Just a normal day...

[ilenrock]

That made me sure, if nothing else did. She, Kathridge, was one of us.

"He wants us to go, let's go" I spoke quietly and stepped forward as I did so. Noone was in control at this point in time. I had to make sure nothing happened to Enjori or Kathridge. I didn't know what made me so sure, but I knew that if one more thing happened...

The disasters

I caused them. Oh, not consciously, but somehow I caused them. I had to get us out of here before another disaster occured. I just knew it!

Enjori didn't like what I was saying, but she accepted it. I looked at Kathridge. "Come on, you too." I was quivering, every muscle in my body. I needed to get out of there!

[Shanza]

Draldoth had decided that the situation has escalated far enough when Jormax hit Kathridge. He was half-way there when he saw Okolim begin to shake.
"Detention's over." When several students hesitated, he added sharply, "Leave now. Collect your things later." A stern glance at a hesitater resolved the issue in the stallion's mind.
"Jormax, I need to talk to you. Meet me at my office."
The tall grullo stallion began to argue, and Draldoth cut him off. "I mean now, Jormax."
With an angry glance, he turned and left, shooing the last of the students out of the clearing.
"Kathridge," he said quietly. She looked surprised that he knew her name- actually, he made it a point to know all the student's names. "I want you to go to the other side of the clearing, OK?"
She nodded, and walked away. Draldoth thought it probably wasn't far enough, but it would have to do. She looked a little shell-shocked.
"Enjori, please, remember what you were taught when you first came here," he said in a low voice. "I know you're angry, I know it's hard to resist the impulses. But I need you calm. For your brother."
He could see the immediate effect that statement had on her. It was slight, but it was there. She began to calm, and her eyes started to lose that dangerous light. Mentally, he breathed a sigh of relief. One down, one to go.
"Okolim?"
The blue roan glanced at his sister, desperation barely showing in his eyes. That broke down the last of her outburst, and she turned to him, communicating in gestures and glances. Slowly, he began to calm. Draldoth backed off, watching as the pair lowered their heads, inch by inch, until their horns were touching.
Reassured, he walked over to Kathridge. "Are you alright?"

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Kathri nodded, unsure about what was happening. "I'm fine. Thanks." She felt strange, but not bad, just not quite herself...
Draldroth didnt look convinced. "Really." she added. "I'm just suprised, thats all. I get over stuff like that pretty quick."
As the headmaster walked away, she blinked several times, trying hard to ignore the twisting shadows creeping at the edge of her vision.
Her anger towards that stallion, and all of the essays she'd recieved in punishment, suddenly seemed unimportant, stupid.
Maybe a slap to the face was just what she had needed. she'd become too bold. But was bold really bad?
Her cheek stung and she shook herself, stiffening her resolve. She refused to write a word of those essays except for the one on violence. That one she deserved... but it was worth it.

[Shanza]

Draldoth was angry. Very angry. But he daren't show it. Just before his office, he paused, took a deep breath, and made himself relax. Then he strode in.
"What were you thinking?" he asked calmly.

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Jormax sighed and took several deep breaths. "I havnt the foggiest clue." He finally replied, unable to force out any more on the subject. Please let it end there, he thought.

[Shanza]

"You used violence against a student. Should you be the one writing the report?" Draldoth was calm, betraying no emotion. Unreadable.

[ϞSymreeϞ]

Jormax rolled his eyes, "clearly she was no stranger to violence, she attacked one of her fellow classmates for nothing! I know that does not excuse my actions, and my deepest sympathies go to her for the enormous guilt she must be feeling for harming him."

[Shanza]

A strong note of anger escaped into Draldoth's voice. "In no way does that excuse your actions. You are hereby put on administrative leave until your attitude makes an about face."

[Shanza]

{Enjori}

The power of the forest. It felt like a river, a flood, a torrent of water rushing right through my body. It was strong, it was powerful, but it wasn't grabbing me anymore. Thankfully, it was flowing right on by. My mind wandered, and I looked away from my brother. He was much more relaxed now, and I knew it was safe.
That thought made me pause. Safe? Since when was Okolim dangerous? I looked at him again, trying to see past the surface. Then I thought I caught a glimpse, from memory, from his position. It was a hint of something sinister...
I shook quickly, trying to rid my mind of the uncomfortable thought. Seeing that Kathridge was still in the clearing, I quickly headed towards her, inviting Okolim to follow.
"You OK?" I asked her. A welt was beginning to form, and a trickle of rage crept into my mind. Immediately the forest had a grip and wasn't letting go. It wanted a vector, and it wanted one now. I took a deep breath, focusing on a spot on Kathridge's shoulder. I tried to block it out, then let it sweep through. I focused on the magic, and only it, trying to loosen it's grip. Finally, finally, I won. I looked up at the other two- they were looking at me strangely.
"Let's not talk about detention. Agree?" As soon as they nodded, warily, mind you, I added, "I'm hungry, let's get out of here."
I was thankful that Okolim noticed something was wrong and didn't say anything. He just nodded and lead the way.
The plan facts were that I was terrified. Totally and completely terrified. Gone was the sense that I was safe, that my brother could help. He had his own troubles, and I could sense that those troubles were big enough to be worrisome. I cared- more than I wished to admit- about others, and especially my brother.
I could still feel the torrent of magic blasting through me, trying to catch hold. It didn't completely terrify me that I knew- I knew- that the forest magic wouldn't let me go again. When it next touched me it would latch hold and would fight until I was its. Until I was completely in its control. What scared me- what turned me into a quivering ball of spineless fur- was that the next time I was grabbed by the power I might not want to come back. That I would want to kill.

[ϞSymreeϞ]

(Note: i am bored with third person, switching to first. Dont be alarmed!!!!)

The morning after detention was worse than i could ever have imagined. Not only did my face swell like a bananna, but i also got Jormax put on administrative leave until further notice. That fact made me so jumpy that four times before my first period, i had to close my eyes and count to ten. I just knew that he'd come looking for revenge eventually. But on top of it all, i still felt uncharacteristically angry. It was the bad type of angry. I wasnt cranky or mad at the world, i just really wanted to kick something. Hard.
I knew it was stupid, but i couldnt stop thinking about how i'd tackled my poltergist. I generally frowned on violence, but i was a little worried because yesterday had been the best day of my life, and it should have been the worst. I knew that, but my brain would register nothing of the sort. I had made not one, but two friends, and they were great, if not a little strange. But who was i to judge? They must have thought i was completely loony. I thought that I was completely loony.
Knowing my luck, i'd probably scared both of them away, but i was on too sweet of a high to care. I had gotten into a fight, and i was still alive. Life was good!!!!! ;D
I wandered into my first period class, Magic Theory. it was by far my best subject. As long as i wasnt actually doing magic i understood it perfectly. Unfortunately, it was impossible to learn magic on theory alone. (I'd tried it.)
I spotted Enjori a few feet away and wandered over. My walk wasnt hesitant, but was strong and fast, a clip that could barely be classified as a wander, and wondered where this confidance was comming from.
"Hey Enjori!" I exclaimed, meaning to go for a cautious tone, but settling into a boisterous one instead. I clamped my mouth shut. what was wrong with me?

[Shanza]

{Enjori}

I glanced up, surprised, and not a little wary. I wasn't used to her just yet, and was startled to find her in one of my classes. I had never noticed her here before. I nodded at her, and looked away. My mind, however, wasn't so easily convinced that I shouldn't be thinking about the large welt across the side of her face. That I shouldn't be angry, angry enough to listen to that call, grab a hold of that power...
I shook, quickly and hard. "So, how are you doing in this class?"
"Oh, fine, fine." She responded, gazing around the classroom.
An earthmover had made it into an underground cave with lights floating near the ceiling. Down here I couldn't hear the plants as well, and it was a blessing. I could get slightly mad or angry and thy didn't have anywhere near the amount of control over me.
I knew that if I wasn't careful I could get trapped by the plants. When I had extreme emotions the forest would try to make me do what it wanted. My loss of control would come slowly, but not without warning. If I didn't pull back immediately when I noticed my control going, I wouldn't have any control left.
Just listening to the forest I knew it was getting restless, and impatient. It was angry about something, and it wanted my magic to deal with the problem. I just didn't know what the forest had a problem with. The fact scared me.
"Class, come to attention!" I stopped my brooding and looked up as the teacher walked in.

[Shanza]

SYMREE: please read carefully and edit as you desire. I thought it would be interesting if Venka came in, also don't know what he prefers to be called, I put just Venka. If you want, you can PM me with the changes you want to make or just edit it (I think you can- not sure)
Shanza

{Enjori}

"Hello class," the unfamilar teacher smiled at us. I was confused- where was Jormax? Then I remembered; he was suspended. "I am Ritori, your temporary teacher. I have one simple rule. No disruptions, and we will get along fine. Of course, that does exclude questions that have a point. Understood?" She smiled again; from her attitude, I wouldn't have been suprised if she had fangs. "Now, students, we have a new pupil today. His name is Venka-Vespera, please welcome him." She motioned a pegasus into the room. A yellow dun Zvon, he looked uptight and slightly nervous, but probably ready to pounce on anyone if they gave him the chance. I know that feeling well, since that was how I felt when I first came here.
"Do you have a prefrence of what to be called?" Professor Ritori asked him.
"Just Venka," he replied quietly.
"Very well. There's a place over there and towards the back where you can sit." She motioned to the place beside me, opposite Kathridge. "Now I don't know if Professor Jormax required a seating chart, but I do. Since all of you settled into your places well, I'm guessing you already have an established higherarchy, even if you're not aware of it." She smiled again, and again I thought fangs would suit. "I'm normally a teacher of psychology, or the study of behavior. However, I have some free time, so I volunteered to substitute for some of Jormax's classes. He informed me that this class was just starting the second chapter. Venka, even if you weren't here for the first chapter, you will be required to know it for all major tests, and for the exam at the end of next week. That exam will be covering material from chapter one and two. On friday," she turned her attention back to the class as a whole, "We will be having a quiz on Friday to go over the first half of Chapter 2. I suggest you study. Please open your reference books to the first section of Chapter 2."

[Shanza]

{Enjori}

I never did like the flood of students when break let out; it was too hurried, too dense, too many bodies. I guess it gave me a slight feeling of claustrophobia. It was strange, for when I was amongst plants, I wished to be around other equines, and when surrounded by them, wished to be in the depths of the forest. In the school I had no control; in the forest I feared losing it.
It was in that rush between classes that I just didn't notice him, he was just one more body among many, but everyone else did. When I ran into the tall grullo stallion, I mumbled sorry and made to move on.
"What?" he snapped, and then I realized who I had run into. I looked up into Jormax's angry eyes, and I was scared. No longer was the anger from the previous day present, and no longer did I have nothing to lose. Once again I knew the risks and consequences of my actions, and once again I feared the magic. I feared the forest. And I feared Jormax. I tried to hide it, but he noticed. A smirk crossed his face for a split second, and in that moment I knew that he knew. He knew I wasn't in control, and as long as it remained that way, I could do nothing about my situation.
"Well?" Jormax- well, Professor Jormax- asked, drawing it out.
"Sorry," I mumbled again.
"What? I couldn't hear that." He was positively gloating. The git.
"Sorry," it was louder this time, and I was sure he heard that. Some of the students were stopping to watch the exchange.
"What?" he bent closer, but I had had enough.
I shoved past him, saying, "I have to get to my next class." I also pretended not to notice the startled looks and glances of my fellow students as they watched me leave. I felt Jormax's eyes burning into the back of my head all the way to my next class. We both knew that he had won that round.

[ilenrock]

As it so happened, while Enjori, Kathridge, and Venka were subjected to the torture of Ritori, Okolim was being subjected to something else. He was in Herbs, with Marlian, and some of his sister's tormenters from day one - Syben, Narlanv, and Andrark.

As soon as he came in, Marlian told him, "Now, I expect you be caught up in this class by the end of next week, so you're going to sit next to Syben. He's ahead in this class, so I hope you'll study with him."

<Switching to first person, it's easier right now for me>

I eyed the chestnut speculatively as he did the same to me. "So you're Syben." I said.

"So you're the new guy." he responded with the same tone. There was a slight pause, "Does the new guy have a name?"

"It's Okolim." I wasn't sure that I liked him, so I tried to keep my tone neutral, but it was difficult, seeing as the only unicorn who had ever liked me or vice versa was Enjori.

[ilenrock]

Well, of the teacher's speech, there was only one tiny little section that I actually understood, and it was at the beginning (Attention, class). Between Alivomy and Lysopthra, I was still trying to figure out which was which when, "What are the uses for Kepthrala?" The class went dead quiet and I looked up. She was staring straight at me. "Healing broken bones" was the first thing that came to mind.

"No, it's used for minor fevers, to help the body get rid of the sickness. 10 page essay on its uses, due next time."

Next to me, Syben sblack personed and whispered, "Shoulda seen that one coming. She's talking about herbs for fevers today, silly." I thought about that for a second. That really was the main focus of the herbs she had told us about so far, wasn't it?

Around 10 minutes later, Syben suddenly chucked something at our teacher. She spun around, staring straight at me.
"Who did that?" the class was deadly quiet.
"Fine, if you won't fess up, detention, this week and next. Also, while you're there, write up a report that explains why it's a bad idea to try to humiliate teachers in their own classrooms." Oh, crap.