Into the Lion's Den (Open)

[Sammie]

The first day of hell. Bianca had a hard time accepting the fact that she was in a real school and not being chased by psychopathic scientists anymore. She knew that they would find her sooner or later, but she desperately hoped that it would be later. Brushing her auburn locks over her shoulder, Bianca strutted into the schools main office to pick up her schedule. Confidence.. confidence.. She reminded herself. Even if it was just a facade, at least it might be able to fool the administration and the other students. Despite the fact that Bianca had lived most of the last four years of her life on the run, she picked up quite a few tidbits about society before her parents were murdered and she ran away.

And right there, in the middle of the office, Bianca had to stop and slam her fists over her eyes to fend of the coming flashback. Just thinking about her parents brought back the grisly scene of their death. That was the worst part of her flashbacks; they didn't bring back any good memories. Only the same night, over and over again. A few seconds later, and Bianca was well enough to remove her hands from her face and continue on her merry way, a bright smile fixed in place, fragile glass inches away from shattering. Missing Kamen, her best friend and wolf companion, she sent him a thought, projecting it all the way to the forest where he hid, despite the energy it took. 'Hey Kamen.. how you doing out there? His response was swift. 'Physically, I am fine. However, I despise being trapped in these Godforsaken trees simply because of the fact that your "school" does not allow "pets". I am not a pet! I am a companion. Do these people not understand that?' Bianca listened to his rant with an absent smile, this time a real one, stretching her pink lips. She had noticed that over the years, exposure to her had greatly heightened the intelligence of her wolf friend. Any animal that had spoken with her or interacted her always seemed to become more.. human. More civilized. 'I understand, Kay. However, people who are not as used to giant fanged beasts following them around all the time are not as comfortable with it as I am.' Bianca felt she could hear Kamen's scoff at her sarcastic remark. 'Go learn something.' He retorted. Bianca severed their link and continued to the front desk.

"Hi, ma'am," she said cheerily to the plump woman working the desk. "I'm here to pick up my schedule." Without a word, the secretary handed her an envelope and went back to her typing, long nails clicking on the keyboard. Bianca gave her a dirty look when she turned away and spun on her heel, leaving the office. Outside of the small room were a small group of couches, which she gratefully deposited herself upon after exiting the stifling office. Not bothering with her envelope, Bianca tossed it to the side and rested her elbows on her thighs, and buried her face in her palms. This was all so new, all so sudden. Just a few nights ago, she had been living in a cave hundreds of miles away. Bianca leaned back against the couch and then winced, annoyed at how cramped her wings were getting tucked so tight against her back. With a quick glance around to make sure nobody was coming down the hallway, Bianca took off her hoodie that concealed the wings that protruded out from two long slits in her T-shirt. Sighing in relief, she unstretched her wings and let the russet, white, and golden brown speckled appendeges extend to their full fourteen feet wingspan. Bianca rustled her feathers and smiled peacefully, closing her eyes in bliss.

[Exxie]

Jodie walked out of one of the offices dressed in a simple black athletic t-shirt and a pair of faded black jeans. As soon as she out of the sight and hearing of the counselor, she made a face at the door. Just a week, and already she was in trouble. As she thought, they only gave her a talking to and asked if there was anything bothering her about the transition. Well duh. Jodie would've thought that one would be obvious. She had powers, and didn't want them. She sighed and walked into the waiting room. Then she saw her. A girl with WINGS. Were those...real? Then Jodie felt like smacking herself. This was a school for powered people. Of course those were real wings. Jodie walked up to the girl and spoke while the girl's eyes were closed. She was tempted actually, to tap the girl's shoulder, but Jodie wasn't sure what the light powers would do if she touched someone. It had been creepy when she had done that before, and it wasn't an experience she was eager to repeat.

"Hi. Cool wings." She stepped back to wait for a reaction before grinning. She was feeling surprisingly good today, other than the fact that she had her powers around her still. Jodie stuck her hands in her pockets, with only the thumbs peeking out, clipped onto the top of the pockets.

"Now I'm trying to figure out why you're outside the office. Either you're here to pick up a class schedule because you're new, or you're in trouble for toting wings on campus without a permit. Help me out here now. Anytime." Jodie couldn't help the comment. She played with her hands. Jodie was finicky a lot. And now her hands were glowing. Just her hands though. It was kind of freaky. But she took it in stride, smiling as she held up her hands to show the other girl.

"See. I'm a freak. No problem. Jodie Ree-shar, recently enrolled student."

[Sammie]

Bianca continued to stretch her wings, wishing she could simply fly far, far away. Maybe she could discover an island unknown to science and live there in peace. But of course, that wouldn’t work. They’d find her. They always do. Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind Bianca and she tensed, hands automatically curling into fists. She whipped around as the petite blond girl began to speak. ’Hi. Cool wings.’ The girl was clad in simple black attire, but nothing could hide the natural beauty that radiated out from her.

”Thanks.. I think.” Bianca said, relaxing slightly and becoming more self-conscious with the minute. Realizing that her wings were still stretched to their fullest, she ruffled them in confused embarrassment and folded them against her back. Bianca smiled with a dry humor at the girl’s next comment. ”Yeah, I’m new. But it won’t be long before I’ll be here ‘cause I’m in trouble.” A wry smirk lifted one side of Bianca’s mouth. ”I just got here last night. Most of my stuff is still back at my old place; I’m moving it here after school today.” And as Bianca thought of that, she remembered how little material items she actually had. She still had her parents credit cards and store cards, but Bianca had always been afraid to use them for fear of calling her pursuers to her like standing under a spotlight and screaming “HERE I AM! COME GET ME!” But maybe it would be safe to go shopping now. The school could protect her, right? If it couldn’t, then it wasn’t doing a great job as an institute for gifteds.

Just then, the girls hands started glowing, and she pointed out the freakish-ness of it. ”We all are, sweetie. No worries.” Bianca told her. Looking at Jodie, and how uncomfortable she was, Bianca felt the urge to reach out to her and be her friend. Going out on a limb and not really sure of where she stood with Jodie, Bianca said to her, ”I’m planning on going shopping later to get some more stuff for my dorm.. Would you like to come with me?” Bianca let the sentence trail off, going quiet and giving Jodie time to think before she answered.

[Exxie]

Jodie saw the fists, but then the girl relaxed and Jodie's head tilted to the side slightly. She folded her wings away and Jodie's smile faltered a bit. She recognized that sort of nervousness.

"Relax. It is a compliment. Wings are way cool. All I can do so far is glow." Jodie laughed at herself. And then the girl explained it wouldn't be long before she'd be trouble and she chuckled.

"That's probably true enough. I thought the same when I came here, and look at me now. I wrote on the bathroom wall. And got caught." She snapped her fingers in a sort of 'oh well' gesture. Suddenly, the room went dark. After a few seconds, the lights snapped back on. Snapped. Oh man. Jodie hit her forehead.

"Well then. Apparently I don't just glow. Sorry about that. I guess I can snap off the freakin' lights." Jodie sighed, her shoulders shaking slightly before she giggled a little. Then her hand suddenly covered her mouth. Giggle? Her? Wow...this school was changing her. She smiled.

"Let me know if you need help moving stuff in. I'm already in the dorms, in room number one. And I'll always be up for a new friend. My room-mate isn't currently talking to me. Not right now anyways." She shrugged. She heard the girl say they were all freaks, using the word 'sweetie' and one of Jodie's eyebrows arched. But shopping sounded good. And she didn't have anything else to do.

"Sure. Sounds cool. I don't have anything of mine in my room myself actually. I had to leave my home in a super hurry, so I didn't have a chance to pack...well...really anything. Maybe a couple of my favourite books." Yes, she did seem to broadcast 'nerd' loudly most of the time. But that was the way she had spent the first part of her life. Those books were the best friends she had had.

"So...I introduced myself...is your name a secret or something? Because if it is, I'm cool with that. But I can also keep secrets pretty well. Unless they're my own, in which case it's all good." She reached up and tightened the elastic on her ponytail. It was a habit of hers when her fingers were too finicky and she felt like just letting them be finicky on their own would look too weird.