The arrival of yet another new professor

[lady_soulfire]

It was late afternoon when Soulfire arrived at the school that was called St. Catherine's. Although she could fly - or use any other kind of transport - she came on foot and carried a large, wooden staff with her, which she used to lean on. It had several strange markings on it and a deep red jewel on the top

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[wildkate]

St. Catherine's had little need for a gardner, because Katelyn instinctively took care of the various trees and bushes on her own. It was simply in her nature, being so closely tied to the things of nature, to protect and provide for the local plant and animal life. And despite being just another student with no official responsibilities, she could be found doing this almost as often as she could be seen in the classrooms.

Today, she knelt outside the dorm room that she and Liz Riley shared, watering and weeding some very unusual green bushes that she had planted earlier just outside their window. "It is not your time yet," she whispered to the plants in a soothing voice, speaking to them just as she would any other living thing. "But your time will come. And you will grow more beautifully, than anyone else in this land."

((OOC: Yeah, her back's turned, but she's right beside the entrance of the dorms if Soulfire wants to stop her to ask for directions. Or, if anyone else wants to jump in, they're free to do so as well.))

[wildkate]

((OOC: Whoops! Two simultaneous posters. Katie's busy, so feel free to ignore her for the time being.)) ^_^;;

[lady_soulfire]

OOC: I'm just gonna let her respond to both. After all, there's Soulfire and her faerie. ^^

[lady_soulfire]

While the witch amused herself with introducing herself to one of St. Catherine's teachers, Ruby decided to explore the school on her own. She turned invisible again - faeries had a tendency to attract attention and the last thing she wanted was to be hunted down by some of those kids, who wanted to put her in some glass pot or anything.

A small girl attracted her attention. Of course, the whole field was littered with small girls, but this one seemed to be actually doing something useful. It didn't happen often that Ruby came across that. Even more interesting was the fact that this girl was connected very closely to nature.

Curious as ever, the tiny creature swooped down to Katelyn and popped visible again before her. "Why are you doing that?" she asked curiously.

[wildkate]

Katelyn did not seem startled at all by the faerie's sudden appearance. Despite her youthful and cheery demeanor, she was still a Slayer, and this Slayer in particular spent many years in the rainforest heightening her already sharpened senses to almost animalistic levels. Even a creature invisible to sight alone could not go completely unnoticed.

"The plants will become weak, if the thorns choke them. They are still young, and need time to grow." Finishing up what she was doing, the turned to face the voice instead of the bushes, and smiled as she noticed it was a fey. Instead of seeming astonished, she spoke casually to the faerie as if seeing one were a normal, everyday occurrence. In Sylvan, she began to correct herself. "Or were you asking why I've planted these here? In that case, they are a gift for a very dear friend. At least, they will be when it is time for them to bloom."

[lady_soulfire]

"You know the language," Ruby marvelled. It didn't happen often that those silly creatures called human beings knew Sylvan. Soulfire spoke Sylvan, of course, but everyone would learn the language after almost a century of partnership.

"And these are for a very dear friend? Who is that?"

[wildkate]

Happy to find someone who she could hold a fluent conversation with in her most comfortable language, as well as meeting new fey-folk in general, the wild girl smiled as she happily explained. "She is my roommate, Liz, and the best friend I have made since coming here. She is very special to me."

"I take care of all the plants here. But these are special. I asked the seeds to grow flowers from my homeland, so that every day she could see the wild and tropical blooms." Sure enough, the tangle of various vines and bushes were those of plants that would normally have no business growing in New Hampshire, and could never do so without constant care and the occasional bit of Druidic magic. "But I don't know if it would be a good gift, because she came back so early. It makes me very happy that she's here again, but the flowers need more time to blossom."

[lady_soulfire]

"How come this Liz is very special to you?" Ruby asked curiously. "And why do you want to give her flowers? Isn't giving flowers something you do to your... well... boyfriend or girlfriend? Is she your girlfriend?"

One question after another tumbled over the faerie's lips as each answer from Katelyn seemed to give her inspiration for a dozen new questions. But finally, the last question was, "Where did you learn to speak Sylvan? It doesn't happen often that human beings can speak Sylvan."

[wildkate]

Though perfectly fluent in their shared language, Katelyn suddenly found herself at a loss for words. However, the light blush that began to fill her cheeks spoke volumes.

"Well...Liz is so sweet, and friendly, and pretty, and kind. And I like her, a lot. I just wanted to do something to show her how special she is to me." Unsure of how to answer the next questions, Kate turned back slightly to look once again at the plants. Stalling for time, she idly waved a hand at the foliage. Upon doing so two sets of vines animated and began crawling up the wall, growing on either side of the windowframe. "Everyone likes Liz," she finally said, deciding to stick with what she knew to be true. "It's really hard not to like her. And Liz...she likes everyone. She's just that kind of girl.There was obviously more, but the last of the faerie's questions provided a welcome diversion. The wild girl meant to show respect with her choice of languages, but with an uncertain look on her face, she reverted back to English. "Is it...wrong...that I speak,

[lady_soulfire]

"Oh, right..." Ruby didn't entirely understand it, since she didn't know this Liz person, but she accepted what Katelyn had just told her. And she had been long enough among humans to recognise the little signs of someone being in love.

"What? Oh, no, it's alright, it just doesn't happen very often. I don't mind it. I was curious where you had learned it, though."

OOC: Sorry for the long wait and the short bit. ^^; I was kinda at a loss of how Ruby would respond.

[wildkate]

Though Ruby had said it was okay, Katelyn didn't want to stand out more than she could help. Besides, being in America, maybe it was more polite to speak in English than it would be the language of the faeries.

"I am, not from this land," she answered. "I came from far away, and lived for many moons among the animals. The Fey folk, they protected me and helped me to live, when I was too small and weak to survive on my own." A warm smile appeared on the girl's face as she thought back to her guardians, the only 'family' she could remember. "They were the ones, that taught me to speak, and I know more of their tongue than I do the words in English."

Katelyn took a seat in the soft grass while curiously asking her own questions. "What about you, small one? Why do you come to this place?"

[lady_soulfire]

Before Ruby could reply, another voice joined the conversation. "She came here because she chose to be my companion," Soulfire said gently. "And I came here because they needed a new professor. We are bound to each other and where one goes, the other has to follow. It's our destiny."

Ruby made a face to the witch and sighed. "What she said," she told Katelyn. "So how come you grew up in a place where no one else but my brothers and sister could help and protect you?"

"Ruby," Soulfire said disapprovingly. "You know you shouldn't bother strangers with all your questions." She smiled down at the young Slayer. "I hope she hasn't been a nuisance to you, dear."

[wildkate]

The wild girl smiled, slightly happy for the change in subject. The short answer was that the rainforests and jungles was the only home she had ever known. The long answer, of course, was much longer and less pleasant to talk about.

"No, no," Katelyn cheerfully said to the older woman. "She is very friendly, and not unpleasant to talk with. But! You are a new Elder here?" The short brunette looked curiously at the intricate staff that the witch held. Trying to piece things together for herself, Katelyn ventured a guess. "You are here, to teach the Way of the Staff, yes? Because we already have a Teacher of Bows and Swords?"

((OOC: I find it somewhat ironic that almost every time I log on to post a Kate-reply, I always hear that "The Animal I Have Become" song on the radio. I know they play it all the time, but the coincidence still amuses me.)) XD

[lady_soulfire]

Soulfire had to smile at the girl's new description for teacher. She had visited some tribes herself, though more in Africa than in South America, and figured that the girl had been influenced by that.

"Yes," she replied calmly. "I am an Elder, though I will not teach the students how to fight with a staff." Soulfire patted her staff gently. "I do not use this one for fights, young fighter, but for support. I'm not that young anymore and I need something to support me during walking. There are other reasons as well. This staff helps me to magnify the spells I cast. I am a witch, you see, and I will teach here the Fundamentals of Divination."

[wildkate]

"But, you don't look, too old for walking?" There was a slight bit of confusion as the short girl looked up at the taller teacher, and in particular her fiery red hair.

"Oh, you do not fight with the staff as I do, then. I am not a Witch, so I don't think I have you for classes." Katelyn tried not to look too lost upon hearing large and seldom-used words such as magnify and fundemental and divination., though it was apparent that she had some difficulty following the new instructor at certain points in her conversation. "I do not think, that I even know many Witches? Except for one, but I cannot say her name. All I know are the Slayers, and the Seers..."

[lady_soulfire]

"Appearances can be deceiving," Soulfire replied with a mysterious smile.

"Anyone interested can follow my class," she commented upon hearing Kate's words. "But I think I'll have more Seers in my class than Slayers or Witches or Mages. To predict the future is, after all, a speciality of the Seers. But don't worry, young one. If you feel everything confuses you know, be sure that you will know what it means later."

Soulfire glanced up at the sky, then back down at the girl and smiled. "If you are finished with the plants, would you like to come with me? It's already late in the afternoon. I could use a cup of tea. Would you like that?"