Just a normal day...

[Shanza]

{Enjori}

My attention wandered during my next class, Herbs. This class I excel in, normally at least.
"Enjori?" Professor Marlian asked, looking annoyed.
Guiltily, I glanced up at her.
"What's Heroxel used for?"
I shook my head, trying to clear the mists that always followed the trembling. "Mostly useful for colds, headaches, and cramping. Also used as a... mild relaxant, but can be dangerous in anything but small amouts. It's recommended to stay away from the plant unless the user has been trained."
"Good." She then turned to the class, addressing them quickly, "Remember that it has a sickly sweet scent when crushed, the plant only grows to knee high, is twice as wide as tall, most common in mountain regions, and the leaves are long and jagged. By the way, Enjori, if I have to call your attention back to class again, you will have punishment for it."
"yes, ma'am," I muttered. She stared at me for several moments before continuing her endless tirade. I tried to pay attention, as this was one of the few classes I liked, but failed misserably as the mists settled once again. I call them mists because that is exactly what they were- I had both metal and phyisical signs. As I breathed in, it felt as if I was breathing water-ladden air, and I saw a phisical mist surrounding me. My mind would slide in and out of focus, catching snippits and parts of the lecture the Professor was giving. I closed my eyes, breathing in deeply. I could feel the mists receding, but only partially. I could still catch a wisp of night-time cloud air, and when I opened my eyes, tendrils were hovering, just out of reach. The pressure was receding, but slightly. It was like waves on a beach, receding only to engulf again.
"Yourinavak is excellent for what? Enjori?"
I took a breath, expelling it quickly. I didn't remember this herb, it must be new from today. Damn. Um.... got it! Sort of. "This herb is excellent cleanser of wounds when crushed and the paste is used."
Marlian looked disapointed, "No, that's Rarnavik. Yourinavak is excellent for pain, and when specially prepared with several other ingrediants, makes an unsurpassable truth serum. I'm sorry, I thought'd you'd learned to pay more attention. I want a essay on the intricacies of Yourinavak, at least fiften pages. Also, remember this, I want an additional thirty page essay on the herbs we covered in class today. You can get a list from me at the end of class. Both essays will be due Friday. Since it's monday, you'll have to work hard but I believe the focus will be good for you. Professor Jormax is holding the detention after school today, and I think it will be benifical for you to attend.
"Oh, and while I'm on the subject of homework, I want each of you to find 20 of the herbs we have talked about in class today on the island. You will then draw the plant, followed by a discription of where the plant is located, and the charachteristics of the particular plant. Due wensday. Remember to keep these as they will be complied into a herbalist journal to be turned in at the end of every semester.
"Now, Heratin is a herb known widely for...."

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Kathridge dragged her hooves along the grass as she made her way towards detention. Jormax was horrible, just horrible, she thought. She hadnt thrown the book at him! she'd accepted her punishmnet with grace. Not a lot of grace, but some.
Writitng a ninety page essay on one subject was next to impossible! She'd run out of steam about thirty pages in and had filled an entire fifty pages with nothing but the word die. The rest of it was a poorly written tribute to Jormax's greatness. She hoped that it would make up for the eighty five pages of senseless nothing.
She passed a student that had just transformed into a wolf and shook her head. What if Malglo was wrong? What if there really was not magical talent to her at all? She could just imagine what joy it would bring Jormax to kick her out of the Academy.
Too soon she arrived at the glade that had been set up for detentions. Kathri saw the grullo form of her teacher, and looked around for another sign of life.
Oh no! She couldnt be the first one there, alone with Jormax for who knew how long! Quick, maybe he wouldnt see her...
"Ahh, Miss Kathridge. I cannot say that it is a pleasure to see you again, but welcome all the same."
This school must exist to torture her.
"Your Essay?"
She handed it over.
jormax smiled widely, "Ahh, exquisite. i shall look forward to burning it."
Kathri felt a stab of anger.
The Grullo shifted uncomfortably and glanced back at her. "Ohh, it just got quite hot. yes, hot indeed."
Now they were conversing about the weather? 'Kill me now,' she thought.

[Shanza]

{Enjori}

I walked into the clearing that I had to ask, for the third time, where it was. I hated this. Hate. Hate hate hate hate! Did I say hate enough? I suppressed the rage that had been boiling inside me all day. I knew if I let it get too strong, bad things would happen, but at the moment, I didn't care.
"Yes?" Jormax looked over at her. "Can I help you?"
"Professor Marlian suggested that I come."
"Ah. Well then, you're very welcome here."
I nodded, walking over to one of the large, flat rocks in the clearing. Behind me, two students entered, chating freely. Jormax greeted them with a cool smile and questioning words. They fell silent and made their way to another of the rocks in the clearing.
I glanced over at the mare who had arrived before me. She was standing alone at the front of the clearing, looking nervous. I glanced away, but she caught me looking. Homing in on a potential friend, she quickly came over.
"Mind if I?" she asked quietly.
"It's a free world."
She looked taken aback, but settled at the circular rock anyway. I pulled out parchment, ink, and a packet of information on herbs. I felt her watching me, and glanced up. "What?"

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Kathri glanced away,"Nothing." She replied. What was up with this mare? She was probably just not very social or something. That was fine. "Uhm, i'm Kathridge, but everyone calls me Kathri. It's nice to meet you- umm...?"
"Enjori." The mare replied shortly, not looking up from her notes.
Kathridge waited for more, but that was all. They were drownding in an uncomfortable scilence.
"So are you new here?" Kathri inquired.
Enjori snorted, "Sense first of the year."
Still no eye contact.
Kathri sighed quietly and started doodling on a piece of bark. This was going to be one loooooooooooooong detention.
"Stop that will you?" The mare asked.
She blinked, "Stop what?"
Enjori looked up, "Clicking your tongue, your breaking my concentration."
Kathri clenched her jaw and the other mare looked back down.
All of the sudden, cold water splashed violently into her coat. Kahtri squealed and spun around.
And there was that stallion, cool as he pleased, wearing a wet smirk.
"What is your problem!" Kathri shouted, "Leave me alone!" She felt like kicking him.
The stallion laughed.
Then Jormax came over. "Problem, Chevetch?"
The stallion shrugged, "I dont know, sir, I just walked past and she started shouting at me."
"Liar." Kathri muttered, loud enough to be heard.
He gave a sarcastic grin in Jormax's direction.
"Miss Kathridge, I want a ten page essay on the origins of the word liar. To be due thursday."
She couldnt take it anymore. "He spat water on me!"
"You may add a five page epilogue on the word's application to yourself." Jormax ammended, turning to walk away.
The stallion went to follow and something inside of Kathri broke. She took a rather amazing leap, and tackled the stallion, knocking him to the ground.
He shouted somethig as they fell, but she ignored it, and kicked him smartly in the nose. She'd teach him not to get her in trouble. What she didnt expect was his answering kick that sent her flying into one of the black rocks.

[Shanza]

{Enjori}

OK, I was stunned. I did not expect her to get spat at. Then she attacked him. What was the worst about the whole situation was Jormax's reaction. What was wrong with these teachers?
"Stop it, stop it right now!" Jormax yelled. He was a little late in reaction.
The mare who had identified herself as Kathridge scrambled to her feet and stood, spluttering at that Chevetch stallion and Jormax. Chevetch was just standing there, pretty as you please.
"What is the meaning of this?" Jormax roared.
"She attacked me, sir."
I could tell the Professor liked the title. "Kathridge, you will write an additional essay on why violence is banned at this institution! Since the message can't seem to get in your head, it will be fifty pages! Both essays will be due tomorrow after school!"
I quivered, angry once again. How dared these teachers think they are perfect with their magic and their powers! Rage filled my vision, and I lost connection with anything but my anger. I felt the magic stirring inside me, ready to explode outward. The grass at me feet quivered, and I snapped back to myself. I gulped, and glanced around the clearing.
I felt, more than heard, a slight moan from the forest around me, wishing to move, to be free. I stood terrified as my mind and body felt emotions registering from outside of my soul. I felt the deep longing and the forest wanting the power that I contained, that I held tight.
Slowly reality dawned back on me, and I opened my eyes. I didn't realize I had closed them. Kathridge was next to me again, looking furious. She was clicking her tongue again, and constantly shifting. I was too jittery to care.
I hardly noticed when someone came to the clearing and Jormax stepped out, grumbaling. The clearing burst into wispers and giggles around me. I still felt the twinge of the forest calling, but I tried to ignore it. "What did you say?" I turned to Kathridge. Maybe talking would distract me.

[Shanza]

Draldoth nodded to the stallion beside him. "This will take just a minute, then we'll go on to indroduce you to your teachers." The blue roan just nodded.
Draldoth smiled saddly. He hoped that with time, the stallion would warm to him and the acadamy. Draldoth could hardly blame him, he had had a rough year.
"Jormax, I need to talk to you." He called when he reached the clearing.
"What is it this time?" Jormax grumbled as he walked over. He glanced at the detenies, and yelled, "Quiet, or you'll all get essays!" The group quieted for a second, then resumbed their discussions.
Draldoth grinned at Jormax's furious expression. "Really, this can't wait. Deal with them later."
"New student?"
Draldoth glanced with suprise at the stallion who had walked up beside him. "Oh, no. He's someone else's."
"Then what?"
Draldoth nodded, and led him farther away into the forest. "It's about that rogue mare..."

[ilenrock]

"This will take just a minute, then we'll go on to indroduce you to your teachers."

As I nodded, I glared at the ground. Why did they insist on pretending that I had magic. Were they insecure or something?

Might as well check out my 'classmates.' Such a strange and idiotic word. There was, from left to right, a Black, two bays, a sorrel, grullo appy (now that was a unique color), and...

It couldn't be. She was EXILED, for CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!

And yet... it was a silver bay with a frosting over her hips... How many of those could there be. I had to get closer.

I had learned a few things in those six months - such as how to move through forest without being easily detected, for one. Glancing at Draldoth, I noticed that he and his friend were looking away. I made my move.

[ilenrock]

I snuck around the edge of the clearing, just behind the first few rows of trees. My color was perfect for this. The closer I got, the more sure I was. The way she jumped. The fact that she was flicking her tail to the right, and not the left, every few minutes. Her head being so high. She was listening to the forest.

"Enjori," I whispered. I never thought I'd see you again. Who is that grullo appy next to you? She's really mad about something, but Enjori - I've found you!

You'll feel me. As you once said,"If you focus on something while sneaking around, ya light up like a beacon." That had been a lifetime ago, before any of this trouble started. You can still feel me can't you? Oh, Enjori, please say you can. It's been so long. Where have you been? I couldn't find you anywhere! Were you here all along?

[Shanza]

{Enjori}

I jerked, and froze. Kathridge barely noticed, she was so angry. There was something... something... familiar. There was so many creatures at the academy, I hardly listened into the forest anymore, there were so many beacons. The forest was it's own array of lights, mostly dark greens and blues, but purple to black where things were dying. A unicorn or pegasi moving through the growth came across as a light green to yellow-green, if they were just wandering. The stronger their attention was on one detail, the more the forest noticed, and the more toward orange and red the color showed.
I searched, closing my eyes and lifting my face to the sky. Kathridge said, "Hello?" but I paid her no mind. I took a deep breath and relaxed, and my tenseness melted away. I turned away from the grulla appy, who still had a quizzical expression, and walked toward the forest. I stopped within a length of it's edge, smiling softly. "Why don't you come on out, I won't bite."

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Kathridge quivered with anger. How dare Jormax do this to her? She'd just written a ninty page essay, and now she had to write another combined sixty pages!
"This is [glow=red,2,300]SO[/glow] unfair." she complained to Enjori. "I mean, what is that stallions problem? Really?"
No answer.
Kathri glanced over to the empty spot beside her and groaned with frustration. She'd probably scared away the only potiental friend she'd met in months! Grrrr.
She glanced around for a sign of Enjori. Wait, why was she talking to that blue roan stallion? Was he new? Kathri hadnt seen him before...
she felt the anger return. "Hey," she shouted, [shadow=red,left,300][glow=red,2,300]"I was talking to you!" [/glow][/shadow]
The silver bay mare glanced in her direction, looking torn somewhere between amusement and confusion.
Then came the embarassment. . someone really should just duct tape my mouth shut, she thought.
Ohh, she wished everyone would stop staring at her! "Never mind." She muttered, tucking her head into her chest.
"Hey."
Kathri looked up.WHAT! that stallion again! She moaned, "What now?"
His eyes traveled over her in a creepy sort of way and he shrugged, "I dont know."
oh brother. "[shadow=red,left,300][glow=red,2,300]Leave[/glow][/shadow].[shadow=red,left,300][glow=red,2,300] Me[/glow][/shadow]. [shadow=red,left,300][glow=red,2,300]Alone[/glow][/shadow]." She half shouted.
He only smirked, "Sure, princess, theres just one thing i need to do first."
kathri snorted,"yeah, what's that? Get your butt kicked by a mare again?"
"No, ask one out. meet me by the lake at ten. You'd better be there."
Her eyes narrowed in discust, "The h**l I will!"
Unfortunately at that moment, Jormax re entered the clearing, and it went dead silent. "Miss Kathridge, I think another five page essay is in order. To be on the subject of profanity and why it should be punished."
Kathri felt her jaw drop, and glared at the stallion.
He gave a haughty grin and stalked off to his own black rock.
Die.

[ilenrock]

What was wrong with that mare? Why was she so ticked off? What did she have to be so angry about? But Enjori had been talking to her. And that stallion, that teacher hadn't even seen it. Life sure was unfair. Right now, my bad luck seemed to have transfered to her. Poor mare.

"Do you know her?" I whispered.

"She's a friend," she replied in a slightly strained voice.

That was strange. As far as I knew, she hadn't had 'friends' before. And I had only started using the term within the past couple of months.

"What's her name?" I wondered as she stormed over towards us.

"Kathridge"

"Oh"

"I can't believe him," Kathridge whispered with poison in her voice. She rounded on me then, "and who are you by the way!?!"

"I'm Okolim. Nice to meet you."

[Shanza]

{Enjori}

I glanced back at Kathridge. Was she my friend? I didn't really know the meaning of the word. My brother and I never had any friends, just enimies. But Kathridge? Maybe. More like aquantience, really.
After Okolim had given his name, she glared at him. Her expression suddenly shifted, and she asked me, "How do you know him?"
I blinked, then raised an eyebrow. "He's my brother."
She looked shocked, and her mouth formed the shape of an O. She blinked a few times, just staring at us.
I turned away from her, and gazed at Okolim. He was fitter than when I had last saw him. His coat was sleaker, and he had an air of confidence that I immediatly envied. He had a few more scars on his body, outlined in a deep blue.
"You look rather rugged, you know."
He shrugged, and looked off. I grinned. Same old Okolim.
"Excuse me?"
I turned at the sound of Jormax's voice. "What?"
"This is detention, and that means BE QUIET!"
I raised an eyebrow and turned back to my brother. "Oh. Where have you been?" I asked him.
Behind me, Jormax started growling. "You are here in detention! You will be quiet or will write a fifty page essay!"
I took a breath and turned. The anger that had been fiestering in me for weeks now was gone. Completely obliterated. My brother was here- I didn't care anymore.
"Go to hell."

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Jormax stared at Enjori, for the first time in his life, completely speechless. This was absurdly ru- no one had ever dared... "i beg your pardon, madam?" He finally managed. "I am a professor at this fine institution, and you will treat me with far more respect than that. I shall indeed be sharing words with your herbs mistresss!"
He must have been going senile, he could have sworn that he just saw her ignore him completly and go on talking to that roan! get a hold of yuorself, Jormax!
"Did you hear me?" He asked sharply, "This will not go unpunished!!!"

[Shanza]

{Enjori}

I heard him, sure. I just decided to ignore him. For now. The professor crossed the line when he stormed up to me and started bellowing in my face.
"Would you control you're temper, Nalatic-voekn*, or do I have to control it for you?"
"Enjori..." Okolim moaned. He thought I had stepped too far. He didn't know just how much I hated this situation I was in. He had no idea how far I'd go to stay with him.
Kathridge was staring, that stupid stallion who kept taunting her was grinning, and the rest of the group was caught between stunned disbelief and ammusement. Except for the Headmaster at the far end of the clearing. He was just standing there, watching.
Jormax drew himself up, rage filling his eyes. "Why you..."
I stared at him. I was ready to explode, I was ready to let go. The forest was calling, and I was ready to answer. And if I did, destuction would reign. But I was past caring.


*Nalatic-voekn- incatation language for 'stubborn snob'

[ϞSymreeϞ]

"Get Out!" Jormax roared, finally recovering his voice. "I dont care where you go, but leave NOW!" He kicked a scuff of dirt at Enjori, and added, "And take that Newbie with you!"
There was a cold silence, and then Kathri asked, "Can i leave to?"
Every stress of the past week errupted within him and he slammed his horn across the grulla mare's face. "One day, you will learn when to hold your tongue miss Kathridge! until that day i suggest that you just retire the use of your tongue in my presence."
Afterards, at the pained look on her face, he felt guilty, that had been meant for Enjori, but it was so much easier to to punish Kathridge. On top of that, sonething about the other mare frighted the daylights out of him. However, he wasnt about to admit either of those things, and he certianly wasnt going to apologise.