I am...secretly relieved, but let's keep it a secret. on Cascade Hall

Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

January 04, 2013 5:45 PM

Welcoming Feast by Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau

Kiva had given birth to her daughter, Harper Melissa Kijewski-Jareau, only days after the last day of school last term and spent much of her summer being a new mom and an old mom to the other four children in the house. Emery and Chloe were thrilled, well, initially thrilled anyway. Emery became cranky when the baby cried for too long and Chloe only held interest in her until she became bored and moved on. Knowing they were only ten, Kiva tried not to hold it against them. Ayita and Angel were harder to predict. Ayita seemed to spend as much time away from them as possible. Kiva wasn’t sure if that was a sixteen year old being a sixteen year old or something more. Kiva gave her the space she needed, but also had tried to make sure she knew that she was a part of the family. Angel clung to her more often than she remembered him doing in the past, but didn't seem to enjoy the baby all too much. Sometimes she would catch him watching Harper while she slept, but would immediately run off if the baby woke up. It was strange, but Kiva figured he had never seen a baby before. This was a learning experience for them all.

When the first years were brought in, Kiva stood up and charmed herself to be heard over the crowd. She waited a few minutes for the returning students to settle down before she finally greeted the students. “First and foremost, I want to welcome all of our newest students to Sonora Academy and all of our returning students a welcome back. I do hope your summers were full of fun adventures, but I am happy to find that you have all returned to the school intact.” Kiva was only joking with them really. She knew that students both loved and hated returning to school. They loved it because they were able to see their friends again. They hated it because it meant that they were back in school.

“For those who do not know me, I am Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau, but feel free to call me Professor K. Our first priority for the moment is to have the first years sorted.” Kiva turned her hazel eyes to the newest group of students. “In order for this to be done, I need for each of you to step up one at a time to your new Deputy Headmistress Pierce, who is also the Coach, and take a sip from the potion she will offer to you.” Kiva explained, nodded to Amelia to indicate who Coach Pierce was. “Once you have taken a sip of the potion, your skin will turn into the color of the house you will be spending the next seven years in. Once your house is indicated, please have a seat at your house table. Yellow is for Teppenpaw, blue is for Aladren, red is for Crotalus, and brown is for Pecari. Please, if you could form a line and begin…” She gestured for the first student to step up.

Once the sorting had ended, Kiva regained the students’ attention. “I would like to have Sara Raines and David Wilkes to please come up here and accept your new Head Boy and Head Girl badges.” Kiva called out and when both students approached, she grinned and handed each their appropriate badges. “Congratulations to you both.” She whispered to them before having them return to their seats. “I would also like to have Nora Dobson, Lawrence Stratford, Paul Bennett, and Melanie Goodwill to join me up here for a moment.” Kiva waited for the four to be standing at her side before continuing. “Everyone, I would like you to meet your newest Prefects. Congratulations to you four, please take your new badges.” Kiva gestured for the four to return to their seats. “This year’s Midsummer Event will be the Ball. Normally, there is a theme to the ball, but we wanted to change things up a bit since last term, the event was low-key.” Kiva advised them, waiting for any moans that were bound to come.

“There will be three challenges held during the year. We are going to place you in various groups and in various levels. The Advanced Students will take lead, but the point of these challenges is to see how well you work together.” Kiva wasn’t sure if they would actually enjoy these challenges or their teammates, but it would keep them busy. “At the end of the year, the winners of these challenges will be given awards. The hosts of these challenges will provide you with more detail when we come closer to those. I’ll be posting the teams on your house boards and the main board in the hall within the next couple of days.” Now onto what she assumed would be the worst news. “Due to the challenges this year we decided to forego all Quidditch games.” Now she really waited for the hostility from the students. “Quidditch Captains will still have to uphold their responsibilities with signups, tryouts, and practices, but games will be postponed until next year.”

Kiva waited for any commotion over this news to die down. She knew for the graduating Captains it may have been hard to swallow. Once they had quieted, she continued, “In honor of tradition, please refer to your music sheets as we begin the School Song.” Sheets of music appeared in front of the students. “Let’s begin.”

Every day we strive
Learning to survive
Life’s hardships and to solve its mystery.
Learning to defend
Our honour and our friends,
Flying high to meet our destiny
We will stand and face those who want to harm us.
We won’t let the world transfigure, jinx or charm us
I won’t fight alone, as long as you are with me.
Sonora be my home, my tutor and my spirit
Vasita quoque floeat; Even the desert blooms.

Once the song ended, the food appeared before them. A feast of great magnum. “Please enjoy the rest of your evening. When it is time to head back to your Houses, your Head of House will call for your attention and bring you to your destinations. That is all.” Kiva concluded and then took her seat at the staff table.

OOC: Welcome First years! Please do not post on any other board until your Head of House posts his/her welcoming speech. Have fun at the feast and remember the site rules. Happy posting everyone!

Subthreads:

Excited and a bit surprised by Charlie (and Henny) B-F-R with Julian Umland, Charlie B-F-R

The start of a good year by Henny B-F-R with Alicia Bauer

It's all quite overwhelming by Omara Hernandez with Jeweliah Dyste, Adam Spencer, Anonymous, Jewels

Wow... by William Casey with Malcolm Carey, Mal Carey

I'm as red as they come! by Virginia Bellrose with Percival Everett Waterford II, Ginny Bellrose

Can't believe I'm back in one piece by Clara Abernathy, Pecari with Rupert Princeton, Waverly Canterbury, Rupert

Hoping this year is as entertaining as the last by Carter Browning, Teppenpaw with Marcus Crosby, Carter Browning

I am...secretly relieved, but let's keep it a secret. by David Wilkes with James Owen, James

…begin again… by Angel Jareau with Ayita Jareau, Angel

What?! by Kitty McLevy with Andrina Thornton, Kitty

Feeling a little 'blue' by Keme RunningBear with Rajid Ambrose, Keme

I only came for a friend. (tag Brianna) by Maximilian Joshua McLachlan with Linus Macaulay, Brianna Japos, Josh McLachlan

This is so exciting! by Gemma Bennett with Willow Collins, Gemma

I don't feel very welcome. by Sophie Jamison with Amira Thornton, Amira

The last dance by Valentina Bentancourt with Kate Bauer, Valentina

Let's start over! by Regina Parker with Derry Pierce

I...wait, I...what? by Mellie Goodwin with Jhonice Trevear

...I hate you. by Preston Stratford

Just a little nervous by Rory Royale with Analea Thornton, Rory

Brooding as usual. by Cepheus Princeton with Alexandra Devereux, Cepheus

I feel welcomed! by Wendy Canterbury with Annabelle and Annette Pierce

FOOD! by Liam Ammon with Jude Butler

Branching out by Francesca Wolseithcrafte with Thad Pierce

Strutting my stuff by Josephine Owen with Sullivan Quincy-Tellerman, Josephine

Pride by Nora Dobson

The New Me, Really. by Addison Thornton, Teppenpaw

Just in time... for RAIN! by Aubrielle Thornton

0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau Welcoming Feast 0 Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau 1 5

Charlie (and Henny) B-F-R

January 04, 2013 5:54 PM

Excited and a bit surprised by Charlie (and Henny) B-F-R

“Just like she said...” Charlie breathed to himself as he entered the Cascade Hall. The fact though that Henny had told him all about the water flowing noiselessly down the walls didn't make him any less in awe, good as her powers of description were and accustomed to magic as he was. He'd been taken on various educational trips to historic houses when Henny had got to choose their days out, and he'd seen some pretty fancy spellwork but it was always in places that were clapped out. The spellwork was either not functioning any more or had been restored just for the sake of letting people look at it. This was more real, somehow. It wasn't sectioned off by velvet ropes. There weren't guides around trying to explain about how it worked and how they'd restored it. It just... was.

Charlie lined up with the other first years, the procedure safe and familiar as it happened just as his sister had told him it would. One he'd taken his turn with the goblet, he ran enthusiastically over to her.

“Henny! Henny! Look I'm.... I'm yellow,” he said, doubt and uncertainty creeping into his demeanour for the first time. “I'm not with you,” he said, sounding crestfallen. If it hadn't been for his tone, Henny might have laughed and said something like 'No, of course not,' but she could tell that Charlie was unpleasantly surprised by this turn of events, which to her had been perfectly expected.

“Did you think you would be?” she asked gently. He nodded sadly.

“We're siblings.”

“Well, yes. But siblings don't always go together. And we're not very similar. You'll like Teppenpaw – I'm sure you will.”

“I wanted to be with you,” Charlie said in a very small voice.

“You suit Teppenpaw and I'm sure you'll like it,” she reiterated. “How about we have a breakfast date tomorrow? We can write home and tell Dad and Father about your house. Dad always says nice things about Teppenpaw, I'm sure he'll be pleased.”

Charlie seemed to brighten a little at this idea. With the plan made, he gave his sister a hug and made his way to his own table, still not quite his usual chirpy self, whilst the last few people got sorted. The news in the headmistress' speech made him perk up a bit. Henny had talked about the end of term events and he'd even been to the concert the year before last as an audience member but it sounded like he'd got to school just in time. A ball would be great fun, after all, there were dresses or dress-robes and make-up to be thought about. He glanced around, appreciating the female to male ratio. It would be practically impossible for him not to make at least one or two female friends whom he could help with these things. And not only was there the ball at the end of next term but they would get to do things all through the year too! He clapped for the heads and prefects, vaguely recognising them from the yearbook Henny had brought home. Even if he hadn't, he would have been happy for them anyway – it was nice seeing people get something that made them happy. Charlie sang along enthusiastically and not at all badly to the school song. Upon finding out about it, he had insisted on Henny teaching him the tune so that he would be able to join in. He beamed about at the end of it. It was hard to keep feeling down after a good sing song.

“Wow!” he exclaimed, when a table full of delicious looking food appeared before him. “Wow, this looks great, doesn't it?” he said, turning to the person next to him, “I mean, my sister said it would be great and everything but it's even greater when you actually see it!”

13 Charlie (and Henny) B-F-R Excited and a bit surprised 211 Charlie (and Henny) B-F-R 0 5

Henny B-F-R

January 04, 2013 6:05 PM

The start of a good year by Henny B-F-R

Henny sat watching the sorting, eagerly clapping for her brother when he went into Teppenpaw, and trying not to let her jaw hit the floor when he came bounding over to her table instead. She carefully schooled her face not to reveal her surprise over his own surprise at not being in Aladren with her. Charlie tended to bounce through life without really letting most of it touch him too much. He didn't dwell on things. He didn't, in the nicest possible way, really think about things very much. If he had had applied just an ounce of logic to what house he might be in, he surely would have concluded that it would not have been Aladren. Of course, if he had been capable of applying ounces of logic, then perhaps it might have been... She smiled to herself. She liked a good paradox.

She watched him head back to his actual table, feeling pleased with his sorting. She had thought he would be in Teppenpaw or Pecari and was pleased that it was the former. Although Charlie was an outgoing and enthusiastic person, it was not in the same way as most boys of his age, and was definitely very unlike the boisterous outgoingness that one tended to see in Pecari boys. She would have worried about him being bullied, or just failing to fit in with his room-mates had he gone there. But in Teppenpaw, she hoped, he would be safe. Even if his room-mates weren't very like him (and she suspected there was a high chance they wouldn't be) they were more likely to be tolerant of it. She wasn't worried by his disappointment either. Negative emotions with Charlie were like clouds scudding across the sun; the shadows they cast were very clear for everyone to see but, within minutes, they cleared, giving way again to sunshine.

Satisfied that he would be alright, she turned her attention to the headmistress. The upcoming year sounded exciting. She was intrigued by the idea of the challenges and very glad that they were not happening in her CATS year, so that she could properly enjoy them. She also had more than average reason to be cheerful. She'd been mostly signed off by her therapist over the summer. She could request appointments if she needed them and she would be seeing her in the holidays just to check how things were going but she no longer needed an appointment every week. She relished the thought of those weekend afternoons. A lot of them would be spent studying but it would also give her more time to see her brother, whom she was looking forward to having at school, or just to do things that she wanted to do. She tucked into dinner, selecting a hearty slice of lasagne and some potato wedges and peas and feeling happy about the year to come.

13 Henny B-F-R The start of a good year 211 Henny B-F-R 0 5

Omara Hernandez

January 04, 2013 6:51 PM

It's all quite overwhelming by Omara Hernandez

To her complete surprise, Omara's skin did not turn a bright yellow. Instead, it started to deepen, a darker shadow of brown over her already golden skin. 'Pecari?' she muttered out loud to herself, even without realising it.

Omara had always assumed she would be in Teppenpaw. She didn't know much about Sonora; her parents never really talked much about it and being the eldest in the family, she didn't have siblings to relay important information back to her.

Yet Teppenpaw always sounded so gentle, and quiet, and peaceful. She liked the idea Irish hills rolling past the windows. But Pecari? Her image of Pecari had always been quite different. She imagined its residents to be impulsive, bold and ... somewhat wild. What did the potion - what did Sonora - see in her that she was yet to discover? 'What does Sonora know?' she wondered.

Omara suddenly caught herself day-dreaming. She had been swept up by the crowd and hurried amongst her new housemates without her noticing. Only the steady rhythm of the school song brought her back to the present."We won't let the world transfigure, jinx or charm us..." 'But what if it's a good charm...' she thought, before restraining her mind from wandering off in another direction again. She mentally noted at this moment that she must put in an extreme effort to focus. She could land in trouble otherwise.

By the time the food appeared before their eyes, everyone around Omara seemed to have become overwhelmingly talkative and busy. She half hoped someone would speak to her. And she half hoped no one would.

0 Omara Hernandez It's all quite overwhelming 0 Omara Hernandez 0 5

William Casey

January 04, 2013 7:50 PM

Wow... by William Casey

Will followed the rest of his peers into the hall, and felt his jaw drop in shock. Down the sides of the expansive room were waterfalls, seemingly coming from nowhere. The waterfalls fell around crystal windows which revealed a color-filled sunset. Following the waterfalls up, Will gaped at the beautifully carved ceiling, from which hung glimmering chandeliers. He finally let his eyes rest on the many students who were seperated at four tables, with the banner of their house hanging over their respective groups. 'Amazing,' he breathlessly thought to himself, if one can think breathlessly.
He stood in a group with his soon to be classmates and listened as the woman who identified herself as the headmaster spoke. 'Drink a potion, huh?' He thought, looking around. He had read a little about each house before coming, and thought he could be in any house except Crotalus, which seemed a little too reserved for his energetic personality.However, Will felt that Aladren was a little bit too much thinking for him and that he might be too independent and brash for Teppenpaw. He felt as though he had narrowed it down to Pecari being his house.

Will looked for the first time at the students who were his age, who appeared as anxious as him for the most part. They were a very diverse group, as he could see many varieties of skin, hair and eye color, as well as differing heights and girths.
Watching as some of the more knowledgable first years stepped up, Will again glanced around. He turned back to his age mates and nearly jumped when he saw that several of his fellows had turned various colors. Not wanting to be left behind, he hurried up to the teacher holding the cup and took a drink.
He gasped as his skin began to darken until it was a coffee color. Smiling, he looked around the hall and headed toward the group of other brown first years, anxious to at least meet one new person in this strange but exciting new place he found himself in.

0 William Casey Wow... 0 William Casey 0 5

Virginia Bellrose

January 04, 2013 8:32 PM

I'm as red as they come! by Virginia Bellrose

There was no denying the fact that Ginny was extremely excited to be going to Sonora Academy. She had spent the last couple of years around other kids her age, so she was less anxious about school than she had been when she was eight. Her parents want her to have a proper education and to be around valuable and worthy peers. They had taken her to a strange place for a while, but now they wanted her to make connections and be around people worthy of her time. She knew what they meant by that, but she wasn’t sure if she really would stick to their rules while at Sonora. She had fun with the other kids, even though her parents became angry with her for running outside with them. She wanted to keep doing that. But, she knew that image was important to Mother and Father, so she would do her best to keep to what they told her.

The wagon ride to the school (as fairytale as it was), did not fare well for her dress or bottom, but the excitement of being away from home was far more important than that of a silly ride. And the moment she stepped into the hall, Ginny just knew this was the place she was meant to be. The walls were amazing! She had never seen a waterfall before and now they were everywhere! Oh, she couldn’t wait to see what else the school had that she had never seen before.

There was a part of Ginny who thought she ought to be nervous about starting school. She had been tutored so strictly until she was eight and then the adults at the new place were so laid back that she felt like she had learned nothing at all; Ginny really should be concerned with how her lessons would be here. But, she wasn’t. She would be polite and well mannered, meet others who were what her parents called ‘proper’ and then, when no one was looking, have fun. She felt this was a good plan to have and that no one would know. Well, so long as she was stealthy about it.

Ginny waited quietly in line with the rest of the first years and did as she was told by the Headmistress. A potion was a little nerve-wracking, but she figured that a school wouldn’t force them to take a potion if it was poisonous. So, taking a sip, Ginny waited ever so impatiently until her skin turned a wonderful shade of red. Crotalus. Uncertain as to how to feel to such a house, Ginny wandered off to the appropriate table and sat with other red colored people.

She was clapped politely for the new Head students and Prefects, not really sure what those were, and then tried to take in what was being said about Midsummer events, challenges, and Quidditch. She was not supposed to play Quidditch, but she didn’t want to either. The game was scary. Or so she understood. But she was worried about the challenges too. Well, slightly worried. She was also very enthusiastic about them and wondered what exactly they were. She really hoped she was on a winning team!

Having sung the song and grabbed a bit of food, Ginny started to talk amiably to the persons nearest her, “Are you excited for the challenges? I hope our teams are good.” She said taking a bite of her meal. Having chewed and swallowed (it wasn’t polite to talk with food in your mouth, after all), Ginny grinned. “Hi, I’m Virginia Bellrose of the Alberta Bellroses, but everyone calls me Ginny.” She didn’t realize that some of them may not know that Alberta was a province of Canada.

0 Virginia Bellrose I'm as red as they come! 0 Virginia Bellrose 0 5

Julian Umland

January 04, 2013 8:40 PM

Likewise. by Julian Umland

The small girl near the back of the crowd of first years looked almost doll-like at first glance, dressed in sparklingly clean dark green robes with a matching ribbon in carefully curled dark brown hair and looking all around the Cascade Hall with eyes gone wide in her round face. The impression of neatness lasted only about five seconds, though, before, staring at the waterfalls and not watching exactly where she was going, she stumbled over the hem of the hem robes and nearly fell. Her face turned bright red, and she focused her eyes on the back of the student in front of her after that, hoping that no one had noticed.

This was, Julian thought as she did that, typical, but she tried to pretend she didn’t think it. Things weren’t really that bad, and it was her fault for not paying better attention. She had known her robes were a little long for her from the start, since Mom thought she was about due to grow another inch or two by winter break. Besides, they mostly covered up her shoes, which she didn’t like at all, and so she would have been glad of them if she had not let herself stop paying attention. And now she had something else to pay attention to anyway, as did everyone else, so no one but her was even wasting time thinking about her stumbling as she’d entered the magnificent Cascade Hall for the first time.

Folding her hands at her waist to keep them from shaking, she listened to the Headmistress explain how they would be Sorted, not sure whether she felt more excited or scared. She did not have a lot of history at this school, no large group of relatives who’d attended Sonora before her expecting her to be in one House or another, but she wasn’t sure that really made it any better. If her whole family had come to Sonora before her, she might have had a clear idea of where she was likely to go, and more than school marketing literature to give her an idea of what going into the Houses meant.

Nervously, as the Deputy Headmistress approached her, she put her hand in her pocket and gripped the beads there for a moment to calm herself down, and as she began to feel steady again, it became her turn to take a sip of the potion. After offering Coach Pierce a tentative smile, she did so, her lips turning inward as the bubbly stuff went over her tongue and down her throat. She put her hand up to her chest for a moment as it went down – she always hated taking potions – and then flinched when she saw that it had turned bright yellow.

Yellow, she thought, going blank for a moment before she remembered what she had read that meant, what Professor K had just told them that meant. Yellow meant Teppenpaw; she was a Teppenpaw. She had thought that Mom might like Aladren, but there was nothing wrong with Teppenpaw, either. She was glad, she decided as she scurried over toward that table, to be a Teppenpaw.

Julian didn’t know who the Head Boy and Girl or any of the prefects were, but she applauded politely for them, and just set her features into bland attentiveness as, after that, Professor K began talking about things she wasn’t sure she understood, figuring from what she did get out of the speech about balls and activities that someone would tell her where to go when it was time if she didn’t work it out on her own first. The news about Quidditch was a little disappointing – she enjoyed watching it even though her family made its living from Quodpot, and had been looking forward to a number of games she could go to for free, hopefully with her new friends she hadn’t made yet – but she was distracted by the charm of the school song, and then by the huge amount of food that appeared on the table in front of her. It was easy to wait until Professor K sat down to even think of starting to serve herself, but that was due to amazement over how so much could just appear all at once. It was magic, she knew, but so much at once was even more impressive than her mother's ability to put a Silencing Charm on all five of them at once when she wanted to.

The boy beside her said aloud what she was thinking, and Julian smiled at him. “It’s really awesome,” she agreed. “Oh, it smells good, too! I don’t even know where to start.” She hesitated, wondering if she should hinder him from diving into the feast a few seconds longer, and then offered her hand. “I’m Julian,” she said, not even thinking of how her name was not usually a girl’s at that moment. “It’s nice to meet you.”

16 Julian Umland Likewise. 254 Julian Umland 0 5

Clara Abernathy, Pecari

January 04, 2013 8:54 PM

Can't believe I'm back in one piece by Clara Abernathy, Pecari

Clara stepped through the door of the hall and took in a deep breath. Here she was back at school, but this time she was a third year. She was actaully rather proud of herself for making it this far without causing too much damage to herself or anyone else. Her biggest challenge had been trying to fly. Which seemed to be the bane of her existence up until about a month before school started back up. She had begun flying lessons with Lucian just before last term ended and although they hadn't really gotten very far, he had helped her more than anyone else had been able to. Coach Pierce had helped her not to break her neck last term by keeping her from crashing headfirst into the Quidditch goal posts for which Clara was exceptionally grateful.

She wasn't quite sure why she and Lucian hadn't gotten to part where they were able to get her airborn, but he had made a great impression on her by giving her the helmet to use when she did make it into the air and made her feel much more confident in herself than she had before. For that alone she could have kissed him (so to speak). That encouragement had made it possible for her to seem to manage the impossible over the summer months. While away from school over the summer Clara had gone with her father to visit Grandma and Grandpa Abernathy in England again like they had the summer before only this time she was able to do something she hadn't before. Grandpa took her out with the new broom he had sent her for christmas and had talked her into going flying with him for practice. She of-course had politely declined at first, but she sucked up her fear and instead of telling herself she would fail yet again, she found herself thinking about what Lucian had suggested to her during their first lesson and she went for it.

She had brought the helmet with her for luck and without giving herself time to overthink it or chicken out, she placed the helmet on her head and mounted her broom beside her grandfather. She kicked off of the ground and into the air and told herself the whole time that she could do this...that she wasn't afraid to fail. She watched her grandfather fly around near the family home and she followed him as closely as possible without managing to crash into him or anything else. She was beyond ecstatic when they landed on the back end of the property by the stables. She flung her arms around her grandpa and almost cried with joy. "I actually did it grandpa!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I didn't crash or anything!" she beamed at him with self pride. He smiled proudly at her and patted her head. "Thats my girl," he beamed at her as they walked back into the manor.

Clara couldn't wait to tell her dad all about her first successful trip with the new broom. He listened intently and about crushed her in a hug when she finished. "I knew you could do it peanut," he told her as he let her go. Clara smiled up at her dad's praise and couldn't help thinking about how much she wanted to tell Lucian about her accomplishment and thank him for all his help. When it came time to return home from the visit Clara was both sad to leave, but also excited because that meant she would be heading back to school soon. She looked forward to the new challenges that being a third year would present her. Clara sat down at the Pecari table upon entering the hall and waited for the headmistress to finish her welcome speech. It wasn't that long ago that Clara herself heard those same words spoken to her as she had nervously and excitedly entered Cascade Hall for the first time. She rested her elbows on the table and waited as patiently as she could muster while she listened to the new announcements.

She clapped excitedly for the new head boy and girl and for the new prefects. She couldn't help wondering if she herself might ever be one of those, but she had atleast two more years before she had to worry about that. Right now she was only worried about getting the new year off to a good start. She had promised herself that when she returned to Sonora she would get a message to Lucian thanking him for all his encouragement and help. She just hoped he wouldn't think she was being creepy or anything for doing so. She sang along with everyone else and was positively famished by the time the food started appearing on the table. She reached for one of the bowls and spooned herself a healthy amount of lasagna onto her plate along with some salad. She smiled cheerfully at the person sitting beside her and asked politely, "Would you mind too terribly passing me that plate of rolls and the butter?"

0 Clara Abernathy, Pecari Can't believe I'm back in one piece 232 Clara Abernathy, Pecari 0 5

Carter Browning, Teppenpaw

January 04, 2013 10:13 PM

Hoping this year is as entertaining as the last by Carter Browning, Teppenpaw

Carter stepped into Cascade Hall with the rest of the returning students and sighed. His first year had been interesting to say the least. He had made atleast one new friend in Wendy and one possible annoyance (if you could call her that) in Carrie. She had seemed to make it her mission to try and chastise him for his lack of "breeding" as she had put it which made the almost 12 yr old grin. He wasn't entirely certain what it was he had done that had annoyed this perfect stranger soo much, but she had seemed hell bent on making sure he knew he had earned her disapproval somehow. Carter laughed to himself as he thought back to their "conversation" and still couldn't help but wonder what made her think she was that important to his or anyone else's existence. He was surprised that he still found her antics to be quite amusing even after all this time. He debated whether or not he should go be the polite boy he knew himself to be and say hello to her, but wasn't certain he really wanted to cause himself the headache. He instead decided it was best to just leave her be for the time being. If she decided he was worth annoying again he would be nothing but polite to her. "Kill'em with kindness" thats what his mother had always said.

Carter found himself a seat at the Teppenpaw table and found his thoughts next drifting towards Wendy. She had been a great partner in Charms class and he was very glad to have met her. If he got the chance he was definatly going to say hello to her. He just hoped she would be equally happy, be it in some small way, to see him again as well. Carter missed seeing her at the bonfire (if she had actually gone) mostly because the idea of camping outside was not exactly something he enjoyed in any way shape or form. He wasn't exactly big on camping. He also couldn't help wondering how Kinley was fairing over at the Crotalis table. He hadn't really seen much of her over the summer months due to his new little sister Payton.

He was surprised with her arrival over the christmas break and had been pretty busy helping out with her over the summer. She was already to the point where she was teething and crawling around on her own. He loved playing peek-a-boo with her and listening to her giggle. He had never really thought he'd ever be a big brother and while adjusting to life with a new baby in the house was weird, it was a good kind of weird. He actually missed his little sister now that he was away at school and couldn't wait for the break where he could go home and see her. He half listened to the headmistress finish her welcome speech and grinned slightly as he watched all the new first years walk forward. Not too long ago he had done the very same thing. He knew exactly how they felt.

He clapped lightly for the new head boy/girl and the new prefects. He wasn't entirely sure who any of them actually were, but that didn't mean he would be rude and not congradulate them. He groaned slightly when the school song began and mostly mouthed the words. Contrary to what his mother thought Carter (in his own opinion) did not have a noteworthy singing voice. He preferred to not sing whenever possible. He was actually glad when the song ended and he could finally eat. His stomache had talked to him more than once during the announcements and he hoped that nobody had heard the rather loud grumbles. He grabbed a couple of pieces of fried chicken off the platter nearest to him, piled some mashed potatoes next to the chicken, covered them with gravy and then placed a spoonful of peas next to the potatoes. He turned to the fellow Teppenpaw seated beside him and asked politely "Could you please pass me the salt and pepper? Thank you."

0 Carter Browning, Teppenpaw Hoping this year is as entertaining as the last 0 Carter Browning, Teppenpaw 0 5

David Wilkes

January 04, 2013 10:58 PM

I am...secretly relieved, but let's keep it a secret. by David Wilkes

David was halfway across the Cascade Hall, moving toward his usual seat at the Aladren table, when he realized that this was his last Opening Feast and his step faltered a little. It was weird to consider the idea of not coming back to Sonora on one day when everyone else did, of just being…gone. He didn’t know really what to make of it.

After a second, though, he recovered and went on to his seat. There was nothing to do about it, so he just had to go on as though the problem wasn’t going to come up eventually. He was going to graduate, but he wasn’t going to do it today. First, he had a whole year of being Head Boy, and that was more than enough to worry about for now. How on earth he was going to do that and be Quidditch captain and take the RATS, he had no idea, but he had to do it. He didn’t get on well with his family, didn’t feel he fitted in with any of the ideas they might have for him, but his mother was right about that much, anyway. One did what one had to do right now and worried about the future later if it was inevitable.

He watched the Sorting, applauding the Aladrens who joined his table, and then, feeling shaky and half out of his head as soon as he heard his name, went up front to get his new badge. “Thanks,” he said when the headmistress congratulated him and Sara, heading back for his seat, applauding Nora, too, as a sense of normalcy came back to him once he was safely out of the big public view. He had never gotten comfortable with being up on stage, though he knew both of his sisters thrived on it. It was just a difference in people.

He was one of the students who groaned when he heard that they were about to pay for last year’s low-key event, but just sat there stunned when he heard that Quidditch was being cancelled this year. He was sure that his table was making some noise about that, but he couldn’t even process it at first.

At first. Then, after a moment, he dropped his head and muttered to his knees, too low for anyone else to hear him, “thank God.”

He had played it because, after his joke joining the reserves for social time had ended in the captainacy, he’d had to, but he had never really liked it that much, and he had lived for the past two years with the fear of how the team might take it if they should lose on his watch. He had been worried, too, about how it was going to affect his RATS and thus his chances in the world, or in this world at least. He figured he was going to have to deal with angry players for a while because of this, and of course he was still going to have to run the team to keep it sharp for when Arnold took over next year, but he still felt something like relief. No one, this year, was going to hit any Bludgers at his head.

He looked up as the song was sung and then turned his attention to the feast before him, determined to enjoy his second-to-last one for everything it was worth. If they’d only ever done one thing right at Sonora as far as he was concerned, it was feed him. The food here was a million times better than he’d expected when he found out he had to come to boarding school.

16 David Wilkes I am...secretly relieved, but let's keep it a secret. 169 David Wilkes 0 5

Angel Jareau

January 04, 2013 11:12 PM

…begin again… by Angel Jareau

Angel studied the patch of table in front of him as he thought about beginnings. Angel Jareau. He was a Shield no longer. When Kiva asked if he would like his name changed, Angel had been indifferent to it, as he was to most things. What he was called mattered little to the albino boy. When his mother had been alive, she often called him by the wrong name, names of children who hadn’t survived as he had. Pitiful that survival may have been, he still made it where all of his other siblings failed to do the same. Magic had been enough to keep the sickly boy alive, if just barely.

That had come to an end with his mother’s death, and a new beginning when he was taken into his healer’s custody. Lady Cynthia rarely used his name, in fact, she rarely spoke to the silent ghost like boy at all, unless it was to heap verbal abuse on his head. Another new beginning occurred when her abuse was recognized and he was taken into the Jareau home. A thin smile brushed his alabaster lips. That had been the biggest beginning of all. Kiva was not a woman to ignore him, or abuse him. Thanks to her attentiveness, and insistence on seeking out the best healers, Angel no longer looked like walking death. His cheek bones were still overly sharp, and his ribs, hip bones, collar and shoulder bones were still defined, but a person could no longer count each sharp vertebra of his spine. Angel would never be able to maintain a weight that most people would recognize as healthy, but now he was comfortably in the underweight category instead of the emaciated one.

Joining the Jareau household did not put an end to the new beginnings. First a new name, followed by a new sibling. Baby Harper was in turns frightening and fascinating. Angel had drawn countless sketches of the tiny, helpless being and still he was no closer to understanding her. For such a small thing, the infant could be terribly loud, and when she first arrived he was afraid that she might be sick like him seems she often got ill after eating. But he was reassured when it was explained to him that babies often spit up, and it wasn’t the same as his digestive issues. Angel didn’t know what to make of the little girl, but he knew he liked to watch her as she slept. The sense of peace that came from watching her brought Angel back again and again.

While the rest of the school listened to Kiva’s speech, watched the first years get sorted, and sang, Angel retrieved his sketch book and began to draw image after image of a baby girl, each one startlingly realistic done in shades of endless grey as he thought about new beginnings.

0 Angel Jareau …begin again… 0 Angel Jareau 0 5

Kitty McLevy

January 04, 2013 11:13 PM

What?! by Kitty McLevy

Kitty was angry, no that was an understatement, Kitty was furious. Her summer had been a never ending nightmare of frilly pink dresses, flowers, and hate. Yes, hate. Meredith “just call me Mary” had ruined a perfectly good summer and completely corrupted her beloved older brother Jason. “She’s a succubus I just know it.” The short Aladren growled under her breath as she glared sullenly at everyone.

This attitude would surprise anyone who knew the normally bubbly new fifth year. Kitty was not the sort of girl who had bad moods, but then again after being forced into playing flower girl, flower girl! as Jason was bound to a demon in the wedding that would never end, Kitty was allowed to be upset. She was fifteen! Not a little girl to be dolled up in sausage curls and flinging flower peddles. Sure, she was short, but that didn’t make her a child!

Sighing, Kitty plopped her chin on her steepled fingers and listened dully to the Headmistresses speech. Her favorite brother had sold his soul to the devil, and nothing could be done about it now that all her attempts at sabotage failed, but at least there was always Quidditch.

“Due to the challenges this year we decided to forgo all Quidditch games.”

Kitty’s brain stumbled to a halt. Forgo…all…. “What! You can’t do that!” The dainty looking Aladren lept to her feet, her voice a sharp piercing wail that joined the other voices rejecting the whole idea. They couldn’t do this! The tiny girl glared furiously at the Headmistress and in a kind and just world a bolt of lightning would have struck the woman down for speaking such blasphemes words. How could she do this to them?

The tiny ball of fury that was Kitty McLevy probably made a humorous sight to those seated near her, seems even standing up she was only as tall as many students who were sitting down. Much like her name sake, she looked like an infuriated kitten, fiercely adorable.

0 Kitty McLevy What?! 0 Kitty McLevy 0 5

Percival Everett Waterford II

January 04, 2013 11:25 PM

and you're not alone. by Percival Everett Waterford II

He really, desperately tried not to stare. Percival Everett Waterford II is not the kind of person that should be amazed by the room in which he now stood. Percy on the other hand, had never seen anything like it before in his life. His summer tutor had tried to prepare him for this, and she had warned him countless times about standing around Cascade Hall gawking at everything would be a dead give away that he didn't actually belong to the tier of society that he now had to represent. She had described it all in great detail, every step of the way, from the flying wagons to the feast that would present itself after the headmistress' opening speech, but it was still so much for a muggleborn to take in.

The wagon ride from Pennsylvania had been incredible, but he had managed to keep his bored 'this is a perfectly ordinary way to travel' expression on his face. He was also fine dismounting from the wagons into the lush school grounds in the middle of the desert. This... this was just a little to much. Still, he pulled together what self-control he had remaining and tried to ignore it all. He didn't see his tutor at all she was supposed to meet him, but there were so many people here. Most of them were sorting themselves into their respective houses by table, but he had been told to wait for the sorting ceremony so he did.

After a few moments a woman stood and spoke. It was the school's headmistress, Headmistress Kijewski-Jareau. She seemed nice enough. She then introduced the school's deputy headmistress, Coach Amelia Pierce and the sorting ceremony began. Percival took the cup from the deputy headmistress and sipped from it. Whatever it was, it tasted terrible. A moment later his skin turned a bright red color. From what he had learned about the houses, that should make his parents happy. Crotalus was what they had been hoping for, they would have naturally been fine with any of the houses but Crotalus had more of a tradition behind it. He was also a bit relieved that he hadn't wound up in Pecari, for other reasons.

He found a seat at the Crotalus table near the other first years and listened to the rest of the headmistress' speech. The names did not mean much to him, but the other announcements were interesting. No Quidditch games? He had thought Quidditch was one of the big events at the school. Whatever these challenges were, they must be big to displace something like Quidditch. That did leave him with another conundrum however, should he sign up for the team if there weren't going to be any games? Everyone at home thought he probably should, just to get to know some more of the students, but he had never been really interested in sports much. He would have some time to figure out that one.

The food appeared, and before he could properly process it's sudden arrival a girl near him was talking to him. Thankfully it distracted him from further revealing himself as muggleborn. Now, could he remember all of the proper etiquette for this situation? He hadn't heard of the Bellrose family before, but from her introduction they must be significant. That was what he needed to emulate. He returned her smile, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Virgina. I am Percival Everett Waterford II of the Pennsylvania Waterfords." All three of them, he thought to himself. Oh well, you need to start somewhere, right? Deciding against asking her more about her family, it might be something he should already know, he went with her other option of conversation. "I'm not quite sure what to think about these challenges." He started collecting food on his plate while he talked. "They must be big to displace something like Quidditch. I wonder what they could be."

2 Percival Everett Waterford II and you're not alone. 1502 Percival Everett Waterford II 0 5

Alicia Bauer

January 05, 2013 12:43 AM

I'll agree with that. by Alicia Bauer

Alicia walked back into the Cascade Hall with her head held high and a confident smile – the mildest expression she could force her face into after the overwhelming joy she’d felt when she saw the school building again – on her lips, her high heels clicking against the marble floor as she made her way through the other students and to the Aladren table, looking for some of her year to sit with. As much as she was itching to wheedle out of Cepheus what he thought about Theresa Carey, it was traditional for people to sit with their own Houses at this Feast, and since Thad was sure to get Quidditch captain after Arnold, Alicia was aiming to take the prefect’s badge for herself next year so they could remain equals throughout school. She had to make a show of her Aladrenness on major occasions, even more than her feelings compelled her to. If Cepheus or Gareth wanted to join the third year Aladrens, that was all right, but she couldn’t think of joining the third year Crotali tonight, so she made a mental note to make up the slight they’d probably never even notice to them sometime and put the matter aside.

Spotting Henny first, she snagged the seat across from her, assuming Thad and Evan would join them but deciding her roommate was pleasant enough company to spend dinner with if they did all get separated somehow. “Hi!” she said, a little more loudly and brightly than usual over the clamor of a hundred sets of friends reuniting. “Did you have a good trip out?”

They had lived together for three years, and in that time, Alicia had never figured out why it was she came closer to liking Henny more than she did any other girl in the school. It made, after all, no sense, but there it was, and she didn’t hold it against herself too much since Thad seemed to like her, too. Henny wasn’t one of her best friends, but nor was she quite on the second level that hosted Evan and Gareth and Ephanie; instead, she fell into the middle, half a step above the one and half a step below the other. Alicia didn’t care for half-steps, but she had come to accept that situation as it was.

She smiled at the headmistress’ greeting to the first years, contentment spreading through her again at the official end of the summer holidays. She had spent most of her summer as she always did, reading everything she could get her hands on and writing letters to Thad and a good few to Henny about most of it, and writing to Cepheus, too. Evan and Gareth and Ephanie and Andrina, though Alicia still hadn’t remotely forgiven her for her awards in the yearbook at midsummer, had all gotten, or should have gotten, a note last week expressing enthusiasm about coming back to school and seeing them soon. Those had been maintenance letters, upholding the structure of the hierarchy she had constructed; the earlier ones, to her closer friends, had just been to maintain her sanity during her two months of exile from life. It was pleasant to realize she had nine whole months before she had to face that again, and that even when she did, she would have the added consolation of knowing that she’d have a whole year at school with none of her siblings around until Isaac came; it turned the confident smile into a beaming one as the Sorting began, though it became a little confused when a small Teppenpaw ran over to Henny as soon as he was Sorted.

Henny didn’t seem as surprised as Alicia was, and handled the situation, sending the Teppenpaw off to his proper table, and things went smoothly enough except for the Headmistress’ announcement about Quidditch. Alicia knew Thad and the Crotalus boys would be disappointed, and was sorry for Aladren losing their main chance of the year to demonstrate their superiority to everyone else, but she was a little excited to hear about the challenges she would actually be able to participate in; she and her friends, if they were in a group together, would be able to take the whole school on without any Advanced students, she was sure of it. The only trouble would be if they were separated; she wouldn’t know what to do, whether or not she should sabotage whatever people she was with for her friends’ sakes or try to win anyway on her own so she didn’t risk losing their respect. She hoped she didn’t have to deal with it.

The real attraction of the year, though, was what would come after all the competitions. Alicia had been thinking about the ball for almost a whole year, now. This was going to be a year that tested a lot of relationships and assumptions, or so she very much suspected. If the little group of people she cared about made it through the event without any fights that put her in a position to have to choose between people, she thought she might have the basis for something she could count on for the rest of her life. The ratio of boys of a certain age to girls of the same seemed to her like a recipe for conflict, drama, and catfights.

She sang the school song as well as she knew how, which wasn’t a way which would win her any awards but which wasn’t too likely to make anyone stab themselves in the ears with a knitting needle rather than listen to it, and then took a piece of turkey and some mixed vegetables for her plate as Henny cut into the lasagna. “Sounds like we’re in for a fun year,” Alicia remarked before beginning to eat her food. “Have you looked for dress robes at all yet?” That had been a major part of her summer, but she wasn’t sure how Henny and her family would handle that. What was normal for her, she'd gathered over the past three years, really wasn’t for them.

16 Alicia Bauer I'll agree with that. 210 Alicia Bauer 0 5

Keme RunningBear

January 05, 2013 10:46 AM

Feeling a little 'blue' by Keme RunningBear

Keme RunningBear was a Native American born of the Magical Blackfoot Tribe who resided in most of the northern Montana area. His tribe broke off from the Non-Magical portion centuries ago and left Canada to seek refuge in America. Although his tribe is powerful, both in blood and in wealth, their numbers were dwindling and so, the Chief (Keme’s Grandfather) decided that the best course of action was to begin sending the children to various schools within America. Keme just turned eleven when this was decided and would be one of the first to ever leave their reservation to seek education elsewhere.

Being a proud Native, Keme held his head high when he left his family and joined the throng of students on the wagon ride to school. He did not speak to anyone other than a polite hello if they spoke directly to him. He did not make eye contact or look interested in them either. Keme just read his book about Sonora and tried to figure out if this would be a good use of his time. The Tribe needed him and others like him to make connections with others of decent blood. His was Pure and his Chief wanted him to meet other Pures, but Keme did not know how to find the difference or if he could even be able to. He knew the history between Natives and others. There was death and violence. Although they had all become civilized over the centuries, Keme knew the stereotypes and prejudices that come from others they deemed ‘different’.

The dark haired and equally dark eyed boy entered the school and found himself staring. He could not deny the beauty of the Cascade Hall. His people were wealthy due to all the farmland, produce, pottery, jewelry, and clothing they were able to sell nationally, but they were simple people. He could never imagine a place like this. He would write home to his family about this. They would be most pleased.

Keme listened as his new Headmistress stood and spoke to them. She seemed nice, but he would have to become used to a female leading him. The Chief’s wife, his grandmother, was a strong woman and she was commanding, but it was always left to the Chief’s final decision on things. That was how it would continue to be. Keme glanced at the woman holding the cup of potion. She was the second in command and the Coach? This school was a strange place. Looking at the staff, he certainly didn’t see very many males. Did that mean anything? Putting the thought aside, Keme took his sip of the potion and waited a few seconds to see his already dark skin turn blue. Nodding in agreement with the potion, Keme moved off and out of the way to find a seat at the Aladren table.

The rest of the sorting finished, Keme listened intently to the Headmistress as she called members of the student body up. From the sound of this, these students were being awarded something? Oh, no, that’s not right. If he recalled from the book, Head Students were the highest honor to have followed by Prefects. These students were given a little bit of authority and were mentors to the others. If Keme wanted to make his family proud, he would have to strive for one of those badges. Or, possibly both.

The next part of the speech was about challenges that they were all going to be forced to do. Keme wasn’t sure if he liked that. Especially if it had to do with magic. He grew up with magic, of course, but had never really practiced it. From the sound of it, the teams were going to be all different years, so if he were teamed with Seventh years, he wouldn’t really have to worry. Hoping that it went well, Keme listened, half amused, by the on slot of angry students when they heard that their Quidditch was cancelled for the season. He didn’t see the issue. If these challenges were as difficult as they seemed to be suggesting, they would get their competitions in that way and it wasn’t like the Headmistress was saying they couldn’t play, they just weren’t getting games. People really needed to look at the bigger picture. Keme shook his head and took a song sheet nearby. He did not participate in the singing but politely waited for it to end.

Finally, the food. Keme was starving. The trip from Montana was a long one and Keme hadn’t eaten since breakfast. He took platefuls of corn, beans, bread, and cornbread. He was having trouble deciding on the meat though. Deciding on turkey, Keme secretly wished for coosh and frybread, but knew he would eventually grow accustomed to more American meals while here. Turning to his neighbor, Keme gave a polite bow of his head. “Good Evening. I am Keme RunningBear of the Blackfoot Tribe in Montana.”

6 Keme RunningBear Feeling a little 'blue' 249 Keme RunningBear 0 5

Charlie B-F-R

January 05, 2013 1:56 PM

Unduly surprised but still excited by Charlie B-F-R

Charlie surveyed the food as his new housemate verbalised her appreciation for it. Or at least he'd assumed they were a 'her.' His attention snapped back to them slightly abruptly when they said their name was Julian. They definitely looked like a girl. Which presented a few possibilities. They could be a girl with a boy's name – what he had assumed to be a boy's name, he corrected himself. If Julian was a girl and called Julian then that proved that it wasn't just a boy's name. Or they could be a very, VERY girly looking boy. Or possibly a boy who had chosen to live as a girl but not yet changed their name. Besides being mildly curious as to which of these was correct, it didn't really matter. None of the options made much difference. With adoptive gay parents, Charlie knew that people came in all kinds of genders and sexualities, much as they came in all sizes and colours. But you didn't let that bother you. People were just people. Julian was Julian. He could get to know them now. Whether or not they showed up in his room later would answer his other question, if their conversation didn't.

“Nice to meet you,” he said, feeling a little bad for having been surprised by Julian's revelation and hoping they didn't think he had stared rudely or anything. He didn't think he had particularly. They had just caught his attention – he had shaken their hand promptly (typically a male greeting, he thought – though also typically a grown up one, so who knew what that meant) and he had been looking at them more normally since. Julian was definitely pretty, whatever they were. “I'm Charlie.

“Hmmm, where to start...” he mused, returning to their other topic of conversation. “That looks tasty,” he nodded to a dish a paella. It was bright and colourful and the smell wafting off it was amazing, “Plus it's always good to co-ordinate one's accessories. Or dinner, right?” he grinned, inspecting one of his yellow hands. “Would you like some too?” he asked, as he reached for the spoon.

13 Charlie B-F-R Unduly surprised but still excited 252 Charlie B-F-R 0 5