Handy Empty Room

[Avangeline King]

Avangeline was exploring. Her common room was nearby, but no one was there to talk to at the time. Most of the doors in the dungeon were locked, she shivered a bit as her imagination ran away with her about what could be behind those doors.

Her fears didn't stop her from satisfying her curiosity when one of the doors was unlocked. Peering inside she gave a happy little smile at her discovery. A store room of some kind. Old desks, and chairs, were piled haphazardly around, the little room about half filled with things.

Pulling off the cloak part of her uniform so it wouldn't get dirty and she wouldn't get too warm, Ava set to work cleaning and setting up two of the desks in the clear portion of the room. This would be the perfect place to meet with and talk to her friends in the other houses.

Satisfied with her work finally she rushed out of the room to find Alys, her best friend, to bring her here so they could talk. She was in such a rush she forgot her cloak, and didn't notice the dust smudging her left cheek.

Finally finding the Muhe witch, she spoke so quickly Ava wasn't sure Alys would understand her. "Hey do you wanna come talk? I found this great place, follow me!"

[Guest]

After what had happened in her common room, Alys had been so unsure of what to do. After fifteen minutes of simply sitting there, she had decided that she couldn't take it anymore and had to get out. Maybe she could find Ava, or even little Kai who was always lurking somewhere around.

Just as the witch was about to take the steps leading down tot he dungeons to see if she could locate the Risiko common room, the very persons she had been searching for came barreling at her. Ava looked red in the face and out of breath, she even had dust on one side of her face but Alys had never seen a more welcoem sight in her life. Uncaring that she would get her own uniform dirty, the witch pulled Ava in a tight hug.

"Hey do you wanna come talk? I found this great place, follow me!"

"Lead on," the blonde replied, linking arms with the other girl and heading down to the dungeons.

[Avangeline King]

Ava tugged Alys down the steps to the room she had cleared. Leading her inside she turned and grinned, "Isn't it great! It's quiet and there aren't a lot of people around to bother us. We can talk as much as we want!"

She was so excited she almost didn't see the slight movement in the pile of clothing she had left in he floor, that was until a very disgruntled kitten finally poked her head out of the pocket she had been napping in. "Kai! I'm so sorry." She rushed over to check on her beloved kitten, leaving Alys to look around for a few moments.

[Guest]

"Isn't it great!"

The blonde took in what appeared for the most part to be an old and dusty store room. However, one corner had been cleaned and set with a table and chairs. And judging by Ava's appearance and Kai's disgruntled behavior, Alys could guess where all the dust had gone.

"Ava, did you clean this place up?" she asked amazed as the witch attempted to sooth her kitten.

Taking a seat on of the chairs, the blonde reached into her cloak and pulled out the tin she had received in the mail that morning. "Well, I suppose its only fair that I provide refreshments after you did such a great job with this place," she said, gesturing to the bulky tin container on the table. "Mum's buttered scones," she said in way of explanation. "Just came this morning."

[Avangeline King]

"Yeah, I did clean it up. I was so excited though I forgot Kai was in my pocket again, she wanders off so much I forgot to check." Ava admitted with a blush.

One look at the contents of the tin on the table had stars in Ava's eyes. "Those look yummy!" She proclaimed plopping into the seat across from Alys.

"So what have you been up to?"

[Guest]

Alys laughed at the way Ava was looking at the scones. Pushing the tin towards the Risiko witch, she said "Go ahead. Mama said I had to share them with you."

"So what have you been up to?"

Alys bit her bottom lip thoughtfully, wondering where to begin. "Well, I've been pretty homesick lately," she admitted honestly. "But Mama and Papa write often so I guess I shouldn't feel that way. And the witch who sleeps beside me in our dorm, she misses her Papa too which makes me glad I'm not the only one."

[Avangeline King]

Ava took her time picking a scone from the tin, both to give herself some time to think, and to get a better look at the treat.

"I get homesick too Alys. I was so used to the manor having everything change has been a big shock. It's been fun, but I'm still not really confident talking to other people yet. I guess it's going to take some time to get used to."

Nibbling on the scone gave her some more time to collect her thoughts, as well as savor the wonderful taste. "Thank your mother for me, these are really good! Anyway, how do you like the instructors so far?"

[Guest]

"Thank your mother for me, these are really good! Anyway, how do you like the instructors so far?"

"I will," the blonde assured Ava as she picked a scone at random. She hadn't been hungry earlier but now, sitting here in this store room with Ava, she had found her appetite again.

"The instructors..." she paused, taking a bite and chewing it thoughtfully. "Well, to be honest, a lot of them scare me. But I think that's the point. But Lehrer Vikki is pretty cool, and The Doctor is great too. I get to learn a lot from his class and at least he always smiles and acknowledges when his students try their best."

"And you know what," she added a little hesitantly. "I think The Doctor likes Lehrer Vikki. And I can see why, I mean, who wouldn't like her." The witch giggled quietly before tearing off another bit of scone and popping it into her mouth.

[Avangeline King]

Ava smiled gently, "I think they do scare us on purpose, if we are afraid of upsetting them, we will work harder. There are a few who inspire terror, and while I don't mind it I can see it getting in the way of some classes. A little intimidation can be a great motivator."

Tilting her head a bit in confusion, "You really think there is something between instructor Vikki and the Doctor? I'm not very good at picking up on that. It's not like I've seen a lot of affection."

[Guest]

Alys wanted to point out how Sweeney could be disruptive to learning but bit back her words just in time. Instead the witch focused on Ava's question regarding the other two instructors .

"Well, I hope this isn't gossiping as i don't mean any harm. I hate gossip, I just found out a girl in my dorm has been telling Tarragon stuff about me..." She shook her head, trying to clear it of the night's events.

"Anyway, I haven't seen anything per say. I just saw what everyone else did at the welcoem dance,. but some older students in Muhe said that The Highmaster was telling them how "able" Lehrer Vikki is. And you know, some of the girls swear there was a "glow" in his eyes, whatever that's supposed to be." Alys herself had been very confused at that seeing as glowing eyes were only creepy, not sweet as the fourth year girls were saying.

"Of course most of the boys didn't believe it but our prefect said that's because they all have crushes on her. She says the Lehrer is very young and all the boys in fifth year and up fancy her,"Alys made a face at that. Really, these boys needed to find something better to do than think of a teacher like that.

[Avangeline King]

Ava could tell Alys was really uncomfortable with gossip, so decided to let the subject of Vikki and the Doctor alone. She did notice something though. "You are having trouble with a house mate? What happened? Are you alright?"

Ava didn't like the thought of someone messing with her friend. A few well placed pranks may need to be unleashed. "Is there anything I can do to help? Maybe let Kai loose around her things? I trust you to keep Kai safe, and the furry little demon can be quite the trouble maker?" Ava pointed out, picking up the steadily growing ball of fur, handing Kai towards Alys.

"Even if that won't work would you like to hold her? She can be very comforting." Ava offered.

[Guest]

Alys laughed at the thought of Kai lose in her dorm. As usual, Ava's perceptiveness had come through. Taking the little furball in her hands, the blonde patted Kai's head softly, feeling the tension of the evening melting off her in waves.

"Believe me," she said, scratching the kitten lightly behind one ear and making it purr. "If I knew who the little snitch was, I would love to plan a few pranks on her. I just don't know who it is."

Deciding to tell Ava the whole thing, Alys confided. "I haven't been sleeping well at night lately. Homesickness plus nightmares... and I thought there was some sort of unwritten rule that you're supposed to respect the privacy of the girls who sleep with you. I don't know I've never shared a room with anyone before..." She trailed off, not even sure how to phrase the next bit.

"Tarragon pretty much accused me of keeping things from him earlier today. And he said that one of the girls had outed my sleeping problems to him." The witch looked at the desk, trying to hide how angry this made her. "I swear, if I find the girl who did it, I will lock her in a very small room with Sweeney!"

[Avangeline King]

Avangeline thought over what she heard for a few minutes, until something hit her. "I know you don't like gossip, but do you think it's possible this person told Tarragon because they were worried about you? It's no secret you and Tarragon are friends, she might have thought he could help you?"

She was curious about that, there could be more behind it than a malicious rumor, it could be out of concern, but she didn't know enough about it to make a call, that's why she needed to ask.

"The Sweeney is a weapon of last resort, to be used carefully." Ava chided, "Though I bet it would be amusing for her." Ava's favorite teacher could be terrifying, but that's what interested Ava so much, she loved the power Sweeney held. After all what other teacher could claim that every child in the school had a shiver running down their backs at the mention of her name?

[Guest]

Alys considered Ava's theory carefully. it did have merit except Alys couldn't think of any girl who would be as concerned about her as to seek Tarragon out. "To be honest, if that was the case, the girl should have approached me first," she said in response. "I wasn't even aware any of the girls noticed except for Zara who sleeps right next to me. And I know it couldn't be her."

The girl wrung her hands fretfully, hoping her nerves wouldn't be so obvious. "And I'm also worried about what other things they may have told not just Tarragon but other people too..." She had been extra careful in hiding her scar. Making sure not to wear anything sleeveless even to bed and never emerging from the shower in anything less than a full sleeved bathrobe. But still, if someone had seen the scar by accident... The very thought made her shudder as her right hand unconsciously reached to touch her left upper arm.

[Avangeline King]

Ava knew Alys was hiding something. She didn't know what it was, but she seemed too paranoid for just a couple of nightmares, lots of people had them. "Alys you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but is there something else bothering you? A lot of students get homesick, and nightmares often come with that. It is a little rude that someone didn't come to you first, but it won't be a big deal for long, something juicier is bound to crop up to override it." Ava asked carefully, wanting to help, but not wanting to force Alys into saying something she didn't want to.

[Guest]

Alys listened to Ava's soothing voice, telling that it wasn't a big deal, that the gossip would die down soon enough. And suddenly, there were tears clinging to her eyelashes. How many times had she considered telling Ava about the forest incident? Even though Ava might not believe her. Who in their right mind would? But the way the redhead was talking reminded Alys of her Papa telling her things would be alright and her Mama saying that monsters are more afraid of people than the other way around.

Sniffing quietly, the witch nodded. "I wanted to tell you before, I just didn't think it made sense. It didn't make sense even to me." She wiped at her eyes hastily, embarrassed at her tears. "But you have to promise not to tell anyone, ever. They'll think I'm mental."

[Avangeline King]

Avangeline heard the sincerely, and traveled to Alys side of the table, hugging her gently. "You know I won't tell anyone. More importantly I know you're not mental, and nothing is going to change that. You can tell me." Ava encouraged.

[Guest]

Taking a deep breath, Alys started, taking comfort in the fact that Ava wouldn't think her crazy.

"Two weeks into the start of the school year, I saw Kai lurking around the fortress," she begin, wiping her eyes a final time and clearing her throat. "I thought she would be going back to you so I decided to follow her. But she went out into the Dark Forest instead." The blonde winced as the memories of the forest played out in her head.

"I went after her because it had just started to snow. But it was dark and I couldn't see... I got lost and then there was a wolf. I swear Ava, I'm not lying. There was this big wolf, he had brown or golden fur and he... he chased me and knocked me to the ground."

The witch took another deep breath, willing herself to calm down. Slowly, she unbuttoned her left sleeve and rolled it up to her shoulder, showing Ava the thin white scar that ran almost to her elbow.

[Avangeline King]

Avangeline contained her shock, knowing that would only put Alys into further shock. Instead she ran her hand lightly over the scar. "Did the nurse help you out with this? I believe you, it's alright. I just worry because it may not have been a wolf, do you remember what the moon was like that night?" Ava asked slowly, scared for her friend.

Wild lone wolves didn't usually attack humans unless they were hungry, but a werewolf did. She was hoping Alys was unlucky enough to find a hungry regular wolf.

[Guest]

"The moon was full..." the witch whispered, remembering the reflection on the pond, close enough to touch, close enough to shatter into a thousand pieces and drench her in cold water. Shaking her head, the witch slipped the memory back into the recesses of her mind. "And yes, I did go to medic Lange after, she healed the wound and said it wasn't dangerous. But she said she couldn't do anything about the scar."

Alys looked up at her friend, meeting her eyes properly for the first time since she had begun. "I hate this scar so much! I hate that its on my body, that it will never go away. It reminds me of that night and when I sleep, I have nightmares of the wolf coming back and finishing the job. I mean, what kind of wolf just lets a victim go with a scratch?"

[Avangeline King]

"Don't think of it like that!" Ava commanded, knowing Alys anger.

Tracing the scar one again Ava continued talking, "This is not a mark of ownership. that wolf doesn't have a claim on you. It is definitely not a tracer of any kind. Wolves attack when they are hungry not because they are after you specifically. I don't blame you for nightmares, that must have been scary."

Closing her hand over the worst of the scar, Ava finished, "This is a mark of survival, wear it proudly, how many students do you think could have tangled with a wolf and survived as young as we are?"

[Guest]

"Bu- But I didn't even fight back..." she admitted in a shaking voice as she felt the warmth of Ava's hand over the scar. "I just laid there... waiting for it to sink its fangs into my throat. I didn't do anything. It just let me go. Why would a wolf do that?" She blonde shuddered violently and clung to Ava for support.

"That's why I can't tell anyone. Who would believe that a wolf chased me down, pinned me to the ground and then just scratched me and went off into the night? No one, that's who," Alys was beginning to get hysterical but she couldn't help it. The notion that the wolf was just around the corner had been haunting her since the day she had gotten back from the forest.

"What if it does come back for me?"

[Avangeline King]

Ava hugged Alys tightly, not used to giving affection, but knowing the Muhe witch needed it.

"If the wolf wanted you dead, he would have fought more than. I don't know why he stopped, but he did. there may be a reason for what that wolf did, but that doesn't mean you are going to be attacked again."

Still holding on, but now petting her hair, "It will be alright, it's okay to be scared, but I think you are going to be alright."

[Guest]

Alys clung to Ava for a long time, sometimes voicing out her fears incoherently and sometimes simply taking comfort in the way the other with was stroking her hair. It reminded her of her parents and made her feel safe. Something she hadn't properly felt ever since that night.

"It will be alright, it's okay to be scared, but I think you are going to be alright."

"Yes, as long as I never go into the forest again," she nodded. "And that's fine with me," the blonde added, drying her eyes for the final time. Talking to Ava had been the right thing to do, she realized. It was extremely liberating to know that she didn't have to carry the secret alone anymore.

[Avangeline King]

"See, you will be alright, I'll be right with you, and the others, and the instructors. It will be alright. I won't make you go near the woods, if the instructors do than you know you will have back up." There was a warm feeling in Ava's heart. She loved taking care of people, even if she hadn't known that before she came to school.

"I'm glad you told me, Ii understand why you were worried, but you can always talk to me, I will keep your secrets." Avangeline promised.

[Sponsored content]