most of ch 3 for Erin's enjoyment, will redo in full later
Chapter three (in part)
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Paolo went to Ward’s dwelling in the late morning, and was surprised by how large it was. Due to residential laws in 3R, no matter what the economic status of the family or individual, the dwellings were all of a similar construct. The wealthier had a few extra rooms, the singles or unmarried had smaller dwellings. However it appeared that the Alexanders’ had an entire building! Ward had answered the door and had invited him in while he told his parents he was leaving. It was a very curious dwelling; it looked more like a warehouse or shop than a place to eat and sleep. Ward saw his bewildered gaze and explained that in his dwelling/building, actually all the researchers lived here that worked out in the wilds. About six families and four singles lived here, each having a room somewhere, but more importantly they could store specimens and documents here. Since there were only ever a few researcher families or singles in 3R at anytime, it wasn’t any problem to share the building. Paolo had never heard of such a unique arrangement in Three Rivers or elsewhere, but it seemed to work!
By the time Ward had finished his explanation they had arrived at the Transport Center. Paolo asked for Ward’s computer, flipping open the screen and slipped in a disk. He handed it back to Ward.
“See this? This is a map of the city that you can access anywhere. I highlighted the transport routes you’ll most likely use. If you hover hand above any of the highlighted buildings, I wrote why you should visit there.”
Ward beamed at him. “Are going to visit some of these places?
“Yup! Lets go!”
Ward and Paolo had a blast cruising around town. Paolo did the responsible things first, like where school and clothing stuff was located. Then they cruised through the best parks and clubs to flirt with girls (teenage boys have certain priorities). After several hours they sat in one the organized little parks munching on some famous 3R pear-apple candy.
Ward was comparing the trim, neat paths and flower gardens around them to the untamed wilds when a strange cry was heard above them. Paolo looked up only to instinctively throw himself off the bench into a bush. He spat out a leaf and looked around to see what had been falling out of the sky at them.
It was a wild crawn bird, raptor eyes glittering at him from his perch on Ward’s arm….Wait, what?! “Huh?” He said intelligently.
“Meet Bree! That’s a good girl.” He cooed at the large bird, using the back of his fingers to stroke her breast feather. “Bree” seemed to look at Paolo like she was sizing up her next meal, her long, whip like tail twitching slightly. Her skin and feathers looked so dull and black that she seemed to be her own small black hole in the park; a spot where all the color was sucked away. “Crawn birds aren’t really birds exactly,” Ward continued. “They seem to be part reptile and part mammal. They fly their three foot wing-span, have four legs, give live births, omnivorous, use their lizard-like tail for balance and show emotions like an Earthian feline…They’re just weird critters. I rescued this one where it had fallen out of its cliff cave and had wandered around. It is nearly impossible to find where these things nest, so Da let me take care of it. She has made a nest on top of our dwelling where she stay at night and when I’m inside somewhere. She must have seen me leave and followed me.”
“Then why didn’t she, uh, visit us earlier?” Paolo sat back on the bench, trying to look cool and not mortified as he continued to pluck leaves from his hair and clothes.
Ward gestured with his free arm. “This is the first open space that we have really ventured into. All other roads and buildings had too many lamps or signs or people in the way for her to safely land. Plus they are pretty shy creatures. Well, unless they see someone they have been parted from for a while.”
“Oh.” What was he supposed to say to that? Ward was acting like a wild animal bombarding them in the middle of an urban park was normal. He watched with admiration and surprise as Ward stood to launch Bree into the air. She really was a beautiful, if weird looking creature. “Well, want to continue? There is an amazing row of shops over there where you get the best festival clothes…”
“Oh really?”
As Paolo drifted off to sleep hours later, he smiled as he thought about his new friend. They got along great and had a lot of similar interests. He smirked. And perhaps most importantly, they liked different kinds of girls. Yawning, his last fuzzy thought was that Ward hadn’t finished his story from the party.
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Classes were as usual the next day. Ward and Paolo had all the same classes except reading, where Ward sheepishly explained he was in a Level 3 class because out in the wilds he had always skipped his tutoring sessions. So he was still stuck with just the mouse and Zuni. He sighed as he walked into the room. There she was, reading, again, her eyes darting across the screen as she read. Zuni was staring at her again, too. After about two weeks he had broke down and asked her if she had some unrequited love for Radansha. Zuni was flustered, but laughed it off. She explained that she was trying design a perfect wardrobe for her drab (not exactly her words, but that’s how Paolo interpreted them) friend. She admitted that she wanted to be a clothing designer in Metropolis after graduating the Occupational Educational.
Paolo grimaced as he sat down behind his now ex-project partner. He really did owe her an apology or a thank you for her hard work, especially since she had been sick. He started to clear his throat when the instructor walked in. Oh, well, I guess I’ll have to wait until after class, he thought as he stood up.
However he missed his chance when he blinked. He would swear to Zuni later that is what happened. Class was over, so he quickly stuffed his papers into his shoulder bag to he could talk to Radansha before she left for her art class. But when he looked down to her seat she had already left!
“Zuni? Where did Radansha go?”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Oh, she said something about meeting Mariko before art class.” She tilted her head to the side, beads clicking softly together. “Why?”
“Oh, ah,” he his weight from one foot to the other. “Nothing. I just wanted to talk to her about last week’s report, is all.”
She gave a knowing “hm” before leaving the classroom. What was that about?!
Zuni chortled to herself as she slipped out of the classroom. It was just like one of those romance stories she read secretly on her LAR! Boy meets girl, they don’t get along and fight all the time, then they slowly fall in love, resisting and denying all the way. She sighed dramatically, earning her some strange looks in the hallway. She was oblivious as she walked, already arranging their wedding clothes, her beads making a soft staccato melody as she passed by.
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Mariko burst into the café with her usual lack of finesse and bounded over to Zuni’s table. Immediately the stuck their heads together as Zuni pushed over her bowl of dessert to share.
“So what do you think?” Zuni asked.
“I dunno! I was so shocked! She, like, was a completely different person around Ward!” Mariko said breathlessly. Zuni grabbed the second spoon and they both nibbled their spoons in thought. It had been an exciting week in the rumor mill.
First, there was the new student, who was completely handsome and charming. So of course he was good friends with Paolo already. They had made a dazzling pair as they walked through the halls together. Their natural beauty was envied by many, but coupled with their pleasant personalities they won the admiration of everyone in the school. Males and females gazed after them as they walked by. Zuni claimed she saw several teachers blush when they saw the pair!
Mariko had only seen them by accident when she visited the bathroom later in the morning. Radansha and Mariko had been frantically doing their homework before their classes. Radansha because she had been sick, Mariko because she had played nursemaid for her but also because Radansha hadn’t nagged her like she usually did. So they had been cooped up in their classrooms scribbling away rather than chattering the hallways like normal. Well, that was what Mariko usually did anyways.
As if that wasn’t interesting enough news to pass around, then Ward’s pet certainly was! Zuni and Mariko had been gushing about the new hot guy to Radansha in the courtyard like the other students on break. The buzz of conversation instantly ceased when Paolo and Ward had walked near by, then grew in volume. Mariko had grabbed Rad by the shoulder to bodily point her in the right direction. They both had been watching her since she hadn’t seemed to react to any of the other boys in school other than Paolo, and that was dislike rather than interest. Wasn’t it they’re job as her friends to set her up? Well, first they had to figure out what kind of guy she liked.
Radansha’s eyes had grown twice their size and she was about to say something when an animalistic scream was heard. Everyone hushed and looked up. Someone would later wonder why Paolo was seen diving behind a waste can. A black streak was hurtling down towards the courtyard at alarming speeds! Students squealed and scrambled out of the sunken courtyard. Mariko, still holding Radansha’s shoulders tried to pull her along, but fell backwards when her roommate had forcibly resisted budging. Mariko was already yelling at her to move when Rad raised her arm above her head. The black streak suddenly grew much larger as wings snapped out to halt its dive. It landed delicately on Radansha arm with a light flip of its wings to settle them. Zuni looked up from her crouched position behind a bench. The…thing had begun to purr and crawl up her friend’s arm until it was resting with its front legs on her collar bone and shoulder and the hind legs clinging near her elbow. It rubbed its bird-like head all over Radansha’s laughing face in obvious affection. The whip-like tail was held up high to help with balance, but wagged slightly with happy emotions.
Students peeked out from behind pillars and bushes, doors and windows at the delighted girl. Radansha dodged Bree’s happy nuzzling long enough to make eye contact with Ward across the courtyard. Ignoring her prone friends, she walked towards him taking advantage of the cleared center. Students watching with smoldering curiosity as the smiling new boy and the shiest girl in school hugged and kissed each other on the cheek. During the hug, Bree crawled from Radansha’s small shoulders to Ward’s sturdier ones. Paolo, Mariko and Zuni were the only ones brave enough to approach them. Paolo, because he was too embarrassed at himself to stay away any more, and Zuni and Mariko (holding hands for support) went closer because their curiosity was slightly bigger than their fear of the strange animal.
They all convened in the center in time to hear the two softly talking, standing close to each other.
“So you finally came back! I was wondering if you would make it in time for the summer festival!”
Ward lightly punched her in the arm. “I said I would, didn’t I? I still remember what happened last time I broke a promise to you!” He shuddered dramatically. “Never again!”
Radansha laughed and curled her fingers into Bree’s neck feathers when it stretched down towards her. The crawn bird gave its distinctive deep purr and leaned into the scratch. They all watched Bree as her eyes slowly closed in bliss. However, she continued to lean into the rub until her front legs were precariously clinging to Ward’s shirt over his pectorals and her hind legs latched onto his shoulders. When it started to look too risky Ward carefully supported her while detaching her claws. That done, he smoothly settled her in Radansha’s free arm without interrupting them. Radansha had adjusted her arms and body in an obviously well rehearsed motion to keep Bree happy. This was not lost on those watching around the courtyard.
Mariko was almost vibrating with curiosity. Still standing close to Zuni, she asked softly, “Rad? What is that?”
“Oh!” She looked up Bree startled. It was like they had been in their own little bubble and forgotten the rest of the school. She continued in a normal tone, “Bree a crawn bird, Mariko. Ward rescued her a few years ago. She’s from the wilds of Gahne.”
Ward smiled modestly. “You should take some credit, too, Radansha. She wouldn’t have survived without all your research.” He looked at the girls and held out his hand. “My name is Ward. Are you friends of Radansha?”
“Ah, yes we are.” Mariko said in a whisper, still nervous around her first “wild” encounter. “My name is Mariko. Rad is living with my family. This is Zuni. She’s in your level.” Zuni appeared mute in presence of beasts and beautiful men. Mariko made a mental note to tease her about it later.
“I thought I recognized you.” He glanced over at Paolo on his other side. “Oh, you decided to join us, hm?” There was a definite smirk in that sentence.
Apparently it was a private joke because Paolo blushed like crazy but continued to glare at Bree half-asleep in Radansha’s arms. “Shut it.” He grunted, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Whatever Ward might have said was interrupted by several instructors hurrying towards them. The small group was startled to see they were surrounded on all along the courtyard by other students staring down at them.
“Ward, what should we do with Bree? They won’t like her at all.”
He looked unsure. Bree answered the problem she had made by suddenly wiggling out Radansha’s arms and climbed up to her shoulder to peer at the instructors. They paused, startled, several meters away. Bree, having an innate sense of the dramatics it seemed, posed, then launched herself from Rad’s shoulder. While everyone stared into the sky as Bree laboriously gained altitude, Ward was helping settle Radansha’s hair. It was very mused from Bree’s greeting and then buffeted when she took off. Zuni and Mariko stared with delight and shock. It wasn’t that personal touches weren’t socially acceptable, but you always asked permission before hugging or something. Only family or good friends touched each other often, in any sort of way. (Unless you were Mariko, who gets away with this breach in manners because she is so cute) And here was the new hot boy, affectionately tucking hair back into her braids, smoothing it out of her face! Paolo was staring, but he wasn’t as sure about what he was feeling. Shock, yes, because mouse knew Ward and Bree. But he didn’t have time to sort out the other emotions that came out when he watched Radansha laugh (with Ward), kiss and hug (Ward), lean into (Ward’s) hand as he fixed her hair before the instructors came.
Ward and Radansha turned as a unit to face down the faculty. The other three listened in admiration and the two from the wilds soothed irate instructors and calmly explain that Ward’s “pet bird” would not “visit” at school anymore. They employed all their powers well, Radansha looking innocent and earnest, Ward charming and modestly embarrassed. They were lectured about pets on school property until the bell range. AS soon as the instructors had walked around the corner, Rad and Ward gave each other a high five. The group broke up to go to their classes.
Ward turned back just as he reached the door, “Hey, Radansha?” She turned around with a raised eyebrow.
He grinned evilly. “You didn’t ask. “
Paolo thought she looked prim in all her mousey glory. “No, I didn’t.” There seemed to be a question in her tone that puzzled the people listening in.
Ward’s eyes just crinkled as his smile grew knowingly. “The Annual Summer Festival. Your “gifts” will arrive in time.”
Radansha had simply turned on her heel and went through the door her classroom, Ward’s laughter following her in.
Zuni and Mariko had pestered her mercilessly all week trying to find more information about Ward, Bree and what was coming before the festival? But all her answers were, “You have to ask Ward about that” or “In the wilds” or “You’ll see.”
Thus leading them to have a meeting in the little café after school, glaring at their now empty bowl of dessert. They weren’t getting any answers out of her. They had expected Ward and Radansha to be all buddy-buddy now that they have met, but that was not so. Zuni, being more observant than Mariko, noticed that Ward only approached Radansha if she was alone. They began to strategically leave her one break or another during the day but staying within earshot. Sure enough, Ward would eventually wander over to the bench where Rad habitually ate and read at. They would sit almost knee to knee which caused quite a few people to turn green!
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Paolo went to Ward’s dwelling in the late morning, and was surprised by how large it was. Due to residential laws in 3R, no matter what the economic status of the family or individual, the dwellings were all of a similar construct. The wealthier had a few extra rooms, the singles or unmarried had smaller dwellings. However it appeared that the Alexanders’ had an entire building! Ward had answered the door and had invited him in while he told his parents he was leaving. It was a very curious dwelling; it looked more like a warehouse or shop than a place to eat and sleep. Ward saw his bewildered gaze and explained that in his dwelling/building, actually all the researchers lived here that worked out in the wilds. About six families and four singles lived here, each having a room somewhere, but more importantly they could store specimens and documents here. Since there were only ever a few researcher families or singles in 3R at anytime, it wasn’t any problem to share the building. Paolo had never heard of such a unique arrangement in Three Rivers or elsewhere, but it seemed to work!
By the time Ward had finished his explanation they had arrived at the Transport Center. Paolo asked for Ward’s computer, flipping open the screen and slipped in a disk. He handed it back to Ward.
“See this? This is a map of the city that you can access anywhere. I highlighted the transport routes you’ll most likely use. If you hover hand above any of the highlighted buildings, I wrote why you should visit there.”
Ward beamed at him. “Are going to visit some of these places?
“Yup! Lets go!”
Ward and Paolo had a blast cruising around town. Paolo did the responsible things first, like where school and clothing stuff was located. Then they cruised through the best parks and clubs to flirt with girls (teenage boys have certain priorities). After several hours they sat in one the organized little parks munching on some famous 3R pear-apple candy.
Ward was comparing the trim, neat paths and flower gardens around them to the untamed wilds when a strange cry was heard above them. Paolo looked up only to instinctively throw himself off the bench into a bush. He spat out a leaf and looked around to see what had been falling out of the sky at them.
It was a wild crawn bird, raptor eyes glittering at him from his perch on Ward’s arm….Wait, what?! “Huh?” He said intelligently.
“Meet Bree! That’s a good girl.” He cooed at the large bird, using the back of his fingers to stroke her breast feather. “Bree” seemed to look at Paolo like she was sizing up her next meal, her long, whip like tail twitching slightly. Her skin and feathers looked so dull and black that she seemed to be her own small black hole in the park; a spot where all the color was sucked away. “Crawn birds aren’t really birds exactly,” Ward continued. “They seem to be part reptile and part mammal. They fly their three foot wing-span, have four legs, give live births, omnivorous, use their lizard-like tail for balance and show emotions like an Earthian feline…They’re just weird critters. I rescued this one where it had fallen out of its cliff cave and had wandered around. It is nearly impossible to find where these things nest, so Da let me take care of it. She has made a nest on top of our dwelling where she stay at night and when I’m inside somewhere. She must have seen me leave and followed me.”
“Then why didn’t she, uh, visit us earlier?” Paolo sat back on the bench, trying to look cool and not mortified as he continued to pluck leaves from his hair and clothes.
Ward gestured with his free arm. “This is the first open space that we have really ventured into. All other roads and buildings had too many lamps or signs or people in the way for her to safely land. Plus they are pretty shy creatures. Well, unless they see someone they have been parted from for a while.”
“Oh.” What was he supposed to say to that? Ward was acting like a wild animal bombarding them in the middle of an urban park was normal. He watched with admiration and surprise as Ward stood to launch Bree into the air. She really was a beautiful, if weird looking creature. “Well, want to continue? There is an amazing row of shops over there where you get the best festival clothes…”
“Oh really?”
As Paolo drifted off to sleep hours later, he smiled as he thought about his new friend. They got along great and had a lot of similar interests. He smirked. And perhaps most importantly, they liked different kinds of girls. Yawning, his last fuzzy thought was that Ward hadn’t finished his story from the party.
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Classes were as usual the next day. Ward and Paolo had all the same classes except reading, where Ward sheepishly explained he was in a Level 3 class because out in the wilds he had always skipped his tutoring sessions. So he was still stuck with just the mouse and Zuni. He sighed as he walked into the room. There she was, reading, again, her eyes darting across the screen as she read. Zuni was staring at her again, too. After about two weeks he had broke down and asked her if she had some unrequited love for Radansha. Zuni was flustered, but laughed it off. She explained that she was trying design a perfect wardrobe for her drab (not exactly her words, but that’s how Paolo interpreted them) friend. She admitted that she wanted to be a clothing designer in Metropolis after graduating the Occupational Educational.
Paolo grimaced as he sat down behind his now ex-project partner. He really did owe her an apology or a thank you for her hard work, especially since she had been sick. He started to clear his throat when the instructor walked in. Oh, well, I guess I’ll have to wait until after class, he thought as he stood up.
However he missed his chance when he blinked. He would swear to Zuni later that is what happened. Class was over, so he quickly stuffed his papers into his shoulder bag to he could talk to Radansha before she left for her art class. But when he looked down to her seat she had already left!
“Zuni? Where did Radansha go?”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Oh, she said something about meeting Mariko before art class.” She tilted her head to the side, beads clicking softly together. “Why?”
“Oh, ah,” he his weight from one foot to the other. “Nothing. I just wanted to talk to her about last week’s report, is all.”
She gave a knowing “hm” before leaving the classroom. What was that about?!
Zuni chortled to herself as she slipped out of the classroom. It was just like one of those romance stories she read secretly on her LAR! Boy meets girl, they don’t get along and fight all the time, then they slowly fall in love, resisting and denying all the way. She sighed dramatically, earning her some strange looks in the hallway. She was oblivious as she walked, already arranging their wedding clothes, her beads making a soft staccato melody as she passed by.
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Mariko burst into the café with her usual lack of finesse and bounded over to Zuni’s table. Immediately the stuck their heads together as Zuni pushed over her bowl of dessert to share.
“So what do you think?” Zuni asked.
“I dunno! I was so shocked! She, like, was a completely different person around Ward!” Mariko said breathlessly. Zuni grabbed the second spoon and they both nibbled their spoons in thought. It had been an exciting week in the rumor mill.
First, there was the new student, who was completely handsome and charming. So of course he was good friends with Paolo already. They had made a dazzling pair as they walked through the halls together. Their natural beauty was envied by many, but coupled with their pleasant personalities they won the admiration of everyone in the school. Males and females gazed after them as they walked by. Zuni claimed she saw several teachers blush when they saw the pair!
Mariko had only seen them by accident when she visited the bathroom later in the morning. Radansha and Mariko had been frantically doing their homework before their classes. Radansha because she had been sick, Mariko because she had played nursemaid for her but also because Radansha hadn’t nagged her like she usually did. So they had been cooped up in their classrooms scribbling away rather than chattering the hallways like normal. Well, that was what Mariko usually did anyways.
As if that wasn’t interesting enough news to pass around, then Ward’s pet certainly was! Zuni and Mariko had been gushing about the new hot guy to Radansha in the courtyard like the other students on break. The buzz of conversation instantly ceased when Paolo and Ward had walked near by, then grew in volume. Mariko had grabbed Rad by the shoulder to bodily point her in the right direction. They both had been watching her since she hadn’t seemed to react to any of the other boys in school other than Paolo, and that was dislike rather than interest. Wasn’t it they’re job as her friends to set her up? Well, first they had to figure out what kind of guy she liked.
Radansha’s eyes had grown twice their size and she was about to say something when an animalistic scream was heard. Everyone hushed and looked up. Someone would later wonder why Paolo was seen diving behind a waste can. A black streak was hurtling down towards the courtyard at alarming speeds! Students squealed and scrambled out of the sunken courtyard. Mariko, still holding Radansha’s shoulders tried to pull her along, but fell backwards when her roommate had forcibly resisted budging. Mariko was already yelling at her to move when Rad raised her arm above her head. The black streak suddenly grew much larger as wings snapped out to halt its dive. It landed delicately on Radansha arm with a light flip of its wings to settle them. Zuni looked up from her crouched position behind a bench. The…thing had begun to purr and crawl up her friend’s arm until it was resting with its front legs on her collar bone and shoulder and the hind legs clinging near her elbow. It rubbed its bird-like head all over Radansha’s laughing face in obvious affection. The whip-like tail was held up high to help with balance, but wagged slightly with happy emotions.
Students peeked out from behind pillars and bushes, doors and windows at the delighted girl. Radansha dodged Bree’s happy nuzzling long enough to make eye contact with Ward across the courtyard. Ignoring her prone friends, she walked towards him taking advantage of the cleared center. Students watching with smoldering curiosity as the smiling new boy and the shiest girl in school hugged and kissed each other on the cheek. During the hug, Bree crawled from Radansha’s small shoulders to Ward’s sturdier ones. Paolo, Mariko and Zuni were the only ones brave enough to approach them. Paolo, because he was too embarrassed at himself to stay away any more, and Zuni and Mariko (holding hands for support) went closer because their curiosity was slightly bigger than their fear of the strange animal.
They all convened in the center in time to hear the two softly talking, standing close to each other.
“So you finally came back! I was wondering if you would make it in time for the summer festival!”
Ward lightly punched her in the arm. “I said I would, didn’t I? I still remember what happened last time I broke a promise to you!” He shuddered dramatically. “Never again!”
Radansha laughed and curled her fingers into Bree’s neck feathers when it stretched down towards her. The crawn bird gave its distinctive deep purr and leaned into the scratch. They all watched Bree as her eyes slowly closed in bliss. However, she continued to lean into the rub until her front legs were precariously clinging to Ward’s shirt over his pectorals and her hind legs latched onto his shoulders. When it started to look too risky Ward carefully supported her while detaching her claws. That done, he smoothly settled her in Radansha’s free arm without interrupting them. Radansha had adjusted her arms and body in an obviously well rehearsed motion to keep Bree happy. This was not lost on those watching around the courtyard.
Mariko was almost vibrating with curiosity. Still standing close to Zuni, she asked softly, “Rad? What is that?”
“Oh!” She looked up Bree startled. It was like they had been in their own little bubble and forgotten the rest of the school. She continued in a normal tone, “Bree a crawn bird, Mariko. Ward rescued her a few years ago. She’s from the wilds of Gahne.”
Ward smiled modestly. “You should take some credit, too, Radansha. She wouldn’t have survived without all your research.” He looked at the girls and held out his hand. “My name is Ward. Are you friends of Radansha?”
“Ah, yes we are.” Mariko said in a whisper, still nervous around her first “wild” encounter. “My name is Mariko. Rad is living with my family. This is Zuni. She’s in your level.” Zuni appeared mute in presence of beasts and beautiful men. Mariko made a mental note to tease her about it later.
“I thought I recognized you.” He glanced over at Paolo on his other side. “Oh, you decided to join us, hm?” There was a definite smirk in that sentence.
Apparently it was a private joke because Paolo blushed like crazy but continued to glare at Bree half-asleep in Radansha’s arms. “Shut it.” He grunted, stuffing his hands into his pockets. Whatever Ward might have said was interrupted by several instructors hurrying towards them. The small group was startled to see they were surrounded on all along the courtyard by other students staring down at them.
“Ward, what should we do with Bree? They won’t like her at all.”
He looked unsure. Bree answered the problem she had made by suddenly wiggling out Radansha’s arms and climbed up to her shoulder to peer at the instructors. They paused, startled, several meters away. Bree, having an innate sense of the dramatics it seemed, posed, then launched herself from Rad’s shoulder. While everyone stared into the sky as Bree laboriously gained altitude, Ward was helping settle Radansha’s hair. It was very mused from Bree’s greeting and then buffeted when she took off. Zuni and Mariko stared with delight and shock. It wasn’t that personal touches weren’t socially acceptable, but you always asked permission before hugging or something. Only family or good friends touched each other often, in any sort of way. (Unless you were Mariko, who gets away with this breach in manners because she is so cute) And here was the new hot boy, affectionately tucking hair back into her braids, smoothing it out of her face! Paolo was staring, but he wasn’t as sure about what he was feeling. Shock, yes, because mouse knew Ward and Bree. But he didn’t have time to sort out the other emotions that came out when he watched Radansha laugh (with Ward), kiss and hug (Ward), lean into (Ward’s) hand as he fixed her hair before the instructors came.
Ward and Radansha turned as a unit to face down the faculty. The other three listened in admiration and the two from the wilds soothed irate instructors and calmly explain that Ward’s “pet bird” would not “visit” at school anymore. They employed all their powers well, Radansha looking innocent and earnest, Ward charming and modestly embarrassed. They were lectured about pets on school property until the bell range. AS soon as the instructors had walked around the corner, Rad and Ward gave each other a high five. The group broke up to go to their classes.
Ward turned back just as he reached the door, “Hey, Radansha?” She turned around with a raised eyebrow.
He grinned evilly. “You didn’t ask. “
Paolo thought she looked prim in all her mousey glory. “No, I didn’t.” There seemed to be a question in her tone that puzzled the people listening in.
Ward’s eyes just crinkled as his smile grew knowingly. “The Annual Summer Festival. Your “gifts” will arrive in time.”
Radansha had simply turned on her heel and went through the door her classroom, Ward’s laughter following her in.
Zuni and Mariko had pestered her mercilessly all week trying to find more information about Ward, Bree and what was coming before the festival? But all her answers were, “You have to ask Ward about that” or “In the wilds” or “You’ll see.”
Thus leading them to have a meeting in the little café after school, glaring at their now empty bowl of dessert. They weren’t getting any answers out of her. They had expected Ward and Radansha to be all buddy-buddy now that they have met, but that was not so. Zuni, being more observant than Mariko, noticed that Ward only approached Radansha if she was alone. They began to strategically leave her one break or another during the day but staying within earshot. Sure enough, Ward would eventually wander over to the bench where Rad habitually ate and read at. They would sit almost knee to knee which caused quite a few people to turn green!