Not Quite Alone{open}

[Zane]

A warm breeze brushed through the trees, gently shaking their leaves. The sun was almost done for the day as Twilight swallowed the sky in endless shades of purple, it was quite the romantic evening, but there was no one on the ground to enjoy it. Probably one of the greatest times to come out with your lover and gaze at the different hues of the sky just as they were at their peek, and not a soul below to take it in.
It was perfect.

A shadow passed over the ground, the only sound coming from the beat of the boys powerful black wings. It'd been a pretty bad day at school so once he got back to the dorm he had stripped down to his underwear and switched out a pair of jeans for some comfortably loose black sweatpants and jumped out the window just like that, grabbing a black case on the way. It was obvious why he couldn't exactly wear a shirt as he unfurled his wings and took to the skies, heading for the Aika-ka Pond.

Once he arrived, Viren carefully picked out a branch that looked like it had been specially prepared just for him to land in.. which it had been. He'd started coming to this pond years ago to play his violin whenever there weren't any couples making lovey dovey faces at each other and broken off some of the branches so he'd have enough room to land. The couple thing just didn't make sense to him though, why come to some romantic place just to look at each other instead of the gorgeous scenery. 'Maybe it's just some couple thing.' he thought. Viren had never had a girlfriend -as a result, never been kissed- but it sounded interesting to try, however there'd never been anyone he was particularly found of.

Anyway, he couldn't see anyone from his point of view and settled down onto the branch. Setting the case on his lap, Viren undid the clasps and pulled out a beautiful violin and bowstring. He leaned the case back against the truck so it wouldn't fall and drew up his instrument. After a brief pause he drew the bow against strings, moving into a soft piece called Alone Wolf. He just couldn't bring himself to play something more upbeat, the scenery was demanding a slow song that could match it's beauty and he had to oblige. Without anyone around he kept his wings out, enjoying the feel of the breeze brush through the glossy feathers. Listening to his own music was relaxing, he wasn't even focusing on if anyone had just now come to the pond or perhaps if someone had already been there and he'd just looked over them.

[Hanna]

A gentle breeze caressed the grass, swaying the blades softly. The scent of cherry blossoms flowed through the branches of the trees, making its way towards Hanna. Taking in the heavenly aroma, the woman set herself down next to a rose bush. She admired the pond as it rippled with the wind, lily-pads lumping over the little waves. As peace began to take over, Hanna heard the shuffle of papers. Glancing up the tree beside her, she noticed a student. He had a book in his hand, which would explain the sound of paper. Urgently, Hanna stood, trying not to make a fool of herself in front of him. Suddenly, she realized something. Why wasn't he in class? Standing before him, Hanna crossed her arms, attempting to be firm. "Excuse me." She spoke, disturbing the silence. "Class is going to start soon." Hanna hoped she wasn't be too mean, yet she also wished that she was also being stern enough to somewhat intimidate the boy. Despite the fact she was headmaster, some kids didn't take her seriously. And Hanna was determined to change that.

[Chilepanda♫]

Sierra smiled warmly to herself, glancing back to make sure Kento couldn't see her. His constant laughing and teasing was finally beginning to get on her nerves for the day. The grass whispered softly under her tan moccasin-themed boots. Blossoms drifted from the trees in the wind, a few catching into her long blonde hair. A book was clutched tightly and safely in Sierra's arms, and she had hoped to read for a little before going back to class. She reached the waters edge, tilting her head to look at her glassy reflection. It stared back blankly, mimicking her movement of sitting and opening her book.

For the first few moments, Sierra trailed her finger along the words and she read. The longer she went, the more absorbed she became. Sierra soon lost herself in the story, the gorgeous scene breaking away. There was nothing but her and the story, despite the rippling water which served as a constant reminder she was still at the pond.

[Zane]

After playing the melody Viren had set his violin gentle back into its case, then balanced it on an upper branch so it wouldn't fall and he had room to lean back to relax. All horrible thoughts of the day vanished and he was left with an inner peace he hadn't felt in a long, long time. Sadly though, it wasn't meant to last. In the dead quiet it wasn't hard to pick up the soft footsteps that made themselves known trekking through the ground below. From his vantage point Viren could easily make out the blond head of a pretty little student making her way toward the pond then sitting down to open up a book. A book of all things! Who comes to such a beautiful place at this time in the evening to read a book??

Well, he'd just have to do something about that. Sly fox that he was, Viren waited until the girl was completely absorbed in her silly book then swooped down with the grace and precision of any hawk and plucked the thing right out from under her nose. He'd stayed silent throughout the whole thing but couldn't help but laugh at the end, he hoped she'd been shocked by such a thing. Just as quick as he came down, with a few powerful strokes of his wings Viren was soon back up on his branch flipping through his recently acquired loot. It actually seemed a little interesting, who knew some books could actually sound as if they contained something worth reading. All he read were stupid assignments assigned by stupid teachers for this stupid school.. it was all just so... stupid.

Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear. He'd hardly gotten a chance to just flip through some of the books pages when the headmaster suddenly appeared as if called by some force to reprimand him for something. Well, wasn't this suddenly the popular little place? "Yeah, you're excused no problem." He sneered. Viren wasn't really sure what she was talking about with classes though. A quick glance up at the sky told him he wasn't insane, it was indeed still approaching twilight, the sky purple hue darkening by the hour. Perhaps the good 'ol headmaster had finally gone off the deep end and taken the nearest bus to loony town. He couldn't help but throw back his head and laugh at that thought, the one person who was suppose to be a respectable leader after all these years and she finally snapped, what a laugh.

"Man you're really losing it, I already went to class, I don't take night classes. Just came here for some peace and quiet to play my violin then next thing I know some ladies screaming her head off about me doing something wrong when I clearly am not." The part about her screaming her head off was a bit of an exaggeration, but in the dead quiet of the pond she might as well have been. He made no move to jump down from the branch, instead he glanced around for the girl he'd taken the book from. Hopefully she wasn't too mad at his sudden appearence.

[Chilepanda♫]

"Hey!" Sierra called, jumping up in an attempt to grab her book. A rock caught the toe of her boot and sent her tumbling back into the pond. She sat up, spluttering out a mouthful of water and removing a lily-pad from her head. Her nice sundress was now plastered against her as she sloshed out, squeezing the water out of her hair."What was that for?" She called after the boy.

Sierra was shocked to realize the boy had actual wings sprouting from his back. Gee, being a witch here is nothing. Her thoughts echoed. She wasn't truly mad, since he guess he just wanted to have fun, but she was a little upset about her boots being wet. They were a gift from her grandmother. Sierra approached the tree in an attempt to be intimidating, but it was hard when there was a squish every time she took a step.

[Hanna]

Sighing, Hanna realized what time it was. She had thought it was noon. And she could have sworn she had seen someone reading...Either way, she couldn't believe she had made such a big fool of herself. Placing her head on her palm, Hanna sighed once more. "I'm sorry. I hadn't realized..." Hanna groaned, the stress of work weighing down on her. "I'm just really stressed out." Looking up at the boy, she smiled sheepishly. Hanna folded her arms, one hand twirling a lock of hair. She just couldn't imagine that her, of all people, could screw up so badly. Suddenly, another girl flopped next to Hanna, her boots squishing at every step. She was dripping, soaked to the bone. Forgetting about her previous slip-up, Hanna spun around to face the girl. "Oh my goodness! Are you alright? W-what happened?" Hanna stuttered. Urgently, she slipped off her jacket and wrapped it around the drenched girl.

[/b]

[Chilepanda♫]

Sierra's lips twitched into an embarrassed smile."Hi Ms.Morgan. I was just reading and bird-boy here snatched by book. I tried to get it back, but I fell into the pond." She felt her cheeks flush as she spoke. What kind of klutz fell into a pond just by standing up."Anyways," She tugged the jacket tighter around herself."I came to take my book back."

[Zane]

Peering down at the apologizing headmaster, Viren supposed he could give her a break this time. He liked the sigh and face palm, you hardly ever see teachers do that anymore. It was a bit difficult to see details well from this height so he placed the book in a nick in the tree so it wouldn't fall and simply jumped off what was probably considered at least a story and a half. There was no need for actual flying, the trees made it difficult for that, just a few hover strokes to keep from breaking anything and he was soon landing light as a feather next to her headmasterness, retracting his wings simply out of habit when confronting with others. It's not like he wanted to advertise how different he was, but he liked being a flier he could well, fly, and he was as strong as any normal boy without the use of his power, but had thin frame and light bones so he could actually get airborne. Burned calories like a freaken humming bird though so he was hungry all the time. Ugh, the adolescent years of a teenage bird-boy.

"Yeah, well, no biggie." 'Might as well cut the woman some slack, she's stuck here just like the rest of us.' Closing the distance between them helped quite a lot in detail. There was at least a four or five inch difference in their height, not making her the most intimidating person he'd ever met, but her hair and eyes were pretty interesting colors. It looked sort of silver to him in the light, but it could have just been a really pale blond, he was sure; Then her eyes, geez, they looked like they were different colors and he had a serious urge to just lean over all up in her face and see if it was just another kind of weird light trick, if they really were filled with multiple colors, or if there were just flakes or something causing it to look that way. That seemed like a pretty rude thing to do though and deep down, way, way deep down, Viren was a perfect gentleman... waaaay deep down.

She really did look disheveled though, and in some major need of some R&R. Maybe that was why she'd come to the pond? Despite this, she still demanded respect and as a squishy-shoe girl finally joined them, showed concern too, like actual concern teachers are suppose to show, but usually don't. Shocker.

The girl coming up was yet again shorter than him with hair that was defiantly strawberry blond, no questions asked, and light blue eyes to match. Absently he wondered when he'd suddenly gotten taller than everyone, he could remember a time just in fifth grade when he'd be the shortest kid in class, there was even one girl who was at least a whole foot taller than him; in his defense she was a whole year older too, held back a year. Ah, those were the days. Blek. Anyway...

This gal was the blond one he'd taken the book from, it was all he could do to keep a straight face as she told them about her little 'trip' into the pond as bird-boy had snatched her book away. He managed it though, cackling hysterically on the inside, but totally poker face on the outside. He hadn't meant for her to fall in, hadn't even seen it happen since he'd flown away, but boy did he wish he had. That was what he relied on though, his quick escape, he hoped she hadn't seen his face as he dove by. "Bird Boy?" Viren asked, giving the new girl a sweet smile, then looked up into the tree as if an alleged 'bird-boy' were still up in the sky watching them, "Don't know if he's got any avian DNA but there was a someone gliding over the trees back toward the dorms a few seconds before the headmaster came here. Don't think she noticed though cause she was distracted with lecturing me about my classes." Another gamble was the Headmaster, he was hoping to distract her away from the fact that he could be the culprit with that remark. Lucky for habits he'd drawn in his wings before the girl had come, so now if luck could help him again, that'd be really great. Not very probable, the headmaster had her job for a reason, but great.

[Hanna]

Frowning, Hanna paid no attention to the boy's remark. She kept her focus on the dripping girl, and trying to keep her warm. There wasn't any point in lecturing him anymore anyway, he probably wouldn't take her seriously. Besides, most people didn't anyway. Sighing once more, Hanna began to rub her hands on the soaked girls arms, attempting to warm her up. "In the future, please, try to be more careful." She spoke to the two students. Taking the girl's hand, she began to guide her toward the school building. "Let's get you cleaned up." Hanna nodded at the boy, signaling his dismissal, and continued to lead the girl over to the school.

[Chilepanda♫]

Chilly wind swept against Sierra from behind, sending her wet hair flying in front of her face and sticky. She spat a few out of her mouth, moving the rest out of her face with her delicate fingers. She threw a glance back newly claimed 'bird-boy', and couldn't help but smile. She always enjoyed jokes and pranks, even if they were pulled on her. Her shoulders hunched closer to her neck and head as she pulled the jacket closer to her, allowing Ms.Morgan to guide her back to the building. Kento would be wondering what happened, and she was pretty sure there would be more teasing where that came from. Sierra shuffled through the tall grass, her boots still squishing restlessly."I guess I'll get my book back tomorrow." She sighed to herself, biting her lip. It was getting to the best part too, and she had never been so absorbed in it before. When she reached the doors, she smiled to the Head Mistress."I'll head to my dorm from here, thanks." She smiled at her, suddenly realizing how strikingly silver her hair seemed in the moonlight.