tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58154757933238524682024-02-08T08:22:26.269-08:00Black FeatherA story blog....Tsukiko Zetsumeihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926250458445567953noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5815475793323852468.post-47271495611994982652011-10-31T00:49:00.000-07:002011-10-31T00:49:25.461-07:00Chapter 3<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><u><br />
</u></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">It wasn't three days later that another letter turned up on the doorstep of Adwen's Children Home. It was a cold Saturday morning and Dove had gone out early to stretch and walk a bit so she was the first to spot it. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Picking it up, she looked round in amazement. The gates were still locked since Matron wasn't up yet. It wasn't there the night before when matron locked up because Mr Ashworth had sent her and Hazel a huge pack of sparklers so they had shared it with the excitable younger ones. They had played on even after matron lock the gates. Who could have sent the letter? And why not put it in the letter box? </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The sun was still rising and Dove went round to the back and sat on the old swing. She looked at the letter and saw her name written in the same beautiful handwriting in front and at the back was the same insignia pressed into the red seal. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Breaking the seal, she opened it and pulled out the letter.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Dearest Dove,</div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 44.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I hope that you are well. I am glad you are unharmed after the incident at your school kitchen's garden. Pray, be careful. Your parents would never forgive me if any harm were to befall on you. I see that you keep yourself busy. Believe me, your parents would be proud of the hardworking young lady you have become. </div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I also see you have begun to wear my gift in your hair. It suits you. Whenever I look at you, I somehow feel as though I am looking at your mother. You look so much like her when she was your age. </div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 44.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: right;">Corax</div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 44.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">Dove swung back and forth gently. She should feel disturbed. This person was possibly stalking her. But instead she felt at peace. She couldn't help but feel taken by how he said she resembled her mother and how proud her parents would be of her.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Would they really? </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She looked inside the envelope and again found another feather. The same kind as the first and second. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Who was this person? And why wouldn't he just come up and talk to her? </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>At breakfast, Hazel bounded over to her table and began to gobble her food quickly. Dove looked at her with surprise; that was hardly typical Hazel behaviour. Even when she was starving, she never stuffed herself in that manner. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hazel caught her looking, "I'm late. I have to head to school to help with the drama club," she said, thickly through a mouth stuffed with bacon and toast. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Ah…" Dove said, nodding but still looking shocked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Right- gotta go- see you later!" she cried five minutes later and dashed out of the room.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove ate slowly and went to help with the clean up since it was her group's turn. When they were done, she went up and got her small backpack before heading out to go round town on her own. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As it turned out, it wasn't a very good idea. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The halloween decorations were out on full force. Finally, she found a book store, that mercifully, was not all decked out. She went in and wondered if she could spend the whole day there. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The moment she started looking at books however, a very surprised voice called out, "Dove?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She looked round and saw Zeph with a couple of books under his arm. "Zeph! What are you doing here?" she asked. He lifted the books he was carrying, "Getting books?" he answered. She wanted to hit her head against the wall for asking a stupid question. Of course he was getting books. What else? Fishing equipment? </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"My uncle ordered these two so I came to pick it up for him," he explained further, "How about you?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"This is the only place not already decked out in halloween stuff." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You really hate this holiday, don't you?" he asked and she shrugged in reply. He hesitated for a moment, "Do you want to come over to my house and hang out then?" he asked. Dove looked at him, "Your mom or your dad won't mind then?" she asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Nah. I live with my uncle. The moment my parents separated, they left town," he said in his usual cheery way. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Oh… I'm sorry." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"It's okay. C'mon. We can call for take-out. My treat." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove considered the offer. She had nothing to do the whole day. It was either going to his house or going back to or going back to the orphanage and having Jasmine give another go at trying to remove her scalp. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Sure," she said at last. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was easier to ignore the halloween decorations when talking to someone. "Your uncle won't mind me coming over?" she asked Zeph. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"He's fine with it. It's not actually his house. It's my place but my parents asked him to move in since they didn't want me to live alone," he explained. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Parents don't trust you, huh?" Dove asked bluntly. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Nope," he answered promptly with the same easy grace, "Oh look- it's that raven again. It's been hanging around this part of town for ages. I wonder if its lost." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"He," Dove corrected. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"He."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She looked at the large bird perched on a fence, glaring at a plastic jack-o-lantern that was grinning at it. For some reason, she couldn't help but giggle at the sight of it. The bird looked as though it had been insulted by the lantern. Even Zeph noticed this and grinned. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>At once, the raven looked at them and gave a low croak that it often gave whenever Dove spotted it in school and it, in turn, noticed her. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Vince says that crows and ravens actually have a pretty complex language," Zeph said as they watched the raven even after passing it. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Really?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah- but he said their language seems to differ from place to place." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You mean like us speaking french and english and german and stuff like that?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah- I guess so." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They made it to Zeph's house and Dove halted at the gate, "Woah- this is your house?" she asked. It was just as big as Adwen's and a hundred times better. Its walls were white with a beautiful garden. The pathway was made of stone slabs and there was even a fountain between the gate and the house door. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Like it?" Zeph asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"It's amazing- what kind of creepers are those?" she asked, pointing at the arch in front of them. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Um- I'm not sure. You have to ask the gardener. Come on," he said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove followed him, turning round and round as she walked. The garden was magnificent. She had only seen gardens like those in books and magazines. Inside the house was even more amazing. The floor and stairway were all made of white marble with expensive looking furniture and fresh flowers filled the vases and bowls. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hang on- my uncle should be in his study. C'mon. I need to pass these to him," Zeph said. She followed him up the stairs, feeling the smooth cool surface of the banister. There was even a maid in a beige uniform cleaning in the hallway, "You have freakin' maids?" she asked, in her awe she had completely forgotten the manners the nuns had taught her. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph laughed, "Yeah- you don't think two guys are gonna have a house this clean are you? We have ten maids just to keep the place running and a chef. But he's off today, that's why I said we could call for take out," he said. Dove trotted after him to a room further down the first floor corridor. Zeph knocked on the door, "Uncle Heath? I got the books you wanted," he said and opened the door. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph's uncle was at the desk buried in books. He looked up when they entered and smiled. He was good looking enough and shared Zeph's hazel eyes. He was young looking but already had grey hair that had probably started out neat but was looking a bit tousled at the moment. "Ah- Zephy- yes- thanks. Oh- and who is this?" he said, spotting Dove. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"This is Dove. She's new in our school." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hello, Dove. If it's just the two of you, Zeph, stay in the sitting room. I don't want you bringing her to your bedroom," Heath said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Oh God, why doesn't anyone <i>trust</i> me?" he demanded and Dove laughed. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She looked at the books on the table and noticed something very strange. "Occult?" she asked, picking one up. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah- Uncle Heath's a bit of a nutter." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Heath glared at him, "I'm a <i>researcher</i>," he corrected, "I study witchcraft, vampirism, lycanthropy- trying to find the fact behind the fiction," he explained. Dove looked through the books and picked one up because it had a pretty dark green cover made of leather. It was a good old fashion type of book and had a very musty smell on it. "What's this?" she asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"That, my dear, is a book on shapeshifters." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove blinked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Don't tell me you never heard of shape shifting now," he said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"The sisters in m old orphanage were strict. We weren't even allowed to watch cartoons about tiny things like vampires and ghosts," Dove explained, setting the book down. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Shapeshifters are like werewolves or lycans. They can shift between human form and animals," Heath explained. Zeph rolled his eyes, "Nutter stuff," he said, "C'mon, let's go watch tv," he said to Dove, "We're gonna order take out, Uncle. Want anything?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hm? Oh yes- maybe some pizza." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Right then." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They went down to the sitting room that had beautifully embroidered silk on the couches and day bed and a crystal chandelier high above them. There was no extra floor above so the ceiling stretched right to the top of the house. The windows were crystal clear and high with delicate and intricate patterns on them Zeph was on the phone as Dove looked at the fine china ornaments on the mantlepiece. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hey, Dove, want any particular toppings on your pizza?" he called. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Beef pepperoni and lots of olives," she replied. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Right then, that's another large pizza, pepperoni, olives, extra cheese…. yeah…. grape soda… right. Thanks," he said and hung up. He sat down on the couch and stretched, "So? What do you think?" he asked.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"It's amazing," she said, looking out at the gardens. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Thanks- I always thought it was a bit too feminine for two guys though. My mom was the one who furnished it when I was a kid and it hasn't changed a bit," he said looking up at the Swarovski crystal chandelier. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I think it's amazing, but I keep feeling like I'm about to break something," she said, sitting the other couch, facing him and the windows to the garden.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah, well, I guess this place has never been too child friendly. Back when I was a kid, mom made this place up so she could socialise with her corporate buddies," he explained, before changing the subject entirely, "You wanna watch anything?" he asked, "I got dozens of dvd's." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove hesitated, "I never really watched t.v…" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You don't have one at the orphanage?" he asked in surprise.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah- but usually the others all want to watch their own shows so I never really…" she trailed off, "And we only have one old television set." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph looked appalled. "Well… how about a video game?" he asked, "Did you ever play before?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Nope." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You had a deprived childhood didn't you?" he said and Dove laughed. "It wasn't that bad," she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"By the way, why aren't you with Hazel today?" Zeph asked as a maid brought Dove a glass of lemonade. She looked startled by this and accepted it, looking a little flustered, "She has some drama club thing today," she explained. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Oh yeah… I forgot." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"How did you know?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Student council, remember? I'm assisting the person in charge of all the club and society affairs. They sent in a request to use the main hall for today," he explained. He suddenly looked awkward and hesitant, "Um… Dove- you know- I've been wondering for a while now but… I mean- when they sent in your membership in the gardening club- you didn't have a last name. The head of student affairs said not to mind it… but… I mean…" he trailed off. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove plucked at the pendant at her neck, understanding what he was trying to say. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She hesitated herself. But Zeph was the good sort. She knew that. Like Hazel, he was known for being tactful and understanding and knowing to keep his mouth shut on things other people told him. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You won't tell anyone right?" she asked.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Cross my heart," he replied. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I don't have a last name because…" she stopped for a moment and drew up her knees. Zeph didn't pester her but waited, "I don't know who my parents are," she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Why? Did they drop you on the orphanage doorstep…" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"No… nothing like that. They found me at the other end of the town," she admitted at last, plucking on the material of her faded jeans, "I was alone and there was blood… There was blood everywhere…. The witnesses said they had seen me with my parents earlier in the evening… The blood was too much to be mine… and I was alone… So they figured my parents were dead. I couldn't remember anything from before waking up then…" her voice broke but she continued talking, "The doctors said it was because of some kind of trauma. Like my brain didn't want to remember anything. Something about repressed memories." She stopped again, her face screwed up from trying to fight back tears, "Dove isn't even my name. The sisters just called me that because of the pendant I was found wearing. They didn't give me a last name because they said I might remember it myself one day. But I can't. Ten stupid years and <i>nothing</i>." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph frowned, "I think I remember something like that…" he said, "It was in the news…. I remember cause my parents were talking about it…" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"They thought if they put it in the news maybe my family would come looking for me," Dove explained, thickly. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"And the night you were found… It was halloween… right?" he asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She nodded. "Now each time halloween comes round, every time I see those things, it messes up my head," she explained. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You get flashbacks?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"If they are flashbacks- they're pretty crappy ones." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph crossed the room and to sit next to her and slung an arm round her shoulders. He gave her a light squeeze, "Hey- it's okay. Things will turn out okay- they always do," he said, gently. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove laughed a little, "You sound like Mother Evangeline. She always says the same thing." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"What can I say? Great minds think alike." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She laughed again and he gave her another, comforting, tight squeeze. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There was a hard knock on the window making both of them look up in surprise but there was no one there. Zeph got to his feet and went to look, thinking it might have been some kid throwing stones at people's houses. But there was no one there. The streets were empty. The gardener wasn't around since he took the day off. The house cat was usually asleep this time of the day and his dog was busy nursing her new litter of pups in the store at the back of the house so it couldn't have been her either. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He frowned; that was odd. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Who was that?" Dove asked, wiping her eyes with her sleeves. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph shook his head and sat down on the couch opposite her once more, "No one's there." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Maybe it was the wind." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Maybe," Zeph said, but he didn't sound convinced. He had lived in that house all his life and never once had the wind knocked the windows so loudly. Dove caught his look and said half jokingly, "Your house isn't haunted is it?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"No- of course not… And Jellybean doesn't knock the windows either. Gumdrop isn't big enough to knock that hard…" he trailed off. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After awhile he noticed Dove's raised eyebrows. "Oh- um- Jellybean's my dog and Gumdrop was a kitten she brought home one day so we kept him," he explained. Dove nodded but still looked at him funny. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I was ten, okay," he said, "Jellybeans and gumdrops happened to be my favourite types of candy." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Okay…" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove stayed at Zeph's place till about five. As she was leaving, he offered to walk her back. "Straight to Dove's house," Heath warned and Zeph scowled, "Really… you'd think they'd learn to trust me a bit. But no- ever since I became a teenager, they refuse to let even be alone in the same room with a girl," he grumbled as they left the house. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove patted his back but was laughing. As they passed the pizza place, they found the raven. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was just landing onto a bald tree where it perched and glared at the decorations that had been hung up in it; ghost sheets with black eyes. It cawed experimentally at it and when got no reply, hopped along the branch, cawing repeatedly as though taunting the sheet. Suddenly, the wind blew making the sheet move. The raven panicked and promptly fell out of the tree. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove couldn't help laughing. Even Zeph had seen what had happened and laughed. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The raven heard them and perched on the fence, preening itself and looking nonchalant as though trying to regain its dignity. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As they drew closer, it didn't take off. Instead it let out a low croak and cocked its head from side to side, looking at them. "Hey, pretty bird," Dove said to it and it gave another harsh call before flying back to the tree to insult the sheet again. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I'll never get tired of watching him," Dove said, looking over her shoulder at the bird still in the tree. It had realised that the sheet was merely tied to the tree and was working to remove the knot, "Whoever put that up there isn't going to be happy with him though," she added. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"But if you get him to sit still for a bit on your doorstep, you end up with a really awesome looking halloween decoration," Zeph pointed out, making Dove laugh again, "By the way, I mean- if you get bad vibes from this whole Halloween thing, is your orphanage going to put up decorations and stuff?" he asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"They are," Dove said with a sigh, "But only in the sitting room and gardens. Mr Ashworth has given me time off from school because the therapist told him about my whole condition." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"So what are you going to do?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"What I always do," she murmured, "Hide in my dorm until everything is over. Matron gave me a spare room to sit in," she explained, "That way I won't see anyone when they're all dressed up in their costumes." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You can't even stand seeing costumes?" Zeph asked with a frown.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I'm fine with the kinds like Jasmine has. She's going dressed as a ladybug this year. She looks adorable when she's not trying to pull my hair out. Anyway- it's just the creepy ones that give me bad vibes," she said, sounding tired. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Didn't the therapist try to help get rid of it?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"They tried. But I mean- they can't even work out why I react like this. They said when I get over my trauma, it might just go away by itself. But we don't know <i>anything</i> that's causing any of this."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They stopped outside the iron fence of Adwen's Home for Children. Zeph looked up at the building; it was well taken care of but looked like a grim place to live in and grow up. "DOVEY!" cried a shrill, little voice. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Oh no, not again," Dove muttered and was jumped on by Jasmine who started pulling at her braid again, "Ow! Um- ow- Zeph, this is Jasmin- ouch!" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph looked bemused. "Um.. hi?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Ow ow ow! Jasmine! Stop it- OW! Get her off me!" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph plucked Jasmine off Dove which turned out to be a bad idea. She was a quiet for a moment when he carried her but then stuck her fingers high up his nose. "OW!" he yelled, wincing as he quickly held her at arms length where she giggled happily. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You okay?" Dove asked, half laughing. She rubbed the top of her head where a few strands of hair had detached themselves from her head. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph's face was still screwed up and his eyes were watering a bit, "You know," he said, "In ancient Egypt, when preparing a body to be mummified, they used to take a hook and slowly pull the brains out bit by bit through the nose," he told her, "I think this kid just tried to reenact that." Dove took charge of Jasmine and giving her a gentle scolding, "You do <i>not</i> go around, sticking your little sticky hands and shoving them up people's noses. And you don't pull people's hair either. It's bad," she told the little girl who was still giggling in delight. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"It's like talking to a very excitable wall," Dove sighed and set her down so she could run off, "Anyway- thanks for lunch and letting me hang out at your place." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph smiled, "No problem. Come around any time you like. Bring Hazel too, if you like." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This time Dove smiled, "Thanks. She'd love to drop by too," she said.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"So- um- I'll see you Monday?" he asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah, bye." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He walked back to his house and just before he was out of sight, he turned round one last time to wave to her. She waved back before getting dragged into the building to play dolls by Jasmine. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hazel wasn't back yet. For some reason, Dove couldn't wait to tell her about how she had spent the day. </div>Tsukiko Zetsumeihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926250458445567953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5815475793323852468.post-60746602249772435752011-10-18T18:35:00.000-07:002011-10-18T18:36:07.346-07:00Chapter 2<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">"I'm going to be late!!" Dove cried, trying to get the three year old, Jasmine, off her back. Jasmine just shrieked with laugher, clinging onto her. "Hazel!! Help!!' </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"In a second!" Hazel called from their dorm, still putting on her shoes. At last Hazel appeared and plucked Jasmine off her before setting her on a passing boy. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"> She clung on and started pulling his hair, "ARGH! Someone! Get Jasmine off me!!" he cried. Hazel grabbed Dove's arm, "Okay, hurry- let's go!" she said and they dashed out of the building. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When they were half way to school, they slowed their run to a walk, "Hey- what's with the feather in your hair?" she asked suddenly. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hm? Oh- I found it during gardening yesterday. Cute right?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I guess so… But it's a little… I dunno- tribal?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"What?" Dove asked, laughing. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I'm serious- I've never seen anyone put feathers in their hair. It kinda reminds me of those Native American headdresses." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Okay- I won't wear that," Dove said, "Well- not to school anyway. I might wear it in the bathroom. With the door locked. When no one is in the orphanage." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This time Hazel laughed. Dove touched the feather in her hair and smiled. The morning air was cool and crisp. The clouds overhead promised that the day wouldn't be too hot which was good since the genius who arranged their class time table put P.E. in the late morning when the sun would be scorching and the gym was under repair so they had to be on the field. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As they drew closer to school, Hazel nudged Dove and nodded. She looked and saw Zeph walking up the steps with his friends, laughing over something. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
Hazel heaved a sigh, "He's one of those clean cut, good guys," she said, "The kind you expect to play a hero in a movie. The brave, chivalrous knight, coming to the rescue. Doing anything to save the princess. Or even, the girl's best friend who's hopelessly in love with her but she runs off with the jerk and he's always by her side, broken hearted…" she heaved another sigh. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You really are a hopeless romantic, aren't you?" Dove asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"What's wrong with being a romantic?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Nothing… nothing at all," Dove replied. Some of Hazel's new friends came to talk to them. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove didn't speak much, but she listened. Most of the girls were like Hazel, with their heads in the clouds. A couple were so high up there, they made Hazel seem like a sensible, grounded person. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"So- you two are coming for the halloween party right? It'll be amazing. We can't have it in the gym, so we're having it in the main garden. There's a huge prize for best dressed, and I got a glimpse of the decorations they're going to put up. It's so realistic," said one girl. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"There are going to be dozens of scary games too," said another girl. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I can't," Dove was first to say. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Why not?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hazel came to the rescue, "She promised some of the younger ones she'd go trick or treat with them," she said and Dove nodded. That wasn't the truth at all, but it was better then telling them. It would only lead to more questions she would be uncomfortable answering. She clutched her pendant. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hey, Dove." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove jolted out of her thoughts and saw Zeph had broken away from his group of friends. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hi," she said, still feeling a little dazed. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He gave a small wave to Hazel who was still chattering with the others. She waved back and the group went on their way; not without Hazel giving Dove a meaningful look. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove rolled her eyes in return and she grinned. "What's with the feather?" Zeph asked as they set off for class. "I found it yesterday," she said, "Aren't you with your friends?" she wanted to know. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He shrugged his broad shoulders, "They went to talk to one of the teachers about one of our assignments." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Which one?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"The history essay. They said they could handle it. I'm thinking about starting on it tonight. How about you?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hazel and I finished it last night." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"<i>Seriously</i>?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah- it was the only way I could think of delaying the start of my maths work," she said, heaving her backpack more securely on her back. Zeph screwed up his nose, "And for that you thought you might as well finish a thousand word essay on the Mayan civilisation?" he asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Perhaps you haven't fully comprehended just how much I hate maths." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I find it kinda fun actually." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove stopped and stared at him, "Oh, you and Hazel will get along so well," she said and started walking again. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Nice to know… What's with the feather?" he asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I found it yesterday, i thought I would wear it," she said. Zeph looked at it, "It's a little strange… but it suits you." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Are you saying I'm weird?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Wh- No! I mean- it looks good on you. It'd look weird on other people. What kind of feather is it anyway?" he asked to change the subject. Dove touched it again, "I dunno. I think it might be a crow's," she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph looked at it, "No- can't be. It's too big," he said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"A really big crow?" she suggested. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>He grinned, "Who knows? Maybe." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"By the way," he said suddenly as they passed a poster, "You coming for the halloween event?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Can't- I promised the kids I'd go trick or treating with them," she replied. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"C'mon- it'll be fun. You could go trick or treat then swing by later. It's on till midnight. I'm sure the kids aren't going to be out till that late." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Damn. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove fingered her pendant, trying to think up something, "I <i>really</i> shouldn't go…" she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"C'mon- it's fun. Didn't you ever have a halloween party before?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Well- the sisters didn't really approve of halloween and celebrating on it. We had once during a little charity event but- I didn't really like it," she said. Zeph frowned, "Why not?" he asked and she purposely misunderstood. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"It was just one of those things. They can be really strict-" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"No- I mean- why didn't you enjoy yourself?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove couldn't see any way out except too blatantly pull out of the conversation. "I have to go to the bathroom before class starts. Why don't you go ahead first," she said and before he could answer, she popped into the girl's toilet they had been passing. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Inside, she leaned against the wall with a sigh of relief; she'll give him five minutes for him to be far enough and hopefully he would be sensitive enough to know she didn't want to pursue the subject later. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She shut her eyes- oh how she hated this time of year. She always made sure not to leave after dark. She hated the decorations, the haunted houses, the costume parties. The night itself was the worse. Dove rubbed her forehead and checked her watch. Yeah- that should be long enough, she decided and left the bathroom. As she cut through one of the courtyard, a harsh cry made her stop. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Looking up she saw a large, black bird perched on the edge of a roof, watching her and cocking its head from left to right.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"That's one big crow…" she muttered. She realized she had stopped just to look at the bird. It gave another rattling cry and lifted one wing to preen. The feathers caught the morning sun and she could see purple, green and blue tints in the glossy black feathers. It dropped the wing and puffed out its chest feathers to preen them. The edges of the feathers were jagged, not at all smooth. It lifted the other wing and she saw the colours again.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This time, Dove pulled the feather from her hair and lifted it up to compare.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Even from the distance, she could see the resemblance. So whoever Corax was, she or he had sent her a feather of this kind of bird. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Placing the feather back in her hair, Dove pulled herself away and ran to class.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">"Woah, that's a big crow," Zeph said at P.E. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove looked round at him. She was waiting for her turn at the hurdles and was watching the crow that was perched railings. "That isn't a crow," said Vincent, one of Zeph's friends. She looked at him curiously and Zeph explained, "Vince is head of the animal science society." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Ah… so what is it?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Vincent frowned, "If I'm not mistaken, it's a raven. But what on earth is it doing here?" he wondered. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"What's wrong with it being here?" Zeph asked, propping his elbow on his shoulder to lean on him. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"> Vincent was still frowning, watching the bird preen, "Ravens aren't like crows. They like being on their own and usually away from humans," he said and the bird gave a deep, rattling call and took off, soaring over them into a tree on the other end of the field, "See the colours in the light? Crows don't have that. And crow feathers aren't so glossy either. See the shape of the tail too? Crows are rounded and this one is sharp. Even the feather you're wearing is a raven feather." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"So the big crow is a raven?" Dove asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah. People tend to mistake ravens as really big crows. Don't worry, it's a common mistake." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove raised an eyebrow at his condescending tone. Mr-know-it-all? she wondered as she watched the others jump hurdles. "Alright- Miss Dove, Miss Hameldon," called the teacher, "Have you ever done hurdles before?" he asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Nope," Hazel and Dove answered at once. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Right- it's simple," the teacher said, "When you get to the hurdle; don't slow down to jump. The hurdles are set pretty low today. Your last step before the hurdle should be your less dominant leg. You want your non dominant leg to be a little outside the middle of the hurdle and your dominant leg to be in the centre. When you're jumping, bend your body at the waist and lean straight down towards your dominant leg. Got it?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hazel and Dove exchanged looks before looking at the teacher once more, "No," they said in unison. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Just go try it out."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They went to the mark with some of the other girls, "Fly like a dove," Hazel told her. Dove glared at her as she grinned. It was an old joke. "With a broken wing," she retorted. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"On your mark!" the teacher yelled and they went, "Set," he paused for a brief moment before his voice went up like a gunshot, "GO!"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove pushed herself forward. In her mind, visions of her ankle or leg hitting the hurdles played in her mind. What if she didn't jump high enough? What if she didn't and right and fell flat on her face? Either way, she would make a complete fool of herself. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As the first hurdle came, she found herself thinking, "Oh please. Oh please. Oh please," though not entirely sure what she was pleading for at that moment. She jumped and made it over the first hurdle as did Hazel. Slightly more encouraged by her success, she kept a good pace. She managed the second one easily. Then the third. Then the fourth. But during the fifth, as she leaped over it, Hazel next to her didn't succeed. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Her ankle got caught on the bar as she fell crashing onto the ground and the hurdle hit her other leg. At once, Dove halted, "Haze- you okay?" she asked, pushing the hurdle back up and helping her up. "Ow- I think my ankle's a bit busted," Hazel said, lifting the injured foot off the ground so as to not put pressure on it. Her knees and her lower left arm were scraped and bleeding as well. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The teacher came over to check on Hazel, "It isn't that bad, but she should to go to the infirmary," he said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"And where is that, again?" Dove asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I'll take them," Zeph offered. The teacher looked at him and he hastened to explain, "I'm a student rep, I'm supposed to help the students," he said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Alright. Next group!" the teacher yelled to the boys who were to run. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Can you walk?" Zeph asked Hazel, kindly. She nodded but had an arm round Dove's neck for support. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The infirmary was near the field and gym, conveniently enough. It was nice, with four beds and curtains to go round them to give privacy. All the windows were open along the walls to let in the breeze. The curtains were white and flowed with the breeze. Each bed was exactly alike with clean white covers and pillows. The nurse, dressed in the same manner as the ir matron in the orphanage came bustling out in a very hurried manner. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Oh my- what happened?" she asked, seeing Hazel. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Accident on the field," Zeph replied. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Sit her down here," the nurse said, pointing to a bed. Hazel sat down and the nurse cleaned her cuts and scrapes before looking at the ankle. "It's not serious. I just need to put an ice pack on it. You need to rest it for a week at the least. Try not to run or jump or do anything strenuous," she advised. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yes, ma'am," Hazel said and the nurse went to get an ice pack. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Does it hurt?" Dove asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"A little. It only hurts if I move it," she replied. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The nurse returned with an ice pack and wrapped it round the swelling ankle.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"> "You'll be okay on your own?" Zeph asked, "We have to get back to class." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I'll be fine," Hazel smiled. The nurse straightened up, "She'll be back by lunch period," she said and went back to her office. "So I'll see you in the cafeteria?" Dove asked. Hazel nodded. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph raised a hand in farewell and the two of them left the infirmary. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove was playing with her pendant again, watching the floor and counting tiles. "You okay?" Zeph asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hm?- oh yeah- I'm fine," she answered with a smile. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Look- about earlier- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry," he said. She looked up at him and shook her head, "It's alright," she said, "I just shut down when talking about those kind of uncomfortable things," she explained. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Uncomfo-" he stopped and shut his eyes. He opened them with a sigh and made a motion of zipping his mouth. Dove grinned.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">At the cafeteria, they were serving curry and rice for their main course. As usual Dove added on a salad from the salad bar. She sat with Zeph and his friends, listening to them talking. Zeph was the sort to include everyone and anyone, so he would turn to Dove a lot and talk to her. After awhile, Hazel came hobbling into the cafeteria. "Hi," she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You okay?" Dove asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah- much," she replied. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Here, I'll help you get your lunch," said one of the guys at once. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I'll do it, just sit down, Hazel." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Shut up you two- I'll do it." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Soon there was a small tussle going on among Zeph's friends as Hazel went to join some of the girls at the next table. Zeph watched with mild interest, "Does this always happen?" he asked Dove. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"No idea. We were in a convent all this while; we hardly meet guys," she replied, drinking her packet of milk.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Ah. Of course." <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>In the end, Hazel's lunch was brought to her by five boys. She looked surprised but was smiling and blushing a little, "Thank you," she said. Dove watched and grinned, shaking her head. It was only their second day of school and she already had all the boys after her. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Jealous?" Zeph wanted to know. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Their table was now empty since the boys were all with Hazel. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Nah- I kinda expected it. Hazel's pretty and sweet to everyone. I'm not like that. I could never be," she said, spooning the rice and curry to her mouth. After chewing and swallowing, she asked, "What I want to know, is why aren't <i>you</i> over there, bringing her chocolate milk like everyone else?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph grinned, "Too much competition?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove raised an eyebrow and he shrugged. "So- uh- what's it like living in an orphanage?" he asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Well… it's okay. It's like having dozens of siblings. We fight over the bathroom and things like that. We don't fight over food because matron makes sure we each get a fair share. If she didn't do that, mealtimes would probably be like a war zone," she explained, "And speaking of matron, we're lucky she's nice enough. So are the other workers there. I've heard stories of evil nags taking care of other kids." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"How about the other kids?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove stirred her spoon in the curry, "The younger ones that come in are okay. They just seem a bit confused at first. So most of the time, the older ones who have the time sort of help look after them. There's this little girl called Jasmine who seemed to have decided to adopt me. I couldn't get her off me this morning at all," she added with a smile, "But the older ones… I mean- those who lost their families when they're old enough to realise it… Some need a little help so we have a volunteer therapist actually come in to talk to them sometimes. But there are some who just escaped and disappeared. Some stay and just be difficult," she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Were you old enough to realise what had happened?" Zeph asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"It didn't make a difference," Dove said and by her tone Zeph knew not to ask further. "What about Hazel?" he asked, glancing over to her. She was surrounded by the boys who were all trying to get her attention. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove poked a piece of chicken with her fork, "She was old enough to know but young enough to get over it. I remember she was so scared when she first arrived. I was there for a year already and still not settling down. We had a bed next to each other. She seemed to notice me after a couple of nights. And she helped me. That helped both of us recover," she said with a smile. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"And you've been friends ever since?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"By the way, I wanted to as-" he stopped, staring at the window behind her with a frown, "Hey- it's that crow- I mean raven- again," he said suddenly. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove looked round and saw, true enough, the raven was perched in a low branch that looked into the cafeteria. It was preening itself idly. After a moment, it seemed to realise they were staring and looked back at them, cocking its head left and right. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Maybe he's hungry," Dove said. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"How'd you know it's a he?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"No idea. Can the windows open?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah- just open the latch and push it." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove went to the window with a piece of meat from the curry. She pushed the window open and offered it. The raven didn't fly off but looked at her curiously. Then it fluttered to the window sill and took the meat before flying back to the tree. Clutching the meat with one claw, it tore pieces of it and swallowed. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shutting the window carefully, Dove returned to her table. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Are you sure it's a good idea to feed it-" Zeph asked.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Him." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Him," he corrected himself. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I dunno. Why not?" Dove asked and Zeph guessed correctly she was the type to feed anything. "Well- it might keep coming back here," he said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"So?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Well- Vince said, this isn't its natural habitat after all." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove shrugged. She looked over her shoulder at the raven once more before finishing her food. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>After lunch was activity period again. Hazel waved as she limped out with the help of her fan club. Dove waved in return. "Well- I have to go for the student council meeting," Zeph said as they left the cafeteria. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I have to go to the kitchen garden." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Why?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"The gardening society is working on the kitchen garden this entire week." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Right, I'll see you in class then," he said and hurried off for his meeting. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The kitchen was behind the cafeteria and the garden was all around its doorsteps. By the time Dove changed into an old shirt and jeans and gloves, some of the others were already there. "Hey Dove," Verity, a senior who had decided to take charge of the new member the day before said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hey- what are we doing today?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Well- we have to dig new patches over there but we'll let the guys do that. And weed the tomato patches. What can't be finished now, we'll have to deal with after school." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Okay," Dove said, going to the tomato plants to weed. She hummed to herself and a harsh call made her look up. In one of the apple trees, peeking out from the foliage, was the raven. She smiled to see it, trying to poke itself out of the leaves. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But Verity didn't look too pleased, "Great- a crow. I thought we already solved that problem," she complained. Dove looked at her, "It's a raven." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"It's a big crow," Verity replied and sighed, "If it starts stealing, we'll have to chase it off until we can build a scarecrow or something." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove looked at the big bird who was again preening itself, somehow she had a feeling it wasn't going to steal food. She quite liked it, actually. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>About half an hour passed when Dove got to her feet to stretch her stiff muscles in her legs. She was starting to get pins and needles in one foot. She stepped back but somehow stumbled and fell back. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There was a harsh, rattling shriek and something large hit her, making her fall onto her side instead. She saw a black streak shoot pass. "Dove! Are you okay?" Verity called as they rushed over. "I tripped and the bird hit me…" Dove said, trying to get back to her feet. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"And it's a good thing it did," Jaden said, helping her up, "If it hadn't, you would have fallen on that," he pointed behind her. She looked round and saw the metal rods they used to support the tomato plants. It was thin but strong and very stable. She probably could have impaled herself or at least had gotten seriously injured. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The thought of it made her insides tightened. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The raven was perched on the eaves of the kitchen, no longer preening but watching her. She looked back at it, clutching her pendant. It gave a low croaking sound that sounded almost quizzical in her ears just as Verity asked, "Are you okay?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I'm fine," Dove answered but not sure to who. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The raven spread its wings and took off flying round above them in a circle before landing back in the shady apple tree. The others went back to their work as Dove remained there, looking curious. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Had that been a coincidence? That the bird struck her just as she was about to get hurt? But why had it done such a thing in the first place? It wasn't to attack her. Could birds actually judge if a person was in danger or not? And if it had been on purpose, it must have been watching her the whole time in order to get there so quickly. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She shook her head; that was ridiculous, she told herself and knelt down again. She touched the feather in her hair and remembered the strange letter she had received the day before. For a moment, an odd thought crossed her mind but she shooed it away and called herself an idiot before continuing her weeding. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">"So- she told Grant that if he didn't buck up, they'd have to drop him as the Count in the play and take on his understudy instead. But Grant is kind of distracted at the moment. Some people are saying it's because his parents are in the middle of getting a divorce and it's all very stressful for him. But the teacher told him, she'll give him another shot," Hazel told Dove as they walked back to the Adwen. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Anyway- I think Grant is a good actor. I saw him act today. The kind of passion he has in his character…" she broke off with a sigh, "I swear, I almost fell in love with him. So- what about you? Anything happened at the gardening society?" she asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Oh, nothing much. Verity and John got into an argument over what place was better to plant the new seedlings. We did some weeding. Killed an invasion of snails. I was almost impaled. There are apples growing and we ate some-" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Wait- what?!"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>'Yeah- we're allowed to have a nibble. We even tasted some of the berries." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"No! You know that's not what I meant! You almost got <i>impaled</i>!? By what? By <i>who</i>!?" Hazel demanded. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove shrugged, "That. I'm fine. I tripped and almost fell back on one of the metal rods that we use to grow the tomatoes. Then that raven that was at school today flew down and hit my shoulder and made me fall on my side, on the pathway instead," she explained. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"So you're okay, right?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I'm fine… got a bruise where he hit me. But I'm fine," Dove said, showing the bruise still growing on her arm. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hazel heaved a sigh of relief and punched her good arm, "Don't scare me like that," she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Right- I'll keep that in mind," she said as they passed a house that was already all decked out in halloween decoration. Dove looked away from it. "Halloween is in two weeks time- do they have to start decorating <i>now</i>?" she asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hazel put an arm around her shoulder, "Don't worry about it," she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Easier said than done," Dove muttered, "Anyway-" she said, keeping her eyes on the ground ahead of her, "What are you going to wear for the halloween event?" she asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I dunno if I should go," Hazel said tucking her hands into her pockets, "I mean- you're not going." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove nudged her, "Just because I'm not going doesn't mean you shouldn't go and enjoy yourself. Go on. And you can come back and tell me what went down. Maybe sneak something for me to eat too. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You sure?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah- I'll be fine. So what are you planning to go as?" she asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"How about a vampire?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Overdone."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Okay… how about a witch?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You don't suit the whole witch image." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Fine- what do <i>you</i> suggest?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"No idea." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hazel gave her a light push in retaliation. They got to the orphanage building and Hazel heaved a sigh, looking up at the sky. It was a beautiful shade of crimson and pink. She was humming to herself and Dove stretched her fingers out in front of her. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Suddenly she spotted something black lying on the the doorstep of the building. She recognised it at once and rushed forward. Kneeling down she picked it up and Hazel spotted her and asked, "What's wrong?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove got up and casually tucked it into the front of her jacket, "Nothing, my shoelace came untied- that's all," she said, "Hurry up. It's your turn to bathe first today and you always take <i>forever</i>," she said. Hazel gave a huff and hurried indoors, "I do <i>not</i> take forever," she said and ran upstairs to take her bathing things before going to the bathroom to the bathroom that was for the older ones to use. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Their dorm was empty by the time Dove got there. She went to her bed and removed her coat before taking out what she had picked from the doorstep. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was another feather. She pulled the feather she wore in her hair out and compared the two. They were identical. Dove pursed her lips and hid the new feather in the shoebox under her bed with the letter from the day before. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She went down to look for matron and found her trying to pacify Jasmine. The little girl jumped on Dove the moment she saw her and stopped crying for once. "Ow…" Dove said as the girl hung onto her braid. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Um- matron- can I ask you something?" Dove asked, leaning her head back to lessen the tension that Jasmine had on her hair. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"What is it?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Uh- yesterday- ow- there was a weird looking letter for me? The one in that thick- ouch!- yellowing paper? Did you know who sent it?" she asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"No. But it wasn't in the post either. It was on the doorstep. Why?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Nothing- thanks," Dove said, trying to get Jasmine off her back and hair. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was strange. Was it just a coincidence that she had found another feather on the spot matron found the feather? Or had the sender left it there for her? Dove tried to ponder it out but it was hard to focus when there was an excitable three year old on her back trying to find out if hair could be removed like a hat. </div>Tsukiko Zetsumeihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926250458445567953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5815475793323852468.post-21094476478862675422011-10-15T03:39:00.000-07:002011-10-18T18:09:19.262-07:00Chapter 1<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;">"Woah… this is some school," Dove said, looking up at the red bricked buildings.<br />
<br />
It was one of those old type of places, beautiful and majestic. She pushed her black hair away from her obsidian like eyes before heaving her backpack once more. Her friend Hazel was smoothing her blazer, "Yeah, and these uniforms aren't cheap either," she said, looking a little nervous about wearing it. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They went through the huge doorway into the main hall and looked round for the office. "Why are we here?" Dove asked at last, trying to avoid getting bumped into. The students all around them were the rich, prep types. They certainly didn't fit in the picture at all. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"The headmaster is some rich guy whose a patron at the orphanage," Hazel reminded, the two standing close side by side. Hazel and her golden head bobbed a little over two inches over Dove's, "He's sponsoring both of us." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Think he could adopt us instead?" Dove half joked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The two of them were seventeen and long years at the orphanage taught them that only the babies and little ones get adopted. The orphanage they once lived in was run by catholic sisters and they had their lessons inside the orphanage itself. However, months before, there had been an accident. It was an old building, mostly made of wood. The firemen had said it had started because of the faulty wiring. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Luckily, everyone made it out safely but with no home, most went to a sister orphanage in another city. The others were separated and sent to different foster homes and orphanages. Dove and Hazel had been sent to Adwen's Children's Home. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Hey- you two look lost. Are you new?" said a warm voice. It was light and quick; the very happy sort, just like Sister Elizabeth had been. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Both the girls jumped in surprise. Dove's hand reached out and gripped the pendant round her neck as she often did. They looked round and saw a very tall boy about their age. He was at least six feet in height and looked well taken cared of like all the other students. He had dark auburn hair that he kept swept back to reveal bright green brown eyes. He was good looking with a very easy grace. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Y-Yeah," Hazel said, looking very struck, "Um- we're looking for the office." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah, sure- this way," he said, "I'm Zephaniah, by the way." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"That's a mouthful," Dove couldn't help but say. She was the type who said the first thing that popped into their mind. She lost count of the times the nuns had reprimanded her for it. Even Mother Evangeline had to very sternly take her to hand. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But Zephaniah laughed, "It is, isn't it? Call me Zeph. And you two are…?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I'm Hazel. And this is Dove." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Nice to meet you two, and this is the office," Zeph said, knocking the door and opening it. The woman and the register looked up, "Mr Michaelis, how can I help?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"These two girls are new," Zeph said. The woman spotted Dove and Hazel, "Ah… you two are the ones from Adwen, am I right- Miss Hameldon and Miss Dove?" she said as they entered the office, "The headmaster is expecting both of you," she pointed to the door on the right. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The moment they disappeared, Zeph frowned, "Adwen? As in that orphanage?" he asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Mr. Michaelis, don't you have classes to got to?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph gave a low, over-dramatic, bow and left the office. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Inside the headmaster's study, Mr Ashworth looked up from some files he had on his desk, "Hello, girls. MIss Dove and Miss Hazel Hameldon, am I right?" he asked. The two nodded and stood in front of his large, heavy wooden desk. "Um… Miss Dove… the files never gave a last name…" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I don't have one," Dove replied, "They- um…" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yes- it says in your file how you were found. I'm sorry that you had a hard time…" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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"No one's sure if I had a hard time," Dove said quietly. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mr Ashworth had pity in his old grey eyes. Something Dove never liked seeing. She changed the subject, "Thank you for being our guarantor."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The man smiled, "It's nothing. I was told of both your stories. And I myself have been in Miss Hameldon's position before," he said, "I hope the both of you will enjoy yourselves in my school. The sisters in your old orphanage also told me that both of you are both excellent students and get along well with others." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Thank you." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They were given a map of the school and their class before being dismissed. "Class 2-A," Dove read at the top of their schedule, "Oh God, look at this. Latin? French?"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Thou shalt not use His name in vain," Hazel said, repeating the words of the sisters, "Besides, we studied latin and french in our old orphanage." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah- we learnt latin <i>bible </i>verses Haze- I don't think it's quite the same thing. Literature… maths… art… history… the rest is the usual. The only thing missing is Bible classes or it would be like our old school all over again. So, where's our class?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"It's way over at the east wing. We can take a short cut through this courtyard and the gardens here," she pointed on the map, "And we better hurry. First period already started." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They half ran through the empty corridors, the hard heels of their shoes tapping loudly against the floor. The sound echoed off the walls. Dove liked the sound of it. She had never worn shoes with hard soles before. They never had clothes as nice as the uniforms before either. Or even go to school. Mr Ashworth was even giving them a very charitable sum for their pocket money. Maybe things were finally starting to look up for them. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She clutched the pendant round her neck once more before letting go so they could pick up the pace. The silver bird that was the pendant bounced against her skin, catching the morning sunlight as they ran across the courtyard. It's smooth surface glinted and glistened in the sun. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<br />
Dove and Hazel settled in their new class, perhaps Hazel was better off than Dove in terms of mixing around. She had always been the more social one. But Zeph, who was in their class, noticed this straight away and started talking to her. "So- you two are from an orphanage, huh?" he asked over lunch, "I mean- you know- if you don't mind me asking-" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Why was it people always seem to think she would take offence over the statement or question that she lived in an orphanage. "Yeah- I was there when I was about six. Hazel came along when she was eight. She was quieter then," she added, looking over to Hazel who was already chattering to her new friends, non-stop. Zeph chuckled, "Yeah- she's really a cheerful one, isn't she." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"She is. She's a great person. Sometimes, I think it's a bit unfair what happened to her," Dove said quietly, poking the cherry tomato in her salad with a fork. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"And what happened to you?" he asked in return. They already knew how Hazel was orphaned. The girl had explained it to them in good grace but somehow Dove managed to slip out of that conversation. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Now she smiled but her smile didn't reach her eyes. Her free hand went round her pendant once more but she shook her head. "I don't really want to talk about it now," she said, and speared the tomato. Zeph nodded and returned to his meal, "So- uh- what was your old orphanage like? I mean- it was run by nuns right? Were they like the horror stories you usually hear?" he asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove laughed, "Oh man… Yeah- some of them were evil witches. Seriously, you'd think they'd be more understanding and nicer with all those teachings they're trying to hammer into us most of the time about how we should be kind and gentle and insightful. They were complete hypocrites, if you ask me. But there were others like Sister Elizabeth, or Sister Margaret or even Mother Evangeline. They were nice and so kind. A bit like how I imagined a mother would be," she said, "When I first arrived, Sister Elizabeth even used to sit up with me at night until I fell asleep." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Oh wow, I wish my mom did that…" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"She didn't?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Well… mom was more of the corporate type. She wasn't much of a mother. She works till late… my dad too. Both of them would even work through weekends," he said, biting into his burger. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"So you… don't see them at all?" Dove asked frowning. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Well, less nowadays. They separated when I was about eleven," he explained, "Dad moved to another city because of his new company. Mom moved abroad because of <i>her</i> career. I'm living with an uncle now." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove still kept frowning, "Why?" she asked suddenly. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Why what?" he asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Why are they away all the time? I mean- your parents are alive. Why are they…" she trailed off. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Zeph smiled, "It's okay. I don't mind. You could say I've gotten used to it," he assured her. Dove decided to move the conversation to safer waters, "So- what is this activity thing?" she asked. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There was two hours of activity period on their schedule. "Oh, it's like for us to explore our interest. You know, like maybe tennis, or horseback riding or animal rights or maybe cooking. Just about anything really. Hang on, I might still have the list of activities… I'm on the student council so I have to keep one," he added when she looked confused. At last he extracted one from his file and handed it to her. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Oh wow… a gardening club," she said, spotting it at once. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Gardening club?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah. The sisters gave us our own patches in the gardens for us who liked gardening. They thought it was a more ladylike hobby." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Wow, I'm assuming it was an old fashioned place, huh?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah… we weren't allowed to run or scream. We learnt to play music and sing and dance and paint. We even had to make sure we could cook and sew. We were young ladies and had to behave like them," Dove said primly before rolling her eyes and slumping her shoulders instead of holding them straight and elegantly like she was trained to. Zeph laughed again, "So what did you grow?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Well- a rose bush, because Sister Elizabeth gave me a sapling so I had to be polite. But then I had a few strawberry plants, a blackberry bush, carrots, tomatoes, and generally things I could eat. The rose bush did come in useful when I figured out how to make tea out of them though," she said, smiling. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Wow, you make it sound like you don't have enough food back then." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Well, we did have enough. But it was <i>just </i>enough. It's nice to have a bit more." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Well then, if you're interested in the gardening society, I can introduce you to the teacher in charge." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Thank you. That'll be great." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
<br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
"There's such a cute guy in drama," Hazel told Dove as they walked back to the orphanage, "How was your gardening society?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"It was pretty fun, I volunteered to help with the school's kitchen garden for the rest of the week, so I'll probably go back late for the rest of this week," Dove said. Hazel shrugged, "I don't mind, I'm helping with a play for the regionals so I have to go home late for a while too," she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"You're playing a part?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Oh, no! Of course not! It's too late for me to join. I'm just helping with the props and things. And anyway- on a more important note- what's with you and that Zeph guy? You couldn't pull the two of you away from each other the whole day," she said, linking arms with Dove. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Haze- we just met today!" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Fine. Fine… But in case you haven't noticed, we've both been stuck in a convent our entire lives with no male interaction," Hazel reminded. Dove frowned, "There was the music master who came once a week. And the gardener…" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Okay- the point is- we're here in this school full of guys. Hurry up, will you?" she said and Dove laughed. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As they were heading up to their dorm to change, the matron called to them. "Dove, Hazel, you two have letters," she said, handing a few letters to them. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Oh look, Sister Elizabeth wrote. Oh… and that old nag Sister Marianne. And Mother Evangeline!" Hazel said, looking through her letters. Dove had the same ones. But right at the bottom, was a strange looking envelope. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was heavy and yellowing. The paper was thick in her hand and her name was written in a fussy manner on the front with black ink. It looked as though it was written with an old fashioned pen and there was a flourish at the end. Turning it round, there was no return address on it, nor any address on the front nor a stamp. Whoever sent it must have dropped it off on their own. The letter was sealed with red wax and on it was a strange insignia on it. It was of a bird, like the pendant on her neck, in a circle of thorns. But since the bird was bigger on the seal than on her pendant, she could see, it looked nothing like the dove she was named after. But she knew this insignia. It was so familiar, is she could only remember where she had seen it. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Weird…" she said, turning it over and over to look for any other clues. None.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"What's weird?" Hazel asked, dumping her bag on her bed and opening the chest at the foot of the bed to take a change of clothes. Dove set her bag on the floor by her bed next to Hazel's and sat down, still staring at the letter.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"This," she said, showing her the letter. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hazel took it and frowned, "No address…" she said, "Are you sure it's for you? I mean- it doesn't even look like it belongs in this era…" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"I dunno. Lots of buildings in this part of town are really old. Maybe its from a history junkie?" she said, breaking the seal and pulling out the letter. The letter itself was like the envelope and made of heavy parchment. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"History junkie? I don't think so," Hazel said but Dove wasn't listening. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She stared at the beautiful writing in the letter, written in the same manner as her name on the envelope. She couldn't believe what she read.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Dearest Dove,</div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 44.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>You might not be familiar with me but I have known you and your parents since you were but a child. My heart rejoiced when I discovered that it was truly you. That you are alive despite the tragedy that came upon your parents. It was difficult for me to search for you as your name is no longer the one you were once known by. </div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I was told to care for you if nothing were to happen to your parents. I will watch after you from now on, my dear. Fear not any danger for my eyes are upon you, so trust me and hide beneath my wings. </div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>No matter what, I will protect you. </div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 44.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: right;">Corax</div><div style="font: 13.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px; text-align: right;"><i></i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
That was it. A short letter but Dove's heart felt as though it had jumped right through the roof. Someone knew her. Someone who knew her parents. But who was this Corax? Did she know him? Looking into the envelope, hoping for a page two or something, Dove spied something black. She was about to reach in for it, when- </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Dove- are you listening?" Hazel asked impatiently. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Wha- yeah- I'm listening," Dove said quickly, folding the letter up again and opening another letter quickly. Hazel was reading the letter from Mother Evangeline. "And little Tanya was adopted. Remember her? She was just a baby. Apparently her new parents have been trying to get pregnant for ages and ages but they couldn't," she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"That's wonderful." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Which part?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"The part where Tanya got adopted… not the- not getting pregnant part," Dove said distractedly. She looked down at Sister Marianne's neat and somewhat severe looking handwriting but she couldn't focus. Her mind kept straying back to Lupus. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Was it a joke? Was it a trick? </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But for once… she felt like she had something. A person who has promised to watch after her as a parent would. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She tried to keep herself calm; telling herself that chances of it being nothing but a trick, and probably a very dangerous one at that, outweighed the chances that the person was being completely honest. But still, she kept feeling her heart flutter in her chest. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"There's the bell, Dove," Hazel said suddenly, "C'mon- we have to start on our homework." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Yeah," Dove said, getting up and following Hazel down to the common room. "Who was that letter from anyway?" Hazel asked, looking at her suspiciously. Dove tried to look neutral as she jumped the last two steps on the stairs since they made really loud creaking sounds as though they were going to break. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Wrong address," she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"What address? There wasn't any address on the envelope!" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Luckily, the matron asked them how they had been in school. Dove immediately answered her, "It was wonderful. The school really is excellent," she said. Matron smiled, "Mr Ashworth will be glad to know the two of you are settling in well. How are your classes? The teachers?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove smiled, the usual smile she put on when she felt she should be smiling. Unlike Hazel, if she didn't force herself to smile, she wouldn't smile very much. "The classes are really interesting. I never thought school would be so interesting. And the teachers are really engaging too. They really try to connect with all of us," she said.<br />
<br />
Hazel nodded, "And the activity period is so much fun. They have so manu types of societies, I almost couldn't choose.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Well- Hargrave Academy is known to bring out the best in it's students," the matron said before a crying little one commanded her attention. "C'mon, we have tons to do," Dove said hurrying to a good table to deposit her textbooks for their homework. Hazel pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow at Dove who looked back innocently. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
"Fine- but don't think I forgot," she warned. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hopefully, you will in a few days, Dove thought but didn't reply as she sat down and looked through her list of assignments on where to begin. Hazel drew up a chair and joined her. "Okay… so let's whip through the easy ones first…" she said. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Like maths?" </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove's head hit the table. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Oh, how she hated maths. Hazel laughed, "What? It's easy. And we don't have to keep looking through the text books and notes for answers," she said, raising her voice a little so Dove could hear her even when knocking her head repeatedly on the table surface. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>That night, after dinner, it was Hazel's group's turn to help with the dishes. Dove went up to the dorm where some of the other girls were. The younger ones were preparing for bed and the older ones were just reading or doing their own things. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove's bed was right in the corner. No one liked that bed since it was so hot and stuffy there but when Dove was tired, she slept like a log no matter where she was. She took her letters from her bedside table and looked round. No one was minding her. She sat on the floor in the corner and took the strange letter from Corax. Again she glanced round but Hazel was still downstairs. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Opening it she pulled out the letter and looked inside again. It was something flat and black in colour. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Reaching into the envelope slowly as to not rip the paper, her fingers came in contact with something smooth and soft. She managed to grip it with her middle and fore finger before pulling it out slowly. The moment it was free from the envelope, it slipped from her fingers and fell onto the floor in front of her. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dove stared at it, confused. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It was a beautiful black feather. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Picking it up carefully, she looked at it, confused. "A crow feather?" she wondered, observing it closely. She held it up to the light. It really was glossy but when the light hit it, she could see a strange mixture of purple, blue and green tinge in the darkness. It was long and angled. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Out of impulse she placed it in her hair experimentally and looked into the mirror. It was very subtle against her jet black hair but it looked nice. Maybe she should wear it from now on. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>She kept the letter and placed it in an empty shoebox under her bed before opening her other letters to read. </div>Tsukiko Zetsumeihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926250458445567953noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5815475793323852468.post-81322525263312281242011-10-14T23:39:00.001-07:002011-10-18T17:58:39.682-07:00Prologue<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Prologue</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
Thunder roared overhead like an angry wild beast as lightning flashed and raced across the sky. The briefest moment, it lit up the old manor and it's overgrown grounds.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The place must have been splendid some time ago and still had it's regal air, despite the peeling paint and the ivy growing up the walls uncontrollably. The trees in the garden, though large, were now quite dead and rain lashed against the ponds and broken fountains, breaking the surface of the dark waters. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Ravens flocked into the eaves for shelter, cawing and complaining, tussling one another for a better spot. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All the windows of the manor showed nothing but darkness save for one high in a tower. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A dim, flickering, orange light glowed from within the room. The source was a spluttering candle, nearing the edge of its life. The light cast a huge shadow upon the wall of a man, bent over the desk. A heavy parchment lay before him as he dipped a black quill into the inkwell. Red wax bubbled away by his side. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The man carefully signed a name at the bottom of the letter before flooding it slowly and slipping it into the envelope. He sealed the envelope with the hot red wax and pressed an insignia into it. Turning it around, he dipped the quill once more and wrote a single word on the front of the envelope. </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 36.0px Zapfino; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center;">Dove</div>Tsukiko Zetsumeihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11926250458445567953noreply@blogger.com0