer had ended, Bella was ready to go back to Sonora and to the quiet life that Aladren.

Josh and his twin brother, Matt hurried into the hall after their siblings. The utter excitement that was etched on their face was proof enough that they couldn't wait to get started. They had had two other schools to choose from. The school where Sofia had just graduated from or the school where Paul and John had gone off to. Both boys chose Sonora because of Jake and Bella.

Josh and Matt were identical in every way imaginable. Both boths had longish black hair and dark brown eyes. Their latino complexion resembled their siblings so much that there was no doubt they were all Santoros. Even their personalities were the same. The only difference between the two was that Josh was slightly more subdued when around strangers. They were devious and pranksters of the worst kind. Josh the planner and Matt the action-taker. They were the dynamic duo and the bane of Lupe Santoro's existence.

Their summer was spent buggering the relatives. They had pulled off so many pranks (unsuccessfully simply because they were the only ones in the entire clan that would do such things) and were told off so many times that they had been grounded for over a month. Not that being grounded ever stopped them. Now that they were in Sonora, it was a whole new ball game.

"See ya around, guys." Jake said, turning back to his siblings and heading off in the direction of the Teppenpaws where his friends, peers, and housemates were waiting for the sorting to begin. "Hey guys!" Jake greeted happily to whoever was around him.

"Good luck boys." Bella said and sauntered off to join her fellow Aladrens, leaving the twins to wait in line until it was their turn to drink the potion. Josh went first, drinking it and finding his dark skin a lovely shade of red only to turn and find out that his brother's skin turned no color at all. At first Matt thought the potion had lost it's effect or was broken, but after a moment, he realized that he had been placed in Pecari while Josh was placed in Crotalus.

"Hey! No fair!" Matt cried out in shock, wondering if it was all a joke.

"How'd that happen?" Josh asked, perhaps the potion really was broken. Would it really separate the two of them? It seemed to be the case as both boys moved off to the side so as to not block the rest of the students. "What do we do?" Josh asked his twin. They had never been separated before, never had any need for it. Josh shrugged in response.

"Well, no need to worry. Jake said that everyone in the same year has class together, plus mealtimes there aren't any assigned seats. We'll still be able to do stuff." Matt said reassuringly, though whether it was meant for Josh or not was unknown.

"Right, and this way, we'll meet more people who'll be our friends by default. This could work to our advantage." Josh said with a nod to his head. "Alright, let's do this." Josh said and pat his brother on the back, giving him a devious grin to which his brother returned enthusiastically.

"See ya, Jose"

"On the flip-side, Mateo." And with that, Josh headed off to join the other Crotalus while Matt made his way over to the Pecaris.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

6 Jake, Bella, Josh, and Matt Santoro We've come to overrun the school... 42 Jake, Bella, Josh, and Matt Santoro 0 5

Elly Eriksson

June 10, 2006 7:24 AM

Starting from scratch by Elly Eriksson

Elly stood nervously shuffling her weight from one foot to the other as she lingered near the doorway with the rest of the first years, waiting to be sorted. Elly was doing her best not to be noticed, though she was not succeeding particularly well, owing equally to her outrageous orange hair and the fact that she was at least a head taller than all the other new students clustered around her. Staring resolutely at the floor, Elly had never felt so daunted, so utterly out of place. Her muggle upbringing had rendered her completely unaware, until very recently, of the magical world, thus she felt totally unprepared for the start of the new term. It was thoroughly unusual for Elly to have spent most of her summer reading, but that is what she had been doing, in a strident effort to make herself as knowledgeable as possible about all things magical.

Elly struggled in vain to calm the butterflies in her stomach as she was invited to drink a clear, bubbling potion. She glanced sideways to check that the other first years were drinking, too. Elly took a deep breath, closed her eyes and drained her goblet in one large, audible gulp. Her nervousness evaporated instantly, replaced by a great desire to laugh out loud as her skin darkened rapidly to a chocolate brown colour. Barely suppressing a whoop of joy, Elly strode to her new house table and seated herself between two fellow Pecaris.

The sorting had been the first magic Elly had ever witnessed. She was so excited by it that she barely heard what Headmistress Marnett was saying in her opening speech. Before she knew what was happening, the table in front of Elly had filled itself with hundreds of dishes of the most delicious looking food Elly had ever encountered. She licked her lips hungrily, deciding what to sample first. She was about to reach for a large bowl of steamed vegetables, when the girl opposite her, another first year, asked her to pass the chicken. Smiling broadly, Elly pushed the dish towards the girl.

“Here you go,” she said. “I’m Elly Eriksson.”
\n\n

0 Elly Eriksson Starting from scratch 92 Elly Eriksson 0 5

Make way for the twins!

June 10, 2006 7:47 AM

Leonardo and Gil Idoya by Make way for the twins!

Leonardo forged onward through the crowd of students new and old in his usual manner--focused and completely oblivious to the people around him. Except his twin of course. Apropos, where was Gil?

He turned, feeling his brother's absence at his back, and looked around. He didn't see anyone who looked like him at all. Frowning, he shouted, "Gil!" --giving it the proper pronunciation, of course. His little brother may have resigned himself to being 'gill' for the rest of his life, but he'd always be 'heel' to Leo.

Leo smirked at the double meanings as his brother burst out of the crowd, grinning maniacally as always. "Leo, there you are! There's this painting back there, who--"

"The points keeper?" Leo asked.

"Yeah. Wow, way to steal my mojo."

"...Gil, what's mojo?"

The other boy shrugged, waving his dark hair out of his sun-browned face. "Dunno. Saw it in a Muggle movie once. Wait, where do we get these potion things?"

"Up there, I think," Leo replied. Gil caught hold of his twin's hand and before Leo had a chance to protest, he was being dragged bodily towards the source of the sorting potions. He found a goblet shoved into his hand, and looked up to see Gil happily downing his, obviously anxious to find out where he'd be sorted. Leo was less interested; he was fairly certain he knew where he'd be. Gil, of course, had always had Teppenpaw written all over him--more clearly now, as his skin had just turned a shocking shade of yellow. And Leo was fairly certain he belonged in Aladren. Shrugging, he tipped back the potion and downed it.

Grimacing at the flat taste, Leo raised one hand to wipe a few remaining drops from his mouth, only to see--red?!

"Crotalus? Won't Mami be pleased!" Gil said amiably. "Hey, Leo, I'm gonna go find the other Teppenpaws... hasta luego!"

And with that, Gil was gone, vanished into the constantly moving mass of students. "Yeah..." Leo said, frowning again. "Hasta luego."

Well, there was no point in regretting what had already happened. He looked pointedly away from a group of chatting Aladrens and searched the crowd for any Crotali.\n\n

0 Make way for the twins! Leonardo and Gil Idoya 0 Make way for the twins! 0 5

Meredith

June 10, 2006 8:44 AM

Things can be better that way...like cake by Meredith

Meredith smiled at the girl who passed her the food. If the other food had been better than what her mother made, this was going to be some saintly chicken. She accepted it and quickly put two pieces on her plate.

"Thanks much, Elly" she put the plate back down, nearer in case she was going to want more. "I'm Meredith Lail...it'd probably be dumb to say I'm a first year. I think everyone sorta noticed us all changing colors and what not. That sorting was great. I believe we're in the same house. Pecari right?" her voice had something of a southern drawl to it.

Meredith spoke while filling her plate so she took a moment to take a few bites. The chicken was first and it was a lot like she expected. Really good. She'd have to let that part slip past her mother.

"So are you coming from far? The trip was great too. And have you tried this chicken yet? It's really good." She laughed a little at her rambling tones. Her brothers told her she did that sometimes, especially when she was excited. She honestly never noticed until they brought it up. Even then, it didn't matter. She had something to say so why shouldn't she say it. She was only being friendly. The tips of her worn sneakers tapped against the marble floor as she ate and listened to Elly. \n\n

0 Meredith Things can be better that way...like cake 0 Meredith 0 5

Grail (Gray) Markner

June 10, 2006 11:17 AM

A "Gray" first year by Grail (Gray) Markner

Grail looked around the Hall when she first stepped into it. Niiice. She sighed, walking into the hall and taking a seat... anywhere. She slumped forward, biting her lip and taking a look at the Headmistress.

She had no clue if she'd get used to this place. Grail had only thought magic was true in fairy tails. In her mother's favorite "Grail quests," which was where she got her name. She'd have never guessed magic was real. And never would have guessed that she would be magical.

Her mother had never been prouder, of course. She loved magic and all that you read in the story books. She was practically jumping up and down when she read the letter... first. Figures she'd be at her mother's house when it happened. Having her jealous sisters gape over it. Before she'd even read the stupid note.

She was glad to be here. Because of them basically. Her sisters and mother. She played with the beads on her wrist, thinking about them and what she would say to them when they got back. What would make them even more jealous? She'd have to wait and see.

She was broken out of her thoughts when a boy next to her introduced himself. Instead of snapping at him (that seemed a little mean) she smiled.

"Hi August. I'm Grail, but you can call me Gray," she noticed the boy looking a bit embarassed. She was glad she didn't go with her instincts and snap, that would probably have made him even ore embarassed. "What house are you in?"\n\n

16 Grail (Gray) Markner A "Gray" first year 113 Grail (Gray) Markner 0 5

August Todvin

June 10, 2006 1:26 PM

Re: A "Gray" first year by August Todvin

There was a moment of silence that felt about a year long to August. Just as he suspected, nobody was going to talk to him. Even worse, it didn't seem as though they'd even heard him. Just like everywhere else, he thought. He may as well have been invisible.

He heard someone say his name, and he looked in the direction of the voice. It turned out to be the girl who had taken the seat next to his. She had been quiet up until now, and she'd been sitting sort of hunched forward in her chair, as though she didn't want anybody to talk to her. But since she had asked him a question, August swallowed his mouthful of buttered carrots and answered her.

"Hi," he said, softly, glancing quickly back and forth from the girl to his plate. "I turned blue when I drank that stuff. I think that means I'm in Aladren. What about you?"

Again, he felt like there was something more to be said, but August had never been much good at conversation. "Do you have any brothers or sisters here?" he suddenly blurted out, before Gray had the chance to answer his first question. He glanced quickly over at her once more before taking a forkful of cooked apples and shoving them in his mouth. If his mouth was full of food, then hopefully he wouldn't be able to say anything really dumb.\n\n

0 August Todvin Re: A "Gray" first year 0 August Todvin 0 5

Gary Steffin

June 10, 2006 1:49 PM

sings I’m blue…da ba dee, da ba di, da ba dee by Gary Steffin

The first day of school had finally arrived! Sure, the wait had been long, and Gary even considered the possibility that the wizards here had somehow slowed down the summer days for their own amusement, but at last it was all very real and happening. And it was far more than he could have ever expected. His parents had dropped him off at this place where everyone wore dresses, even the men, and he was told to get on what appeared to be a rather unsafe, old wagon. Gary had whined that it would take them weeks to reach Sonora on this thing, and he doubted whether they would make it at all without the axel breaking or sinking into a river like in that old computer game Oregon Trail. But, he hadn’t realized that the wagon could actually fly. Considering how rickety and old it must have been and that flying on it felt like being on a plane in constant turbulence, he decided that he would have preferred facing the broken axels and dangerous rivers.

One difficult trip later, he was finally at what appeared to be a mansion of some sorts that was definitely not in the desert. If anything, he would have guessed he was back home in Indiana, what with the gardens and all. They were then ushered inside where a painting gave Gary somewhat of a start by telling him to adjust his posture. A painting…that could talk. He wanted to stop and examine the talking man sitting in the frame more, as this was certainly nothing he’d ever seen, but unfortunately it seemed that everyone was impatient to enter another room. Gary could see why. A quiet “Wow” escaped his lips as he looked around the waterfall room, trying not to stumble as the crowd continued to move forward.

It was then that he was given what looked to be sprite….except it bubbled more. He was going to ask if all wizard food was this weird and why the first years were the only ones to drink it, however; he remembered his mother telling him it might be best if he’d kept his mouth shut as long as possible when he arrived at school. The boy was slightly affronted by this remark, but had held back from speaking all this time as his mother ordered. It had been difficult, and it was even more so as he drank the clear drink that continue to fizz all the way down his throat, which almost immediately caused his pale, freckled skin to turn bright blue.

All the other first years turned colors as well, some of them the same as him. He wasn’t sure what exactly was going on, but it reminded him of the scene in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” where the girl turned into one large blueberry. Gary looked down at his tall, still very gangly form. He didn’t appear to be turning into a blueberry. It was more like he had become a member of the Blue Man group…except he definitely wasn’t bald with his mass of brown, curly hair, and he still had his large, thick, round glasses. It was then that he realized this must have been the sorting he heard mentioned on the way here. Though what blue meant, he wasn’t exactly sure.

Before he could ask, the headmistress gave some sort of speech, and food, out of no where, appeared instantly in front of them. It was about the most familiar and welcomed sight Gary had all day. He dug in voraciously just as another student introduced himself, and a girl, with the strange name of Grail, did the same. With his mouth half full of mashed potatoes, he jumped into the conversation just as the boy by the name of August mentioned blue was the color of the Aladren house. The fact that the other boy had directed this to Grail and had now furthered their private conversation on with another question hadn’t even struck a note with him.

“Yeah, that’s right, you were blue like me, weren’t you? That must mean we’re in the same house. Name’s Gary Steffin, by the way.” After saying this all in what seemed like one breath, the still chewing first year offered his partially gravy-covered hand to August.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

2 Gary Steffin *sings* I’m blue…da ba dee, da ba di, da ba dee 1404 Gary Steffin 0 5

Gray

June 10, 2006 2:51 PM

Gray/Blue for me, then by Gray

Grail smiled to take a drink before she answered his question. She had also turned a shade of blue (lighter than her contacts which were navy) when given the drink. She bit her lip and shrugged.

"I was blue too," she stated. "Looks like we're in the same house then, huh?" She began to answer the other question when someone else spoke. Gary, he said his name was. And he was Aladren too.

She moved her dirty blonde hair out of the way and gave him a warm smile. "Hi Gary," she said sticking out her hand. "I'm Grail. Just... call me Gray. Looks like we're all in the same house, then."

They were both boys. That was good, she'd rather make boy-friends than girl-friends. Girls tended to gossip more and be more annoying. Like her sisters.

Then she answered August's last question. "No, I have siblings but they're not coming." She smiled, basking in the glory that she was magic and the other three weren't.

"Do you guys?" She directed the question at both of them.\n\n

16 Gray Gray/Blue for me, then 113 Gray 0 5

August Todvin

June 10, 2006 4:43 PM

Blue isn't so bad by August Todvin

August felt an odd little wave of comfort wash over him when Gray revealed that she was to be an Aladren resident, too. At least that meant there would be at least one person in his House with whom he'd be on speaking terms. Even if they weren't necessarily friends, at least he wouldn't be totally ignored, either. A small smile flashed across August's lips. "Cool," he said, and he meant it.

Before Gray could answer the next question, another boy sitting across the table from them spoke up. August had noticed him earlier - the curly brown hair and glasses were kind of hard to miss - but he hadn't spoken until now. Still, the boy was one of those instantly likeable people who seemed very friendly and optimistic. August usually shyed away from these types because they tended to draw lots of attention, something with which August was never comfortable. But being in a new place where he was relatively unknown had given him an odd boost of confidence. A very small, almost unnoticeable boost, but it was there nonetheless. The boy excitedly told them that he had also turned blue, and introduced himself as Gary.

August tentatively took another mouthful of potatoes as Gray shook hands with Gary (Gray and Gary, August thought. That'll be easy to remember.) and he brushed his dark, jaw-length hair out of his eyes with one hand. When Gary extended his hand to August, he swallowed his food and shook it. "I'm August Todvin," he said, withdrawing his hand and realizing that it was now covered with gravy. He shrugged his shoulders and wiped his hand on his jeans.

Turning his attention back to Gray, he considered for a moment what she'd just said about her siblings "not coming" to Sonora. "Why not?" he asked her, his dark brown eyes flickering with curiosity. "Are they squibs?"

He took a bite of his roll and looked back and forth from Gray to Gary, waiting for their responses. "I haven't got any brothers or sisters," he said through his food. "Just me."\n\n

0 August Todvin Blue isn't so bad 0 August Todvin 0 5

Gray

June 10, 2006 5:05 PM

I quite like it :D by Gray

Gray found herself blushing a little when August smiled. This felt nice. Meeting people. She wasn't used to it. She normally shyed away, snapped at them, or her sisters ruined her chances. Here that was't going to happen, so that was good. She could start over, not be so much of an outcast.

She noticed that the hand that shook Gary's had gravy on it. She hoped that hadn't started outtt on her hand. She wiped it on a napkin and placed the hand in her robes.

"Squib?" she questioned, remembering when she read one of those textbooks. A magical person with no magic... right? No, that wasn't her sisters. What was the term for a nonmagical person?

"No, they're Muddles... I think..." she stated. Muddle? That was right... right?\n\n

16 Gray I quite like it :D 113 Gray 0 5

Elly

June 10, 2006 5:42 PM

Being clumsy by Elly

Elly was pleased to have chosen to sit in this particular seat. The paranoid side of her, which was usually dormant, had been working overtime all day, constantly telling her that no one would like her. Yet here she was, chatting happily with Meredith as she piled copious amounts of vegetables onto her plate.

Meredith talked a lot. Elly liked that trait in people, but she found it difficult to answer questions before another was directed. Still grinning like a maniac, Elly said, “Yeah, I’m in Pecari too.”

She thought the next question had probably answered itself, as Elly could hardly hide her English accent. “I’ve come from London. How about you? Oh, and no I haven’t tried the chicken, I’m vegetarian!” She pointed to the large mound of vegetables on her plate, catching her goblet of juice with her elbow as she did so. The vessel spilled its contents over the edge of the table, drenching the unfortunate student sitting next to her. Elly could feel her cheeks burning as she mumbled an apology to her neighbour, but inwardly was laughing at her clumsiness. Elly looked across at Meredith and bit her lower lip to stop her from giggling.
\n\n

0 Elly Being clumsy 0 Elly 0 5

Gary

June 10, 2006 7:06 PM

The best house deserves the best color by Gary

Gary had settled back to continually filling his plate, and his stomach, after the introductions. He was never much of a polite eater, in fact he was quite messy. Messy, really, in every respect. His sister had commented, on learning he was going to boarding school, that she felt rather sorry for any roommate he would have as his room would soon become a haven for tripping accidents, and maybe a few lawsuits in the process.

On the subject of his sister, they were apparently talking about siblings...and squibs and muddles. Or, muddles wasn't the right word. It was something else that those wizard guys that came to his house mentioned...

"Oh, you mean muggles. My sister's one of those. My only sister, who's old, ancient, and really crabby all the time, which I suppose goes along with being old." Gary shrugged and stuffed his mouth with an entire mouthful of peas. There was still that other word he wasn't sure about, and as curious about everything as he was, he just had to ask. "But what's a squib? Is that like a human with eight legs and arms that squirts out ink or something?" That would be quite amusing to see…and also a good reason not to come to magic school. He imagined any wizard with such an ailment would be the butt of more jokes than his glasses and frizzy hair.
\n\n

2 Gary The best house deserves the best color 1404 Gary 0 5

Meredith

June 10, 2006 8:00 PM

Not a problem by Meredith

Meredith was glad she met someone who seemed nice in her house. She had no objections to sharing a room with Elly. Meredith was still enjoying the sights of Cascade Hall, but she wanted to see her house's common room too. She wanted to see all over the school. Her brother's told her that all magic school's had secrets about them and only real adventurers could find them. Meredith had no doubt Sonora was full of secret doors and the like. Maybe Elly would come with her to find them.

Meredith nodded when Elly said she was from London. There were some accents Meredith couldn't place, but she supposed that one was pretty clear. And a vegetarian? She was the first Meredith had ever met. Meredith looked at her plate for a moment and did notice the vegetables, but her focus was moved to the goblet spilling Elly's juice on the student next to her. Meredith started a little at the clang of the goblet and quickly righted it. She locked eyes with Elly who was biting her lower lip holding back a laugh, but was still blushing a little. Meredith couldn't help but laugh a little while passing her own napkin to the juice covered student.

"Sorry about that. She didn't mean it." Meredith apologized too, backing her friend up. She turned back to Elly, not thinking the student would get too caught up on a little juice spilling.

"I'll have to watch out when you're pouring juice, now won't I?" Meredith joked with a grin hoping to lessen any embarassment. It was a mistake. It could happen to anyone. "Anyway, I'm from here in the states. Nashville, Tennessee. We live in a place where the muggles can't find us. It's hidden with a whole lot of spells. And there's this open Quidditch Pitch where people can go with their friends and family to play. I go play with my older brothers. You have any siblings back in London?" Meredith asked before turning back to her food and eating some more.\n\n

0 Meredith Not a problem 0 Meredith 0 5

Tony aka Plant Dude

June 10, 2006 8:45 PM

Not a Crotalus...I think by Tony aka Plant Dude

It was unusual for a plant to be in the Cascade Hall. It was even more unusual for Tony, who took his responsibility of guarding the headmistress' office very seriously, to be anywhere outside of a ten foot range of his hall. Not only was guarding more difficult that way, but he had a small mobility problem considering he lived in a pot. This hadn't stopped him tonight, though. He always wanted to actually go to the opening feast, just like everyone else at Sonora. Even Professor Mims got to sit outside and watch the new students come on in, and the Prairie Elves got to make the food, and all the staff sat around and watched, and....he was feeling left out.

So, after getting to nerve to go to the boss, Tony requested to attend. Marnett had agreed...on the condition that he hide behind a palm tree setup especially for him against one of the waterfalls. She had reasoned that many of the first years, as strange as magic was to them, would not do well to see a rare, giant Venus Fly Trap, who had a low, rough voice which had scared many a visitor to his hall. She was probably right. But Tony couldn't help but be curious after seeing the sorting ceremony. So that was how they decided which house the kids were in. He wondered if he could join a house by drinking that stuff. If he did, he'd want to be in Bulla's house, because he was a nice guy. Bulla took good care of his boss too. The only way to find out though was to leave his hiding place and get one of those bubbly drinks. He was sure the headmistress wouldn't mind him stepping out for one moment.

Tony shuffled his pot forward, tipping it from side to side in rhythmic fashion, his black, beady eyes set on a nearby chalice that appeared to still be partially filled with the potion. When he reached the table, the plant very carefully extended his long leaf towards the cup. He wasn't exactly the most coordinated of plants. Having no fingers or hands did that to you. But, he was able to wrap his leaf arm around the chalice, only spilling a few drops as it nearly tipped out of his grasp. The plant bent his head back and dumped the contents of the chalice into his large, gaping mawl. And he instantly choked. Being watered was a much different experience than drinking, that was for sure, but thankfully he only coughed for a moment when...he felt like himself. Which he supposed was a good thing since the potion was only supposed to change his color.

Dropping the now empty cup to the table, Tony impatiently inspected his leaves to see what color he now was. He'd been out of hiding for over a minute now, but that didn't matter. Only his sorting did. He couldn’t believe he was actually going to be sorted.

Looking around rather excitedly at his findings, Tony exclaimed over enthusiastically, "Oh, oh, I'm green, I'm green! But wait..." He looked around spotting a nearby boy who he hoped would help him. "Hey, you'se, what house is green?"\n\n

0 Tony aka Plant Dude Not a Crotalus...I think 0 Tony aka Plant Dude 0 5

Pepper Jones

June 10, 2006 9:14 PM

Everybody needs somebody... Right? by Pepper Jones

After a stuffy and uncomfortable ride, Pepper was back at the school. Over the summer, she had taken to refering to it in that rather cold and detached manner, mainly because cold and detached summed up her feelings towards it. Having failed to make many friends in her first year, she wasn't entirely convinced this was the place for her, especially not when she had a loving family with whom she desperately wished she could stay. She had found it even harder to leave this year than her first, when there had been the exciting - although very scary - prospect of this whole new world. She now knew what it entailed, and didn't see much reason for her to be a part of it.

She had comforted herself, and convinced herself this year would be better with just one thought; first years. Her position last year as the youngest, and - given her Muggle background - one of the most lost and needing of help and advice had been something completely alien to her, the second eldest child, used to ministering to the needs of the others. Although she didn't wish the anxiety upon them, because it was a horrible feeling, she stepped into the Cascase Hall feeling positive, because someone was going to need her, and then she'd be on firm, familiar ground.

She waited, watching the first years drink their potions, waiting for the confusion, and the need for comfort. They clumped, in groups of the same colour. They chatted to each other, one Teppenpaw she saw heading her way seemed to have arrived with someone else. When the headmistress had finished her speech, and there was noise and movement all around, Pepper leant up a little in her seat, craning her neck. She didn't think there was the possibility that anyone would be dying to see her back, but surely there was a little lost Teppenpaw... Someone had to need her. Otherwise she was back for nothing.\n\n

13 Pepper Jones Everybody needs somebody... Right? 74 Pepper Jones 0 5

Gray

June 10, 2006 9:35 PM

Ha, then we must be the best by Gray

"Muggle, that's right," Grail blushed. Muddle! Of course that was wrong! That even sounded stupid. Oh Grail, you idiot.

This is why you should never socialize.

"I have three sisters," Grail sighed, going back to the conversation. "They're not ancient, they're younger. But they're still crabby too, so old has nothing to do with it. They're little gossip queens too."

The next thing Gary said made her giggle a bit. Eight legs and arms! That would top her "muddle" comment any day. She bit down on her lip very hard to stop the giggle. She didn't really know that well what a squib was either. All she remembered reading was that they were unmagical magic people.

"Unmagical magic people," she stated, grinning. "Not Spiderman, or Squidman. What ever you imagined." She bit her thumb this time imagining the "Squidman."
"Actually, I don't know that much. That's all I remember reading," she said, reverting back to shy Grail.

But that August had asked if her sisters were squibs. Maybe he knew more.
"Am I right?" she asked August. "I don't think that sounded right."
\n\n

16 Gray Ha, then we must be the best 113 Gray 0 5

August Todvin

June 10, 2006 9:47 PM

Muggle-borns? by August Todvin

As August listened to the conversation between Gray and Gary, it began to dawn on him that both of them were probably Muggle-born. Not that he cared about that - his grandmother was a Muggle-born witch, after all - but having been raised in a small, unplottable, magical village in the mountains of Virginia, August had never met any Muggle-born kids before. So even though he wanted to laugh when his two new acquaintances talked about "Muddles," and thought that a squib was a guy with eight arms, he didn't. It wasn't their fault that they didn't know.

He was finally feeling full, so he pushed his plate away and leaned his elbows against the table, a small grin crossing his lips as he thought again of the guy with eight arms. He looked back and forth between the two as he spoke.

"Nah. A squib is a person who is born to magical parents but doesn't have any magical ability at all. Like, they're basically a Muggle, but because they're born into a magical family, they can see magical stuff, but they can't do any of it. I guess I just wasn't thinking that you guys might both be Muggle born. Not that I care, I mean. I just didn't think about it. I've never met any Muggle-borns my age before."

He really hoped that they wouldn't think he was one of those people who cared about "blood" and what family a person was from. He wasn't. Some of his father's friends were like that; his father was from a "pure" bloodline but his mother's side had Muggles. And putting himself in Gray and Gary's shoes, it must be really weird to have lived for over ten years as one thing, and then all of a sudden find out that your life is totally different than you ever thought it would be. At least, that's what he thought it must be like. Maybe Muggle-borns always knew they were different. Maybe he should ask them.

"So how did you guys find out that you were, um, a witch and a wizard? How did you find out about this school?" That question was particularly interesting to August. He'd just always known that he'd come to Sonora when he was eleven, but what about the Muggle-borns?

At that moment, an array of deserts appeared on the table, everything from fresh fruit to hot fudge sundaes to slices of cake and pie, and August eyed them all. He snagged a sundae for himself and dug in, eager to hear more about what it was like to be Muggle-born.\n\n

0 August Todvin Muggle-borns? 0 August Todvin 0 5

Gary

June 10, 2006 10:27 PM

Yeah, who wouldn't want to be us? by Gary

Though dinner seemed to be quickly coming to a close, Gary was still active in his pursuit of food. I really was amazing how much he could pack in being as skinny as he was. But as his mother said, he was a growing boy, only a couple years from being a teenager, and he desperately needed fattening up.

Gray and August had gone to tell him what a squib really was, which he thought was as interesting as the image he had in mind. He supposed not every magic word had to have an interesting meaning, but he sure hoped they weren’t all like muggle and squib and he got to at least see a multi-legged something or other with a special power oneday.

“Aw, that must suck,” Gary responded to August’s explanation, deciding that being forced to watch others do cool things that you couldn’t your entire life wouldn’t be his idea for fun. It was like not being picked to play soccer during recess, because if you were, one team would have more players than the other. Or at least that’s what they tell you when you’re not picked.

Now, August’s question about how he found out about Sonora was one Gary could answer, unlike anything to do with magic or squibs. The desserts, as well as the sudden disappearance of the food he was about to dish onto his plate, almost distracted him from answering at all. He gave an odd look towards the spoon full of mashed potatoes he was now holding over a chocolate cream pie, decided to drop the spoon onto the table cloth rather than ruining any of the sweets, and turned back to August.

“This strange looking guy in a dress came to my house. My parents almost didn’t let him in until he told them why I’ve been so weird all these years. Then,” he stopped for a moment to slice the pie that had once been the mashed potatoes, “he told me about Sonora, as well as some other school for wizards around here. The other one was closer, but,” Gary shrugged, nearly dropping his piece of pie as a result, “the wizard guy seemed to think I’d fit in here better.”\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

2 Gary Yeah, who wouldn't want to be us? 1404 Gary 0 5

Gray

June 10, 2006 10:47 PM

Pfft, no one, babe by Gray

Gray grinned. So she was partially right on what a squib was. That was good. And so she was starting to get some things. A nonmagic magical person was a squib. A magical nonmagic person was a Muggle-born. And a just plain nonmagical nonmagic person was a Muggle. Like her sisters. Ha to her, she was Muggle-born and was magical. They weren't. More "ha."

But a squb seemed to have it the worst. They grow up knowing they should be magical and end up not magical. That sounded so sad. Poor squibs. The name sounded so insulting. Then again, so did Muggle. But squib was more.

She snapped back on hearing Gary answer August's other question. It was slightly different from hers. His included a man at the door. Hers, a letter. She looked at the dessert, and began to eat. Waiting until the boy was done.

"Well, I got a letter saying I was magical," Grail recalled. "I was supposed to meet someone who would give me my school supplies and tell me everything and introduce me around and stuff." She took a huge bite of the ice cream she had and swallowed. Getting brain freeze for a second. When the pain stopped, she continued. "I met the lady with my mom, and she said Sorona had first grabs at me when they saw I was magic or something. It was weird, she showed me and my mom around and bought all my stuff, then sent me off."

Grail sat back, recalling it. How proud her mother was. And how jealous her sisters. the looks on their faces were priceless, she recalled.\n\n

16 Gray Pfft, no one, babe 113 Gray 0 5

Amber Carey

June 10, 2006 11:14 PM

Absolutely right. by Amber Carey

Gwen, the eccentric cousin she'd met at the Five Year's Reunion, had shepherded her past the posture-conscious painting in the entrance hall - talking paintings were still something she'd stand and stare at if someone didn't give her a nudge to remind her she was supposed to pretend she thought they were normal - and had kept her from thinking too much on the way into the Cascade Hall by means of a constant stream of rambling, barely-if-at-all connected chatter that had ceased abruptly when Gwen suddenly spotted someone she had to go talk to at one of the other tables and had rushed off, leaving Amber quite by herself with nothing but a set of funny clothes, a stick of wood with some magic stuff in it that she didn't know how to use, and a cup full of bubbly stuff she didn't know what was. They were being told to drink it, so she hoped it was safe to assume that it wasn't poisonous. Most schools didn't stay open very long if they knocked off all the students.

She didn't notice the change in herself immediately. Once the odd-tasting liquid was down her throat, she felt completely normal. She shot a glance at her nearest neighbor to see if anything unusual was happening to him, and had to clap a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming at the unnatural skin tones she was suddenly observing on every other first year she saw. The gesture made her notice her own vividly yellow arm. Two questions sprang to mind as soon as it got past the fact that she was suddenly yellower than the average banana: was this temporary and, regardless of whether or not it was, what did it mean?

She looked at some of her classmates. Some of the other Crayola-like first years didn't seem nearly as shocked as she was, and some were even heading for specific tables, as if they knew what was going on. Dad had mentioned some things about Sonora - most of the Crotali were insane, Headmistress Marnett was going senile, the school had nearly been destroyed by weather problems two years previously, and the nearest wizarding village was a ghost town - but she'd never managed to obtain any real information about things like this. Whether that was because it had simply slipped her father's mind or because it was supposed to be some kind of rite of passage was anyone's guess. What did being yellow mean?

Some of the other yellow people were heading for one of the tables in a group, so she followed in their wake, not intruding on their group - she'd more than learned her lesson about getting too close to an established group from the short girl at the Reunion - but heading in the same direction. Surely they couldn't all be wrong and of the same wrong opinion. Things usually didn't work out that way.

When push came to absolute shove, though, she didn't sit down beside them but twisted her fingers together for a minute, wondering if Gwen was going to come back and tell her what was going on any time soon. By the looks of the conversation the other girl was in, it didn't seem likely. She was on her own. A head of red hair on a non-Crayola girl who didn't seem to be with anyone drew her attention. Loners, in her experience, were toss-ups; some were wiling to talk, others were as adamantly against it as the short girl - Morgan or whatever. She tried to get some measure of the other girl visually, then gave up. It wouldn't hurt to try.

"Hi," she said, trying to sound a lot less nervous and confused than she actually was. She was supposed to be a Carey, part of this world. She wasn't supposed to be scared half-senseless of it. The thought didn't help matters much. "Um...sorry to bother you, but...do you have any idea what's going on?"\n\n

0 Amber Carey Absolutely right. 84 Amber Carey 0 5

Leo Idoya

June 10, 2006 11:53 PM

Huh. A talking plant. Of course. by Leo Idoya

Before he found his new housemates, however, Leo's eyes fell upon a very, very interesting sight. A rather large plant with--no, those couldn't be eyes--was moving. On its own. Towards where he stood.

Too transfixed to move, Leo tipped his head to one side and stared unabashedly. How clever of it, to wrap its leaves around... wait! No! It couldn't be clever of it, because plants didn't have brains to be clever with! It was physically impossible for the plant to be planning ways of procuring the Sorting potion. ...Wasn't it?

With a dull clatter, the plant-thing (Leo was now seriously reconsidering his twin's conspiracy theories about aliens and whatnot) dropped the chalice that had held the potion. "Oh, oh, I'm green, I'm green! But wait..." His eyes--they were DEFINITELY eyes--fell on Leo, who wondered if he should run away or hit it with the chalice still in his hand. "Hey, you'se, what house is green?!"

Leo blinked. Red, Blue, Brown, Yellow. "Um... I don't think..." he hesitated. Did he dare offend this... thing by insinuating that there wasn't a house for it? Bother. "I am not quite certain there is a house colored green, but then again, I'm only a first-year. Perhaps you should ask the Headmistress?"

PLEASE don't let me be eaten by a plant on my first day...\n\n

0 Leo Idoya Huh. A talking plant. Of course. 0 Leo Idoya 0 5

Mia Kerova

June 11, 2006 2:29 AM

Four feasts and it's still not boring... by Mia Kerova

For the fresh beginning of a new year, Mia didn’t feel so hot. That wasn’t the first time either. She walked into Cascade hall combing her fingers through her brown waves, trying to look peppier than she felt. She had been sick on and off all summer and towards the very end of last year. She got colds which made her feel dizzy and run a fever, but it always passed within a few days. When Antonio came by, which was much more often now that he and Lyn were truthful about their children, he’d leave her a potion for the colds.

Mia was a little thinner than when she left last summer, though she was thin to begin with. Her summer menu mainly consisted of chicken soup and plain toast for when she got sick. When she wasn’t sick she ate what any other person ate, just less of it unless her mother was around. According to Lyn, Mia was nearing the point of “too thin for her liking.” Lyn had become a whole different kind of motherly. Mia just wasn’t a big eater. Her mother made her eat at least seconds during any meal so she wasn’t as thin as she might’ve been. She doubted many would notice. She still looked healthy. Mia was also a little taller. She had grown an inch over the summer. She saw that as a plus, being one of the shorter fourth years.

Fourth year. That made Mia laugh to herself. She couldn’t believe she had really been at Sonora Academy for three years and was starting her fourth out of seven. She had felt the same way last year, but it still amused her. She had come a long way from when she started as that ignorant little first year. She definitely looked different. She didn’t have her glasses anymore, she was taller, her hair was longer, and according to her friends and family, she was prettier. Mia didn’t see much change unless she looked at a picture. Seeing herself in a mirror everyday made the changes blend together. While on one of her hang out walks with her friends over the summer, they stopped by a group of boys they knew from school. When they left, Megan swore one of them had been eyeing Mia the entire conversation. Mia just rolled her eyes and lightly punched her best friend on the arm. For some reason she just couldn’t imagine it. She didn’t go the extra mile and wear a lot of make up like other girls in Jersey. The most she tended to wear was lip gloss like she was wearing now because it had the added benefit of preventing chapped lips. She didn’t need eyeliner or anything making her eyes pop because they stood out on their own.

Mia sat down at the Pecari table, ready to welcome the first years whether she was sick or not. She was in too good a mood to let a little cold bother her too much. Mia knew for a fact that she’d be getting a step brother and step father soon enough. Lyn and Antonio didn’t say anything, but Mia knew. She was excited for that whenever it would happen. Her mother finally had that look in her eye that hadn’t been there in so long. The look was there ever since she told Antonio about Mia being a witch and him telling her about Brayan being a wizard. Mia wished the look didn’t have to come from her mother and Antonio nearly being hit by a crazy driver, but she was still glad it was there.

Mia smiled and applauded the new first years, especially the new Pecaris, but her usually bright hazel eyes were more tired than normal. She toyed with her ever present charm bracelet while Headmistress Marnett spoke. She didn’t look so well either, but she had been really sick as far as Mia could tell. She had been gone for months. When the food appeared she took her usual choice of chicken and rice and such and ate her meal in comfortable silence with a content look, listening to the multitude of conversations around her. As much as she wanted to ignore her fatigue, it wouldn’t let her, but she didn’t have to show it. She’d talk to whoever came her way and do her best not to be a downer. Why start the new term off on the wrong foot? She could do with a friendly face anyway. \n\n

0 Mia Kerova Four feasts and it's still not boring... 0 Mia Kerova 0 5

Elly

June 11, 2006 4:06 AM

That's a relief by Elly

Elly could still feel her face glowing as Meredith threw a serviette to the juice-covered student. Still, Elly thought, she couldn’t have hidden her clumsiness for long; it was bound to have arisen at some point. At her last school, Elly had always been in trouble for breaking things – or herself, for that matter – but she couldn’t help it. It really wasn’t her fault that she was clumsy. Luckily, Meredith still seemed to be smiling, and soon was chatting away again like nothing had happened.

Elly was enthralled to listen to Meredith talking about muggles and Quidditch. Since receiving her acceptance letter, Elly had become aware of the terms, but she didn’t really know much about Quidditch. She had been on the hockey team at her last school, and loved sports. However, the idea of playing a game on flying broomsticks was still too bizarre for Elly to contemplate.

Meredith had paused, and it was a few moments before Elly realised she’d been asked a question. “Oh!” Elly exclaimed. “No, it’s just me and my parents,” she said hurriedly. Her mind wasn’t really on her being an only child. “You play Quidditch with your brothers?” she blurted. “Are all your family wizards? I never met another witch until this morning, both my parents are muggles and I didn’t know anything about magi...il last month.” Elly became aware that she was babbling and stopped abruptly. She realised she hadn’t yet touched her food and took a large mouthful of beans and carrots to compensate.
\n\n

0 Elly That's a relief 0 Elly 0 5

Kaylie Brockert

June 11, 2006 5:43 AM

I seem to be missing a brother.. by Kaylie Brockert

Kaylie turned around and frowned. Adam wasn't behind her. That was not good. That meant he was probably lost in the crowd, scared and alone. She scanned the group of students milling around but didn't see him. She did, however, spot her roommate and friend, Tally. Kaylie grinned and approached the girl. Not that she wasn't still worried about Adam but she was glad to see her friend. "Hey Tally!" she said, "How was your summer?"

She sat down and grabbed a slice of pizza.Mmmm...pepperoni..
Kaylie bit off a huge chunk of it and swallowed. "Mine was rather uneventful. My cousin visited again." She said before the other girl could say anything. Actually most of the events of the summer had focused around Marshall's problems, but Kaylie really didn't want to tell Tally that. She wouldn't betray her cousin that way.

And she really was worried about Adam.He had to be so scared by now. She gazed around the hall, hoping to spot the young boy.\n\n

11 Kaylie Brockert I seem to be missing a brother.. 43 Kaylie Brockert 0 5

Stephen Baxter

June 11, 2006 6:48 AM

Of course it isn't, I'm here! ;) by Stephen Baxter

There was an added bounce in Stephen's step this year. Perhaps it was that he was actually able to walk properly again and was making up for lost time. Alan had taken Stephen and three of his friends off for a few days to a friend's property a bit further east to learn some neat tricks on their motorbikes, and on the fourth day, Stephen had had a nasty accident with a jump. He still wasn't entirely sure in his head about what had gone wrong, just a memory of getting some great air, and then a lot of pain a short while later when his bike landed and he was thrown off. The bike had landed on him, and what with the leg broken nastily in two places, and the various other bumps, bruises and the greenstick fracture in his wrist, that had spelled the end of the trip for Stephen.

He had spent much of the rest of the holiday in his room, after being patched and plastered up in hospital. He had a little bell which he only bothered to ring when he was bored, and in a particularly mischieveious mood, had nearly eaten his parents out of house and home (Dad had said something about a growth spurt being imminent) and used Alan's feelings of guilt shamelessly to get help with his project. As it was, he had a pretty good idea of all that was needed to be done now. He had it all planned out and so when they'd finally been able to get magical assistance (not until the end of the holidays, even though his mother had been in contact with the magical authorities a little earlier than that, because of the whole thing with secrecy) and had even managed to get an owl out of the whole bargin, his mother reasoning that it was needed for those times when he did need to make contact, and not wait for them to contact him. Or them.

But that was all behind him now. He'd managed quite a bit of healing on his own, and then the Medi-wizards had visited before he went off to school and fixed up the rest, pronouncing him 'incorrigible' as well as healed. And now, here he was, back at school, and all the pent up energy that had struggled to find a way out during the year was pouring forth.

He had a quick glance around, not really worried if he didn't spot anyone he knew, as he'd find someone who he'd know soon enough if he didn't and saw Princess already settling down. He slipped over and snagged the seat next to her, but didn't say anything at first as the sorting was happening and there were confused firsties to laugh at (or better still, with) and then Marnett was making her speech. But when all that was done and the food was being eagerly partaken of, he took the time to look at his friend and aside for the instant assessment that she was looking pretty damn good, noted that there was something that was off.

She was smiling, yes. And she was eating. Of course there was the point where she hadn't noticed who was sitting next to her, but that wasn't quite it. Or maybe it was part of it.

He gave her a gentle nudge with his elbow, reaching out with his other arm to get something a little more appetising that the rice onto his plate.

"Hey Princess," he said lightly, questioningly. Her eyes didn't look at bright as he remembered or was that the lack of glasses? It was nice to be able to see her eyes without the glass inbetween. And there was a certain... slowness to her movements. Or so he thought. Maybe he was wrong. "You doing alright?"\n\n

39 Stephen Baxter Of course it isn't, I'm here! ;) 49 Stephen Baxter 0 5

Pepper

June 11, 2006 8:11 AM

Would it be too cruel to title this 'Hooray! You're lost' by Pepper

Pepper spotted a lone face, nervously looking this way and that, and almost smiled at the relief she felt. She was just trying to disentangle herself from her chair and make her way over, when the girl - as if she could sense the helpfulness - made her own way over to Pepper.

"You're not a bother at all," Pepper assured her, very earnestly and with a big smile. "Here, have a seat, and start helping yourself to food" she indicated the (unsurprisingly) empty seat next to her, sitting back down herself. She began putting food onto her plate while she explained.

"Well, that was the sorting ceremony," she told her, hoping she wasn't being patronising, but that seemed like the thing that would most need explaining to someone new. "All the houses have different colours that represent them. It's the colour for their Quidditch robes, and the colour they turn the first years when they arrive. The potion can somehow tell where you're meant to be, so it turns you the colour of that house. It will wear off soon enough, don't worry. Yellow means you're in Teppenpaw, like all of us at this table. It's a nice house. The nurturing people tend to go into it, so it's a good place to be if all this is a bit overwhelming. It's hard being new, isn't it?" she smiled sympathetically.\n\n

0 Pepper Would it be too cruel to title this 'Hooray! You're lost' 0 Pepper 0 5

Meredith

June 11, 2006 9:15 AM

Happens to the best of us by Meredith

Elly seemed to rush over the family bit of her answer. Meredith knew she'd be bored out of her mind if it was only her and her parents. Elly went quickly to asking about quiditch. Meredith nodded when she was asked if she played quiditch and if her family were wizards. Then Meredith understood. Elly was a muggleborn. There were very few in the city where Meredith lived. Most were half-bloods like her.

"You're a muggleborn then? That means you don't have magic parents." Meredith explained the terminology in case Elly hadn't heard it. She didn't really expect an answer since Elly had just eaten a big mouthful of food. "Well my whole family aren't witches and wizards. My mama is a muggle, but she didn't take the surprise too badly. Me and my brothers and my dad have magic."

"So this is your first big experience with magic?" Meredith was grinning, pushing the food around on her plate before taking a bite. "How do you like it so far?"\n\n

0 Meredith Happens to the best of us 0 Meredith 0 5

Elly

June 11, 2006 10:03 AM

grins by Elly

Elly chewed laboriously to finish her mouthful as quickly as she could, following it immediately with another large forkful as she listened to Meredith talking about her family.

Elly was amazed at how easy she found it to talk to Meredith, who had grown up around magic her whole life. She’d thought that mixing with inherently magical people would be a struggle, that they would find it difficult to talk about things, that they had nothing in common. Yet she was quickly realizing that she had been worrying about nothing. As far as Elly could tell from her short conversation so far, making friends was as easy at Sonora as it would be anywhere.

Elly swallowed her third mouthful of vegetables as Meredith asked, “So this is your first big experience with magic?”

“Yes,” Elly grinned widely. “It’s all a bit strange, to say the least. I’m getting used to it pretty quickly though, quicker than I’m getting used to the idea that electricity is a thing of the past for me.” She rolled her eyes in mock exasperation and smiled again at Meredith.

The fact that there existed a hidden magical world naturally came as a surprise to Elly, but she believed it fairly readily, happy to finally have an explanation for the way she sometimes made things happen without meaning to. The first time Elly could remember having inadvertently used magic was when she was nine and had been arguing with her mother. She’d run up to her bedroom and slammed the door, which, although it had no lock, refused to admit her mother all evening.

Elly cleared her plate and licked her lips, satisfied. “Hey,” she leant across the table to whisper to Meredith. “I’ve read that there are loads of secret and hidden rooms and passageways in this place. Do you reckon that’s true?” she asked with a mischievous grin.
\n\n

0 Elly *grins* 0 Elly 0 5

Echo Elms

June 11, 2006 10:42 AM

Juiced by Echo Elms

Echo Elms hadn't been on the wagons two minutes before he found something else to dislike about Sonora Academy. There were girls everywhere. He spent his entire ride trying to avoid bouncing into them, looking at them, or being looked at by them. If he could just keep away from girls, he decided, life should be just fine at this new school.

Just fine was relative, though. He was still shaking from the visit from that stranger who'd held him up in the air and told him his new wand wasn't a toy. At home, he'd been practicing stabbing things with it because he thought this whole school was a massive scam and he was going to be kidnapped. Turned out, he was wrong. The stranger had made it quite clear that his parents had been right -- magic was real. Awesome as that was, he didn't ever want to run into that man again.

By the time he reached Cascade Hall with the other first years, he'd forgotten to worry about the stranger. His new game of Girl Avoidence was all encompassing, except when he thought he was safe and found himself gaping at moving portraits, unnatural waterfalls, and his own skin turning a deep brown. He followed the other browned first years over to their table.

Girls. All the empty seats among the first years were next to girls.

He hesitated, considering the prospects of another nearby table. But then the food appeared and his feet brought him forward to get a better look. At that point, it was too late.

Girls usually took more than five minutes to turn into crazy mean gossip machines, he tried to assure himself. He double checked himself one more time before sitting down -- had he showered? Check. Had he somehow managed to not rip his brand new slacks and blouse yet? Not... noticably. His pants had a couple scuff marks from this afternoon when his mom sent him outside because he kept asking her if it was time to go yet.

So he sat down next to the girl with the English accent. Elly. Within two minutes she spilt her juice all over him.

He sat there, looking down at his good white blouse and thinking about how no matter how hard he tried to keep things clean it never worked out.

Girls were trouble.

The girl across the way -- Meredith -- tossed him a napkin. They apologized, but they also laughed. Well, Meredith laughed. At him, or at her? He didn't know, but from experience he knew that when girls laughed it was almost always at him.

Come on, that was third grade, he reminded himself, making good use of the napkin. He hadn't been around kids since one of his classmates had broken his nose that year. His parents had pulled him out to homeschool him.

"It's okay," he said. The girls kept right on talking. They were going into their families and how Elly found out about magic. He listened and tried to look friendly. That might have been a little too high a goal, but he thought maybe he succeeded at least in not looking like he wanted to jump out of his seat and keep a good six foot radius between him and the girls -- all of them.\n\n

21 Echo Elms Juiced 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Mia

June 11, 2006 11:19 AM

That's just a fact of life by Mia

Mia was in a mix of eating and pushing the food around on her plate. She felt a nudge to her side and turned to see who it was. It was Stephen who started with his and the Cravens’ name for her that just never seemed to get old to them. It bounced off of her by then as if he was actually addressing her by her real name. She had to stop herself from looking around to see if the Cravens were stalking about. Those three could’ve been glued together for all anyone knew. Mia actually hadn’t had much trouble with Ash and Sorrel lately. Maybe they finally got over whatever their issues were with her. Whatever it was between her and them, she was pretty positive it wasn’t her fault. Something happened in a vague memory in their first year, but Mia wasn't going to start thinking of that now.

Stephen wasn’t acting like his normal jumpy self. When Mia thought of Stephen she connected him with hyperactivity. A lot like Jill. If those two ever met, Mia was sure they’d hit it off pretty well. He genuinely asked her if she was alright and did it very calmly. Did she really look sick? No, it was nothing, just another cold. Everyone got them one time or another and they didn’t help with appearances at all anyway. She just grinned, waving her hand to brush it off. The charms on her bracelet chimed against each other.

“I’m fine. I was a little sick just as the summer was ending so I’m still getting over it, but I’m okay. Do I really look that bad?” she finished jokingly.

“And what about you? You had a good a summer?” she looked back to her plate, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear and picking at what was left of her food. \n\n

0 Mia That's just a fact of life 0 Mia 0 5

Meredith

June 11, 2006 12:24 PM

Looks like we've got an eavesdropper. by Meredith

Meredith took some more food while Elly spoke. It was funny to hear a muggleborn's point of view on magic. She didn't think that with mean intent. She was honestly curious about the muggle world. She thought Elly was lucky to see the best of both. Meredith saw some muggle children playing with those muggle handheld games that used electricity. Apparently muggles based a good deal of their lives around electricity. She knew it didn’t work in magic places. Maybe it was a good thing that most muggles couldn’t get to where Meredith lived.

Then Elly leaned in close to tell Meredith something. Meredith stood a little and turned her head to the side to hear. While Elly spoke, her eyes landed no where in particular. She ended up looking at the boy Elly spilled her juice on. He looked just a little freaked out by the pair. Elly was asking her about the secret passages she had read about and if Meredith believed they were really there. Meredith couldn’t help but pop her own mischievous look towards the boy as if the girls were plotting. She was only funning with him. Meredith turned back to Elly.

“Of course.” Meredith agreed right away and sat back down, but propped her elbows on the table around her plate so she was still leaning forward. “My brothers told me that every magic school has them. We should definitely go look for them. Do you think there are a lot?”

Meredith saw the boy was still just quietly listening to them. He was one of few, Meredith noticed. That was a rarity if she ever saw one though she really didn’t think much of it. Most of her friends were boys and she was surrounded with three older brothers. Meredith held up a hand, not meaning to be rude to cut Elly off.

“One second Elly,” Meredith turned to the boy. “Hey, you gonna say something or are you sore about the drink spilling?” She said lightheartedly. “I’m Meredith and this is Elly. We might as well share our names seeing how we’re all gonna be in the same house. You don’t need to worry. We don’t bite…hard.” Meredith finished with a laugh, grinning towards Elly. She meant it all in good fun. It couldn’t hurt to know more people from her own house.\n\n

0 Meredith Looks like we've got an eavesdropper. 0 Meredith 0 5

August

June 11, 2006 1:19 PM

Friends, maybe? by August

August enjoyed his dessert as he listened to Gray and Gary recall their experiences with finding out about the school and the magical world. It was obvious that Gray particularly enjoyed being able to come to this school, because it gave her something special that her sisters could never have. "You should make up a bunch of stuff to scare them with," August told her. "Like, tell them that at your school, you brewed up a potion in your witches' cauldron that makes little Muggle girls like them grow big, hairy warts all over! And tell them it's tasteless and colorless, and you accidentally spilled it in their milk." He flashed her a smile. Even though he didn't have brothers or sisters, August still knew plenty about bullies, even the kind who hurt you with their words more than their fists.

His eyes grew wide when Gary said that a man in a dress had come to his house. A man in a dress!?? August thought to himself. How are people ever gonna take this school seriously if wizards go to Muggles' houses in dresses! But then, he felt his cheeks turning red when he realized what Gary was actually talking about.

"Oh! You mean the man was wearing robes," he said, chuckling despite himself, using the back of his hand to wipe away a blob of hot fudge that was about to dribble down his chin. "Sorry, that was just a funny mental picture, a guy in a dress and your parents wondering what in the world was going on. They'll give us robes to wear here, too, y'know. They're part of the uniform," August added, a slight grin playing at the corners of his mouth as he wondered what Gary's reaction would be when he learned that he too would have to wear a "dress."

Quickly turning his attention back to his ice cream, August again hoped that Gray and Gary wouldn't think he was making fun of them. Normally, he wasn't much of a talker at all, and he was a little surprised with himself that he'd actually managed to have a whole conversation with two people that, up until now, he didn't even know. In fact, maybe they'd even become friends, since they were the same age and in the same House. A sudden desire to not mess everything up by saying something stupid overcame him, and he reckoned that the best thing for him to do was to remain as quiet as possible. At least for now.

He quietly finished the rest of his dessert and pushed the dish away, leaning his elbows on the table again and studying the pattern on the tablecloth. Maybe he and Gary would share a room in their dormitory. Again, being an only child, August had been apprehensive about having to share a room with somebody, but if he could share with Gary, then that might not be so bad. And speaking of dormitories, was someone going to show them where their dormitory actually was, he wondered, or would they have to find it themselves?

He looked up at the others and voiced his question. "I wonder where Aladren House actually is," he said. "Are we supposed to find it on our own, or is somebody gonna take us there? Do either of you guys know?"\n\n

0 August Friends, maybe? 0 August 0 5

Jenna Howard

June 11, 2006 2:48 PM

It's Good to be Back by Jenna Howard

Jenna Howard sat at then end of one of the tables (all of the noise of the other students overwhelmed her, as she was not used to it), listening to the Headmistress' speach, drinking in every word like it was the best thing she'd ever heard. Actually, it was the best thing she'd heard in a long time.

A year to be exact.

Jenna had been forced to stay home from her third year of school due to a well, erm, you could call it a family emergency. Her Uncle Will had nearly been caught making some not-so-legal business deals, causing the whole family to lay low until the whole thing had blown over. Jenna still did not understand how this constituted her not going to school, but she had no say in the matter.

She'd ended up spending the year at her summer home, and most of that time away from everyone else, alone in her room, concocting potions. She may be ahead in Potions, but she knew that she'd be behind in all her other classes, and would have to make up for that lost time.

Making up work didn't matter to her right then, she was just glad to be back in normal civilization and away from her family. From what she could see, Sonora hadn't changed a bit since her second year. But she had.

Currently Jenna was 5'4" and it looked like she was going to stay that way. She had matured in mind and body, though with the baggy red robes the pale girl was wearing it was hard to see the latter. Her hair was stuffed under her first article of muggle clothing, a battered up red baseball cap. She had found it when she had gone robe-shopping over the summer, and used it as a cover for the hideous hair cut her sister, Jordanna, had given her.

She'd also come to a decision about her family, a major one. But she was too happy to be back at Sonora to think about that now.

“Oh hi!” she jumped slightly in her seat, knocking over a pitcher of pumpkin juice, when another student sat down next to her, slightly surprised by the contact with another person.

“Just great,” she muttered dryly, getting up from her seat, she turned to look at the other person, “Sorry about that.”\n\n

0 Jenna Howard It's Good to be Back 46 Jenna Howard 0 5

Elly

June 11, 2006 3:13 PM

The more the merrier by Elly

Elly couldn’t be more thrilled by Meredith’s response about the secret passages lurking undiscovered within the walls of Sonora. “We should definitely go look for them,” she had said. Elly was about to respond when Meredith held up a hand to cut her off. Elly was taken aback only for a moment, until she realized that Meredith had turned to address the boy sitting next to her, his shirt stained quite orange with Elly’s spilled juice. Elly shrugged and grabbed a cream pastry from the array of puddings that had materialized in front of her. No matter how much she ate, she just got taller and more lanky so she was starting to resemble a bean pole with long curly orange hair.

Meredith introduced them to the boy, who, by his size, Elly would also judge to be a first year. Elly turned to grin at Meredith, who was grinning back. She felt a bit sorry for the boy if he was the easily intimidated type; neither herself nor Meredith, it transpired, were particularly shy.

Just as Meredith finished talking, and before the boy had time to speak, Elly added “And if we do bite hard, don’t take it personally, it’s just for fun.”

Elly could feel her jaw aching from all the smiling she had been doing. Absently picking at her desert, she looked at the boy next to her curiously, awaiting his response.
\n\n

0 Elly The more the merrier 0 Elly 0 5

Oscar

June 11, 2006 3:33 PM

A feast fit for a cat by Oscar

It was ridiculous. He could understand that Tarquin was upset, but that was really no excuse not to feed him punctually. He would usually remember eventually. However, 'eventually' was not something that a cat of Oscar's calibre should have had to endure. Especially not when there was a feast in progress.

Entering the hall as the Headmistress finished her speech, he stalked up to the staff table, knowing for a fact there would be a free seat there, given that Tarquin was holed up in his office wailing like a kitten, and it was a seat that he, more than anyone else, would be entitled too. Plus he knew he had a good friend at that table; should anyone object to his presence, she was also - almost - duty bound to defend him (alright, he wasn't a magical creature, but he was damn fine and handsome, and certainly deserved to be cared for). There was also the cryingly obvious fact of his superiority over the students, which gave him a right to sit there.

He leapt lightly into the seat next to Kiva, glad that it was still free. He really didn't see how anyone could object. Unlike many uncouth cats, he did not climb onto the table and proceed to drag the food out of the bowls and all over the place. He had impeccable manners at the table, as in all aspects of life. He sat in Tarquin's chair and used the time honoured aristocatic method of obtaining food; miaow your politest, most unwhinging miaow, blink up adorably and adoringly at the chosen human - Miss Kijewski, in this case - then stare at that delicious looking plate of chicken.

Repeat as necessary.\n\n

0 Oscar A feast fit for a cat 0 Oscar 0 5

Professor Kiva Kijewski

June 11, 2006 5:15 PM

And a fine cat he is by Professor Kiva Kijewski

Kiva Kijewski had been a professor at Sonora for the last two years. This was to be her third. Her first year had been rather eventful considering the weather charms had konked out on them during her first lesson with the second years and a terrible duststorm had formed as a result, causing her and her students to have to rush back into the school. Though, those Craven twins had gotten themselves a nice little adventure and had scared the wits out of Kiva when she couldn't find them. The rest of the school year hadn't gone much better. She didn't even want to mention Stephen that year.

Her second year hadn't been nearly as eventful as her first. Her classes had gone off smoothly, her students all seemed healthy, the only thing that was off was the Headmistress Marnett had to leave for a bit because of her own health issues. Other than that, last year had gone of rather smoothly.

Now here she sat, watching the students eat and get to know one another while old friends told of their summer vacations. Kiva had never considered becoming a professor until her father's illness caused him to grow weaker and forced Kiva to find a job that allowed her to be closer to home. If that hadn't occurred, she was sure she'd be in the Amazon studying some creature or another.

A small miaow startled Kiva from her thoughts. She looked around trying to figure out if she had heard the noise correctly. And then it happened again. Kiva looked next to her to find the previously vacant seat now occupied by a cat. Oscar to be exact. Kiva gave a startled look when she saw him and then smiled. He really was a strange cat. She leaned down and reached out to stroke him. "Oscar, what are you doing here?" She asked in a pleasant voice. "Where is Tarquin? I haven't seen a sign of him." Not that that really surprised her. Kiva doubted that man ever willingly left the library.

She noticed the cat staring at the chicken and chuckled. "Are you hungry?" She cut a small chunk of chicken off of a leg and set it down in front of Oscar. "I'm not sure the Headmistress will approve of such things as a cat eating at this table. But, not much we can do about it now." Kiva said, having no difficulty making conversation with Oscar. "Oscar, you ought to drag that man of your's out of his hiding place on occassion."
\n\n

0 Professor Kiva Kijewski And a fine cat he is 0 Professor Kiva Kijewski 0 5

Gray

June 11, 2006 5:23 PM

Friends wouldn't want to be us? by Gray

Gray felt her face start to hurt from the huge grin she was wearing. But she really couldn't help that, August's idea was too funny. She probably would do that. She racked her mind for which of her sisters would freak the most. Alice, Laby, or Chalie (Alice was the only one in their family without a strange name, seeing as their dad named her). It would probably be Chalie, seeing as she was the biggest drama queen in their family.

She gave August a hug. Which was strange for her, she was normally very shy. "Perfect, I'm gonna do that," she told him and broke off the hug. She liked these two. Since they were in the same house, it was a good chance they would be friends. Good.

"Sorry, that was just a funny mental picture, a guy in a dress and your parents wondering what in the world was going on."

Grail laughed herself at that one when Gary mentioned it. So those were the uniforms. Robes? She looked at her own clothes. Would they have to wear something else underneath, or their own clothes. It really didn't matter to her, either way. But picking out her own clothes seemed better. She opened her mouth to ask the two, when August asked another question. Grail frowned.

"I don't know," she answered, and looked at Gary. If she didn't know, he probably wouldn't either. Or maybe he did. "Maybe and older student will take us? Or a teacher? The Head of House?" She looked back at Gary. "D'you know?"\n\n

16 Gray Friends wouldn't want to be us? 113 Gray 0 5

Oscar

June 11, 2006 5:43 PM

Not bad yourself, for a human by Oscar

Oscar purred and nuzzled Kiva's hand as she obliged with the chicken. He gave her an almost reproving glance as she said she wasn't sure how the headmistress would feel about having a cat at the table. A cat? He was not 'a cat'. 'A Class' cat, yes. Mere feline, no. He was careful not to turn the full evils on Kiva though, as she really was a dear friend and a fine lady. Fine ladies did not deserve bad treatment (as didn't sophisti-cats). Plus she had been most prompt with her delivery of a very choice cut of chicken. He licked his lips hopefully.

He looked away slightly shiftily when Kiva mentioned Tarquin. He normally would have been there for the feast, and Oscar suddenly felt bad for leaving him. A certain amount of purring and cuddling tended to cheer him up a bit (until he remembered that Danny had given Oscar to him, and then he started wailing into Oscar's fur, which was not appreciated). He gave a low 'mrrrow' which would possibly have been translated into a shrug and a cough had he been human and licked his paw quickly.

He appreciated the way Kiva chatted to him, and hoped she would stop by the library later. If not, he would have to pester her to make Tarquin come out, or maybe just go and talk to him, and convince him to contact Danny. Much as Oscar didn't like his companion's companion, he felt sorry for Tarquin. And wanted feeding at decent times.

\n\n

0 Oscar Not bad yourself, for a human 0 Oscar 0 5

Tally

June 11, 2006 6:15 PM

Well that's a shame by Tally

Tally had been lost in her own thoughts when Kaylie greeted her in a rather happy voice. A smirk formed on Tally's lips. Kaylie was still the bubbly Kaylie Tally always remembered. Where she got all the energy was beyond Tally's comprehension. Tally usually was fairly happy-go-lucky but at times when she was forced to face a crowd, Tally's anxiety took over and left her moody.

When Kaylie asked how Tally's summer went, Tally got so far as opening her mouth to speak, but was overwhelmed when Kaylie just kept on talking. So Tally settled in silence until Kaylie was finished and there was a long enough pause for Tally to enter into the converstaion. "Hi Kaylie, still the same I see." Tally commented, giving her a smile as she said this. "My summer was... interesting, I suppose." Tally started. "Dad and Josh weren't around, but we have a new pool so I was able to hang out outside whenever I wanted." Tally commented with a slight shrug.

She took a bite out of her food but didn't really taste it. She was very self-conscious about everything now, but Tally was happy to find that Kaylie had not changed. "I discovered that I've been apparently dubbed 'The Weird Girl' by the neighborhood kids. I still don't know what that means. And other than a random boy asking me out, nothing really happened."\n\n

0 Tally Well that's a shame 0 Tally 0 5

The Craven Twins

June 11, 2006 7:36 PM

Speak of the devils by The Craven Twins

Sorrel was having one of the crises of confidence that seemed all too frequent at the moment. Much as she hated make-up, she couldn't help but like how she looked with eyeliner on. The way she did it made her look scary, which was a good thing. The point of make up was, supposedly, to make girls look prettier, so - if she was wearing it to look scary - then she was taking the piss of people who wore it, so it was ok. Those were her defences, and she was sticking to them. However, that didn't mean she wanted to face the jibes that people were undoubtedly going to throw at her. When they got off the wagon, she hung her head, even though her hair was no longer long enough to swing forward and hide her face (not that she'd ever worn it loose when it had been). The unconfident posture looked odd on her (although the gesture she threw at Mims' portrait for telling her to stop slouching was right in character).

"Come on, there's Stephen," Ash tried, tugging Sorrel's arm gently. She dared look up a bit.

"He's with Princess!" she hissed. "She can't see me like this."

"She's your room mate, Sorrie. She's gonna notice sooner or later."

Sorrel made a slight huffy noise. If Princess noticed in their room, it mattered less. If Stephen made fun of Sorrel in front of Princess, she would never live it down. She slouched miserably after Ash. She almost wished she'd left the heavy black eyeliner off this morning, but - although she would never admit it - she found she couldn't do without it now. It made her look more intimidating, and it made her... striking, was the word she had decided on. She wasn't ever going to be pretty, or beautiful. She kept telling herself she didn't want to be anyway, but certain of Mariella's comments had made her hate herself when she looked in the mirror, which meant she must care at least a little what other people thought of her appearance. Even if she didn't want to be pretty, she didn't want to hate her own reflection, or feel actively ugly. The eyeliner was the only thing that made her able to bear how she looked.

"Dude!" Ash greeted Stephen.

"It's a statement, a statement against people like you, and if you laugh or say anything, I'll break your nose and then we'll see whose ug-... laughing," Sorrel barked at Mia, before she (or Stephen) could pass comment. "Got that?" she asked, running a hand through her now short and choppy hair, glad that she'd let her pride be wounded enough to admit to her mother that she wanted it neatened up. \n\n

0 The Craven Twins Speak of the devils 0 The Craven Twins 0 5

Guenther Heindrich

June 11, 2006 8:23 PM

another year of early mornings, homework and frustration! by Guenther Heindrich

Guenther Heindrich sat at a table, not having seen Zack among them. He had probably just not noticed it, but at the moment he was not likely to care. He felt sick, really sick. Most likely, he looked as colorful as the first years did and at the moment he didn't even want to think of the food that would soon lie in front of him.

The entire ride here had been bumpy. For some reason, this years ride had been worse than last years. He hadn't felt sick last year, so why now. At least he was in a less stuffy place now. He had practice handling people now so he didn't feel quite so sick being around this many people as he did last year.

He thought back to his summer. To put it bluntly, it had stunk. His triplet sisters had gotten really shy around him since he hadn't been there the entire school year. They wouldn't let him hug them or pick them up. It wasn't so much that he wanted to hold them, it was more the fact that they wouldn't let him that made him frustrated. He was fond of his sisters but he wasn't fond of little kids. How was that for contradicting feelings.

He put his head on the table, which was probably just as well. Some of the firsties were starting to stare at him. He hated that. His size was one of the things that made him stood out. At least he didn't have a sign over his head that said 'I am foreign'. Okay quite technically he wasn't, but he might as well have been. He knew three different languages and was two different nationalities. Most of these people probably had about 20 different nationalities in them. But at least his Dad and brother had come down from Germany for two weeks. He had gotten to see Kaleb for the first time in three years. It had truely been a relief to have another boy in the house for once.

His stomach feeling a little better, he picked his head off the table and noticed that the food had arrived and the Headmistress's speech had ended. His appetite still hadn't returned though. He pulled out his book. It was ironically the next book in the series that he had started at last years feast. This one was called MORE MAGICAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF VERNA THE INFERNO and he was going to read it instead of eating. Oh if Zack were here, he surely would have something to say about him not stuffing like last year. At least he hadn't grown more. No more growth spurts for him. Luckily for him, he had filled out and gotten a tad more muscular. If he hadn't, his mother would have forced food down his throat at every available moment over the summer.

(ooc: wow, i found my muse again...YEAH ME!!!!Now if only Zack would show up.....this would be perfect...ZACK!!! OH WHERE ARE YOU?)\n\n

0 Guenther Heindrich another year of early mornings, homework and frustration! 0 Guenther Heindrich 0 5

Amber Carey

June 11, 2006 8:59 PM

Nah, I'll get over it. by Amber Carey

Amber returned the older girl's smile a little nervously and sat down in the indicated spot, looking at the array of food spread out in front of her with something like awe. The necessity of it was fairly obvious - the more people there were, the more food was needed to feed them - but, in the moment, everything seemed to have been amplified. She observed a platter of chicken almost reverently, only then realizing just how hungry she was. She had eaten before she left Glenhaven, but excitement and nerves had a way of using up all available fuel pretty quickly. Helping herself to a piece of it, she listened to her newfound companion's explanation of the Crayola affect and why she was yellow.

Since she'd met her father and Meredith, Amber had picked up the knack for absorbing new and unusual pieces of information quickly without, as her mother put it, questioning them to the high hills. Who was at what table meant something, this one was the 'Teppenpaw' table, and they were nice. She was in the nice, nurturing House. There could have been worse scenarios. Nurturing was something she'd never had much of an opportunity to find out if she was, since she didn't have any siblings and most of her cousins on both sides were older than she was, but she thought she was nice enough. She might do all right here.

"Yeah," she said in answer to the question, feeling an embarrassed sort of grin cross her face for a moment. "My dad told me about magic and all in July - he's a wizard, but I live with my mom and she's not - and I've met most of his magic family, but I don't guess I really got any of it until I saw this place..." She shook her head and took a bite of her chicken. The amazement would wear off soon enough, she knew, but she was stuck in the present and it was, to use her friendly neighborhood explainer-person's word, overwhelming. It was almost impossible to imagine how the girls back home would react if they knew her new school looked like this. "I'm Amber," she added once she'd swallowed. "Amber Carey." \n\n

0 Amber Carey Nah, I'll get over it. 84 Amber Carey 0 5

Meredith

June 11, 2006 9:46 PM

OOC by Meredith

Just letting you know, Elly and I are waiting for you down below. I wasn't sure if you were still watching. I skipped over the student getting spilled on because I wasn't sure if someone would answer, but since you did we have someone to talk to now. See ya down there. *grins*\n\n

0 Meredith OOC 0 Meredith 0 5

Zack Dill

June 11, 2006 9:49 PM

I feel like I've been hailed. by Zack Dill

Zack had arrived a little late. Well, it wasn't entirely his fault. His four year old bookbag hadn't held out as well as he had hoped it had and the contents had spilled out everywhere when he jumped down out of the covered wagon that had brought him here from Detroit. The bottom had apparently rotten a bit over the summer and heavy weight of seven textbooks coming to a sudden stop (well, not so sudden really given that the bottom had given out and they kept falling) had been more than it could handle.

So he'd had to gather all his books from the ground, and collect all the looseleaf paper that had spilled everywhere, sort out how much of his potions supplies were still good, and find everything else that had scattered. It had taken a while and he'd had to wait for the groundskeeper guy to find him a substitute bag to put everything in so the prairie elves could take it all up to the Alderaan fourth year boy's dorm.

As a result, he slipped into the Cascade Hall around the time the Headmistress finished her 'speech' and food started to appear. He was relieved to see there was still a spot at the Alderaanian table that wasn't entirely surrounded by the younger kids. It was bad enough he'd barely grown again over the summer and he was still only four nine and a quarter. He didn't want the kids even more certain he was their age. It was really irritating him that his thirteen year old brother was having his voice change already and Zack's was still as childish as ever. He hoped he'd at least start needing to shave first, but so far no luck on that front either. At least Nick was still beardless, too.

He ducked between the first years as they reacted to their strange colorations, and found an empty seat next to Guenther again. He spotted Anne and gave her a nod and smile of greeting, then claimed the seat he'd noticed. Guenther was reading already, and Zack was pretty sure it was the same book, or maybe the next volume, that he'd been reading a year ago. Could be wrong though. Might just be the same cover style. Still finding it vaguely amusing that Guenther looked so much the same (though somehow even bigger looking which he found frustrating because he doubted he looked any bigger), Zack smirked at his younger but much taller housemate.

Then he realized that food was already out and Guenther wasn't eating. That seemed somehow wrong after the gusto he'd set into it last year. "Hey," Zack said, poking at the book so the words would move and hopefully jar his friend back into the world of the living. "Food's on," he informed the other boy because, if it had been Zack, chances would have been high that the cause of his not eating would be simply that he hadn't noticed it had been served yet. "And welcome back. How was your summer?"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1 Zack Dill I feel like I've been hailed. 40 Zack Dill 0 5

Echo Elms

June 11, 2006 10:03 PM

Eek! by Echo Elms

The girls leaned in together and whispered, stealing glances at him. He pushed his vegetables around on his plate and tried not to notice. He looked around Cascade Hall. The portraits were moving. He couldn't get over that. The food had just popped onto the table. Popped. Out of nowhere. He should be impressed.

He was impressed. Astonished was a better word, really. In awe. Amazed by something new every fifteen seconds. If only there weren't these two girls whispering and nudging each other, and giggling at him he might have mistook this for a whole new world, a whole new beginning.

But then there were the girls, and the familiar heat rising up his collar and tingling at his nape.

Then it got worse because they suddenly decided to talk to him. Meredith and Elly introduced themselves all formal like, and said something smart about meeting people in their House. That much he agreed with. But then they said something about biting that was supposed to be funny. It wasn't funny. Not really. Literally it might be funny. Sort of. But not.

If a boy had said it, it might have been funny.

"Um, right. I'm Echo," he said, almost changing his name to Evan at the last minute. It might have been nice to have a normal name that no one could make fun of, but the real one would have come out at role call anyway. He thought he should probably say something else too; people in books usually did. "Are you, like, vampires or something?"

Vampires. Girls. Same difference. Unless, of course, vampires were real too.\n\n

21 Echo Elms Eek! 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Chrissy Mathers

June 12, 2006 12:01 AM

it's Jenna 2 !!! or was it 1.... by Chrissy Mathers

Chrissy wasn't necessarily excited to be back at Sonora, but she was happy to be out of her mother's grasp. The entire summer minus the last two weeks of it, Chrissy had been staying with her Uncle Bart down in DC. She had spent her previous summer there as well, but this summer had been different. Her Uncle Bart had a girlfriend. And with the girlfriend came a son. He was annoying, but he was only ten and Chrissy had stuck it out with him rather than deal with her parents.

Now Chrissy was back at school, her hair still the same length of blonde curls, her eyes still the same dark brown, same sad height of 5'1, and her weight was still being maintained thanks to the strict diet her mother had her on and threatened her brother with. The only difference this year was that Chrissy was slightly less angry that she had been in her previous years. Spending the last two years away with only a limited amount of time with her mother had done wonders on Chrissy's attitude.

As Chrissy walked into the hall, her face was beaming. This year would be a good year for sure. She was a fourth year now, which meant, they were going to have superiority the following year. People would look up to them because they were no longer preteens but teenagers. Yes, this was going to be a great year.

She walked to Crotalus table. Chrissy sat down at the first open seat she could find, which happened to be seated next to a person in a hat. Weird, but Chrissy said nothing. She accidently brushed against the person in the hat and caused them to stir. The person's reaction caused a pitcher to spill and Chrissy lept back to her feet in a hurry. She whipped out her wand and used the charm they had learned to dry juice before it made too much of a mess. Only then did she turn her attention on the person in the hat.

She froze.

That face was a familiar face. A face that Chrissy hadn't seen in over a year. A face she thought she would never see again. A face that was sitting beneath an ugly hat. "Jenna?"\n\n

0 Chrissy Mathers it's Jenna 2 !!! or was it 1.... 0 Chrissy Mathers 0 5

Elly

June 12, 2006 4:02 AM

Vampires? by Elly

Elly stared at the boy. Echo. She liked his name, it was unusual. She was about to apologise properly for spilling juice on him, but what he said next really surprised her. He had asked if Meredith and she were vampires! Elly had never met a vampire, and wasn’t totally convinced that they existed, but she was pretty sure that Meredith was not one of them. She guessed that Echo was joking, but he seemed so uncomfortable that the questions had sounded serious.

Elly glanced at Meredith, which she knew was a bad idea, but she did it anyway. As soon as their eyes met, Elly had to turn away, clamping her hand over her mouth to suppress the wild laughter that was desperately trying to escape. She didn’t want to offend Echo, but she was a terrible giggler; once she got started she just couldn’t stop. Elly didn’t like this trait about herself. Generally, she disliked giggly girls, and often couldn’t stand the fact that she was one of them. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t prevent it. Elly giggled.

With her back to Echo, Elly took deep breaths, trying to compose herself. She hoped that Meredith had been able to continue the conversation.
\n\n

0 Elly Vampires? 0 Elly 0 5

Pepper

June 12, 2006 7:11 AM

Jolly good. by Pepper

"Pepper Jones," Pepper replied, wondering how she'd managed to miss that out before. She supposed the girl, Amber, had asked what was going on, not who she was, so answering that question really had been more pressing. "Clueless muggleborn extraordinaire," she grinned, "Or at least, I was when I arrived. I'm a second year now, and I did manage to pick up a few things in my first year.

"You're lucky you had someone to explain it to you," she told her, hoping to make Amber feel better about being new and unsure, rathter than seeming to wallow in self pity (which she wasn't). "It took me a very long time to be convinced it wasn't some increasingly elaborate practical joke that one of my siblings, probably my older brother, was playing on me." She thought Amber's case rather interesting. Having a whole magical family, but not really knowing about it... She wondered if it was stranger to find out you and a whole load of your family were magic, than to find out it was just you, the black sheep.

"So did he tell you they were magic before you found out you were, or did you only just find out about all of them?" she asked, hoping Amber hadn't been upset by the revelation, if it turned out a large portion of her family had been keeping a secret from her. Pepper certainly wouldn't have liked it, so she felt a little bad for asking. "And how much detail did your dad go into? Was it like 'By the way, you're a witch.'? Or did he explain more of the... stuff," she shrugged, lacking a better word, "that's in the wizarding world? I mean, is there anything else you want me to help explain, or now you know why you turned bright yellow are you all sorted?" she offered, hoping she could make up for it if her questions had ruffled Amber.\n\n

0 Pepper Jolly good. 0 Pepper 0 5

Echo Elms

June 12, 2006 7:17 AM

Possum by Echo Elms

Elly was giggling again. Echo reconsidered his last words -- most recent, but maybe last would be appropriate. Maybe he should try not to talk at all in front of girls? He wasn't sure. By the looks of it, Sonora had a terribly high female population so he doubted that plan would be feasible.

Girls were unpredictable. That was the problem. He never knew what they were laughing at, and they were always laughing at something. Except when they weren't. Take right now for instance. Elly was giggling like crazy weird, and what had set her off? Unknown. Maybe she thought his name was funny, or maybe his comment about Vampires was completely stupid. Or, maybe it was clever and funny and Elly appreciated deadpan. It was also in the realm of possibility that Elly was just really nervous.

Maybe, Echo considered, if I sit really still, they'll forget I'm here.\n\n

21 Echo Elms Possum 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Morgaine Carey

June 12, 2006 9:58 AM

Here reluctantly, but here just the same. by Morgaine Carey

She had grown over the summer. Instead of a miserable four-foot-six, she was now a miserable four-foot-eight - still an inch shorter than the twins had been when they started at Sonora. Unfortunately, Allie and Lila had grown as well, and the three of them had been forced to dress alike and get haircuts, Morgaine's hair being left longer than Allie's but shorter than Lila's. Add in that they vaguely resembled each other anyway, and the twins could pass for her sisters. Her older sisters.

Being the second daughter she could handle, but the third...that was one step too far down the ladder for her taste. That, and she already had an older sister and didn't appreciate her stupid step-aunt's attempts to make her two pretend ones. She broke away from the twins as soon as she crossed the threshold of the Cascade Hall, making a direct line for the Pecari table and trying to review any hexes she had picked up the previous year in case anyone asked her why she wasn't getting her potion with the "other" first years.

She paid little attention to where she was sitting, only making sure that she wasn't next to Eddie or the pseudo-Pierce vice president of Gwen's fan club. Everyone at Sonora was an enemy to some extent, but those two were worse than the others. Eddie had insulted her family on their first meeting, and psuedo-Pierce had been presumptuous enough to - well, whatever he had done with her sister. She wasn't entirely sure what it was, but a mudblood calling himself a Pierce had no business doing anything that wasn't worshiping from afar when it came to Gwenhwyfar.

She watched without any real interest as the first years were Sorted, noticing her filthy half-blood cousin go into Teppenpaw with a faint sneer and scanning the brown people for any faces she recognized from the parties she'd been hauled to as the only daughter of the Savannah Careys both old enough for society and out of disgrace. She didn't register any straight off, but that could have had something to do with the fact that she rarely paid any attention to the people around her at such functions. When the food appeared, she got herself helpings of chicken and boiled potatoes, stabbing one of the latter with her fork and biting into it only reluctantly. She hated potatoes.

She gave the person next to her a cursory glance upon noticing that they were observing her. "Evening," she said flatly, taking another bite of her potato and grimacing. Eating was laborious enough with so many people - she didn't like eating even when she wasn't being observed, but it was twice as bad when there were large numbers of people congregated around her - but being stared at for real instead of in her head made it that much worse. \n\n

0 Morgaine Carey Here reluctantly, but here just the same. 81 Morgaine Carey 0 5

Amber

June 12, 2006 12:15 PM

Re: Jolly good. by Amber

Amber laughed at the way Pepper followed up on her introduction. She couldn't help it. Whenever she relaxed, or even vaguely considered relaxing, after working herself up, everything seemed more amusing than usual. She liked the other girl's name - she'd never met another Pepper, but there had been two other Ambers in her third-grade class and the experience had left her with a fondness for less-than-common names - and had liked even better that Pepper, like herself, had spent most of her life thinking she was normal. The circumstances weren't as weird as hers, from what she had figured out since finding out the truth, but the feeling was the same.

"Yeah," she said, a bit noncommittally, when Pepper mentioned that she was lucky to have had someone to explain things. She was still wasn't entirely sure where she stood on the matter of her father, or where they stood in relation to each other. On one hand, he had been nice, or at least put a real effort into it, over the summer. On the other, the other person she had interacted with on a daily basis was Meredith, which would make anyone more inclined to see someone else as sympathetic. She couldn't exactly ask him about the things she wanted to know, at least partially because she didn't really want to know the answers. "Dad had to demonstrate some magic for me before I believed him, but it was pretty good to have family explaining all of it."

She took another bite of chicken before answering the follow-up questions, giving herself some time to think through how to tell the truth without making things sound even weirder than they really were. The situation was bizarre-seeming enough to her without any real or perceived embellishments. "I was getting ready to go see a movie when he dropped in," she said finally. "I heard him and Mom arguing about me and me being normal and powers and stuff. Dad's not around much, so I was kinda surprised and just sort of - walked in." She shrugged. "Then he started talking to me, like trying to let me down easy or something, and I asked what a Muggle was. That's when he told me I was a witch.

"I spent the rest of the summer with him and my stepmother, and he explained some more stuff then. Mostly about purebloods and his family, 'cause there was some kind of huge family reunion up in Virginia at the end of the summer I had to go to. It was insane." Possibly literally, but she wasn't going to say that. "Never seen so many people in one place in my life."

She considered Pepper's last question in advance as well. Most of what Andrew had told her had been Carey stuff, and there were some things, things she'd read about or heard some mention of, that she was curious about...Pepper had said she wasn't a bother, but most people would say that..."Well," she said, taking another gamble, "what sort of classes do we have to take? I looked at the books, but it was sort of hard to figure out what they were all about. And the teachers - are they all right?" She didn't know if they had different teachers for different grade levels here, but there weren't enough people at the top table for there to be many teachers to a subject, which meant it was likely that Pepper would have had at least one of Amber's new teachers the previous year. \n\n

0 Amber Re: Jolly good. 0 Amber 0 5

Pepper

June 12, 2006 12:43 PM

Classes and teachers and bears, oh my! by Pepper

Pepper smiled, glad at the little laugh that issued from Amber. She liked making people laugh, she found it was the best cure for the blues or anxiety, and had had plenty of practise implementing it. Once she knew someone reasonably well, she was very good at getting giggles from them. The rapidly changing tastes and ability to be amused of small children growing up had also made her humour very adaptable.

"It sounds like a very hectic summer," she commented, eating a couple of forkfuls of carrots whilst she tried to run up a comprehensive but not too rambly answer to Amber's question.

"Well, there are two main types of classes. Wand work and non wand work. Transfiguration, which is turning things into other things, and Charms which is... well, it's a combination of magic like in stories, like making things float, and making magic do everyday things, they're entirely wandy. Transfiguration's really hard, but no one expects you to be good at it right away.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts is mainly wandy stuff. There's some theory about Dark Creatures, but that usually also involves spells to make them back off. Some of the things they talk about are quite scary, but I try to bear in mind that if I'd never heard of some of the things in the Muggle world, like earthquakes or poisonous spiders, I'd find them terrifying. Plus they're telling you how to protect yourself against the things that might hurt you. If you look at it that way, it's more comforting.

"Potions, Care of Magical Creatures and Astronomy aren't wand based, and I doubt Muggle Studies is, but you don't get to take that in first year. They're all what the name suggests really. The Care of Magical Creature's professor is really nice," she said, swallowing a few more mouthfuls whilst she thought about the other teachers, "Most of the others seem very formal, but not unkind. Apart from the Quidditch Coach. I find her a bit scary," she mentioned quietly, "Did your Dad mention Quidditch?" she asked, suddenly remembering that a word that had become second nature to her to use had seemed like complete goobledegook when she arrived.
\n\n

0 Pepper Classes and teachers and bears, oh my! 0 Pepper 0 5

Saul Pierce

June 12, 2006 1:17 PM

I'm probably not much of a better option, huh? by Saul Pierce

The second year wasn't really any less impressive than the first when you got right down to it. Sure, Saul didn't turn brown again, but it was fun to see that the kids who did were just as surprised as his group last year (only this time he hadn't seen anyone crying or shouting which was probably a good thing). He glanced toward the girl sitting next to him because he was pretty sure she'd been one of the ones violently opposed to her placement the year before. Morgaine Something-Snobby-Sounding of the Someplace-Snobby-Sounding Something-Snobby-Soundings. Regina probably would have been able to say who she was a little more accurately, but Saul couldn't. Wasn't really all that important anyway.

He looked back toward the new kids as they found seats in their little color groups, and it felt kind of weird, being older than all of them. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. He was a second year now, and not being the new kid at the school was nearly as awesome as being the new kid. A glance around the room showed nothing glaringly out of place from the previous year and he felt oddly grown-up because of its familiarity. He thought maybe he could even go so far as to adopt one of the new kids, take them under his wing, show them the ropes. After all, he was experienced now.

He was about to get up and scoot further down the table to be nearer the firsties when his eye fell on Morgaine again. He couldn't help it. She was doing something completely non-sensible. She didn't appear to like potatoes, but she was eating them anyway. That was the single most best thing about Sonora. You didn't have any parents, aunts, or uncles staring at you, making you eat tofu, or whatever else you didn't like. Here, you leave the vegtables aside and just eat the meat. The juicy succulent animal flesh. The devine, perfect, and to-die-for-or-at-least-go-to-school-for meat.

And Morgaine was eating potatoes. Saul stared.

She noticed, of course, but Saul hadn't really been hiding it. "Evening," she snapped at him, obviously not friendly. No doubt she wanted him to go away, or at least look away.

Saul wasn't quite ready to do that, though. Especially when she took another bite and grimaced. Maybe she was just so oppressed in that pureblood home she came from that she didn't realize that at Sonora she was free to eat as she pleased? "Why're you eating the potatoes if you don't like them?"\n\n

1 Saul Pierce I'm probably not much of a better option, huh? 82 Saul Pierce 0 5

Stephen

June 12, 2006 1:32 PM

what? where? looks by Stephen

There was only one answer for that. Stephen relaxed and grinned. "Nah, Princess. You don't look that bad. In fact, given the opportunity I might even go so far as to say you you look 'not bad'. What happened to the gla—"

"Dude."

And of course then there was barely enough time to look up and start gaping at the sight that had come along with his room mate. That sounded like Sorrel, her voice at any rate. She'd never really seemed to have needed to defend herself like that before, not that he'd noticed anyhow. And, as for looks. Stephen's eyes took in her hair, that stuff around her eyes and then shifted his gaze to Ash. An eyebrow raised slightly over his eyes that were slightly wider than usual.

There'd been those letters and of course he'd wondered, but... it'd been less than two months! How could she have ... what had. He took one more look at her and then shut his eyes for a moment, recalling what Ash had written in the letters and clamped his jaw shut to hold the questions in. He wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or... or something else.

"Er, just a sec," he said to Mia, standing up and moving back into the space between the tables. He looked at Sorrel, looked at Ash and looked at Sorrel again. Her eyes. Her hair! God, was there anything else?!

Not sure at all what to do, and not knowing what to say either - to tease or to ask if she was sick, maybe there was something going around, but he'd been warned not to tease, that she was being touchy about everything and that speech he'd just heard reinforced the warnings - he did the only thing he thought would be safe until he was on firmer ground.

"Ash, dude, good summer?"\n\n

39 Stephen what? where? *looks* 0 Stephen 0 5

Meredith

June 12, 2006 3:02 PM

Possum? You are a strange one. by Meredith

Well Echo was interesting to say the least. Meredith couldn't be sure if he was seriously asking her and Elly if they were vampires. She looked Elly's way and when they caught each other's gaze, Elly turned away holding in a giggling fit. Meredith smiled a little and looked back at Echo.

"Uh," Meredith started unsurly for the first time "I'm not a vampire, no. I enjoy the sun way too much to be stuck inside all day. That's the first time I've ever been asked that. My brothers have called me a little demon sometimes, but never a vampire. Not that I am a demon in case you were gonna ask that next." Meredith shrugged with a smile. She saw Elly still holding in her fit.

"Any particular reason you asked? Cool name by the way." Meredith still had a friendly smile. This kid, though his name was pretty cool, was pretty strange. Hopefully he'd lighten up a little. He sure seemed awfully tense, like he was scared of them or something. Weird.\n\n

0 Meredith Possum? You are a strange one. 0 Meredith 0 5

Melanie Rose

June 12, 2006 6:47 PM

New year, new life, new start. by Melanie Rose

The short red haired girl hid herself amongst her table of fellow Teppenpaws. It had been a long summer and even longer wagon ride for her. This was to be nothing new with the exception of everything about her. Her short spikes were grown out to a wave of red to a little past her shoulders. Her brown eyes no longer hidden behind the bangs that once were to her nose but now no where to be seen. She sat looking at all the new first years. She was only a little taller then some of them. This seemed the same as the year before except she wasn't the one drinking a potion or changing colors.
She simply smiled as she filled her plate with small portions of things she liked. Once it was as full as she thought she could eat she looked around at those who mingled and talked. Especially the first years. Last year was funny to see them. She was one but she didn't react as some did. One was panicing. This year it seemed calmer then again she didn't really pay too much attention to it. She was more interested in her notebook cover. She had been drawing on it the whole time to the school. She looked back to her food and started to eat as she wondered about more things.
This year she promised her new family she'd behave. She wasn't with her grandparents anymore but she wasn't at her home either. She had moved in with a friend of the family and stayed there. She was to behave and try her best this year. If not it would be a year of homeschooling and stuck in the house for life. She sighed as she thought of the good times of talking back. Especially to the flying teacher. She never learned to fly that year. This year would be different. She'd learn. Maybe even watch a game of quidditch instead of lolling around the common room. She took a sip of her drink as the thoughts continued. She met few the year before. Hopefully, she wouldn't be all too annoyed this year.\n\n

0 Melanie Rose New year, new life, new start. 0 Melanie Rose 0 5

Guenther Heindrich

June 12, 2006 7:17 PM

Wow, you came! I didn't even have to call your name out! by Guenther Heindrich

Guenther's book moved. He looked up expecting some first year trying to ask him a question but was pleasantly suprised to see Dill. "Ugh." he said in response to Zack's reference to food. "I feel sick. That ride was bumpier than last year and my summer stunk. Except that my dad and brother came down from Germany. I haven't seen my bro Kaleb for three years, so it was fun. He's a lot more mature now. I think it was just being around my dad. He's really strict, but he's okay once you get to know him. But everything else sucked. My parents fought and fought. You would think they were still married."

He sighed and took another look at the food lying on the table. It looked appetizing enough. He grabbed a chicken wing a took a small bite. "YUM, so how was your summer?" he asked when he had swallowed, "Any good?" \n\n

0 Guenther Heindrich Wow, you came! I didn't even have to call your name out! 0 Guenther Heindrich 0 5

Ash AND SORREL

June 12, 2006 8:45 PM

Here! In front of you... Not invisible... by Ash AND SORREL

Sorrel watched Stephen's reaction, from the raised eyebrow to Ash, to the several stares that were hard to miss. She held his gaze steadily, whilst slowly feeling her insides scrumple up. Ok, so she'd been expecting to cause a bit of a shock. That was the whole point, she told herself. Stephen, as usual, was over-theatricalising the whole thing. He took her in and then...

'Ash, dude, good summer?'

Ignoring her? He was ignoring her?! Was this some kind of elaborate pay back for last year? But then why only her? Was he ignoring her because she had gone over to the Girly Side by wearing make up. It was a statement, she had explained so. And anyway, he... He was ignoring her.

"We had a pretty average summer," Ash replied. What was Stephen playing at? He'd warned him not to do anything that might hurt Sorrel's feelings, so he was ignoring her? What kind of stupid logic was that, even for Stephen?! She had Mariella calling her names on the one hand, and Stephen acting like she was invisible on the other. That was going to do wonders for her mental state. He wished he could try and signal 'what the **** do you think you're playing at, you dick head?' to Stephen, but Sorrel was way better at picking up on his signals than Stephen could ever be. "Apart from Smelly's wedding, which blew as expected."

Princess was another issue. Did her tell her to scat in case Stephen kept this up, or said something that completely humilated Sorrel, or did he keep her here in the hope that Stephen snapped out of whatever the hell was wrong with him, so it would be proved that there was nothing to see here?

"What about you? Why don't you tell us what you got up to?" he asked. In his peripheral vision, he saw Sorrel's arms folding defensively across her chest. She wasn't appreciating the treatment, nor his less than subtle pokes to try and get Stephen to speak to her. He could picture the way she'd be pulling that face like she was rolling her eyes without actually doing it. He was surprised she hadn't stormed out yet. Although Stephen probably got allowances that Mariella didn't. He could practically see a little clock counting down to kick off though...
\n\n

0 Ash AND SORREL Here! In front of you... Not invisible... 0 Ash AND SORREL 0 5

Echo Elms

June 12, 2006 10:59 PM

For Real-Real. by Echo Elms

Meredith had almost had him for second there when she proclaimed her undying love of the outdoors. She needed fresh air. The rocks, the dirt, the trees, the spiders... Okay, so it wasn't that dramatic or anything, but whatever it had been was so contrary to how he thought about girls -- moms and aunts were different -- that he almost let down his guard a little. But then she'd kept on talking.

Had Echo been watching a movie, he would have leaned back when Meredith claimed not to be a demon, snickering, "Ha, yeah right," and settled in for the show. No one said things like that unless there was a good reason someone might think otherwise. It being in real life was unsettling. He spotted where Elly had gotten the desert she was so unenthusiastically poking at and helped himself to a portion. This move had the added benefit of distracting him a little from the demon girl who was still talking to him.

"Any particular reason you asked? Cool name by the way," Meredith finished.

"Uh, thanks, I guess," he said, surprised by the compliment. He made room for his new desert and settled it in front of him. Now, about those vampires, "Nah. No reason. Jus'checking. I mean, you never know, right?" He picked up his fork and, glancing at Elly, he added, "Two days ago, magic didn't exist, right, and your talking about biting? You just don't know."\n\n

21 Echo Elms For Real-Real. 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Stephen

June 13, 2006 12:11 AM

Are you sure? by Stephen

He wasn't stupid. Stephen picked up on the emphasised 'we' and 'us'. He managed to hold back the pained look he wanted to send Ash's way. He didn't know what to say to Sorrel. What was he supposed to say? All Ash's - short - letters had seemed to indicate that there were only things he shouldn't say to her, and now that he'd seen her... he didn't want a fight like last years again and he couldn't see a way of not having one either. This was impossible.

The glare escaped. Why couldn't Ash have given him better preparation for this? Some friend. Of course Sorrel was an even better friend. Usually. Argh!

"Oh, you know," he said, getting slightly grumpy because of his inability to see a way out of this stupid situation with Sorrel. "Had a mad time out on my motorbike until I had a little accident and broke my leg. Spent most of the summer in bed or hobbling around awkwardly. Actually, Summer mostly sucked. For some reason," if there was going to be a fight, he wasn't going to be in the wrong. No way. "My best friend couldn't be bothered writing to me - which would have been nice while I was an invalid - even though others managed to do so. It was boring as anything most of the time, and I couldn't do anything except read and watch TV - and that was only when I managed to get into the loungeroom - there was other stuff but-"

This was stupid. Sorrel... if one discounted her hair, it looked like she was trying to become a girl, but that wasn't Sorrel. Stephen shook his head. At least with the real girls, when they were starting to change it wasn't unexpected and he'd worked out how to react. Sorrel was different. What was he supposed to say? 'Hey, you look good with that makeup' or something similar, like he'd say to any other girl? The Sorrel he knew would try to beat him up if he said anything like that. And while generally that would be reason enough to say it, it was different now and ... he didn't know why.

And the next possiblility 'why?' seemed like the kind of thing that Ash had warned him against. It was a case of 'head? Meet brick wall'.

"-but whatever." This wasn't the time. It wasn't the place. There were firsties about. He looked at Sorrel again, gave her a small nod that did nothing to hide his mixed feelings and took his seat again. "You two eating?" he asked, trying to get back into neutral territory where he'd at least know where he was.\n\n

39 Stephen Are you sure? 0 Stephen 0 5

Dillon Welsh

June 13, 2006 1:56 AM

Just a new year for me by Dillon Welsh

Dillon walked into Cascade Hall with a grin on his face. He always loved the first day of school. Most people hated it, but Dillon had been here long enough to know that anything was possible during this opening feast. He was slightly put-out that Zoey had decided to skip out this year and instead, heading up to the Aladren dorms. Dillon knew it was because she was self-conscious, but anyone who knew his sister, already looked past her height.

His summer hadn't been all that special. His parents signed him up for a soccer league and so he had spent most of his time outdoors practicing or with the team practicing or playing a game. When he wasn't doing soccer, he was reading and doing summer homework. His parents asked him about Quidditch because he had explained how he wasn't sure if he wanted to do that anymore. He was still going to help Pepper out in training, but was going to let her do all the games. Eventually he was going to pull out altogether. It was just time to focus on other things and flying on a broom just wasn't something Dillon cared to do. It was rather uncomfortable anyway.

Dillon was going to sit by Pepper and talk to her about Quidditch, but as he neared her, he noticed she was talking to someone else. So, instead, he sat down next to a girl who didn't really look familiar to him. Not that that said much. Dillon didn't really know the younger years unless they were on the team. Her attention seemed elsewhere, so Dillon chose not to bother her. Until it was time to eat and her plate was in the way of the chicken.

"Excuse me, can you pass that plate of chicken down my way?" Dillon asked the girl. He wasn't going to be rude and reach over her food like some people might do.\n\n

6 Dillon Welsh Just a new year for me 44 Dillon Welsh 0 5

Elly

June 13, 2006 3:03 AM

Why possums? Why not llamas? by Elly

Elly surfaced, finally able to control her laughter by taking several slow, deep breaths. Being careful to avoid Meredith’s gaze in case it set her off again, Elly turned back to Echo it time to hear him say that two days ago, magic didn’t exist.

“So you’re a muggle-born too?” she asked excitedly. Phew, at least she wasn’t the only one. Elly had stopped being nervous about it by now – her inhibitions never lasted very long – but it seemed that Echo was still rather on edge. Either that or he was just shy. “Sorry about the giggling, by the way,” she added. “It’s horrible, I know. I just can’t help it!” She smiled at him.

“Anyway,” Elly said, breezing over Echo’s reply, “we were just saying about how there are supposed to be secret passages all over this place, and how we’re going to try to look for them. What do you think?”

Elly wasn’t really sure if she wanted this odd boy to come on adventures with her. Meredith seemed almost certain to be good company, but with Echo she wasn’t sure, he might not be very much fun. Perhaps she should have waited to see what he was like when he was relaxed before telling him about her secret passage mission, but Elly had always been friendly. Mischievous, certainly, but friendly, too.
\n\n

0 Elly Why possums? Why not llamas? 0 Elly 0 5

Echo Elms

June 13, 2006 7:09 AM

I'm all about llamas. by Echo Elms

"Yeah, muggle-born," Echo started to say. The word was still pretty foriegn to him, so he was too slow about it and Elly wasn't really interested anyway.

And then she solved the mystery of what they'd been whispering about. Secret passageways. That didn't explain why they'd been looking at him. Maybe he had been looking at them? Or maybe secret passages weren't the whole story.

Exploring this place would be awesome. They probably weren't allowed to yet because they hadn't even gotten a basic tour, but it seemed like the sort of place where every cooridor would be shrouded in mystery. And even if it wasn't, they could look at all the animated portraits -- which were still the best thing since his grandparents' cable tv -- and find their way around.

They. Where did that plural they come in? Two girls were better company than none at all -- but were they asking him just to be polite, or were they actually inviting him? Was this the sort of invitation you were allowed to take or the sort you were supposed to realize was never really there to begin with?

"I bet this place has a ton," he agreed, not quite as neutrally as he'd have liked, "I'd also wanna see outside. I don't know anything about this place."\n\n

21 Echo Elms I'm all about llamas. 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Elly

June 13, 2006 8:38 AM

How about pygmy hippos? by Elly

Elly was enjoying herself immensely. She loved making new friends, almost as much as she loved making a practical joke. She hoped that Meredith hadn’t minded her asking Echo to join in their search round the school, but his answer had been suitably non-committal anyway. He didn’t say whether or not he would like to join them, but did say he didn’t know anything much about Sonora.

“Me neither!” Elly replied enthusiastically. “Well, I read a bit about the school over the summer, after I got my acceptance letter. I’m looking forward to getting outside, too. I love being outdoors.” That much was certainly true. With the weather barriers around the school that she had read about, it seemed more likely that Elly would be able to enjoy time outside here than she could at home, where it rained practically every other day.

“I love exploring. I’m forever getting lost or stuck, then I’m left wondering how I got myself their in the first place. I’m also really clumsy… though you might have noticed that.” Elly grinned sheepishly at Echo, sincerely hoping that her juice wouldn’t leave a permanent stain on his shirt.

“Hey, I hear the gardens here are mazes. I’m going to get lost so often people will start to think I do it on purpose!” Elly laughed, and turned her attention once again to her pudding. She took an extra large bite and chomped happily on the delicious pastry.
\n\n

0 Elly How about pygmy hippos? 0 Elly 0 5

Amber

June 13, 2006 9:19 AM

We're off to see the wizards, the wonderful wizards of clas by Amber

Amber was finding herself entirely inclined to drop her nervousness about talking to people here for fear of having her head bitten off. All witches, it seemed, were not like Meredith or the short girl and or array of other magical female relatives. Folks were, as her grandpa liked to say, just folks, some better than others. Besides, she and her mother had dubbed her affliction a constitutional inability to shut up years earlier. She couldn't go for the better part of a year without talking.

She listened to Pepper's class summary with interest if not actual fascination, thinking for a moment about the bit of wood she'd been informed was a magic wand suited to her. To her mind, waving around a twelve-inch-long bit of maple wood still seemed highly unlikely to cause an effect. She'd seen quite a few people do it, but that was them. What could work for one person might not work for another. Believing magic was real and believing that she could do it were two different ballparks. She still smiled and nodded, though, not wanting to look as skeptical as she was. The classes would start soon enough, and then she'd know, one way or the other.

Amber scanned the top table, trying to figure out which was the nice Care of Magical Creatures teacher. The young woman with a cat sitting beside her seemed like a pretty good bet. As long as the class curriculum didn't include specimens of different dragon breeds or anything like that, she thought she might like the subject. She caught the tail end of the Quidditch coach bit, then raked her memory for any mention of the game the job went with.

She remembered Meredith saying something about women in a league and public indecency, but that was it. "Not really," she said. "Is it some kind of sport or something?" 'Coach' implied a sport, at least. It figured they'd still have gym class at magic school. She was too stiff-limbed to ever be really good at the sort of games they'd played and apparatuses they'd had to climb on in her old school's gym. \n\n

0 Amber We're off to see the wizards, the wonderful wizards of clas 0 Amber 0 5

Jenna Howard

June 13, 2006 10:48 AM

I'm not sure either... by Jenna Howard

Jenna couldn’t help but grin when she saw that it was Chrissy she was talking to. Well not because she had spilt juice all over her (which Chrissy, thankfully, had the good sense to clean up) but because it kind of put things in a full circle. The first time she had come to Sonora Chrissy had been one of the first people she’d talked to at the Welcome Feast from her first year. Now here she was, coming back again to the first feast since leaving Sonora, and once again Chrissy was one of the first people she ran into.

“Me? Jenna- no way. Must have me confused with someone else,” she said with the sarcasm she had newly acquired from spending too much time around her family.

She sat back down as if nothing had happened and put an apple on her plate. Hold it- she wasn’t usually sarcastic around people who weren’t her family, was she? No, no she didn’t think so. She really had to get reused to this whole interaction with people outside the family thing. Otherwise, she’d end up with only Jordanna to talk to, and what could be worse than that?

“Sorry about that, I’m just really used to having to put up with my family, you know?” Jenna explained to Chrissy apologetically, “I think they’ve driven me nearly as insane as they are by now,” she paused to pick up a knife and started to peel the skin off her apple, “I hope that Crotalus hasn’t become as overcrowded with snobs as my home has, though.” \n\n

0 Jenna Howard I'm not sure either... 46 Jenna Howard 0 5

Morgaine Carey

June 13, 2006 10:53 AM

Not much is better than not at all. by Morgaine Carey

"Why're you eating the potatoes if you don't like them?"

Morgaine looked at her neighbor directly this time, more from surprise than from any desire to see him. The question seemed...random. Out of place. She'd just given him a greeting that had 'get lost' written all over it, and he asked her about potatoes. More evidence that Clarence wasn't the only example of a Pecari being weird. Not that, after a year here, she needed much more evidence to draw a definitive conclusion about that. Even she was a little weird, albeit in a different way from most of her Housemates. She had it half on her mind to make a retort about cannibalism being illegal or something similar, but then she recognized him as being two things: both the only one of her House-and-yearmates who hadn't, in her opinion, done her a personal wrong, and as the fellow Gwen had almost killed the previous year.

Her ideas of what was moral and proper were a little off by most people's standards, but she held to them. Two of the codes were that she was only the initiator of the conflict if absolutely necessary and that she avoided making the family look any worse than it already did if at all possible. She scowled reflexively, then put down her fork. "Habit," she said, deciding that neither code required her to be nice. "Blame it on my aunt." Aunt. Step-aunt-in-law. Same difference. Either way, Sarah was an old hag who'd made Morgaine and Allie her replacement people to nag since Anne disappeared. With them, though, it wasn't something as easily faked as an outlook on life Sarah was out to fix. She'd been rigidly monitoring every bite of food either of them consumed since her falling-out with Eileen, complaining that Allie was too fat and Morgaine was too thin. Lila, of course, was perfect. As always.

The next part was the hard one. She hated trying to act civil, but she had to. Father most likely didn't know, and Gwen...well, Morgaine had watched her over the course of her first year, fought with her more than once, and had come to the conclusion that while Gwen's values might have changed, other things about her never would. She was willing to put money on it that Saul - she thought that was his name, it was hard not to learn at least someone's first name after a year of classes with him - had never been in any way compensated for the accident of the year before. "My family apologizes," she said stiffly, "for my sister's attempt to murder you last year. It was nothing to do with us, though." \n\n

0 Morgaine Carey Not much is better than not at all. 81 Morgaine Carey 0 5

Sorrel and Ash

June 13, 2006 11:04 AM

WE are sure that WE ARE here by Sorrel and Ash

It was one of those times Ash wished he could pause time. Pause it for everyone but, on this occasion, Stephen and himself. He wondered how Stephen would have reacted if Ash hadn't tried to prepare him, which made him wonder if the way his twin was being treated was slightly his fault. Judging by Stephen's glare, Stephen thought so. But all he'd done was try to protect Sorrel's feelings, and if Stephen was too thick to understand his warnings, he couldn't be blamed. He waited to see if Sorrel was going to respond to Stephen, but she didn't seem to be going to. Ash could read between the lines fairly well when it came to Sorrel, and pretty much knew this meant she wasn't sure that Stephen meant her any more by 'his best friend'. It probably hadn't helped that Stephen was refusing to look at, as well as talk to her now.

"We never normally write you letters," he defended them, "We would have if we'd known you were bored, but only just found out." He left off a snap such as 'forgive us for not being psychic', because he didn't want to accidentally goad Stephen into yelling at him that he'd known. As far as Sorrel was aware, no communication had passed between Stephen and either of them, and that was how it was going to stay.

He internally breathed a sigh of relief when Stephen looked at and addressed Sorrel, even if the level of communication wasn't ground breaking.

"Sure," Sorrel shrugged, wondering why she alone was being punished for not having communicated with Stephen by being ignored now in return (that being one of many current theories circulating around her head). "Shove along Princess," she said, deciding to take out her frustration somewhere it didn't matter. "Why don't you go and find... whoever it is around here who actually likes you?"\n\n

0 Sorrel and Ash WE are sure that WE ARE here 0 Sorrel and Ash 0 5

Helena Layne

June 13, 2006 1:32 PM

A Slew of Surprises by Helena Layne

"Now Lenny, don't be worried if they - er - give you anything once we get into the Hall. I promise that there's nothing at all wrong with it, it's all quite safe. And remember, too, that - "

"I'm representing you and the rest of the family in front of all these people, so try to keep from making a fool of myself," the female half of the duo said, her arms crossed and a look of strained patience on her face. "You've already told me that about ten times today, Geoff. I'm not going to embarrass you or anyone else."

"Yes, well, you're obviously nervous, Lena. People forget things while they're nervous, so it becomes necessary to remind them - "

"Trust me, I've heard it enough to remember by now. I won't forget. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye." She uncrossed her arms and put a hand on her chest, smirking in a way that made the teasing even more glaringly obvious. Her companion laughed.

"Haven't heard that one in years..."

There were some differences in appearance besides the obvious ones - the girl was fairer-skinned than the boy, and the boy's eyes were a lighter shade of green than the girl's and had some gray mixed in - but there was very little likelihood that anyone would mistake them for anything other than close relatives. Helena Layne glared at the boy beside her suspiciously. "I'm the one who's supposed to be nervous," she said, a bit of an edge to her voice now. "Me. You already did this, remember?"

Her brother Geoffrey grimaced. "Dad told me to take care of you," he said. "When I'm given a job like that, I'm allowed to be nervous."

"Job?" Helena asked. "You call looking out for me a job? I'm an absolute angel, a model of virtue, and you can refer to having my back as a job?" Geoffrey gave her a look, completely deadpan, that, despite knowing full well that he was just being stupid to take both of their minds off her Sorting, half made her wonder if he'd taken her comment seriously. At that exact moment, though, they crossed the threshold into the Cascade Hall. "Oh, go on," she said. "You and Anne raise some heck until I'm through with this." Geoffrey half-extended a hand, as if to pat her reassuringly on the shoulder, but hesitated and then did at least the first part of what he was told.

She was more nervous than she made herself out to be, but Lena knew better than to show it. The only effect it would have would be to work Geoff up even more, and that wouldn't be good for anyone involved. She almost thought he had to be more nervous about her Sorting than he had been about his own the previous year, because if he had been much more hyped up, he would have gained status as a medical miracle when he failed to have a heart attack. Once she was sure her brother wasn't looking directly at her, she allowed herself her first proper viewing of Sonora's dining hall.

She'd had some warning, but she felt her mouth drop open like any other gawping firstie's. This had to be the biggest and pretties room she had ever been in in her life. It could have been the excitement of the moment, but she could have sworn the lunchroom of her crudbag elementary school could have fit into this room twice with room to spare. Chandeliers...marble...if not for the waterfalls on the walls, Helena might have thought she had walked onto a movie set. The waterfalls were what made it magical. She barely noticed as she was handed a goblet of something and told to drink it, and didn't notice any of the potion's unusual affects until chance caused her to see the kid next to her and nearly jump out of her skin at the pigmentation of his. So this was how they Sorted 'em at Sonora...she was gonna kill Geoff for all that crud he'd been telling her over the summer...

Though she had never been as scholarly as Geoffrey or their old friend Anne, they had belonged to the same general group - nerds - when they had last attended the same school. She had expected the scenario to stay the same now that they were together again, but the potion she had just consumed had different ideas. Some of the blue people were heading towards the table Geoff was sitting at, the Aladren table, but a quick glance at her hands showed Helena a bold, brilliant scarlet, a shade that would only be used by the least bold House at Sonora: Crotalus, her father's old House. At least he would be pleased. He'd always hoped one of his children would make it in there, but he'd almost given up hope when Geoffrey went to Aladren instead.

She shot a quick look in his direction, only to find him staring incredulously at her. A moment later, he turned his head to hear what a dark girl sitting across from him was saying. The girl looked at once shocked and a little outraged, gesturing towards herself, Geoff, and then to Helena. Lena squinted, trying to make out her face, and blinked when she made out enough of the features to recognize the whole. Anne, she thought automatically, feeling another, stronger shock hit her. Of course. I told Geoff to go find her, didn't I? It had been two years since they'd actually seen each other, but Helena hadn't expected her to change that much.

They were both looking at her. She jerked her eyes away from theirs abruptly, turning and fixing her gaze on her still-red hands. Geoff and Anne, who, for all their annoying overprotectiveness and occasional flat-out craziness, were probably the two people she liked best in the world, were in one House, and she was in another. She hadn't really considered the possibility that she wouldn't be with them until now, when it was a reality. She made her way over to the red-people table - the Crotalus table - and sat down quickly, one set of nerves taking over as the other began to unwind. \n\n

16 Helena Layne A Slew of Surprises 88 Helena Layne 0 5

August

June 13, 2006 2:55 PM

Oops I mean, Aladren rules! (Any other Aladren firsties?) by August

Gray actually smiled at what August had said about teasing her sisters! August certainly hadn't expected that. At his old school, he would have most likely been told that it was a stupid idea, and someone else would have added that stupid ideas came from stupid kids like him, and then yet another person would have found something wrong with the clothes he was wearing, and it would have gone on from there.

Thinking about it made August's mood begin to grow darker. Here he was, two thousand miles away from all of that nonsense, and it still had the ability to hurt him. Suddenly, he felt a pair of arms around him and he instinctively went stiff as a board, his eyes going wide with panic, looking frantically around him to find out who was about to tackle him to the ground. Imagine his shock when the arms released him, unharmed, and he realized that Gray had just given him...a hug?!

He shrank back in his seat, trying to get as far away from her as possible, again out of instinct because he was still in "fight or flight" mode. "What'd you do that for?" he asked, his voice still shrill from the moment of panic earlier. It wasn't that he was angry at her, he just wasn't used to getting random hugs from people. He forced himself to take a breath and calm down. "I mean," he said, relaxing again in his seat, "you aren't gonna like, kiss me or anything, are you?" He looked at her cautiously. August wasn't actually sure what he'd do if she tried; the thought of "boy/girl" stuff was still a little foreign to him, but at the same time, it didn't sound quite as gross as it used to. No matter what, he'd forgotten all about the black cloud that had been over his head just a moment before.

Before Gray had the chance to do anything, August glanced over at Gary, who was attacking his dessert with the same ferocity in which he'd attacked his dinner. No wonder he hadn't said anything for a while. August was beginning to grow bored with just sitting at the table, though, and shrugged his shoulders as he replied to Gray's statement. "Yeah, I guess somebody will tell us when it's time to go, and tell us how to get there." He looked all around the table at the other first years, many of whom were involved in their own conversations, and he looked back over at Gray. "I wasn't paying attention before," he said. "Did you notice if anybody else turned blue during the sorting? There've gotta be more than just three of us in Aladren. I'm gonna ask!"

In another bold move, August craned his neck toward the center of the table and addressed the students that were all around him. "Hey, did anybody else turn blue?" he asked, in as loud a voice as he could muster. "If so, you can come and sit over here with us, if you want."\n\n

0 August Oops I mean, Aladren rules! (Any other Aladren firsties?) 0 August 0 5

Echo Elms

June 13, 2006 3:20 PM

Sweet. Mini hippos! by Echo Elms

Elly found information on Sonora over the summer? Echo wondered. He thought of all the hours he had spent combing the internet -- the realms of it he could reach through the child security filter -- for mentions of Sonora. All he'd turned up were a few pages on the Sonora Desert and its nearby public school district, a private school in Texas, and a couple girls who went by that name. The sheer derth led him to believe the school didn't even exist. Elly must have had crazy reference skills if she found something. He had an impulse to geek with her on her superior technique, but then she said something even more appealing.

"Garden mazes," Echo repeated reverently. He went to a corn maze in Montana once. Coolest. Thing. Ever. "Okay, I wasn't sure about this place, but that's just cool. I mean, it could be cool just because of the magic and stuff, but, man, that is crazy. What else did you find out?"

Elly, and Meredith by association, were no longer just girls. They had a purpose now, and Echo slipped easily into project mode -- a mode he had rarely came out of during his past three years of homeschooling. He was on solid ground now. Once he knew more, he could tie in some other object into their adventure. The history and varying techniques of map making might be appropriate, or maybe another plant study. He'd already learned all the ones at home, but there was probably something new here and if he could find a computer or a field guide that would be a great topic. Or, even better, he could do a unit on the history and making of the moving portraits.

Suddenly, he was reminded of something, and it was a troubling sort of something: he wasn't doing self-directed study anymore. There would be classrooms, books, and sitting for long periods of time while someone decides for you what they want you to know.

"What about the classes?" he asked his new project-mates -- who were like girls, but temporarily not quite as scarey -- with a glance at the professors' table. "I mean, um. What do we know about them?"\n\n

21 Echo Elms Sweet. Mini hippos! 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Mia

June 13, 2006 5:01 PM

But I wish you BOTH weren't by Mia

Mia’s day had been pretty good. She may not have been feeling her best, but it was a pretty good day. She had been looking forward to coming back to school and to magic other than potions for helping with colds. She missed using her wand the most. And when she got to her table not knowing if she’d be eating alone, Stephen came along and after a little convincing, was back to his normal high spirited self. That was the Stephen she knew. He was in the middle of asking her something when they were interrupted by the two main reasons Mia dreaded coming back to Sonora every year.

"It's a statement, a statement against people like you, and if you laugh or say anything, I'll break your nose and then we'll see whose ug-... laughing, got that?"

Mia looked up when the voice started preaching and saw Sorrel. At least she was pretty sure it was the girl Craven. Her hair was practically hacked off and her eyes were veiled in eyeliner. Eyeliner? Sorrel? What parallel universe had she fallen into? But as Sorrel spoke, Mia knew it was the same creep who had been torturing her since first year. Her eyes didn’t stay surprised for long because Sorrel brought her attitude back from summer break and then some. Mia’s eyes slowly settled into a glare by the time she finished. What did she expect Mia to do? Tremble and bow? Yeah right. Mia wasn’t scared of Sorrel even with the creepy load of eyeliner. She could admit the girl made her nervous in the beginning seeing how she and her brother could be, but she was too used to Sorrel running her mouth all the time. It wasn’t scary or intimidating. It was annoying.

Mia was about to snap back with a sarcastic comment that might’ve ended up getting her nose broken, but Stephen drew her attention when he got up looking back and forth between the twins. Mia hoped he wasn’t trying to be discreet about it, because he wouldn’t have won any awards for that. He spoke to Ash and started a whole mini drama at the table making Mia feel more awkward by the second. Her eyes traveled back and forth between the players in the drama. She was a bit angry that Stephen hadn’t said anything about Sorrel threatening her like that. She knew she was one of his best friends, but even so. Mia felt he could’ve said something.

When it was all said and done and the three of them seemed to somewhat get their issues out and dealt with, of course it was Sorrel who had to be the jerk to Mia…again. Jeez, Mia barely spoke a single syllable to the girl if she could avoid it. What was her deal? Why was she always taking her frustration out on her? Had she really thought the first words out of Mia’s mouth would be to insult her? Mia had more decency than Sorrel seemed to know because as much as she didn’t like Sorrel, she had no intention to insult her about her look. What did she care anyway? Her glare which had faded as her eyes traveled came right back to Sorrel before she started putting some more food on her plate. Mia didn’t pause to let her words sink in too much. Yeah, so the Cravens were pretty popular with just about everyone around the school and Mia wasn't. So what? She figured that wasn't the intended message, but those were the feelings the words brought up.

“I don’t know.” She said, though her voice held no uncertainty whatsoever on her actual decision. “It was actually you who came over here interrupting a conversation I was having. Maybe you two ought to find some place else to sit if my presence bothers you so much. I’m sure there are a bunch of people who would love to see you who are sitting somewhere that isn’t here.”

First she was supposed to take Sorrel’s insults and then she was supposed to move? That didn’t make sense any way she turned it. She had been perfectly happy with her seat before the Cravens showed up. She just felt a little bad that it might make Stephen have to pick. If the Cravens moved, which she somehow doubted, would he follow them or would he stay and talk to her like he started? Or would he just agree that she move? She didn’t plan on that either and all three of them together surely wouldn’t end well. Mia inwardly sighed. The Cravens had a nasty habit of ruining things for her.\n\n

0 Mia But I wish you BOTH weren't 0 Mia 0 5

Ash and Sorrel

June 13, 2006 5:51 PM

We BOTH wish the same about you by Ash and Sorrel

Sorrel returned Mia's glare full force. Glaring was one of the areas, along with Beating, punching, kicking and Chinese burns, in which Sorrel excelled. Mia had this irritating habit of trying to pretend she wasn't bothered by Sorrel, or afraid of her. Mia was scrawny little thing though, so Sorrel knew it had to be a bluff to try and get her to back down. Mia could never beat her physically, so she'd try and talk or indifference her away.

"We're not bothered about you," Sorrel told her, "Or where you choose to sit. Just thought it fair to give you warning that we plan on sitting here," she informed her. She leant in, easily shouldering Mia along the bench a bit - even before the girl had lost weight, she'd been pretty skinny, and Sorrel did chin ups most days and had played Beater her whole life. She and Ash slipped into the available space, Sorrel next to Mia, Ash next to Stephen.

"So, you spent the whole summer getting better?" Ash asked, as Sorrel leant across, blocking Mia out of the conversation. "How come you didn't just get a mediwizard on it?"

"Tell us more about the accident," Sorrel tried, even though she wasn't sure whether Stephen would reply to her. She wasn't even sure Mia was grossed out by blood and stuff, but it was worth a try. "Was there blood everywhere?" she asked, putting ketchup on her helping of sausages, "Go into lots of detail. We want to hear all about it..." \n\n

0 Ash and Sorrel We BOTH wish the same about you 0 Ash and Sorrel 0 5

Melanie Rose

June 13, 2006 6:16 PM

Vultures and chicken, don't mix with a "thief". by Melanie Rose

Melanie was sipping her drink once more as she watched a boy sit besides her from the corner of her eye. It didn't seem as if she could remember him from the year before. She quietly swallowed her sip and replaced the goblet where it had sat before as the boy seemed to direct a question towards her. It was about the chicken. She looked at the plate where it seemed hands would come and go off it as the feast began. She wouldn't be able to remove it just yet but she then was thinking about using her wand, but scratching that thought was simple. She didn't feel like making a mistake just yet. Her wand work wasn't the best.
"I would rather not try to be eaten by the vultures just yet." She was rather serious but the smirk crept up quietly from its long vacation, "It is only the start of the school year."
She didn't take a bite of her food as she noticed he couldn't exactly eat just yet unless he wanted no chicken for the time being. It would have been something she would have done last year but not this one. She needed to start new this year. No problems. She didn't want to be home schooled. Silently, she crept her hand across to the plate and picked it up as fast as she could.
"Thank you. This is needed." She said as she beat the other hands to it. Holding it out for him to grab so she could put it back she muttered, "Hurry, before they pounce."
She smiled. Her attitude was straightening. This would be good news for that 'Fox' lady and for her. Maybe she wouldn't get kicked out of class as fast. Or maybe even at all. She could only hope the woman didn't hold grudges and would let her go to the lessons. It was a privledge to fly; not a must. She was understanding things better this year and it was making her feel really insane. She knew last year was a mistake.\n\n

0 Melanie Rose Vultures and chicken, don't mix with a "thief". 0 Melanie Rose 0 5

Meredith

June 13, 2006 6:40 PM

laughs How did we get to these crazy titles? by Meredith

Meredith watched Elly and Echo go back and forth with the conversation as she paused to eat. She had no problems with Echo coming with them to explore the school if going with a couple of 'vampires' was okay with him. But his whole attitude seemed to change when they brought up exploring. Meredith grinned with her mouth shut and put up her thumb in agreement when they said they loved the outdoors too. She spent most of her time outdoors. Whether or not the two saw didn't matter much. She swallowed her food quickly to rejoin. She agreed wholeheartedly that this place was cool and she wanted to know more about what Elly read about. Then Echo brought up something. She followed his glance to the staff table.

"Classes?" Meredith thought a moment. "Well I think there are those basic classes everyone takes. Learning potions and spells and stuff like that. My brothers learned that at their school. I can't wait to learn some good spells. Hey maybe some of the classes are outside. Or better yet," she jumped a little in her seat with excitement. "Outside in the maze gardens." She was half joking at the end and laughed. She wouldn't be complaining but what teacher would teach in a maze. She knew she'd probably sneak away to look around and from the looks of things, Elly would come with her.

"But what else did you read about Elly? Maybe it'll help when we go looking around this place."\n\n

0 Meredith *laughs* How did we get to these crazy titles? 0 Meredith 0 5

Pepper

June 13, 2006 7:34 PM

applauds the title by Pepper

Pepper followed Amber's gaze along the staff table, grinning as she saw Professor K talking to a cat.

"I saw him - the cat - in the library a lot last year. I think he might belong to Mr. Reynolds. He's the librarian, and... erm..." she scanned the row again, just to be sure, "Oh, no here," she said, instead of pointing him out as she'd planned. "That's odd. Normally everyone comes to the feast." She stabbed her fork into a bit of beef, chewing as Amber asked about Quidditch. She nodded in reply.

"Yup," she confirmed the gesture, once her mouth was empty. "Played on broomsticks; there's seven players on each side, four balls, and lots of rules that seem more confusing than they actually are, so don't worry if you get confused. Are sports your thing, or would you rather I didn't go into any more details?" she asked. She could relate to people not finding sports appealing and so not really needing any more information, although she herself had been gripped by the Quidditch bug.

She considered her own feelings towards the sport. She wasn't overly athletic, but she liked it well enough - learning to catch whilst sitting astride a broomstick had been a pretty interesting challenge. It was probably one of her proudest achievements of her first year at Sonora. She was sort of looking forward to trying that again. She supposed there were a few things she had missed over the summer after all. \n\n

0 Pepper *applauds the title* 0 Pepper 0 5

Chrissy

June 13, 2006 9:56 PM

Oh well, you're the only Jenna now by Chrissy

Chrissy was slightly taken aback by Jenna's reply. It didn't sound like the same Jenna Chrissy rememeber two years earlier. This one was snarky. Chrissy gave her a frown but returned to her seat once the juice was cleaned up. She grabbed a few 'healthier' foods at decent proportions that Chrissy would have usually chosen. Her mother's diet had stuck with Chrissy and now was a habit of her's.

Chrissy shrugged off Jenna's apology. Chrissy had been a right cow at times, so she had no room to be a hypocrit. "It's alright. No harm done." Chrissy replied, smiling at Jenna. This almost felt like old times. Except, Jenna was wearing a hat. That was still throwing Chrissy off. "Nah, I think the houses are even now for snobby members. The Pecari's even have a Carey amongst them." Chrissy said with a smirk.

Chrissy went back to eating her food. She was silent for a few minutes before looking back at Jenna. "Is that where you were then? With your family?" Chrissy asked the girl. She was curious by nature and wished to know where her friend had gone off to. "Also, what's up with the hat?"\n\n

0 Chrissy Oh well, you're the only Jenna now 0 Chrissy 0 5

Dillon

June 13, 2006 10:27 PM

Thief? by Dillon

Her response to his request wasn't what he was exactly looking for. He stared at her for a moment, "Erm, alright." Dillon replied uncertainly. By her attitude, she wasn't a first year, which meant she was probably a second year. Dillon turned back to his plate and grabbed a few other things to eat before any of that was gone.

He was rather surprised when the plate of chicken was suddenly in front of him. His hazel eyes looked at the girl beside him. "Thanks." He said with a smile. He grabbed the chicken he wanted. "You can put it back now. I won't want you to lose a hand or anything." Dillon said with a grin. He took a grateful bite of his chicken. He had missed Sonora's food.

"I'm Dillon Welsh, by the way." Dillon introduced himself after swallowing a rather large chunk of chicken. "I'm a fourth year. I don't think we've met just yet."\n\n

6 Dillon Thief? 44 Dillon 0 5

Anne Wright and Geoffrey Layne

June 13, 2006 11:32 PM

We're ba - ack... by Anne Wright and Geoffrey Layne

Anne pushed a hand through her thick hair, then dragged her fingers out of it when bending her arm grew painful and began twining the ends around them. When Alicia had taken her out for a makeover near the end of the summer, she had picked out a new wardrobe and had gotten her hair cut back to its original length, making her old habit of playing with it easy once more. She focused on her hair instead of on the other people, because she knew thinking about them was a surefire way to summon up the feeling that everyone was staring at her. The clothes she'd put on that morning - white blouse, black pants, heeled but undeniably solid boots - felt like beacons, pointing out to the populace that Anne was no longer the same version of herself who had left Sonora two months previously.

A voice came from directly across the table. "Well, well, well, Annabelle," the owner said, and a look upward showed her the grinning but slightly anxious face of Geoffrey Layne. He stopped smiling at once, looking at her quizzically. "You okay, Wright? You look like one of the wagons ran you over."

"Thanks, Geoff," she said dryly, pushing herself upright on her elbow and dropping her hands to her lap. "I can really see why you're so popular with the ladies." Geoffrey was her best friend. If she couldn't tell him, she couldn't tell anyone. The conclusion she came to was that she couldn't tell anyone. "I'm fine. My aunt just made me get a makeover."

"Yeah, I noticed," Geoffrey said, not looking entirely convinced but willing to let it go. "You're the only person I know who looks more like a girl in britches than you do in a skirt." She decided not to comment on that one. Seeing Geoff and being back at Sonora, back where things felt real instead of like parts of a dream, was enough to make her willing to put up with that sort of thing. For the moment, anyway.

"Helena here?"

"Yeah," Geoffrey said, the anxiety in his face increasing. "I told her to trust whatever she was given..." He glared at her when she started to laugh for what felt like the first time in a very long time. "What?"

"I don't believe you, sometimes." The firsties were turning colors and beginning to disperse. Look among the blue ones as she would, she couldn't catch sight of Helena. She did, however, see Zack Dill, and returned his smile and wave with her own. She was under contract to act normal, and right now, at least, she felt sort of normal. Half-normal, anyway. Geoffrey was looking at her oddly. "What?"

"Since when are you and Dill such good pals?”

Anne smirked at him, though she wasn’t entirely sure what his motivation for this question was. “Since he caught a little gold ball way up in the air for me last year.”

Geoff looked amused, now. “I’m pretty sure he caught it so we could win, Anne.”

“Exactly,” she said, unperturbed. “I’m the team spokeswoman, though, so anything done for the team is also done for me.” Her friend shook his head.

“You’re impossible.”

“I know it.”

Normally, that would have demanded a retort, but Geoffrey didn't answer, instead choosing to stare off towards where a few firsties still were. After a moment, in the moment she saw what he was staring at, he swore, breaking the tension, and looked around at her as she gasped.

"What do they think they're playing at?" she heard her own voice demand. "Putting Lenny in Crotalus with that pile of jerks, they'll eat her alive. I mean, she's not like that. She's like us, like you and me." She caught herself actually pointing at the three of them. Helena was watching, looking somewhat scared, the poor baby. Abruptly, she scuttled off to the Crotalus table and sat down. Anne crossed her arms over her chest and considered reconsidering her position on how far out of her shell she should stay. The year was already off to a bad start.\n\n

16 Anne Wright and Geoffrey Layne We're ba - ack... 59 Anne Wright and Geoffrey Layne 0 5

Melanie Rose

June 14, 2006 12:16 AM

Stolen chicken and that makes a thief.- Lmao. by Melanie Rose

Melanie smiled as he looked at her, then waited for him to grab what he wanted and then got it back to its spot on the table with a smile.

"You're welcome. Don't worry about it. I think the fingers would get nipped first. They can always be replaced with toes, anyway." She spoke quickly as he brought her hand to the fork she had on her plate. She was biting into a small helping of mashed potatoes as his name came up. Dillon Welsh. She didn't recognize the name, but seeing how the information of him being a forth year followed, explained the reasoning of not knowing. She didn't answer straight away. She needed to swallow her food first then take a swig of her drink.

"I'm Melanie Rose, Second year. I don't believe we have." She stated holding out her left hand. It didn't occur to her that he may have been right handed but it was a reflex. She couldn't help that one without a thought process going, first. \n\n

0 Melanie Rose Stolen chicken and that makes a thief.- Lmao. 0 Melanie Rose 0 5

Gwenhwyfar Carey

June 14, 2006 12:16 AM

You're alive! by Gwenhwyfar Carey

She had walked Amber in, giving a wordy spiel about nothing in a bright, perky tone of voice that, depending on her expression and who she was talking to, could come across as that of one in a good mood or as that of one with a screw or three loose. She thought it was most likely the good-mood variant, now. Being back at Sonora and having someone with the surname Carey on her side, even if that person was only Amber, was doing wonders for her temper, at the moment. She normally wouldn't have sounded that happy, but the kid was obviously terrified, and the happier she sounded to be here, the less likely to collapse her cousin was.

She might have stayed in line with the firsties, just for the peculiarity of the gesture, but she had automatically scanned the room for anyone she wanted to see or wanted to avoid. Allie and Connor, she wanted to see. Lila and Morgaine, she wanted to avoid. She did want to see the person she saw while looking for those four, but she hadn't expected to. The girl in question was, after all, supposed to have been kidnapped by rampage-crazy liberals out for ransom money to fund their leader's bid for Cabinet president...or something like that. She wasn't supposed to be sitting here in the Cascade Hall with her best friend with a new haircut and outfit.

Anne was here. Anne seemed to have all her limbs attached, and otherwise be in good health. Gwen stopped dead where she was, staring.

Her brain did, after a moment, begin to work again. "Honey-dahlin'," she said to Amber, her tone absent for real this time, "you go on and get Sorted. There's somebody I gotta go talk to." She had to see for herself, up-close, that her cousin was in fact alive and in one piece. She'd been around her parents too much to ever assume that one could trust purely visual evidence. Patting Amber on the shoulder reassuringly, she hurried off in the direction of the Aladren table.

Halfway through, though, she rethought it. Confronting Anne about her continued survival here, in front of everyone, might not be the best idea she'd ever had. Anne was known at home for her temper rather than for her tolerance, and Gwen frankly didn't want to end up on the wrong end of the former. The other girl's conversation with her buddy - Layne was the name Gwen had heard him called by, but she was pretty sure it was his surname rather than his given name - seemed like it was going well, and didn't invite interruptions. She dithered, no doubt looking the part of the scatterbrained ex-socialite she played, and found her feet making up her mind for her just as Anne went on her Helena-shouldn't-be-a-Crotalus rant.

"Anne, honey, are you all right?" No, she had not just asked that. She was more diplomatic than Anne, but she would have been strongly tempted to answer that one with sarcasm even without the 'honey'. "Allie wrote to tell me you'd been kidnapped, and it's the first letter anyone's sent me since...well, you know what, and she made it sound like anything could have happened to you...she wasn't agreeing with Lila, so I was half-inclined to go with her theory." \n\n

0 Gwenhwyfar Carey You're alive! 63 Gwenhwyfar Carey 0 5

Elly

June 14, 2006 3:52 AM

points his fault by Elly

Elly finished her pudding, wiping an escaped glob of cream from her chin with the back of her hand.

She shared Echo’s worry about classes at Sonora - Elly had never been a model student. More often than not, her homework was late or missing; she caused a ruckus in class and had spent more time avoiding detention than she cared to remember. It wasn’t that she was naughty on purpose; she was just high spirited with a short attention span. Who could really expect an eleven-year old to sit still and concentrate for six long hours every day? Yet from what Meredith was saying, and from what Elly had suspected about a magic school, they really were going to be taught magic in their lessons!

Following Echo and Meredith, Elly also glanced up at the staff table. She noticed that very few of the professors were smiling. Definitely not a good sign.

Suddenly Meredith was asking questions again. Not concentrating as usual, Elly jumped at being addressed. She laughed at herself before answering. “Not that much, really. I found out that since the school is in a desert, the grounds have been bewitched so that plants grow and stuff.” She shrugged. “Oh, and if muggles come near this part of the desert, they see weird stuff, like nasty mirages, so they don’t come any closer.”

Being from a muggle family, Elly wasn’t sure of her opinion on all this anti-muggle stuff. What if her parents ever wanted to visit the school? Or needed to, was more likely. Elly’s parents were used to getting called into her school to talk to her teachers about her ‘wild behavior’. Elly wasn’t wild, she just enjoyed making people laugh, that’s all.

“I also heard about this ghost town,” she said in a mysterious voice. “It’s called Tumbleweed, and it moves around so muggles can’t find it.” Elly didn’t know if any of this was true, she’d only read about it. A couple of days after receiving her acceptance letter, Elly stropped and moaned all over the place, claiming she wouldn’t fit in and everyone would tease her for knowing nothing about magic. When she returned to her bedroom to sulk, she found a large pile of books in the centre of her floor. No-one knew how they got there, or why some of the pictures seemed to be moving. Elly had spent most of her summer reading them, and they were the sole source of all her knowledge about magic.
\n\n

0 Elly *points* his fault 0 Elly 0 5

Stephen

June 14, 2006 6:35 AM

Oh for crying out loud! Must we do this every start of year? by Stephen

Sorrel and Ash might have been his friends, but that didn't mean that they could just go and shoulder into the middle of everything. Especially when he was annoyed at them. And what the hell was Ash playing at? And Sorrel!! He looked at the both for a moment after their questions were asked, not missing Sorrel's deliberate attempts to block out Princess. Without saying a word, Stephen climbed out of his seat again, moved along the table.

"Shove over," he said, still struggling to sound neutral. He pushed his way into the space between Sorrel and Mia, and then leaning back over the twins to retrieve his own plate, and moving Sorrel's over so that there was room for it in front of him.

Then, with a momentary apologetic look at Mia, he answered the questions. "Couldn't get a mediwizard," he explained, poking at the sausage on his own plate. "It happened when I was with Alan and his friend Ben, and Owen, Darren and Jimmy - my friends back home - they were all there too. And we didn't really have any way of contacting anyone magical. Mom and Dad are Muggles, remember? They've got no idea of some of the stuff that wizards can do. And when we did get an owl, the one delivering my school letter, Mom wrote to get help then. But by then it was a bit late. No way to explain a miracle recovery. So I had to deal with the slow healing way until it was time to come back to school. They visited again last night and fixed up what hadn't healed already by itself so that my leg was back to normal. I did get an owl out of the whole thing though. Well. Mom did. She talked to the people who came the first time and got it sorted out, so I shouldn't be so isolated if anything like that happens again."

He took a little longer getting to Sorrel's question. It wasn't as though he hadn't had plenty of time to think about it, but... "A bit," he said, non-committedly, recalling that Princess had looked a bit peaky when he'd sat down next to her. "It was an awesome jump though." He turned slightly towards Mia, finishing the explanation as he'd mentioned it in passing to Ash already in their letters, and by default that should mean that Sorrel, if she was in any way still Sorrel (and the way she'd treated Mia had him leaning towards her still being herself, somewhere in there), would already have heard that bit already.

"I went motorbiking with my brother and some friends. His buddy Ben's got this great course set up on his parents property, and I had a bit of an accident. But I'm ok now," his lips twitched back towards his usual grin for a moment and he patted his leg, recalling the sight of the bone sticking out with a barely noticable shudder.

He shrugged at Mia again and turned his head to take in the twins. Maybe if he just kept the questions neutral. Not asking about Sorrel's new look, or... eh, anything that seemed related to it. Ash had mentioned the wedding, that had to be a safe topic.

"How'd you both make it through the wedding alive?" he asked, turning slightly again to smile at Mia so she'd know he wasn't trying to exclude her before giving his full attention to the twins.

The sausage remained on his plate, ignored for the moment.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

39 Stephen Oh for crying out loud! Must we do this every start of year? 0 Stephen 0 5

Echo Elms

June 14, 2006 7:32 AM

Who me? Innocent, what? by Echo Elms

Echo had forgotten about his half-eaten pudding and was searching for his pen and paper. He had thought he'd probably need to take notes because of all the new magic stuff, so he'd come prepared. He pulled the pen from his sock and a couple of mini assignment book sized sheets from his shirt's breast pocket and pushed the pudding out of his way.

"Okay," he said, gripping the pen in his left hand and scribbling a topic at the top each side of paper. "Garden maze; Secret passageways; Classes; Ghost Town (Tumbleweed)," and filling in some details for each.

When he got to secret passageways he looked up again, "What do we really know about the passageways. Just that there's lots, or what? Do we have any clues, or maybe ideas what we might look for?"

It seemed to him that there must be different types of secret passages. "You know," he added before the others could respond, "like maybe with some where you have to touch something or turn a lever or punch in a code or something -- you know, like in Zorro or Batman." He jotted down, "physicle mannipulasion" for that one and frowned at it for looking wrong. He moved on, "That might be one type. Another type might just be hidden behind a curtain or a trap door or something." He wrote "Hidden" for that one. "I can't think of how, but maybe there're magic ones too?"

Magic seemed like a weird cop-out answer, not something that should be seriously considered. On the other hand, magic was real now so that rather changed things.\n\n

21 Echo Elms Who me? Innocent, what? 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Amber

June 14, 2006 12:55 PM

bows I have a good one every now and then. by Amber

Amber frowned a bit at hearing that the librarian was supposed to be here but wasn't. Anything unusual had become, over the course of two months, more and more likely to set her imagination off running, now that there were so many more things that were possible. One thing she had found out was that magic people were healed up a lot more quickly and easily than normal ones, so being sick seemed a little...bland. She resolved not to go down the conspiracy-theories road. A little paranoia in the wake of finding out that everything she'd ever known about the world wasn't true was all right. Excessive paranoia - thinking her school's librarian had been kidnapped by aliens who sent his cat to dinner as a decoy, for example - was not.

Then came the explanation of Quidditch - well, the beginning of it, anyway. Broomsticks. The brooms at Glenhaven that she had seen looked pretty darn weird, but she had strenuously avoided the idea that they were really used for transportation. It occurred to her that she'd been in half-denial about a lot of things, now that she thought about it. Well, that had to end. "I like watching sports all right, but I'm not too good at playing them," she said in answer, shrugging. "Do you play it? Sorry if I'm being too nosy, I'm like that sometimes."

She'd said, more or less, the same thing to her dad, when he'd caught her asking a mildly offended portrait of her great-grandfather how in the heck the system of pictures of dead people worked. He'd smiled in that half-bitter, half-rueful way he had whenever discussing the family and had told her that it was most likely inherited. She had understood what he meant once she met her grandmother. Cynthia Carey wasn't unpleasant, exactly, but made a great show of being longsuffering until she saw the opportunity for gossip. The Savannah Careys - Cynthia's own birth family, she and Amber's grandfather had, from what she could tell, been distant cousins - were apparently noted for that.\n\n

0 Amber *bows* I have a good one every now and then. 0 Amber 0 5

Anne and Layne

June 14, 2006 1:58 PM

Yeah, that too. by Anne and Layne

Crotalus House had a reputation, a deserved one from what Anne had seen, for turning out snobs, jerks, and crackpots. The little cliques they had formed during her first year, for example, had been exclusive and one, from what she had heard, had been the exact sort of snooty purebloods Aunt Sarah would have approved of. Uncle Al and Aunt Annie had been Crotali, and they were jerks. Gwen and Uncle Julian could both list Crotalus on their resumes, and they were touched in the head. Helena met none of those requirements, which meant there had obviously been some kind of mistake. She just wasn't like that.

They'd have to make an inquest or something, get Connell to test the Sorting potion. Everyone would have to be reSorted, but that would be all right -

Anne, honey, are you all right?"

Anne stared blankly at Gwen as she continued her rambling about Allie and letters and kidnapping. She realized her mouth was half-open by the time her cousin shut up, and quickly jerked her jaw back up. Gwen really was out of her mind. Anne was sure Allie had better sense than to write something like that, and she was also pretty sure that Aunt Sarah had taken every available opportunity to gloat about how clever she had been in ridding the St.Martins of their black sheep. "Well," she said, still trying to work out where-in-the-heck Gwen had gotten the idea from, "I'm fine, see?" Really, what was she supposed to say? They got along all right, for cousins, but the reaction to her survival seemed a little excessive...

Geoffrey was frowning. Crap. "What's she talking about, Anne?" So much for keeping it to herself and acting normal.

"I'm not living with the St.Martins anymore," she said shortly. "John's family reclaimed me this summer." He opened his mouth, clearly planning to ask for details, but she shot him the "don't ask, don't tell" look. She didn't want to talk about it, and she wasn't going to talk about it. The melodramas of her families were none of his business. She could keep it to herself, if she wanted to. No one could make her tell anything.

Gwen hadn't gone away. Damn. "I wasn't kidnapped," she said, trying to sound a little gentler. She'd heard rumors and seen some evidence that Gwen was unusually sensitive to things when she got emotional. "Really, Gwen. The twins were probably just pulling your leg. I was in California and doin' pretty well, except for the heat. It ain't like here." She was trying to sound casual, she realized. She wanted to smash things, but she was making herself sound casual and all right for her cousin's sake. Wouldn't Doc Thorpe be proud.\n\n

16 Anne and Layne Yeah, that too. 59 Anne and Layne 0 5

Elly

June 14, 2006 2:26 PM

HEY!! OLDER PECARIS!! by Elly

Elly goggled as Echo pulled a pen and some paper out as if from nowhere (though she was pretty sure he wasn’t using magic at this stage). He started to write down headers for what they had just been talking about. Elly looked up to share an incredulous look with Meredith. 'He’s a geek!' she thought to herself. That didn’t bother Elly too much, she’d just never made friends with a geek before; they never had enough time for her.

“I think there are probably some magically concealed secret passages, yes.” Elly replied, peering at Echo’s notes. “You’ve spelled physical manipulation wrong, by the way.” Elly looked back to Meredith. “Do you think we can go to the common room yet? I want to have a look around, I’m bored with this place.” Her sense of adventure had already kicked in.

Not really registering Meredith’s reply, Elly leant forward and yelled up the table:

“HEY, OLDER PECARIS! Can someone show us how to get to the common room?”

Elly grinned at any student who turned to look at her, her eyes glinting mischievously. She turned back to Echo and Meredith and shrugged. “Easiest way to find it, don’t you think?”
\n\n

0 Elly HEY!! OLDER PECARIS!! 0 Elly 0 5

Meredith

June 14, 2006 3:47 PM

Wow, that's some set of lungs... by Meredith

Meredith watched as Echo wrote. She stretched her neck to see the writing. Echo was really into planning at any rate. That could be a good thing to have even if Meredith was more of a ‘just go for it’ kind of girl. He wrote out different possible ways the passages might be hidden. She figured it wasn’t totally important to know what a zoro and a batman were. Elly didn’t seem confused by it. Maybe it was a muggle thing. Meredith agreed with Elly that the passages could be hidden by magic.

“I agree. I think most, if not all the passages would be hidden with magic. It is a magic school. I don’t disagree with them being hidden behind curtains either though. Or maybe even those talking pictures. It could be anything for all we know. We sure have our work cut out for us, don’t we?” Meredith said none too discouraged. The thought of a bit of challenge made it more fun to her.

Elly asked if they could leave Cascade Hall yet. Meredith was still enjoying the dull roar of student talking and of the falls. She didn’t mind staying until the feast was over even if she was really curious about everywhere else in the school. Apparently Elly did though.

“Elly, I’m sure they’ll take us to the—”

“HEY, OLDER PECARIS! Can someone show us how to get to the common room? Meredith stared incredulously at Elly, but not in a bad way. The girl was gutsy. Meredith was impressed. “Easiest way to find it, don’t you think?”

Meredith stared for another moment, before having a laughing fit. When she settled down a bit she looked back at her friend, still breaking into small bouts of laughter.

“That’s one way to do it anyway.”\n\n

0 Meredith Wow, that's some set of lungs... 0 Meredith 0 5

Echo Elms

June 14, 2006 5:49 PM

wince Loud! by Echo Elms

"HEY OLDER PECARIS! ...

Echo was halfway out of his seat, dogding away from the NOISE before his brain caught up with him. He managed to stop before he tripped backwards over his seat.

"That's one way to do it anyway," Meredith looked marginally less disturbed about this. In point of fact, she was laughing. Again. It was only a matter of moments, he guessed, before the madness of the giggling spread. And now, thanks to Elly, they had an audience.

Echo darted distrustful glances at both of them, sinking cautiously back down into his seat and trying to think of something redeeming to say.

"Whoa," he said, "That was loud."\n\n

21 Echo Elms *wince* Loud! 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Dillon

June 14, 2006 10:02 PM

more like borrowed. by Dillon

Her sense of humor baffled Dillon. He was sure she was trying to be funny, but the idea of toes being fingers wasn't exactly the best sort of topic while eating dinner. But, it wasn't like Dillon was all that sure of people to begin with, so maybe everyone had that sort of humor. Or...maybe not.

He continued to eat after introducing himself to the girl. Either she hadn't heard him (which was entirely possible), didn't care (again completely possible), or her mouth was full of food. When she finally did get around to answering him, he figured the latter of his thoughts were the truth. Dillon wiped his hands clean before taking her's. He was right-handed so gripping her hand in his left was slightly awkward for him, but he chose to ignore it. "Second year? That's probably why I don't know you." Dillon said with a slight smile. He wasn't going to admit to not knowing pretty much anyone outside of his year. Besides those who were on the team and he barely knew them.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Melanie. I'm very grateful for the chicken." Dillon said just to make conversation. After a moment, he returned his attention to her. "So, now that you've had a year to take in Sonora, what do you think of it?" He was sure this was a common question to be asked and felt lame for having asked it.\n\n

6 Dillon more like borrowed. 44 Dillon 0 5

Lila Gringe

June 14, 2006 10:13 PM

And none of them simple. by Lila Gringe

Maybe it wasn't really something Lila was any good at. Okay, maybe it was really something Lila neither enjoyed or was any good at. That latter description was a bit of an understatement, but she could leave it there. That was about as apt as a description was going to get without being fairly brutal- the Crotalus had a tendency to both think little of herself and expect more of herself.

All of that, however, was entirely beside the point. The point was this: Reaching out was neither something Lila enjoyed nor something she had any skill at. The easy, obvious solution would be to simply not reach out, and let people come to her if they wanted to instead. Any answer that simple, however, simply couldn't work, to her way of reasoning. Simplicity was a marvelous thing in theory, but in reality, not much was simple. Thus, on the way to Sonora, Lila had found herself making a decision to reach out to someone, preferably a first year. In theory, a first year would be at least a slightly less demanding conversationalist than anyone who hadn't just turned a different color- i.e., anyone in a different year. There she was with her theories again.

The theories, of course, weren't helping much- they rarely did. And yet she couldn't resist adding another to the group: A first year would be younger, obviously, and therefore theoretically shorter. (And there was yet another theory within that theory!) Almost definitely shorter, actually, considering Lila was and had just about always been tall for her age and had gotten taller over the summer. In her opinion, she now looked rather like she'd been stretched out- her hair was longer, and that only added to the effect. Really, the only change in her appearance that she liked was what the sun had done to her hair. Now streaks of it were lighter blonde than the rest. Natural highlights had to be ever so much less troublesome than artificial ones.

That sun-streaked hair might have been the additive to her confidence that had allowed her to make that promise to herself, now that she thought about it. It made sense, mostly. Lila decided that said additive to her confidence was certainly sufficient to help her with the actual reaching-out bit. Making decisions was easy. Reaching out? Not so much. But she'd decided she would do it and she was going to do it, even if it meant managing to make some random first year Crotalus either be terrified of her or decide that she was some form of insane. Neither was particularly appealing, and so Lila found herself going over every bit of social advice she could remember receiving- mostly manners from Rena, plus pureblood behavior from Gwen. The things that came to mind were to be polite, smile, and stay on the fence regarding pureblood supremacy. Simple enough. Or perhaps simple wasn't the right word- straightforward was better.

Straightforward. Right. She'd been deliberating over this supposedly simple- there was that word again!- thing and had been too focused on the theory- theory!- of the thing to actually do it. Now would be a good time to get around to it, or at least as good as any- part of her wanted to grab onto that 'any'. Carpe diem, she reminded herself. Seize the day. In this case, that meant that she ought to just take the opportunity to turn and smile and greet the first year who'd managed to sit next to her.

Realizing she wasn't ever going to get around to actually doing what she was arguing with herself about doing if she kept arguing, Lila forced herself just to turn to the scarlet-by-artificial-means first year and smile, saying "Hello, welcome to Sonora." Somehow, she managed not to sound nervous or demented. Mission accomplished; new school year's resolution achieved.

Take that, simplicity.\n\n

0 Lila Gringe And none of them simple. 0 Lila Gringe 0 5

Zack Dill

June 14, 2006 10:29 PM

Far better than last year's by Zack Dill

Zack nodded in commisseration as Guenther went on about his problems over the summer, but didn't let his friend's stomach issues deter him from filling his own plate full of chicken and potatoes and just about everything else available for the feast. His stomach wasn't weak. It had needed to become indominable when faced with his mother's cooking; nothing so prosiac as a mere bumpy ride could disturb it. He took a bite of the chicken and savored the fact that it did not have the consistancy of rubber. It even tasted good. Zack loved Sonora.

Guenther clearly wasn't finding his nearly so wonderful. Zack gave him a sour look at his overexaggerated enjoyment.

"My folks are still married," Zack offered, because it was a rarity in his part of Detroit and Guenther had just said his were divorced (which was a step up from many of the other Detroit kids' parents). But then, his supposed genetic material donors had something most others in his neighborhood didn't. "I think they bonded over raising me. Enemy of my enemy is my friend and all that. They can practically speak without using words. I'd suspect telepathy but their brains aren't that powerful." He lowered his voice and leaned closer, confiding, "I'm still trying to prove I was switched at birth."

Sitting back again, he waved his fork in a grand gesture, "But overall, the summer was pretty decent, after taking into account I was back with my relatives. I upgraded my computer again, had a great D&D campaign - I gave my sorceror 'Heindrich' as one of his names, by the way - earned a bunch of money with the summer school crowd, and Nick only bruised me up a few times. Met a girl named Randy who's pretty well off - her folks don't even need food stamps - and she let me stay in their spare room quite a bit. I think it was out of charity, but I'm not complaining. They've got Air Conditioning," this was said in a voice akin to worship. \n\n

1 Zack Dill Far better than last year's 40 Zack Dill 0 5

Saul

June 14, 2006 11:05 PM

huh? by Saul

Saul stared at her, utterly flabbergasted. First, the attack on the Pitch was a consequence of Quidditch, not an attempted murder, even he realized that. He wasn't expecting an apology from that Gwen girl, nevermind Morgaine who he hadn't completely realized was even related. They didn't even look a whole lot alike. And while he did know a lot of 'purebreds' were a bit interbred, he hadn't expected the two to be sisters.

At least, he was assuming the bludger hit was the murder attempt she was talking about. It was the only time he could recall nearly dying last year and he didn't think he had any missing days hidden in there.

Still surprised nearly to shock, he made a vague waving gesture with his hand. "Yeah, no hard feelings," he assured her, wondering even as he said it if maybe he should refuse the apology all together, though that seemed kind of rude somehow. Not that the California Pierces were really up on manners. Still, it seemed rude to him and she hadn't done anything to warrant rudeness. After all, if she was eating potatoes against her better judgement, she was clearly far more oppressed herself than she was an oppressor.

He decided they ought to get back to a safer topic than murder or lack thereof. Except, she was a Something-Snobby-Sounding and he was, well, not. Okay, he admitted 'Saul Pierce of the California Pierces' might sound snobby to the uninitiated, but the sound of it and the reality of it were rather strikingly different. He doubted they had much of anything in common beyond their age and House.

Which left really only one topic to discuss. "You should stand up for what you believe in," he urged her. "Boycott potatoes. They're evil and starchy." It was immaterial that he actually sort of did like potatoes himself. At least, they were a far better than most other garden variety foods. But it was the principle that mattered.\n\n

1 Saul huh? 82 Saul 0 5

Earl and Eavan Valentine

June 14, 2006 11:42 PM

Back in...yellow? by Earl and Eavan Valentine

"I told you so," Earl grinned at Eavan's grumpy face as they walked through the main entrance of Sonora.

"But you never said it was that painful!" She exclaimed, rubbing her bottom for added effect. "It was so stuffy in there too."

"Stop, it Eavan. We're here, so just sto- stop it." Earl's voice squeaked mid-sentence, causing him to blush and Eavan to giggle and forget her troubles about the wagonride to school.

They sat down next to each other at one of the tables. Eavan's brown eyes stopped on the goblet of clear bubbling liquid sitting in front of her. She nudged her brother.

"Earl, am I supposed to drink that?" She pointed to the bubbling liquid and scrunched her nose.

"Of course. That's how you find out what house your in."

"How does it do that?" Eavan gazed at Earl's face, so much like her own: brown eyes, brown hair, tan skin, freckles, and pouty lips.

"When you drink it, the liquid changes to color of your house." Earl was trying his hardest to suppress a grin when Eavan nodded and asked what color his turned.

"Red for Crotalus." It was getting harder and harder to keep a straight face when Eavan took a big swig from the cup and gulped it down. And the proverbial dam burst when she stared ito the cup hopefully, trying to figure out when it was going to turn red.

"What inthe worl dare you laughing at? It's not working! It's still clear. Earl, what if I'm not supposed to be here? The cup knows it! I'm like Eddie!"

Earl stopped laughing. Oh Eavan, I was just kidding. That's not how it works. You see you-" He stopped when he finally registered that Eavan's brown skin hadn't turned the bright red that he had thought it would. Instead it was sunny yellow.

"What? Oh, my God, Earl. Tell me what it is!" Earl took Eavan's hand and brought it up to her face. Eavan screamed and smacked Earl in the head.

"What'd you do to me?"

"I didn't do anything! It was the potion. I was saying that it changes you skin color. I was joking before. Where'd you learn to hit like that?"

"Danny's been teaching me." Eavan stared at her yellow hands. "Why am I yellow? Shouldn't I be red if I'm in Crotalus?" Earl looked at his sister sadly.

"If you turn yellow, that means you're in Teppenpaw, not Crotalus."

"We're not in the same house? How is that possible? I demand a recount!" Eavan's voice was reaching the pitch where people nearby were turning to see who was making all the fuss.

"Eavan, you-you can't. It's permanent. There's no changing." At this, a fat tear rolled down Eavan's yellow cheek, which was slowly turing brown by the second. She grabbed onto Earl's robes and sobbed.

"But I wanna be with you." Earl just held her foir a moment before the food appeared and he began to shovel food onto each of their plates.

"C'mon, Sunshine. Eat. We'll still be okay." He urged her to eat and ate a few bites himself before stopping mid-chew. "Why are you hanging out with Danny?"

"Well, you were gone most of the time. I had to hang out with someone."

"Why would he hang out with a little imp like you? You're two years younger."

"You hang out with me."

"I'm your brother there's differnce."

"Shut up, Earl."

"No, you shut up, Eav-" He stopped himself once aagin, but this time for a good reason. He spotted someone he knew.

"Hey!" Earl call from across the table. "Over here!"

\n\n

0 Earl and Eavan Valentine Back in...yellow? 0 Earl and Eavan Valentine 0 5

Guenther Heindrich

June 15, 2006 8:17 AM

Luck...I just don't have it..Especially with dice! by Guenther Heindrich

Guenther became excited at the mention of D&D. "D&D is great! I just started the Clockwork Mage with my friends at home. They were a bit dissapointed to hear I was going back to boarding school this year, since the Clockwork Mage is kind of lengthy especially since they are all going in the wrong direction." He laughed. "Which ones did you play?" He asked, curious to see what choice of campaigns he would go on.

He took another bite out of his chicken, praying that his stomach wouldn't lurch again. \n\n

0 Guenther Heindrich Luck...I just don't have it..Especially with dice! 0 Guenther Heindrich 0 5

Ash and Sorrel

June 15, 2006 11:08 AM

It's tradition. The school's all for that... by Ash and Sorrel

The combined weight of the twins was something that Stephen couldn't shove aside, the way Sorrel had easily pushed Mia along the bench. However, when he determindly dug himself in between Sorrel and Mia, they had little choice but to move up. Sorrel kept herself from glaring, because she didn't want to seem like she was bothered in front of Mia, but she was deeply hurt that - after ignoring her - Stephen was now picking Mia over her. Well, sort of. Either way, she regretted not trying to see Mia off with a jug of pumpkin juice in her lap whilst she'd had the chance.

Her annoyance increased further as he brushed off her question, and then told Mia all about his summer, when she didn't know anything about it either. He clearly was still trying to ignore her, at least in part. She would have left and let him get on with being a total dick, but she didn't want Mia to think she'd left because of her. So she was going to stick it out.

"Cake, mainly," Ash replied to the wedding question. Sorrel didn't seem keen on answering any questions not directly addressed to her, not that he could blame her when Stephen was clearly hurting her feelings so much. "And the promise that we'd be grounded if our mom had to spend the rest of her life hearing Mariella whinge about it. She said she'd heard enough about the wedding to last her a life time before it happened," he grinned, whilst silently resolving to learn a deafness charm to use on Sorrel for future occasions when he needed to yell sense into Stephen in front of her.

"It's cool you've got an owl now," he added, keen not to talk about the wedding (Sorrel had promised not to bring up his funky moves provided he didn't mention her underwear, but even without that, the topic was sickening and painful) "You can write us in the summer if we don't get around to writing to you. Didn't mean to leave you isolated, we're just not big on letter writing," he told Stephen, madly pulling a face at him, as Sorrel leant Stephen and Mia's way to grab a drink, hoping Stephen would get from it that all was possibly not as it seemed, regarding letters, even if he couldn't communicate exactly why. "So how'd you pass the time when your leg was getting better?" he asked. \n\n

0 Ash and Sorrel It's tradition. The school's all for that... 0 Ash and Sorrel 0 5

Pepper

June 15, 2006 11:22 AM

Me too. Very occasionally. by Pepper

"There are far more personal questions you could be asking," Pepper grinned, "I play Keeper. Sort of. There's an older boy on the team who plays, played... Well, he wanted to stop last year so he could concentrate on his school work, and I was going to take over when I was comfortable, but I hadn't been flying very long by the time our first match came along, so he played it. I guess I might be on more permanent duty this year," she shrugged, silently adding to herself 'unless someone from a wizarding family, who's been playing all their life comes along.'

"You're not being nosy, don't worry," she assured the other girl. "You're bound to be curious starting a new school. You don't have to second guess everything you say - I won't bite your head off," she almost told her she was used to having her patience worn to the nth degree, but decided that sounded like Amber was being annoying and she was just putting up with it, which wasn't true at all. "And I'm not used having much privacy anyway," she grinned, "You tend not to get it with five siblings swarming around you all the time." Well, technically only four of them 'swarmed'. Demetrius tended to lurk in his room and brood, which afforded most people plenty of space from him (and him from them).

"So, you're not a sporty girl? What do you like doing in your free time?" she asked. She hoped it didn't involve TV, computers of anything else electronic, otherwise Amber was in for even more of a culture shock.\n\n

0 Pepper Me too. Very occasionally. 0 Pepper 0 5

Stephen

June 15, 2006 12:32 PM

Just so long as Marnett's theory isn't tradition... by Stephen

What was her excuse, Stephen wondered, feeling distinctly out of sorts. He at least had the 'Sorrel has apparently gone mad and must be treated with caution until it is known what has happened' excuse. Of course, he thought a second later, that might be her excuse too. Not the part about finding out what was wrong with her, as presumably she knew that part, but the being mad bit. And now Ash was pulling faces at him now too. Stephen wondered if the madness was catching. Or maybe it was just genetic, and Sorrel got hit first because she was older.

"Not big on letter writing?" Stephen said. "I think I know that by now, they-" He stopped. "Yeah," he jumped back in a moment later, having had a new thought occur to him. "Yeah, what was it? Just that one letter before I came to stay with you. And that was written by your mom to mine, and it was muggle post so... it doesn't even count." He suspected that there might be an actual conversation due between him and Ash and... he suddenly also felt a little sorry about how he'd been reacting to Sorrel.

Not entirely sorry though. So, maybe she might not have known about the letters and all that, but that didn't mean that she had to act like she'd been acting, and anyhow. She looked different. She was wearing makeup, and just last year she'd attacked Ty for doing the same thing. And Stephen for not minding! She was impossible. How was he supposed to keep track of what... she was supposed to be his best friend, and part of that involved not changing in ways he couldn't understand. In ways that just weren't Sorrel. He didn't know how to react when it was her.

"Pass the time?" he repeated, trying to get his focus back on the conversation. "This and that. Telly. Driving Mom mad. Driving Dad mad. Discovering new and more interesting threats about what can be done with a bell if someone rings it one more time to ask for someone to fluff his pillows. Guilting Alan into helping me with this idea I've got for Fido. Short letters." He picked at his sausage again, noticing that it'd become cold. "Jimmy tried to get me into playing a handheld baseball game, but it sucked because it wasn't as good as the real thing. Had a glance through the new text books." He shrugged. \n\n

39 Stephen Just so long as Marnett's theory isn't tradition... 0 Stephen 0 5

Jenna

June 15, 2006 12:42 PM

So I dont have to write "Jenna H." anymore? by Jenna

Jenna took a bite into the apple. She thought it was an odd thing to see a Carey in Pecari, but good for them for breaking out of the mold. Strange, but when she had been in first year, as much as being around her parents annoyed her, she never thought of displeasing them on a very serious level until after she graduated from school. Now Jenna was quite sure she would not make it to graduation if she didn’t do something about the situation soon.

“The hat?” she asked, if only to stall time. Jenna didn’t really want to talk about it, mostly because of what was under said hat, but figured her roommate would probably find out eventually, “Kind of a long story, but basically what happened was I was angry a couple of months ago and forgot to put my hair back when I was making a potion. The brew started bubbling more than I’d expected and when I went to adjust the fire it got my hair and singed it. Put it out with my wand, and it only barely scorched my robes, so I was fine. Then Grandfather Will announced he’d be paying a visit in the coming week, and my mom saw my hair and decided it wasn’t presentable enough,” she rolled her eyes at the last two words, “So then she let Jordanna turn it into this.”

Jenna took off the battered old hat to show her new (albeit messy from the hat) haircut. No longer was her dark brown hair just limply resting at her shoulders, now it was cut just below her jaw into a sort of a layered bob with each layer flicked away from her chin.

“Jordanna thinks she’s a genius now, she was all ‘it makes you look less plain and goes well with your heart-shaped face,’” Jenna took another bite out of her apple, swallowed, and continued, “But I hate it. It’s just long enough to get in my way, but too short to be put into a ponytail. So when we went robe shopping I found this old hat on the floor, I took it. My first piece of real muggle clothing,” she put the hat back on, this time not bothering to stuff her hair under it, “And I gotta say that I kind of like it.”\n\n

0 Jenna So I dont have to write "Jenna H." anymore? 0 Jenna 0 5

Melanie Rose

June 15, 2006 3:24 PM

Truth. by Melanie Rose

Melanie only listened this time as she took a sip from her drink it ended up longer as she was asked the question that came last from his lips. The extra few second helped her form her answer. Quick thinking wasn't even what to call it. It was more like a two year old jigsaw that was rammed together.
"Well, You're welcome." She smiled stretching her fingers infront of her plate. They were still intact, "And as of Sonora. I liked it enough to come back this year." She gave a smile, knowing she had more to the story. She then grabbed her fork and started on her plate once more; small bite after small bite.\n\n

0 Melanie Rose Truth. 0 Melanie Rose 0 5

Gwen

June 15, 2006 8:15 PM

But that's wonderful! by Gwen

Gwen felt her smile, initially fixed on for Amber's benefit and then morphed into a genuine one upon realizing that the only close cousin she was still on speaking terms with was still alive and well, begin to fade a little at Anne's weirded-out reaction. She had, in a Vaughnish moment, overreacted. Since when did anyone with a lick of sense pay any attention to what Allie said? Idiot, idiot, idiot. You just had to haul off and - She cut the line of thought off as quickly as she could.

Then Anne and Layne started going back and forth, and Gwen thought she understood, a little at least. John, she had learned from a gossipy servant when she and the two younger children had been left at Bellevue during her Aunt Mary's funeral, was her uncle and Anne's father. Even through the feelings of awkwardness at standing beside people in a conversation like a fool, she found it in her to wince sympathetically. She'd heard later, from Lila, that he'd split almost as soon as Aunt Mary was cold. Anne's summer, it seemed, had gone worse than her own.

Anne's attention switched abruptly back to Gwen, but she sounded...nicer, this time, possibly the nicest Gwen had ever heard her sound. The impression Gwen had always gotten of this cousin was that she was right, dead convinced she was right, and willing to plow over anyone who disagreed with that assessment. It wasn't a formula for being a princess of a girl, but Anne was, apparently, trying now, at least a little. She smiled again, hesitated, and then gave her cousin a quick hug. She usually disapproved of being demonstrative, but the situation warranted it, she thought. Even if the theory that Anne had been kidnapped by crazy axe murderers had been proven to be baseless, she had still worried enough about it to allow herself to be relieved.

Noticing that Lila Gringe, the only person in Crotalus she even remotely wanted to see or speak to, was already talking to someone else, she sat down in the seat beside Anne before she could let herself think about it too much. She wasn't an Aladren, but there weren't, technically, rules stating that they had to stay at their House tables. Better being ignored over here except for the occasional odd look than what she might well get from her own Housemates. "Imagine so," she said in response to the bit about California being different. "West coast and all." The west coast had a bad reputation among firm Atlanteans like her family, but she wasn't going to mention that. \n\n

0 Gwen But that's wonderful! 63 Gwen 0 5

Professor Kijewski

June 15, 2006 10:37 PM

ALADRENS FOLLOW ME! by Professor Kijewski

Kiva smiled down at Oscar. He really was a strange creature. Ria was more than likely to snub anyone who wasn't Kiva where as Oscar seemed to want to draw attention from anyone, he didn't seem to care who. Luckily, none of the other Professor had spotted the devious cat just yet and by the look of things around the hall, it was about time to clean up anyway.

"Here, let's go back to find Tarquin. Maybe get you a proper meal while we're at it." Without waiting for the cat's consent, Kiva lifted him into her arms, manuevering him so that she was able to scratch his head freely. She moved around the Staff table and stood infront of the four tables that held each house. "ALADRENS TO ME PLEASE!" She called out, using the sonarus charm to make her voice heard over the crowd. Once she was sure that the last of the stragglers had found them, Kiva looked out at her new branch of students. They all looked relatively harmless. That was a good thing.

"My name is Professor Kijewski and I'll be your head of house. If you will following me, I will get you all to your commonroom where, I'm sure, you want nothing more than to hop into bed after such a long day." Kiva smiled at them all in a genuine friendly manner. "Quickly, let's go. If you lose sight of us, there is nothing that can be done." Kiva turned on her heels and marched out of Cascade Hall with Oscar firmly in her arms.

OOC: This is just to get some more threads moving in other parts of the school. You are free to continue making posts here at the Opening feast as well as any replies to the thread of HoH speech in the Aladren Commons. Thank goodness for fuzzy time! Have fun! And...sorry Oscar\n\n

0 Professor Kijewski ALADRENS FOLLOW ME! 0 Professor Kijewski 0 5

Stephen Baxter

June 16, 2006 2:00 AM

Oi - quiet there ickle firsties! by Stephen Baxter

"HEY OLDER PECARIS!

Stephen looked up from where he was sitting with Princess, Sorrel and Ash, to see the source of the noise. New Pecari's. He grinned even as he half stood to see them better. They'd be interesting new additions to the group this year. Especially if they were willing to be shouting like that in the middle of their first feast.

"JUST WAIT A BIT," he shouted down the table at them. "CONNELL'LL SHOW YOU THE WAY WHEN THE FEAST IS WINDING UP. AND IF SHE DOESN'T, I WILL. NOW PIPE DOWN AND LET ME TALK TO MY FRIENDS!"

He stuck his tongue out at them, feeling in much better spirits and took his seat again. "Firsties!" he said with a grin at the other three before settling back into their previous conversation.

OOC: Seriously, give it a couple more days and the Heads of Houses should have posts up showing you the way. And as I know that Connell might not be around, I'll take on you lot if she doesn't manage to get back online in time.\n\n

39 Stephen Baxter Oi - quiet there ickle firsties! 49 Stephen Baxter 0 5

Stephen

June 16, 2006 2:11 AM

OOC by Stephen

Small intermission here where I've half stood and shouted back at some firsties. See the bottom thread of the feast for more information ;)... carry on. Oh, and Princess? If Ash and Sorrel don't post before you get here, add this last line to my last post:

BIC: "Princess was saying she'd been sick during the holidays before you two came." He nudged her with his elbow again and smiled. "You suffer boredom with that too?"

\n\n

39 Stephen OOC 0 Stephen 0 5

Elly

June 16, 2006 3:14 AM

laughing by Elly

Elly turned to Meredith, who was laughing like a hyena. It was infectious, and Elly began giggling again, too. She did notice, however, that Echo still seemed a little tense. In fact, it looked as though he had considered deserting his seat and running away from them. Elly, ceasing giggling for the moment, was about to ask if anything was wrong, when Echo answered anyway. "Whoa," he said, "That was loud."

Trying very hard not to laugh, because she thought it might upset Echo if she laughed at him, Elly opened her mouth to say something comforting, but at that moment the reply to her shouted query drifted loudly and clearly down the table: "JUST WAIT A BIT," shouted the boy, a fourth year, Elly would guess by his appearance, “NOW PIPE DOWN AND LET ME TALK TO MY FRIENDS!”.

Elly positively shrieked with laughter, the sort where you have to force yourself to pause laughing just so you can breathe. She could swear she felt Echo jump beside her, but by now a couple of tears had started to creep down her cheeks and she couldn’t be sure. Elly wrapped her arms around herself, clutching her sides, and tried once again to calm down.
\n\n

0 Elly *laughing* 0 Elly 0 5

Kaylie

June 16, 2006 5:07 AM

For a second there, I couldn't find this thread either... by Kaylie

Kaylie grinned. A pool sounded awesome and she felt bad that Tally's neighbors thought she was weird. Before she could reply to this forever, her roommate let the big thing drop.

And other than a random boy asking me out, nothing really happened."

"Tally, that's wonderful!" Kaylie exclaimed. She would love it if a boy asked her out. She was starting to notice them a bit more and whenever she was in public, she often noticed them staring at her too.

On the other hand, Kaylie wasn't sure how Adam would take it if she had a boyfriend. She didn't want to abandon him but she wanted to make more friends. Hang out with the others in her year. And yes, get a boyfriend.

Maybe this year would be different. Maybe they'd both make more friends. "So, tell me about him? What's he like? What did you say? What did you do? Is he nice? Cute?"\n\n

11 Kaylie For a second there, I couldn't find this thread either... 43 Kaylie 0 5

Echo Elms

June 16, 2006 9:13 AM

You ought to get something for that. by Echo Elms

Echo was beginning to think that girls were even crazier than he had originally suspected. Before, he had thought that everytime they laughed there was a specific reason, and that he was probably the root cause. Today, things seemed to be proceeding a little differently.

He was actually fairly sure they weren't laughing at him this time. It didn't reason out too well because, logically, he had just jumped about a foot in the air and that probably was pretty funny -- but then again, if they were laughing at him they would probably have been imitating him or looking at him or something. They weren't doing that. At least, not in that way and not right now. Elly sort of had, but she had stopped quickly.

That brought him to his new theory: Unlike most girls, Elly and Meredith weren't evil gossip queens -- they were insane. They constantly laughed for no reason because that's what happened to girls who managed to not be mean. It gave them fits. Elly was even crying from it.

Echo watched them with unease. He couldn't decide which was more worrying: Elly and Meredith having such a bad attack, or the fact that it had spread so easily between his project-mates, proving that insanity was definitely contagious.\n\n

21 Echo Elms You ought to get something for that. 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Meredith

June 16, 2006 12:46 PM

pats down pockets I got nothing. by Meredith

Meredith had calmed her laughing down after she responded to Elly. She thought she had officially laughed herself out by the time she was done. Then an older student answer but it probably wasn't the response Elly had been looking for. She found it hysterical all the same. She had laughed so hard she started crying. Meredith thought she and Elly would lose their voices if they laughed anymore. Meredith bit her lip to hold it in. Elly seemed beyond that. Poor Echo looked nervous again. Meredith didn't want to lose one of her adventure partners so soon. She looked to him.

"Relax," she started lightly "Give her a minute." Meredith turned back to Elly, still grinning some and taking a piece of chocolate cake for dessert.

"I think that answers your question." \n\n

0 Meredith *pats down pockets* I got nothing. 0 Meredith 0 5

Gray

June 16, 2006 12:55 PM

There ya go, bud by Gray

Gray began to laugh. She couldn't help it. August had completely flipped out from her hug. Asking if she was going to kiss him or something. He obviously wasn't used to girls. That kind of attitude always made Gray laugh. The little "ew... cooties" one. Although August didn't seem that much like it, it was still funny when he went mad like that.

"No," she giggled, trying to catch her breath. "I'm... not"-breathe in-"going to"-breathe out-"kiss you"-another breath-"silly!"

She finally calmed down a bit when August answered her other question. She sighed and looked around for someone who would lead them away. No one. She slumped back and frowned. "No," she muttered. "I didn't, I was too busy wondering why I turned blue..." she smiled. And then laughed a little more.

She then noticed a lady with some of the other first years behind her. Gray frowned and stood up, noticing most people were leaving now. She looked at August then Gary and pointed forward. "D'you think we should follow her?" she asked them. Before they could answer she got up to walk away.

OOC: Aladren room, the Head of House speech thing. Gray's going to be there. You two can meet her there if you want.\n\n

16 Gray There ya go, bud 113 Gray 0 5

Elly

June 16, 2006 2:20 PM

Me neither by Elly

Although she could hear Meredith talking, Elly didn’t dare look up just yet. She had managed to stop the manic laughter, but was still giggling quite audibly. She wiped her damp eyes and cheeks on the back of her sleeve and took several more deep breaths to help her regain control of herself.

Elly had never imagined laughing so much on her first day, especially considering how nervous she had been. Her cheeks were aching and she was pretty sure she was looking rather red and foolish. Still, she was enjoying herself and she didn’t think she had upset anybody, so it was all okay.

Finally able to function normally, Elly turned back to her potential exploration companions and smiled apologetically. “Sorry guys,” she said. “I sometimes get carried away…” Although this was directed to both of her housemates, Elly looked at Echo when she spoke. She figured that Meredith didn’t mind too much, as she was still smiling, but Echo looked totally bewildered. Elly had never met anyone like Echo before – practically all the boys she knew were loud, rough and arrogant, whereas Echo didn’t seem to be any of these things.

Elly spied the chocolate cake on Meredith’s plate and helped herself to a large slice of the same from a big platter between them.

“Mm, I love chocolate cake,” she said, to nobody in particular.
\n\n

0 Elly Me neither 0 Elly 0 5

August

June 16, 2006 3:34 PM

August on the outside by August

Gray apparently found August's reaction to her hug entertaining, or at least, he hoped that was why she was laughing. Laughing with him, not at him, as the old saying went. Usually for August, it was the latter. Plenty of people at his old school laughed at him, and for no apparent reason.

When Gray assured August that she wasn't going to kiss him, he relaxed. "Okay then, just checking," he murmured, but he still couldn't shake that nagging feeling about her laughter. Maybe she had hugged him just to make him look stupid. Maybe she was being sarcastic with him. And the way she kept laughing when she answered what he thought had been a serious question.... Gray didn't seem like the type of person who would do such a thing, and August knew he was probably overthinking this situation and creating his own worst scenario. But then again, what would he have done if she said that she did want to kiss him? He knew he didn't want that, but he also didn't like not understanding what someone was laughing at. He felt the edges of the black mood returning once more. Why couldn't he just be like normal people, and make friends easily and not have to constantly question everything? He put his elbows on the table and rested his chin in his hands.

Soon, a lady who seemed to be a teacher stood and said something about the Aladrens following her. Gray immediately stood and left the table without waiting to see if August or Gary would join her. Of course August would have walked with her, if she'd waited, but she didn't, so August simply joined the group of other first years, staying at the outer fringes near the back. It looked like Gray didn't want to be seen walking with him. Just like it always was when he thought he'd made a friend, he'd got it all wrong. He didn't even risk a look around the group to see if Gary was going to walk with him or not. What did it matter? It looked as though things were going to be the same here as they had been everywhere else; everyone in one large group, and then August on the outside.
\n\n

0 August August on the outside 0 August 0 5

Echo Elms

June 16, 2006 10:28 PM

And now you're both into the chocolate. by Echo Elms

Watching both girls dig into fresh slices of chocolate cake reminded Echo of his pudding. He folded up his notes and put them back into his shirt pocket and slipped his pen back into his sock. He regretted it immediately. The pen and paper kept him focused. The pudding just sat like a lump in his stomach while he pushed the remaining half around its dish.

He glanced back up at Elly and Meredith. They seemed to have regained control of themselves. Good.

"Right," he said, "so we were talking about secret passageways. You guys said they could be magical, but what exactly do we know about magic, anyway?"\n\n

21 Echo Elms And now you're both into the chocolate. 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Zack Dill

June 16, 2006 10:36 PM

I take it you get a lot of critical failures? by Zack Dill

Zack grinned, pleased to find a third person at Sonora who liked D&D. If he could just find one or two more, or at least somebody who liked to DM, they could start up a campaign here. He wondered, if he sent an owl to his parents' apartment, if they'd be able to figure out how to send back his player's handbook. Probably not. Figuring out which Player's Handbook he meant would probably be beyond them anyway and he didn't really need the instruction manual to Civilization IV here.

"I don't think Doug follows any pregenerated campaigns," Zack answered Guenther's question. "He's a bit more open ended than that. Not sure if he borrows from different ones or just makes it all up himself, but we don't really follow much of a plot. He just likes to throw monsters at us and we just beat them up and steal their treasures. It's not a bad life for a gnomish sorceror and his friends."

He took a bite of his mashed potatoes, relishing in their consistancy - not too runny, not still noticable instant flakes, and not an undercooked baked potato that Mom smashed up so nobody would realize four people were sharing two potatoes. After he swallowed, he continued, "So what sort of character do you usually play?"\n\n

1 Zack Dill I take it you get a lot of critical failures? 40 Zack Dill 0 5

Helena Layne

June 16, 2006 11:31 PM

What is, though? by Helena Layne

Geoff and Anne, if Helena knew them at all, were moving out of the shocked-staring stage of things. If nothing had arrived to distract them from her Sorting, they would both be freaking out. Fortunately, the worst consequence of this stage would be a little broken glass if Anne really got going, and Lena doubted this was serious enough to warrant that. It was the next stage that could prove problematic - the stage where, being unable to monitor her every minute of every day, Geoff and Anne instead went overboard with the protective-older-sibling thing whenever they were together, Anne as bad and possibly worse than Geoffrey. Helena had been nearly eight before she realized Anne wasn't a blood relative, and she occasionally wondered if Anne had realized it yet.

That she was going to have to find a way to keep her brother and "sister" from suffocating her was obvious. Figuring that way out was where things got a little less easy.

She wasn't going to do any figuring tonight, anyway. She'd been tossed around on a wagon, startled by the affects of a potion, put in the position of dealing with two extremely patronizing-but-lovingly-so geeks who were bound to be much less pleased by the second thing than she and her father were, and...and she was hungry. The food looked good. There was a plate and silverware in front of her. It was a match made in heaven, as were the green beans and pork chops. Add in some mashed potatoes, and there was a fine meal.

Before she could get properly set into this fine meal, however, a voice spoke to her. Having somehow not anticipated this, she found herself giving the girl who had just welcomed her to the school a wide-eyed look of surprise, followed by an automatic smile. She wasn't the daughter of a Crotalus and a former ambassadress for nothing, after all. Even if most of their attention had always been and would always be focused on Geoffrey while she was growing up, she had picked up some things on her own and had others taught to her by her brother once their parents - particularly their father - had imparted them to him. "Thank you," she said. "It's lovely to be here." A bit clichéd, it was true, but good. Now she ought to introduce herself. "I'm Helena Layne. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." \n\n

16 Helena Layne What is, though? 88 Helena Layne 0 5

Anne and Layne

June 17, 2006 1:01 AM

Nothing better, is there? by Anne and Layne

Anne was caught completely off-guard when Gwen hugged her. The last person she could clearly recall hugging her was her mother. Alicia had tried, once, but Anne had backed up so fast she almost fell. She shared her fathe - John's - dislike for being touched, of getting too close to people. By the time she took in that her cousin was, in fact, hugging her, though, it was too late to do anything about it but pat Gwen awkwardly on the shoulder and hope she backed off quickly. She had a flash of the odd feeling she'd sometimes had when Allie did something vaguely indicative of niceness when the thought that Gwen was apparently happy that she wasn't dead crossed her mind.

She was going to seriously hurt Geoffrey if he didn't quit looking at her like that - like she was a cross between a time bomb and an invalid he felt sorry for. Nothing she had actually said to him gave him the room to do so, and he had no business inferring anything. Besides, there was nothing to infer. She was fine. She'd been a little upset when she and John had been initially forced into each other's company, but that had been an instinctual, highly temporary thing. It was over, now, and life was back to normal, or as close to normal as it ever would be. There was no reason at all for him to keep looking at her like that.

She was going to be normal. That meant replying normally to things that were said to her, and not jumping at shadows or wandering off into lala-land. If she could do it, no one outside this trio - well, quartet, she was sure Geoff would tell Lena even if she chickened out on it - would ever have to know that anything had changed. She nodded at Gwen's generalized reply to her earlier comment.

"Oh, yeah," she said. Normally. Geoff was still looking at her. It was really starting to get on her last nerve, which had been getting steadily closer to her first nerve over the past month or so. "It's hot as blue blazes out there in summer, and it ain't supposed to be much better in the wintertime." There was something so theraputic about saying ain't, even if it had wrangled its way into a few dictionaries by virtue of common usage. "Only got one cousin, now - Gray - but I'm living with three women who've got the same first name as me. Anne Thirteen isn't too bad, but Twelve's a little out of it these days, and Fourteen - " She stopped for fear of blowing something up and considered what would be the best way to describe her aunt. Several expressions involving expletives and I honestly wish more good things on Aunt Sarah were quickly dismissed as too undiplomatic. "We don't get along," she finished shortly, then forced a grin. "I'm supposed to be Anne Fifteen when my uncle croaks, but now they call me Anna." John's old name for her. He had to have been the one who told it to them. She had considered boycotting it on those grounds, but it was better than being called Anne-Eileen all the time. \n\n

16 Anne and Layne Nothing better, is there? 59 Anne and Layne 0 5

Dillon

June 17, 2006 1:14 AM

Um...okay by Dillon

That was definitely an odd way to answer the question. Most people said things like, 'yeah, Sonora is great!' or 'I hate it here, but what can you do?' He had never heard anyone answer the question quite the way she had. Either she didn't like the school in general or her first year here hadn't gone exactly as she had planned it to.

"That's an interesting comment to make." Dillon observed, trying to figure out whether or not she wanted to talk about it or whether she just said that so that he would leave her alone. Girls were hard to tell sometimes. The summer with his sister was proof enough of that. "My first year had been a big adventure for me. I'm a muggleborn so this whole thing was completely new to me." Dillon said by way of explanation.

"Now that I'm into my fourth year, it's lost its 'awesome' appeal to me, but I still love coming here." Dillon said, his eyes glancing around the hall. "Every year it's something new and unexpected. Plus, the people are always interesting and I get to use magic."\n\n

6 Dillon Um...okay 44 Dillon 0 5

Mia

June 17, 2006 10:24 AM

Marnett's theory being... by Mia

Mia held back a surprised exclamation as Sorrel easily shoved her aside down the bench. The fact that it was easy didn’t surprise her and neither did the fact that Sorrel did it. Just the sudden push out of the way caught her off guard. She and her brother turned in towards Stephen to keep talking as if Mia wasn’t there. Another glare escaped her towards Sorrel’s back until she was surprised again. Stephen moved Sorrel over like she had moved Mia over. He sat between her and Sorrel giving her a look before answering the twins’ questions. Mia hoped her face hadn’t looked stupidly surprised. She looked away for a moment blinking the look off and turned back their way as Stephen explained himself to Ash and Sorrel. He looked back at Mia giving her a short recap of his summer. This time her face was definitely calm and collected save for the slightly sympathetic look she sent his way when he talked about having an accident.

Watching Stephen go back and forth made Mia feel a bit bad for him. Yeah, she could’ve made life simple and left before and avoided the awkward situation she was in now, but it would have been at the cost of Sorrel’s head swelling more. It was worth it to stay. Mia’s eyes drifted around Cascade Hall while Stephen spoke to the twins. They briefly brought up a wedding. So the Cravens had a wedding to go to too? That was probably one of very few things they had in common and barely so. Mia was looking forward to whenever Antonio would step up and ask the question. Lyn was too, acting very antsy much of the time. This included being over motherly, especially when Mia was sick. But them not so much it seemed. Different ideas about the wedding floated through her mind as she vaguely heard the other conversation. Then she heard her ‘name’ again and was pulled back.

"Princess was saying she'd been sick during the holidays before you two came.” He nudged her again and smiled. “You suffer boredom with that too?" Mia nodded.

“Yeah. I was stuck in my room doing nothing but reading or playing cards. According to my mom, using the phone or computer would make me feel worse so she disconnected both in my room. That pretty much cut me off from the outside world for a week.” Mia shrugged. “I can’t exactly blame her though since lately she’s been—”

The conversation was interrupted again by some loud first years at the end of the table. One of them was shouting for an older student to take her and some others to the common room. That was one way to get noticed on your first day. Mia couldn’t get a good look at which first years Stephen started yelling back at. He sat back down grinning after sticking his tongue out at them. Mia sent a not really surprised and quite amused smile his way and shook her head briefly. She ought to finish her last sentence if she could remember where she had been going with it.

She was further distracted by the similar uncomfortable feeling of a bad cough building up. That proved she was getting over the cold for what seemed like the millionth time to her. They were worse on her than on most people for a reason she didn’t know. They started with sneezing and dizziness, then a bad headache and fever, and finished with a cough that slowly lessened. Mia held in the cough with an indifferent face, wishing she could get the potion Antonio brought her from her suitcase. It would last her until this cold was over and save her a trip to the Hospital Wing.\n\n

0 Mia Marnett's theory being... 0 Mia 0 5

Elly

June 17, 2006 10:34 AM

Girls live for chocolate by Elly

“Well…” Elly was stumped by Echo’s question. She glanced up at Meredith before saying “I don’t know all that much. Let me see… pictures move, food appears and there are waterfalls lining the walls.” Elly wondered vaguely whether there could be secret rooms hidden behind the waterfalls in Cascade Hall. She smiled at Echo. “That’s about all I know.”

Now that Elly thought about it, she hadn’t really got a clue about what spells they would learn to perform, or really what the benefit of magic was. She thought that being invisible would be cool, as would being able to fly. However, seeing as all the students at the feast remained firmly planted to the ground and fully visible, Elly guessed maybe she hadn’t really got the right idea of magic. In fact, aside from the food and the pictures and the waterfalls, this could be any other school anywhere else in the world – the students, the teachers, everything was pretty normal.

The books Elly had read over the summer said a lot about the history of the school, but didn’t really say much about what magic they would learn. They had, however, mentioned some lessons taught at Sonora. Out of all of them, Elly thought that potions sounded the least daunting. How difficult could it be to mix a few ingredients in the right order? Potions sounded a bit like baking, and Elly was no stranger to baking; her love for chocolate cake had led her enthusiasm from an early age. As for the other classes, Elly had no idea what they entailed. Magic was still a bit of an unexplained mystery.

Elly turned to Meredith. “But you’re from a magic family, so you must know stuff.”
\n\n

0 Elly Girls live for chocolate 0 Elly 0 5

Stephen

June 17, 2006 10:42 AM

The one about disaster striking every two years... by Stephen

Stephen responded to Mia's smile with yet another of his own. At least she didn't go and get complicated like Sorrel. She seemed relatively easy to understand, really. She was a girl, she had been sick, no threats or unwarranted irrationalness or anything. He waited a moment, to see if she'd finish what she'd been saying before he had gone and shouted back at the loud firstie girl, but it didn't seem to be happening.

Not to mention that the smile he'd been enjoying seeing had disappeared, to be replaced with something much less... happy. Not sad. Not angry. Not anything really. It occured to him that maybe he'd been wrong. Maybe she was just as complicated as Sorrel was being, what with this abrupt change, but even as his own smile faded into a frown he bucked up. He was Stephen. Like any girl - or anyone at all, really - could be bored or whatever when he was around!

"She's been what?" He prompted her, giving her another nudge. "Come on Princess, you can't start off saying something and then stop, even if I do start shouting in the middle of what you're saying." He winked, trying to get a more positive reaction out of her that the bland indifference that he simply wasn't used to seeing at all.\n\n

39 Stephen The one about disaster striking every two years... 0 Stephen 0 5

Meredith

June 17, 2006 12:14 PM

Sadly, it's true. by Meredith

Meredith grinned at Elly at the mention of her love of chocolate cake. Meredith felt the same way and her mother, once again, could make it like no other. She had to remember to invite Elly over for some of her mother's cooking. Meredith thought about Echo's question between bites of cake. Elly looked pretty stumped. Meredith wasn't a little magic prodigy even coming from a magic family. The most she used was flying her broom to play Quidditch with her brothers and friends. Meredith frowned a little when Elly addressed her.

"I'm from a mostly magic family." Meredith corrected with a smirk "But," she continued slowly, "yeah I know some stuff, but it depends on what you want to know. If you want to know practical magic, like how to actually do spells, I can't help you much there. My brothers have taught me some really simple ones, but I don’t think those’ll help us much. I couldn’t even practice them for real since underage wizards and witches can’t do magic at home. I might be able to tell you a thing or two about magic in general. Like I said, it depends on what you want to know. Neither of you were none too specific." She grinned.

Meredith dug back into her cake. She didn’t mind being their encyclopedia on magic if she could help. She didn’t think she was all that reliable on explaining how magic worked, but she was the only one born to at least one magic parent in the group. She’d help how she could. To be honest, she was pretty novice herself and that was fine with her. She believed most first years were the same that way unless they came from one of those families where they are drilled in magic everyday practically since birth. There were families like that, like her father’s family.

Meredith didn’t think about them because her father didn’t want to and there was no point. They didn’t want to see her and she didn’t want to see them. She had ‘tainted blood’ according to them and her father was ‘disgraceful.’ Meredith frowned again as these thoughts entered her head and took another big bite of cake. She hadn’t had those thoughts in a long time and didn’t want them there now. She shook the thoughts and grinned through her fork as she bit into the cake. Chocolate cake was a much better thing to think about.\n\n

0 Meredith Sadly, it's true. 0 Meredith 0 5

Elly

June 17, 2006 1:38 PM

it makes us happy by Elly

Elly laughed lightly. “No, we weren’t too specific, you’re right.” She took a gulp a juice to wash down her chocolate cake, being very careful not to spill any. “Well, let’s start with what magic we might be learning in our lessons. What sort of stuff do your brothers learn?” Elly thought that perhaps having an idea, vague though it may be, of what you were expected to do would probably help when the time came to do it. She liked to be prepared whenever she could help it.

“Next,” Elly said, “do you know of any sorts of magic that might be used to hide, say, secret passages?” She grinned widely at Meredith, glad to have someone who knew something about magic, however incomplete she claimed her knowledge to be. Elly would have to grill her later about the differences between living with wizards and living with muggles, and especially about Quidditch. Elly was a sports fanatic and although Quidditch was almost totally alien, Elly was keen to learn as much as she could about the main sport played at Sonora.

Elly listened to Meredith’s answer while she picked up the crumbs from her plate, licking her fingers like a four-year-old. That was good chocolate cake.
\n\n

0 Elly it makes us happy 0 Elly 0 5

Mia

June 17, 2006 1:44 PM

Oh, that one. Yeah, that would be bad. by Mia

Mia brought back another look of surprise when Stephen nudged her again. She switched it to a grin after Stephen spoke.

"Well that kind of shouting can mess up a person's train of thought.” She countered, but remembered what she had been saying. “Anyway, my mom’s just been overreacting all summer. She flips out over little things like the couch being crooked or something. It’s weird, but it’s funny to watch if she’s not aiming it towards you. She’ll get over it.” Mia was confident about the last part. She was positive that as soon as Antonio asked her to marry him, she’d be her normal self again. Lyn wasn’t fond of the single parent thing at all. Mia turned her head away quickly as a cough finally got out. “I’m fine.” She reassured him quickly before her could ask again.

Mia suddenly felt something brush up against her leg. She started a little, but realized quickly what it was. Silk was passing between her ankles before jumping on the bench on Mia’s unoccupied side. The next person on the bench was far enough that Silk could curl up right next to Mia and be a good distance away from anyone else. Silk had become something of her house’s cat. Surely everyone had seen her at one point or another and probably with Mia so the ownership was clear. Silk had a habit of following Mia. She was always friendly to whoever approached her unless it was something she knew to be hostile towards her. That was usually only a few things in the Labyrinth Gardens.

“I was wondering where you had gotten off to.” Mia smiled and pet her cat, taking some stray leaves from her fur. No doubt she had been roaming the Labyrinth Gardens to become reacquainted. Silk purred quietly in response and closed her eyes. She looked back at Stephen who may have been wondering why she had jumped. Who knew how many other people jumped along the table feeling something furry suddenly brush their leg and then leave.

“Silk decided to show up.” She stated and pointed her thumb towards her napping cat before petting her again. How she could sleep in the noisy Cascade Hall was a mystery. \n\n

0 Mia Oh, that one. Yeah, that would be bad. 0 Mia 0 5

Guenther Heindrich

June 17, 2006 4:01 PM

The monster's hit me because I am a girl did i say thatalou by Guenther Heindrich

Guenther smiled to himself, embarrassedly. "I always play a female half-elf and her human half brother. Unfortunatly, her half-brother is giant and incredibly stupid. We are traveling with some incredibly stupid people who don't know the difference between left and right."

What he didn't say was that the people he played with were incredibly idiotic and didn't think strategically. He laughed. "And of course the Clockwork Mage is one of those mages who pulls pranks on people. So Bungo, that's my male character, touches something and we all get covered in blue ink. You would think the others would learn the lesson and not touch anything but of course our leader of all people, who is an elf prince who had been exiled, touches something else and we end up in an inescapeable garden." he sighed. "Sometimes it's fun, but other times, it's just annoying."\n\n

0 Guenther Heindrich The monster's hit me because I am a girl did i say thatalou 0 Guenther Heindrich 0 5

Tally

June 17, 2006 5:12 PM

yeah, it's lost amongst the firsties by Tally

Tally was rather startled by Kayle's enthusiasm that Bobby Johnson had asked Tally out on a date. The girl was almost glad that she hadn't informed her roommate that the said boy had also planted his lips against her own in what Tally could only assume was meant to be a kiss.

After a moment and a run of questions by Kaylie, Tally started laughing. She wasn't exactly sure why she was laughing, perhaps the absurdity of the conversation or the fact that Kaylie thought being asked out by Bobby was a good thing. Tally couldn't put her finger on it. After a few moments, her laughter died away and Tally heaved a great sigh.

"It's not a big deal, Kaylie." Tally said with amusement. "His name is Bobby and he's a boy who lives down the street. We went to elementary school together. He used to be chubby and cried all the time." Tally informed her friend. "He definitely grew up nicely, though. Don't know when that happened. Anyway, he started coming over to my house a lot and then one day he just asked me out and then kissed me. It was really weird." Tally paused to repress a shudder. It hadn't been too terrible, but she certainly didn't enjoy knowing her first kiss had been with Bobby.

"When he finally removed himself from my lips, I said no." Her face was grim. She still felt guilty about it. "It's for the best though cos Christine told me that all the boys had a bet on me. They wanted to see who I would go out with first." Tally pulled a sour face. "They did that cos I'm the weird girl no one knows anymore."\n\n

0 Tally yeah, it's lost amongst the firsties 0 Tally 0 5

Echo Elms

June 18, 2006 11:41 AM

a bit too happy by Echo Elms

“Next,” Elly said, “do you know of any sorts of magic that might be used to hide, say, secret passages?”

"Or," Echo added, unsure if Meredith would know the answer to that last specific question. "What can and can't magic do? I mean, like, you grew up around it, right? Does it follow any rules?"

He wanted to go further and ask how and why it works, but he thought somehow he'd have to study physics or chemistry first to appreciate the answer. His mom was always saying things like that. When they baked cookies together she'd tell him, "Just wait 'til you learn chemistry, Echo! You'll see why this works." And just last week he'd wanted to try soapmaking, but his mom had convinced him to wait because it would make a great introduction to chemistry and there wasn't time.

Time had never been an issue in his schooling before, and he had resented having almost three days off from it because there wasn't enough of it left before coming out here. What was there to do if not have his mom teach him stuff or be set loose on some related project or other?

Echo pushed his pudding aside again. He was long since done eating it, and pushing it around wasn't as interesting as the answer he was anticipating from Meredith. He leaned forward attentively, elbows on the table.

He was careful, though, that the elbow on Elly's side wasn't too close on account of several forms of cooties, the giggling madness among them.\n\n

21 Echo Elms a bit *too* happy 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Meredith

June 18, 2006 4:44 PM

Maybe, but don't try taking it away. by Meredith

Meredith’s eyes followed Elly and then Echo while she ate. She had just about finished her cake and was still deciding if she wanted another piece. Meredith didn’t doubt Elly’s interest, but Echo seemed really curious. Elly was really into her cake and Meredith couldn’t blame her. They both threw questions at her so she decided to go in order. Of course, if she became too specific with any of her answers, they’d be there all night. Meredith plowed forward anyway.

“My brothers learn all sorts of stuff. They’ve learned different potions, but I can’t remember which ones. I’m not really into potions much like them, but they’re into everything. They also learn a lot of incantations, but there are a million different kinds.” Meredith shrugged. Her brothers knew so many spells and jinxes and hexes it was near impossible to remember them all. “There are spells, charms, jinxes, hexes, spells for transfiguration, defense spells, attack spells, dark spells even. See what I mean?”

She moved on to Elly’s other question.

“Um,” she thought for a quick moment, searching her memory. “There’s a vanishing spell, but I think it makes things disappear completely rather than just hide them. There’s a spell to make things become visible. I’ve only ever seen it used on invisible ink though. It might work on a secret door. That’s the best I can think of for now. Sorry. As for rules about what magic can or can’t do, I don’t think there are many. That’s why I wonder how muggles get by sometimes.” She grinned jokingly to the two of them, both being muggleborn. “Magic can practically do anything except bring the dead back to life.” Meredith shrugged. She would’ve loved if magic could bring the dead back to life, but that was just the way things were.

Meredith happily cut herself another slice of cake. Being able to explain magic to her friends made her remember how much she loved being a witch. Magic was just a part of her life so it was easy to take for granted. These situations made her remember just how great it really is.

“So does that help?” \n\n

0 Meredith Maybe, but don't try taking it away. 0 Meredith 0 5

Kaylie

June 18, 2006 8:42 PM

I don't feel like thinking of a creative title. by Kaylie

Kaylie couldn't quite understand why Tally didn't seem to think being asked out was a big deal. And her first kiss! Her roommate didn't seem to delighted by it. Kaylie couldn't wait to have her own. It was going to be a special magical occasion, she hoped. It didn't really seem like Tally's had been that way.

She understood more as to why when Tally explained about what Bobby had been like growing up and the bet and what her neighbors called her. Kaylie had initially assumed that Bobby had asked Tally out because he liked her and didn't consider her to be weird like the others apparently did. "You mean....he asked you out to win a bet?" Kaylie asked incredulously. "That's so cruel! It's awful they have a bet like that to begin with." If she was more intellectually inclined, she would have figured out that Bobby was overcompensating for the fact that he was probably the butt of many jokes due to his being overweight and crying a lot by trying to win a hurtful cruel bet that was actually at Tally's expense.

"I suppose it's for the best," Kaylie replied. "I mean, you wouldn't see him most of the time and it doesn't seem like he actually cares about you anyway if he only did it to win a bet. You deserve to be with someone who really cares about you."\n\n

11 Kaylie I don't feel like thinking of a creative title. 43 Kaylie 0 5

Echo Elms

June 18, 2006 10:53 PM

Wouldn't dream of it. by Echo Elms

"Uh, not really," Echo stopped leaning on his elbows to scratch at the big curly -- er, his hair. He frowned when he found a stray leave bit stuck in it. It wasn't that it was an uncommon find for his hair, just that it was had somehow escaped his rigorous inspection before meeting the wagons. Of course, rigorous might have not been the right word for it. His inspection had consisted of leaning over and shaking his head around and then combing it out with his fingers and saying to his mom, "Is it alright?" His mom had pushed it around a bit and gave him the okay on it.

It was discouraging. Not just that even when he honestly tried to look nice, he still managed to have leaf bits in his hair, but this magic thing too.

"If magic can do all that," Echo said, dropping the leaf on the floor as unobtrusively as he could, "it's not gonna be very predictable and we're not gonna find squat. I mean, not that we shouldn't look, but..." he didn't know what he meant. They needed more information. Clues, a rumor, or something. \n\n

21 Echo Elms Wouldn't dream of it. 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Amber

June 18, 2006 11:08 PM

Thank goodness for 'Re:'s duing creative slumps,huh? by Amber

Amber nodded as if she understood while Pepper explained her position on the Quidditch team. The only thing the word 'Keeper' brought up in her head was the old playground game of Keep-Away, which she somehow doubted had anything to do with it. Dad had said, though, that she'd figure things out as time went on, and that her cousins would help her out until she did. She was leaning more towards observation and encounters like this one to do her learning than she was towards relying too much on her relatives. It seemed safer. "Good luck if you are," she said. "Hope y'all do well."

She caught herself blushing when Pepper told her she didn't have to keep second-guessing things. “Sorry,” she apologized, but didn’t carry it any further. She had a feeling that saying that two months with her stepmother had turned her shy would sound like a bat attempt at melodrama, which wasn’t what she was going for at all. Her eyes widened a little when Pepper explained why she wasn’t easily bothered. “Five siblings? Wow. I’m an only child on both sides, but I can imagine.” There were, as Cierra always said when she was fighting with her sister Kara, some definite benefits of being an only child.

“Not really,” she said, shrugging, when the conversation progressed to her lack of sports involvement. “I was a walking disaster in gym class, and the one season I spent trying to play soccer ended up being spent on the bench. Before I went to stay with my dad and stepmother, I was usually hanging out with my friends or my mom. We’d watch old movies and listen to her record collection and that sort of thing.” She smiled nostalgically, remembering how, after being raised on classic movies and Patsy Cline, she had spent more than her fair share of time confused by the other kids’ talk about more modern entertainment. Finding the middle ground, though, hadn’t been as hard as she’d thought it would be at first. Hopefully, the same thing would apply here. “I know that sort of stuff doesn’t work here, though. Dad ran that one past me on the first day, when I asked why he was so fascinated by the air conditioner. I’ve come to find the moving pictures and paintings just as interesting to watch, though.” \n\n

0 Amber Thank goodness for 'Re:'s duing creative slumps,huh? 0 Amber 0 5

Morgaine Carey

June 18, 2006 11:13 PM

Confusion is fun. by Morgaine Carey

Morgaine shifted into a defensive mode without even realizing it as Saul stared at her. What had he expected, a sack of Galleons as a sign of the Carey family’s remorse? She had apologized, completely on her own, to protect the family from seeming like the remorseless, win-or-die-trying types most of them were. He couldn’t have forgotten about almost being knocked to an inevitable and painful death. She hadn’t been there to see it all – it hadn’t seemed prudent, both because of the controversy surrounding the game and because her sister was on the opposing House’s team – but she always double-checked information when she could, and more than one person had been observed talking about it. It had happened.

Finally, once he had his eyes back in his head and had reclaimed his tongue from whatever force had seized it, he accepted the apology. He hadn’t actually said that the apology was accepted, but ‘no hard feelings’ conveyed the same basic message. She’d take it. “Good,” she said, a bit less grumpily. People were probably talking so badly about her family these days that the ones who got caught in the crossfire could, most likely, be excused for thinking that the Savannah Careys had no sense of propriety. “None from us, either.” She didn’t have the authority to make that proclamation, officially, but since she had no intention of ever letting her father know anything about Gwen’s attempts to follow in his footsteps, it didn’t matter.

He was back on potatoes. Her potatoes, specifically. Though there were much worse things about her he could have fixated on, she found she didn’t like the idea of one of her yearmates being obsessed with her diet. “Potatoes can’t be evil,” she argued, deciding to let the bit about standing up for her beliefs slide. If she ever felt suicidal, she might try that. Until then, she’d do as she was told. “They might be starchy, but cooked vegetables can’t have worldviews.” It didn’t occur to her that she might have taken his statement just a little bit too literally.\n\n

0 Morgaine Carey Confusion is fun. 81 Morgaine Carey 0 5

Elly

June 19, 2006 2:12 PM

That's alright then by Elly

Elly looked to Echo and offered him a kind of one-sided smile. She sort of wanted to throw an arm around him and tell him to stop worrying, but she wasn’t totally inept at reading body language. Echo had been sitting tense all evening, jumping when the girls laughed and being very careful not to touch Elly when his elbows were on the table, let alone pushing around his pudding rather than eating it. To Elly, not eating your pudding meant there was something wrong.

“Hey,” she told him, “it’s an adventure, right? An exploration. When old explorers discovered new countries, they didn’t have a map or anything, so we’ll start from scratch, too. That sound okay?”

Elly glanced up at Meredith, just to check her reaction. Despite his nervousness and geeky tendencies, Echo seemed to be okay. Elly thought that once he had stopped being so tense (maybe he was shy?) they would be able to get along fine. After all, he was interested in joining her and Meredith in exploring, and he loved the outdoors, and he seemed pretty down-to-earth for a boy. Plus, they would be having all their lessons together, so they could hardly avoid each other anyway.

“How about tomorrow we explore the gardens?” Elly suggested. “After lessons. There might not be any secret passages, but I know I’m looking forward to seeing these mazes. Maybe we could build a swing? If there's not one here already, I mean. We could build a huge rope swing!” Elly became aware that she was starting to ramble again, so shut up quickly, though she continued to smile euphorically.
\n\n

0 Elly That's alright then 0 Elly 0 5

Pepper

June 19, 2006 2:41 PM

Yeah, and gobbledegook by Pepper

"Thanks," Pepper smiled, as the younger girl wished her luck with Quidditch.

"I'd hate being an only child. Well, maybe I wouldn't if I'd always been used to it, but imagining it now," she pulled a face, "Ok, there are times when I feel like I'd do anything for a bit of peace and quiet, or to not have to fetch someone juice, but I love being part of a big family. I found it really difficult to sleep here at first - it was too quiet," she grinned.

"That's cool," she said, when Amber told her about her interests. "I'm more of a Disney girl myself, though not through choice. All bar one of my siblings are younger than me, so I know most of them word for word," she said, rolling her eyes. "I always think it would be utterly bizarre to live in a Disney-type world for a day, especially when I'm watching something like the Aristocats.

"The paintings are cool, though they scared me a bit at first - I just found it so strange," she admitted, "They're really helpful for the most part. Though if they ask your name before they'll give you directions, it usually means they're a snob who doesn't like people from Mugg- non-magical families, and they'll probably try and send you to the wrong place. Some people have this real attitude problem about people without magical heritage," she said sadly.\n\n

0 Pepper Yeah, and gobbledegook 0 Pepper 0 5

Meredith

June 19, 2006 4:59 PM

Good plan by Meredith

Meredith could only shrug in response to Echo. She told him what he asked to know and that was all she could do. She couldn’t just go and change the laws of magic. Elly was right though. Not knowing where to start was just fine. They’d just make their own place to start. Meredith grinned when Elly looked her way.

“Starting from scratch works for me. And who knows? Maybe we’ll stumble on something anyway.” Echo seemed to need some positive reassurance. “It could be as easy as asking a portrait to help us or just asking it to move over. It is magic, y’know. There could be something behind them for all we know.”

Meredith agreed with Elly about exploring the gardens. She wanted to get a look at the gardens soon too. Somehow she’d have to get through class first. Hopefully they’d be good classes to start with. Meredith smiled at Elly’s excitement over building a swing. The idea reminded her of the park back home. It was a fair walk from her house that she couldn’t go alone, but it had a regular play ground with swings, twisting slides and the whole nine yards and then nearby was the quidditch pitch she had mentioned earlier. It was just another reason to invite Elly over. Meredith noticed that Elly had the right kind of attitude. She always seemed so positive.

“That sounds awesome. We should explore the entire maze and try to memorize it. Maybe we can make our own map.” She remembered what Elly had said about explorers not starting with maps. “One of you would have to draw it though. I’m none too good at drawing.” She shrugged with a grin. “But a map would be especially good if there are secrets in the maze. A good maze ought to hide some good secrets.” She said matter-of-factly, taking another bite of cake.\n\n

0 Meredith Good plan 0 Meredith 0 5

Saul

June 20, 2006 9:20 PM

Yeah, I guess so. by Saul

For a moment, Saul didn't know how to respond. Then it dawned on him. She was joking. Feeling really dumb for taking so long to figure that out, he laughed belatedly, as much at himself as at her deadpan humour. Who knew snobby families produced comedians? She had a great delivery for deadpan.

He decided to try to match her and did his best to wipe the grin off his face before arguing, "That's not true. One of the best orators in early California was a large stalk of broccoli. Granted, that was because an attempt to become an animagus went very wrong and the Alcalde of Los Angeles was never quite right again, but he looked like a cooked vegetable."

Not a word of it was true, of course, but improv stories were the only sort of entertainment he was any good at. It was also the reason why the cousins usually opted for him to be the spokesperson whenever they got caught troublemaking. Not saying his stories were ever believable but they were generally creative enough that the Aunt or Uncle who caught them generally thought it was either too ridiculous to have been made up, or funny enough to let them off light.\n\n

1 Saul Yeah, I guess so. 82 Saul 0 5

Zack Dill

June 20, 2006 10:10 PM

Well I'm required to be a gnome or a halfling by Zack Dill

Two characters per player. Well, that was an idea if they couldn't find another person to play with them. As long as they could find a DM, they should be alright with just Guenther, himself, and Ginger. Of course, DMs were a bit harder to find than players. "I don't suppose you DM at all?" he asked. "I almost did a couple years ago then realized I didn't have a clue how to run a campaign, so it sort of fell through. Back home, Doug likes to run them with a tyrannical fist, so I'm not sure what all he does to get ready."

He looked around the room until he spotted Ginger Silverstein, then pointed her out, "You remember Ginger, from the Oscar incident in the library last year, right? She found me on greatest journal last year, so we've been writing to each other over the summer. She plays D&D, too. We could maybe get a campaign going here. I'm guessing your human is a fighter and your girl's a magic user of some sort? I used to always play a thief, but lately I've been playing wizards and sorcerers. Y'know, now that I know I am one."\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1 Zack Dill Well I'm required to be a gnome or a halfling 40 Zack Dill 0 5

Echo Elms

June 20, 2006 10:16 PM

We'll wing it, then by Echo Elms

Echo still wished they had something to go on, but they didn't even know where to look for their classes -- or the library for that matter. Elly was right: maybe just walking around would give them some ideas. And Meredith's idea about getting clues from the portraits sounded like a regular Nate the Great or Cam Jansen mystery. The mystery here was to find the mystery, and he, Echo Elms, would find a mystery. With Elly and Meredith, of course.

"It'll be the Mystery of the Missing Mystery," Echo said out loud, grinning to himself and looking over the table for Nate the Great's detective diet. He wanted it for a joke he doubted anyone would get, so it was probably just as well there were no pancakes about. Maybe in the morning.

His mother would have gotten his humor. She loved Nate the Great. Echo resolved to write a Nate the Great themed letter home in just a couple days. It would be hilarious. His mom would love it.

And tonight would be his first night away from home. Not the first night ever, though. He'd gone to camp once. For two nights. Once.

No way, Echo, he ordered himself, very firmly. Come on, don't be a wimp. Get a grip, it's been what, like, four hours? Four tops. Just, no. No.

He was fine. In fact, he was great. Two girls were talking to him and didn't think he was awful (even if the status of their sanity was still under question), and he just managed to say something with the intent to be funny, and he'd had a brilliant idea for his first letter home. Overall, Echo decided, it was shaping out to be a good day. A grand day. A fabjulous day! Callough! Callay! He chortled in his joy!-- not really.

He refrained from chortling. Just barely. He bit the inside of his mouth to keep it from getting that far and tried to breath regularly. If he could keep from laughing, he wouldn't catch the madness. Nevermind that no one else was laughing now.\n\n

21 Echo Elms We'll wing it, then 93 Echo Elms 0 5

Melanie Rose

June 20, 2006 10:26 PM

Lovely, diggers love gold. Don't ask. by Melanie Rose

Melanie kept her composure as it seemed he dug for information. Last year she let her secret fear out to Dalila. This year it would be that she was the obnoxious one from the past year who couldn't keep her mouth shut. She went from fun to bad in her mind.
"Well, I answer that way due to last years summer before Sonora was horrible and then the school year didn't do so well. I'm not sure if you have heard but I had the record of being the first kicked out of flying class. I never learned to fly so I have to do it this year." She smiled. She wasn't all that proud of it but she found it amusing in some freakishly odd way.
"I'm also a muggle born. The first magical person amongst the Rose's home and probably the only one, seeing how I am an only child. I wasn't all that freaked out last year. I took it calm. Infact, Dalila was the first person I met last year. She was fun."
She took the last bite of her food and swallowed. It wasn't going to be too long hopefully until she could set everything up the way she wanted in the room. She'd probably wind up on the couch or something. Her sleeping problems never left her over the summer. It was bad enough that when she moved in to the strict house this summer she had to pretend to sleep.
"I don't worry about anything lately. It's been a carefree summer. Except, the fact I almost didn't make it for the wagon ride was all based on my behavior for this summer."
She shrugged as she took another swig from her goblet.
"What about you? Was your summer good?" She questioned after swallowing.\n\n

0 Melanie Rose Lovely, diggers love gold. Don't ask. 0 Melanie Rose 0 5

Connor Pierce

June 21, 2006 9:49 AM

You really want me to answer that? by Connor Pierce

Normally, Connor wouldn’t have been much happier than any other thirteen-year-old boy to return to school. His school did have some perks that made it better than attending public school or even normal private schools – it was a mansion, the food was great, and the magic made it like living in a highly realistic dream – but, at the end of the day, it was a school. There were classes, homework, and teachers who were a lot stricter than his mother. When he added Beverly and her remaining two years until they could be dead sure she wasn’t going to get sick again, Connor figured he had plenty of reasons to be ambivalent at best about coming back to school at the end of any normal summer. This summer didn’t qualify, because he’d been convinced it was bolt or go nuts by mid July.

He didn’t think he’d ever like it, but he’d decided that, so long as they kept on like they were, he could live with Brad Amberley and Brad’s son, Matt. As long as neither of them figured on marrying into the family, there could be a silent, understood agreement involving them avoiding each other wherever possible and keeping interactions brief when it wasn’t possible. It was the girl – Leslie Amberley – who was the problem with the live-and-let-live setup. Kid didn’t know how to shut up. He’d resorted to watching soap operas with his mother more than once to dodge Leslie and her questions about boarding school and what sort of things he learned at boarding school and was it true that boarding school was the same as the state penitentiary and so forth. He’d really gotten keen on avoiding her when she’d started asking questions about why he had a great big old fashioned trunk in his room. He’d kept the place locked up around-the-clock since catching wind that there would be a load of Muggles not in on the secret tromping around the house at all hours, and had yet to figure out how Leslie had caught a glimpse of it.

After two solid months of that, Sonora and its teachers sounded like a reprieve. He’d take Marlowe and an especially tough Transfiguration lesson over Leslie any day of the week, and over Brad and Matt on half of them. Miles upon acres of theory and incantations were a lot easier, he had discovered, to keep up with than an endless series of lies about where he went to school and what he did there.

The Cascade Hall was its usual hectic start-of-term self, but he was still able to see Gwen at, of all places, the Aladren table. A closer look at the girl she was sitting beside showed the most likely reason, though he couldn’t remember Gwen and her cousin being wildly close at any point in the past two years. They just...put up with each other. That younger guy Anne was always with was with them, too. Two-against-one wasn’t really fair, and he didn’t want to chance another run-in with that brat Morgaine. He headed over.

“Hey, Gwen,” he said, grinning at her. “Anne.” He’d never met the other guy, and so didn’t feel obliged to greet him. “Good summer?” He sat down and looked at Gwen, hoping to indicate that the question was more for her than anyone else.\n\n

0 Connor Pierce You really want me to answer that? 68 Connor Pierce 0 5

Anne and Layne

June 21, 2006 10:16 AM

Your opinion don't count, Pierce. by Anne and Layne

Trying to be as discreet as possible, Anne kicked Geoffrey under the table and shot him a death glare when he had the gall to look surprised. He knew perfectly well what she was mad at him about, and he also knew perfectly well that she hated it when he was thickheaded on purpose to wheedle information out of people who weren't mutual enemies. Last she'd checked, she wasn't a mutual enemy. He frowned back, more inquisitive than angry, and she shook her head once, sharply. Quit looking at me like that, she tried to get across telepathically. She somehow doubted it had worked.

Wait. Normal. Normal Anne wouldn't be trying to communicate wordlessly to Geoff that she was two centimeters away from being fed up. Normal Anne wouldn't even be fed up. She pasted a smile on and sat back, crossing her arms defensively in front of her. A single quirked eyebrow was the response she got. Oh, yeah, they were going to end up having a very long talk later on. Geoff would tie her to something if she tried to dodge it. Pity she'd never gotten the hang of making up lies for the future while carrying on a conversation in the present.

Her head snapped around toward the sound of another voice saying her name. She knew him...sort of...they'd talked in Defense Against the Dark Arts, once, and he and Gwen were buddies or more. What was his name? She couldn't recall it for the life of her. Something that started with a 'C'...unless she was thinking about Catherine Raines and getting Gwen's friends and enemies all mixed up. She thought, though, that his name did actually begin with the letter 'C'. It was worth a shot.

"Carl," she returned, nodding shortly in acknowledgement of the greeting. "This is Geoffrey Layne." She pointed, probably unnecessarily, to the boy across from her, who raised a hand for about two seconds and mirrored her nod. They really were far too much alike for any good to come of it. Geoff was giving her another inquisitive look, this one clearly not about her, and she mouthed the word boyfriend with a tilt of her head in Gwen's direction and hoped her cousin didn't notice. From what Anne had seen, Gwen honestly thought that she'd kept everything under wraps and out of sight. Gwen was also her favorite cousin, so ostracizing her really wasn't high on Anne's to-do list. Geoffrey nodded. The message, complete with the fact that he wasn't supposed to say anything, had gotten across.

Or so she thought until Geoff opened his mouth, anyway.

"Ah - I don't mean to offend," he said, looking at Gwen, "but are you Gwenhwyfar Carey?"

Oh, great. Just lovely. "Geoffrey," she hissed. "Shut up!" The damage, however, was probably already done. "Gwen, I'm sorry, really, he retracts that question. It's none of his business." This was followed by another glare.\n\n

16 Anne and Layne Your opinion don't count, Pierce. 59 Anne and Layne 0 5

Gwen

June 21, 2006 10:46 AM

Be nice, now. by Gwen

"A family naming tradition, I suppose?" Gwen said when Anne commented on the three other women in her new household who shared her name. "I've never heard of that being done with women before. The Charleston Careys are up to eight Anthonys, but only four of them are still alive. We Savannah Careys have four Richards, too, but Richard One's been dead since before we even started calling ourselves Savannah Careys, and Richard Four won't answer to his proper name outside of formal situations." Technically, Gwenhwyfar and Morgaine were both inherited names - the mother and sister of the Founding Brothers of the Savannah Careys - but there was no tradition of using them, and Gwen strongly suspected her father had simply drawn up a family tree of Carey women and pointed to select nominatives for his daughters.

She looked up, surprised, when a male voice greeted her, then smiled upon realizing that it was only Connor. She hadn't put as much effort into keeping the fact that they were friends secret as she had when she still had a reputation to ruin, so there was no real reason not to. Besides, it was always nice to see someone who both thought she had at least some of her marbles in the jar and didn't actively dislike her. "Hey," she said, tucking her hair behind her ears. Rosamund, bored to the point of distraction, had cut off about three inches of it, leaving it short enough and manageable enough to wear down more often than she normally did.

She had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing when Anne called Connor 'Carl', but managed it. Either Anne was going for some form of subtle, probably Muggle-based, humor, or she had a poor memory for names. There was really only one option when it came to answering the question about her summer. "It was lovely," she lied, not feeling a moment's regret. They were In Public. "I was invited to the family reunion, but that's basically a five-day party. There's too many of us for there to be any real organization."

This felt nice. She'd taken to avoiding social interaction over the past two years, but...this was nice. Anne and Connor fell into the category of people she considered all right, and the other boy - Geoffrey - wasn't a threat by virtue of being with Anne. This was something she could get used to. She was starting to smile a bit when Geoffrey asked the million-galleon question. In the moment it took her to freeze and pull out of it, Anne had started berating Geoffrey and apologizing to her.

"No," she said, deciding she might as well get it over with. Anne's attempts to shelter her were probably making things worse. "It's all right." She tried to gauge what Geoffrey was thinking before she spoke again. "I am, but folks call me Gwen. It's just easier to say." \n\n

0 Gwen Be nice, now. 63 Gwen 0 5

Guenther Heindrich

June 22, 2006 6:41 PM

Fighters and Fisherman by Guenther Heindrich

Guenther tried to wrap his mind around all the questions that were being thrown at him. "Never DMed.Campaigning would be cool and no actually my half-elf is a fighter/fisherman and her brother is the same. Though he is not very efficient at either."

He pushed his plate away, finding this conversation far more interesting then it. "It's funny. I wouldn't picture Ginger as the sort of girl to play D&D. Then again, I tend to have a bad perception of people."\n\n

0 Guenther Heindrich Fighters and Fisherman 0 Guenther Heindrich 0 5

Tally

June 23, 2006 5:00 PM

Nobody ever really does by Tally

It was apparent to Tally that Kaylie had a thing about boys. Tally liked boys (more than she'll ever willingly admit) but Kaylie seemed to live and breathe them. Or maybe it was just the fact that they were gossiping. Tally couldn't be absolutely sure. Either Kaylie really liked boys (talking or whatnot about them) or she just enjoyed listening to Tally explain about her horrible first kiss with the boy whom she had ignored much throughout grade-school.

Tally shrugged, "I can't say for sure that the bet was the reason why he asked me out...or kissed me for that matter. I just know that there was a bet about me." Tally shrugged again. The people in her neighborhood were jerks, there wasn't much else she could say about them. Though, she would never let herself be alone with a boy ever again, if she could help it.

"I-uh-" Tally started when Kaylie said it would be for the best that she hadn't said yes to Bobby, "don't like him enough to date him." She admitted. "I mean, he's nice to look at and all, but we've got nothing in common. We'd probably sit there all awkward like most of the time." Or he would try shoving his lips against mine again Tally thought with a slight shudder.

"Anyway, if I were to be a girlfriend to anyone, I'd prefer it to be someone from school. At least then we'd have magic and Sonora in common. Plus, I can talk about things. Ya know?" Tally asked, an eyebrow quirking up at the question.\n\n

0 Tally Nobody ever really does 0 Tally 0 5

Kaylie

June 27, 2006 10:22 PM

Re: Nobody ever really does by Kaylie

"Yea" Kaylie replied. "It would be weird dating a Muggle. Not that I have a problem with them or with non-purebloods. I just don't think I'd know what we'd talk about." Kaylie and her family had had little interaction with muggles aside from attending the market in Portland, where it was kind of okay to be different. Besides, they usually spent more time in the wizarding part, in case someone did something a bit unusual. Just because her parents were fairly liberal didn't mean they wanted to get caught by Muggles either. Kaylie's mother seemed especially paranoid. Besides, Kaylie wasn't sure she'd be able to be in a relationship and not tell him about what was her whole life and how she'd been raised.

"It would be rough too, not being around your boyfriend." Kaylie added. "I mean, you'd never get to see each other. I'd really want to go out with someone here. I mean, not anyone specific just yet. I don't know of any guys I wanna date in particular." She babbled. Kaylie really didn't know any guys in her class very well at all. There were a few older boys that were cute but she didn't talk to them very much either. She blushed, hoping Tally didn't think she had a crush on anyone.

She remembered just then about Adam. Kaylie had been distracted by the conversation. She gazed around but couldn't find him. He certainly wasn't seated with his house.Kaylie shrugged and turned her attention back to Tally, figuring her brother had just gone up to his room to escape the crowd.\n\n

11 Kaylie Re: Nobody ever really does 43 Kaylie 0 5

Sorrel and Ash

July 06, 2006 9:21 PM

"Marnett's Theory". Sounds ominous. Or like a band name.... by Sorrel and Ash

"Wow, you must have been bored to crack a book," Ash grinned. He saw Sorrel's lips twitch at the bell comment, but she surpressed the laugh. Before Ash could ask what Stephen was planning for Fido though, he was interupted by Stephen yelling at some firsties, and then he was off again talking about how Princess had been ill. Stephen had broken his leg; that was news. Princess had had a cold and her mummy had over-reacted... He wondered why they were supposed to care. He supposed it was part of Stephen's Be-Nice-To-Princess Scheme, but talking about her little ailments was on the same level as making small talk about the weather.

"Uh-huh," Ash acknowledged unenthusiastically as Mia mentioned her cat had decided to join them. Honestly, if the conversation had been any slower it would have been going backwards. Princess seemed to have roughly the topic range of a five year old... 'I got sick. My mummy got worried. Oh look, my kitty's here.' Ash couldn't understand why anyone as hyper as Stephen had the patience to deal with that. Or anyone at all, really. "On that note, what kind of owl is it and what are you calling it?" he asked Stephen. "And what's this plan for Fido?"

He almost wished Sorrel was sitting the other side of him. Ok, he'd feel like he was leaving her out, but her sitting in irritable silence whilst he talked across her to Stephen just kind of drew large amounts of attention to the fact she wasn't speaking.

"I think, as captains, we have the right to know," he added, hoping to prompt Stephen into at least semi-directly addressing Sorrel. \n\n

0 Sorrel and Ash "Marnett's Theory". Sounds ominous. Or like a band name.... 0 Sorrel and Ash 0 5

Stephen

July 09, 2006 1:23 AM

I wonder what kind of music they'd play by Stephen

Stephen wasn't particularly convinced by Mia's 'I'm fine', but there wasn't really anything much to be done just yet. And Ash quickly distracted him again.

"There were other reasons for reading," Stephen said, pulling a face. "The whole thing with Fido, I needed to do some reading for that. There's some stuff in Charms that I'm going to see if I can modify to use and, I might need to transfigure some stuff too. Depends on what I end up needing. I've still got a bit of stuff to read up in the..." he paused for a moment as he recalled who he was talking to, and wondered if they'd even ventured into the Library before. Eh, didn't matter. It was in a good cause, so they couldn't use this against him too. It wasn't like this stupid thing with talking to girls apparently making him the lowest of the low. "Library. You know," he settled back into his customary confident grin, "place with lots of books? And Aladrens too. I bet they'd camp out in there if they could."

His eyes flicked to Sorrel for a second and he half frowned again before focusing back on Ash.

"She called him 'Sanders'. Not a clue why. I don't think she's a big fan of the Colonel or anything like that. He's an owl," he shrugged again, about both the mysteries of Mothers, and the fact that he wasn't anything resembling an expert of owls. "About this big," he indicated a medium sized owl's size with his hands, "brown and grey... an owl. Big eyes," his hands moved up to emphaise large eyes before he dropped them and shrugged again.

He turned again, slightly, to check that Mia was still alright (that cough was a bit worrying) before sticking his tongue out at Ash.

"Of course, mon capitans," there was an art to butchering other languages, and Stephen was quite adept at it. He leaned in closer to the twins, to be sure that his words would not be heard by any passing or nearby students from other houses, brushing up against Sorrel for a moment before abruptly pulling back enough that he wasn't touching her. An oddly unStephenlike indeciferable look flittered over his face before he shook his head slightly and started to explain. "I'm gonna rev him up. He's not the latest model, poor guy, and I'm not going to replace him or anything, so I talked to Alan - you guys know he's a mechanic, or will be at the end of the year when he officially finished his apprenticeship, right? - and he gave me some tips, and we talked it over, and he thinks I can do it. Few things, really. Upgrading some of the charms, using some minor transfiguration to change the shape of the twigs, a few new charms here and there. Its going to be heaps of fun."

Talking about this made things seem almost normal again. As though Sorrel hadn't turned into something strange. As though the other two didn't jump on him every time he seemed to talk to a girl they hadn't both approved of first. \n\n

39 Stephen I wonder what kind of music they'd play 0 Stephen 0 5

Ash and Sorrel

July 10, 2006 8:58 PM

Angry girl music of the indie-rock persuasion by Ash and Sorrel

OOC - to quote my current favourite music quote

IC
"I know what the library is," Ash said, in that 'there's no need to patronise' tone, "I have got lost a few times, y'know. Back in the early days," he grinned. "It has its hex-related uses," he conceeded, motioning for Stephen to continue. The bit about the owl he pretty much let wash over him. It had been a device to get the conversation flowing back their way.

Sorrel felt Stephen brush against her, then quickly... she tried to avoid using the word 'recoil' in her head, which made her sound like something gross. She tried to focus on the fact Stephen was addressing them both, adding to herself that it wasn't as if they'd ever been touchy-feely-huggy people. It was almost like he was just keeping things normal.

"You wanna be careful what spells you use," she told her plate, finding the courage to speak up when given that she was semi-addressed, and they were on the safe territory of Quidditch. "You know all that spells being linked to elements crap? Air charms are the best obviously, but the drawback is they're not powerful. But you wanna avoid fire charms at all costs," she clenched a fist under the table, feeling like she was rambling, and like a brainiac as well. The last thing she needed Stephen thinking was that she'd gone geeky. He already seemed weirded out by her. "Mom told us," she explained. "Friend of hers tried to supe up her broom. Worked alright until she pushed it to maximum speed, when the tail burst into flame. Probably not the look you wanna go for," she added, with a half grin aimed sort of at Stephen.

She wished Mia wasn't around to see her acting so unsure. But Stephen was leaning in and talking quietly, so perhaps she'd get away with just looking, from Mia's disadvantaged view point, like she was just doing the same. \n\n

0 Ash and Sorrel Angry girl music of the indie-rock persuasion 0 Ash and Sorrel 0 5

Stephen

July 11, 2006 11:08 AM

tries to imagine Marnett heading up something like that by Stephen

"Right, right," Stephen nodded as Sorrel explained, even as he took the excuse of her talking to him to sneak looks at her eyes. She looked different like this. Really, really different. And while she'd been happy enough to threaten Princess, the Sorrel he knew wouldn't be talking like this. Or maybe she would. Maybe he hadn't known her quite so well as he'd though he had. Maybe Ash'd better get with the explaining when they got up to their room after the feast.

Makeup on the other girls had seemed more... not like the way Sorrel wore it. It made them look softer and older at the same time, or, in the case of a couple he'd seen, simply ridiculous. On Sorrel... well, if she wasn't acting like this - he sneaked another look to confirm what he was concluding - it'd probably make her seem more fierce.

"And here I was thinking you'd been paying more attention in the Grump's class that anyone knew," he ventured, teasing in a testing way to see how she'd react. "Yeah, the books mentioned something like that, but not in such... a definite way. I'll be careful though, Fido'd never forgive me if I got him all singed." He let his grin grow a little as he looked at Ash. "You two thinking of trying something similar?"\n\n

39 Stephen *tries to imagine Marnett heading up something like that* 0 Stephen 0 5

Sorrel and Ash

July 16, 2006 1:34 PM

succeeds and laughs by Sorrel and Ash

Ash watched Stephen watching Sorrel. He seemed to be studying rather than looking like he was going to do anything dangerously tactless, and the two of them seemed to be starting to hold a conversation. Ash allowed himself to relax very slightly.

"Yeah, and you're a quiet and reserved individual," Sorrel responded, giving Stephen a grin. Things seemed to be slightly more normal, and a little bit of a smile crept into her cheeky grin and her eyes. Perhaps she just had more shock value than she thought.

"And we'll never forgive you if you set yourself alight when someone's making a pass at goal," Ash grinned, noticing the tension in Sorrel's shoulders slipping steadily away. "We might try and upgrade," he shrugged, "Not really thought about it. We'll use you as a guinea pig; if you manage not to blow yourself or your broom up, who knows?" \n\n

0 Sorrel and Ash *succeeds and laughs* 0 Sorrel and Ash 0 5

Headmistress Marnett

The Opening Feast – Year 4 by Headmistress Marnett

Meredith Lail

A school to look forward to, by Meredith Lail

August Todvin

A "Blue" first year by August Todvin

Tally Adams

Returning once more to chaos by Tally Adams

Jake, Bella, Josh, and Matt Santoro

We've come to overrun the school... by Jake, Bella, Josh, and Matt Santoro

Elly Eriksson

Starting from scratch by Elly Eriksson

Make way for the twins!

Leonardo and Gil Idoya by Make way for the twins!

Meredith

Things can be better that way...like cake by Meredith

Grail (Gray) Markner

A "Gray" first year by Grail (Gray) Markner

August Todvin

Re: A "Gray" first year by August Todvin

Gary Steffin

*sings* I’m blue…da ba dee, da ba di, da ba dee by Gary Steffin

Gray

Gray/Blue for me, then by Gray

August Todvin

Blue isn't so bad by August Todvin

Gray

I quite like it :D by Gray

Elly

Being clumsy by Elly

Gary

The best house deserves the best color by Gary

Meredith

Not a problem by Meredith

Tony aka Plant Dude

Not a Crotalus...I think by Tony aka Plant Dude

Pepper Jones

Everybody needs somebody... Right? by Pepper Jones

Gray

Ha, then we must be the best by Gray

August Todvin

Muggle-borns? by August Todvin

Gary

Yeah, who wouldn't want to be us? by Gary

Gray

Pfft, no one, babe by Gray

Amber Carey

Absolutely right. by Amber Carey

Leo Idoya

Huh. A talking plant. Of <i>course</i>. by Leo Idoya

Mia Kerova

Four feasts and it's still not boring... by Mia Kerova

Elly

That's a relief by Elly

Kaylie Brockert

I seem to be missing a brother.. by Kaylie Brockert

Stephen Baxter

Of course it isn't, I'm here! ;) by Stephen Baxter

Pepper

Would it be too cruel to title this 'Hooray! You're lost' by Pepper

Meredith

Happens to the best of us by Meredith

Elly

*grins* by Elly

Echo Elms

Juiced by Echo Elms

Mia

That's just a fact of life by Mia

Meredith

Looks like we've got an eavesdropper. by Meredith

August

Friends, maybe? by August

Jenna Howard

It's Good to be Back by Jenna Howard

Elly

The more the merrier by Elly

Oscar

A feast fit for a cat by Oscar

Professor Kiva Kijewski

And a fine cat he is by Professor Kiva Kijewski

sings I’m blue…da ba dee, da ba di, da ba dee by Gary Steffin

grins by Elly