Orion walked quickly so he was walking next to Jora. "But I want to stay," he said, keeping stride with her. He noticed how tense she was. "Oh, and it's true, what I said before class. I never did correct you did I?" he said, smiling.


"I don't want to get it bloody," Ember said, not wanting to get his bandanna dirty, although she was grateful. She wiped the blood away with her hand, hoping she didn't seem to ungrateful. I'm almost to the cafeteria.

Jora shook her head and stopped dead in her tracks. "Please, just stop it. I know it's not true and that you keep lying about it. So please just... drop it." She said walking quickly past him. She bit her lip as she started hearing a few of the voices from her village. She was so over them. She just wanted them to stop talking to her too.

Mitchel chuckled a little. "It'll come out. And even if it doesn't it'll be tye dyed." He held it out closer to her. "So are you Ember? You didn't say yes or no."

A'ine sighed. Are you sure you're okay? Is anyone helping you out at least? She sent when Alderic started waving his hands in front of her face. "Earth to A'ine. You there?" She smiled and whacked at his hands. "Just checking on Ember."

"Fine, but I'm not lying," he said. "Why do you think I keep following you?" he asked, curious.

"Thank you. And yes. Who are you?" she asked, taking the bandanna. She tied it around her knee.

(Sorry, I was rushed)

Jora shrugged. "No." She said as her mind started reminding her that most of the people in her village followed her. It made her a bit more nervous. What if he was just waiting for a good time to pull a prank? She walked a little bit further away from him hugging her sketch book.

Mitchel smiled. "I'm Mitch, short for Mitchel. We're in the same class." He said his smile widening a bit. "So where are your friends? You know, Um." He put his hand on his chin willing himself to remember their names. "Orion and...?" He asked a little giving up a bit.

(It's not bad! Not for a rushed post anyway! ^^)

Orion stopped walking. "Sorry, I'm kinda being overwhelming, aren't I. Following you around everywhere and trying to talk with you," he said, realizing that he was failing to comfort her once again.

"Jora. Why'd you notice me?" she asked. Usually, she'd be kinda weirded out if someone knew some much about her just by watching, but now she was just curious. She didn't exactly stand out, and A'ine, Jora, and Alderic were the first people who actually tried to get to know her despite her stand-offish attitude.

Jora sighed and turned down a hall. She didn't know where she was going but maybe she could find a spot in this huge castle that had something that wouldn't remind her about her home. She felt like screaming at the voices in her head that were going on and on about no one seeing her as anything except a freak. She knew they were wrong... at least she hoped they were.

Mitchel smiled and scratched his chin a little. "Well, I find it hard not to notice anything and everything." He started walking to the cafeteria. "I'm just a good observer." He said with a shrug. "Why do you ask?"

Orion wanted to follow Jora, but she'd think he was creepy or something. "You should come have lunch!" he yelled after her. I'll just bring her lunch if she says no. He waited for her reply, assuming she was going to refuse.

Ember tensed, then turned away. "I'm not used to it," she replied curtly. He would ask if he wanted to know more,

Jora stop but didn't turn around. "I'm really not hungry... I don't think I could eat anything anyway..." She said looking down at her feet trying to stop thinking about home or even being a phoenix or a teacher's kid. She just wanted to be a normal girl. Was it too much to ask? Of course it is. You're a freak remember? She thought to herself squeezing her eyes shut more tightly as she felt some tears coming.

Mitchel laughed a little more. "Well, with all your friends here I thought you would be." He pointed at A'ine over the crowds. She was turned away from them looking down the other hall. "She's one of them isn't she?" He asked with a smile.

"Jora, are you alright?" Orion asked, taking a small step toward her. He looked at her with concern. I wonder what she's thinking. I hate it when she's upset like this.

"Yeah.... but they're the first, so I'm not used to it. You saw what happened in the hall," Ember said. She pulled ahead of Mitchel to reach A'ine, glad to see her friend. She wove between the tables, wondering who A'ine was looking for. Probably Orion or Jora since they hadn't arrived yet.

Jora shook her head turning away from Orion again. "I'm fine. You should go eat. No one wants to see an angry dragon." SHe said attempting to fake a smile.

Mitchel smile and followed her still. "Well that's better then I have." He smiled at A'ine.

A'ine turned. "There you are!" She said smiling at Ember. "Who's this?" She asked looking at Mitchel.