As I wiped the tears trying to compose myself, this girl Lorra suddenly starting freaking out. She well yelling something about me needing medical attention or something. She wouldn't understand, how would she. She thinks that the fruit was the problem, which makes me feel horrible. That was the best fruit I had ever eaten, but how was I suppose to explain myself. Tell her no the fruit was fine. I just experience all the pain and heartache your have felt in your life. Ya that wouldn't make me look any freakier than I already looked, bu then again, she is talking to plants right now. Wait, she is talking to the plant. I then realized where I was. This was a school for those of us who can't be understood by the outside world, but here...here we could be understood. Even though we didn't all have the same unique abilities, we were the same because of our unique abilities.

"Hey! Calm down." I tried to look as normal as possible, even managing to smile. "I'm fine, its just a drawback of my power..." I sat back on the bench and let out a sigh. "I can feel the emotions of other people around me. I know its weird, but it true. And when I touch somebody, I feel every emotion they had ever felt, and sometimes those emotions become my own." I looked back at the girl, hoping she had calmed down, and stop yelling. "I know how intrusive it seems and I'm sorry.

I looked at the girl, wondering how she would react, and realizing now that she smelled like flowers and fruit, she must spend a lot of time in the garden. Her hair was brown and her eyes honestly really pretty. I really hoped that I hadn't completely ruined my reputation with my crazy theatrics.

"Hey! Calm down.I can feel the emotions of other people around me. I know its weird, but it true. And when I touch somebody, I feel every emotion they had ever felt, and sometimes those emotions become my own. I know how intrusive it seems and I'm sorry," Lorra had to actually stop and listen very well to actually be able to digest everything she heard.

She stepped back a little bit and paused. "Emotions?" The thickest of the vines slithered around her and whispered something in her ear. She had to tell the vine to shush it and whispered between clenched teeth, "Yes, apparently that's what he said." Looking like a lunatic she answered the vine's question.

"Emotions huh?" She asked again. As if she hadn't heard him clear the first time.

This time the tree bowed lower towards her and whispered something to her.

She listened intently at the living thing's suggestion as her face brightened. "Yeah that might work!" She smiled and let her self occupy the seat next to Skye. "So you can feel my emotions? How about with plants?" She wondered. She placed her elbow at the rest and asked stared at him. Waiting for him to answer her queries.

"Don't worry about them, they are usually harmless." She tried to push the intrigued bushes away. "You must be wondering why I'm talking to them. I can actually communicate with them. You see we have this special bond. They are like you too. They know what I need without me asking them but I still talk to them. It makes them feel better. Dr. McCoy won't believe me but I know they've got feelings too." She blabbed again. "Maybe you can help me." She suggested like it was one of the most natural thing to do.

Tobias von Höhlen

The Courtyard

Laura smirked, "Corpse huh thats an interesting name, but if you don't mind I'd rather call you Tobias if thats not too much trouble of course", she said. Laura put her hand in the pockets of her jeans, "My names Laura... I haven't really come up with a cool nick name yet cause well... I don't remember anything other then my name and waking up in the institutes medical lab. But I guess I'll come up with something eventually, I don't know what you'd call someone who heals almost as quickly as their hurt but whatever", she said glancing at the girl that had been freaking out only moment before. She just shook her head, Laura just didn't understand human behavior sometimes.

Koganei was glad to hear that they had provided him his travel fees and a way to get out of the orphanage he was straying at, but the accommodations left him very uncomfortable, so much that went he got to the airport he traded in his first class ticket for some money back so he could spend as little money as possible and not cause the people at the school much trouble as much as a normal person would love the limo ride over from the orphanage he absolutely hated it. Because of his time living on the street certain things made him uncomfortable, and with his coach ticket he downgraded to, he was sleeping like a baby the whole flight over. When he arrived at the airport in Britain he grabbed a map and skipped out on the ride he was suppose to take to the school in favor of instead walking. After getting something to eat using the money he was given by the school since he had none of his own, he ate and studied the map before returning it from where he got it. He had in the time he spent eating and studying the may figured out the route he would take to the school. When he got there he returned the left over money including what he got from downgrading his flight and left them a bit surprised as they probably expected him to not return any of it and not more then he had been given as he did. They showed him to his room and let him know that there were other students outside. He put his bag down in the room before going outside to see what was going on, he didn't even bother locking his door since the stuff in the bag was practically worthless and seeing as he only owned a single pair of clothes people may pity him and not take his stuff, but then again who would want his tooth brush? When he got outside he saw all kinds of different people and was a bit curious to the powers of some of them.

I sat listening, Lorra's voice got quicker, higher, and more excited as she talked. She seem to be really excited by the idea that someone else might be able to confirm what she knew for herself. Sadly I couldn't, as much as I want to help, I just can't. I've never heard the emotions of plants, heck, I don't even feel animals. My powers seem to be directed to the emotions of humans only.

"I'm sorry Lorra, but I can't" I bit the inside of my cheek for a second, "But what does it matter if someone else can? All that's important is that you know what you feel right?" I stood and slung my camera. The garden was so lush and beautiful, and I felt that I may had made a new friend today. I turned and listened to what Lorra had to say before snapping a picture of her. It was a perfect frame. The bench, the bushes and flowers behind her, looking even more vibrant that those I had ever seen anywhere else. It was a good shot. I lowered the camera and laughed, "Gotcha!"

"I'm sorry Lorra, but I can't. But what does it matter if someone else can? All that's important is that you know what you feel right?" Skye declared. And Lorra had to admit to herself that it was a bit disappointing that she got a little too excited about nothing.

"Oh..." She lowered her head down but then as one of the vines slithered around her arm like a comforting friend trying to hold her hand, her mood suddenly shifted again. "Well, we can try it next time. Who knows? A lot of people start developing their ability once they enter this institution." She beamed at him- and just then her new acquaintance had held his camera on his hand, aimed at her and took a picture and said, "Gotcha!"

"Wait! What was that?" She half complained and half got curious. "Why do you have your camera with you anyway?" She asked. Lorra never understood the fascination with technology- yeah it might make things easier for a lot of people- but most of the time it is just destroying Earth and nature. Something that she highly hated.

She eased in the seat and let her back get comfortable in the bench. Slowly she caressed the vines as if she was caressing a pet cat. "So you can try and help me right? You can try reading my plants' emotions?" She bit her lower lip and suggested with a soft whisper this time- barely letting anyone hear as if it was a secret. "I mean- there's no harm in trying right? So can you?" She wasn't going to give up just like that. If there was one thing about Lorra that define her was that she is a determined individual. If she wasn't she would have been dead years ago. "Please" She said softly as she looked Skye in the eye and pleaded.

Her soft whispers were then over powered by a group of new students laughing. Looks like a lot of them are starting to meet new friends.
The noise from old and new students has started taking over the garden area. Some basking under the sun and smelling the flowers while the new ones explored. Lorra remained seated despite the rushing students who hurried towards their first classes. Waiting for Skye's reaction- either he would shrug it off or agree.

Colleen walked up to the big gates and paused. She stood there thinking about what had happened to her to get to this spot.

First I turned into a Shifter which would've been a dream because it was who she truly was...a wild animal at heart, but it was, in fact, the very thing that had separated me from everyone else. I missed my parents and friends it was the right thing to do. I left for the best to protect them from the very thing I couldn't protect them from, me. I stare at the plaque that bared the letters saying, Charles Xavier's School for the Gifted. Gifted? I never thought that the word gifted was used. Normally when people find out what I am they scream, Freak, Monster, Devil, Animal, Mutant. Never gifted. I smile at the thought of being called gifted.

I walk through the gates cautiously looking around. Everyone seems so different from each other yet accepting at the same time. I glance around at all the students and cross my arms across my chest looking down. This place is still new to me but once I get my own territory, or as other people call them, rooms, I'll be my old self.

Colleen walked slowly into the building taking in her surroundings. She sniffed the air catching all the different scents. She looked into the main office and up to the lady at the desk. Handing her her application she offered the lady a smile when she said, "Hello Miss O'Rourke. Welcome to Charles Xavier's school for the Gifted. I have a feeling you'll like it here." Colleen replied smiling, "Thank you. I think I will too." She took her key and papers from the nice woman and followed another woman out into the hall and up some stairs.

"Here you are this is where I must leave you now. Your room is up those stairs too the right, then take a left down a corridor, then another right and down the hall, the last room near the window." She turned and walked back to her duties. "Thanks" Colleen called after her. She thought for a moment. Ok up the stairs and where? Oh man. How can I already manage to get lost here. Oh well. Colleen walked up the stairs with a confused expression looking around everywhere and at the papers the lady at the front desk gave her. Ugh....I'm lost... Colleen sat against the wall and slide down to the floor hugging her legs. This was just my luck, to get lost here on the first day.

Lily didn't feel hungry, but she had observed that eating was something of a default social situation. When one wanted to interact with another in a casual manner, one did so while eating. She gave one sharp nod and turned back to the door they had just come through. "We will go eat, then," she said, pulling the door open. She didn't check behind her to see if Alice was following as she exited the classroom. As far as she could tell, their journey to the cafeteria was confirmed.

"To answer your earlier query, yes, the boy you saw with me was my twin brother, Caleb." For the first time, a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "We are from South Carolina. There are not many mutants in our town." She paused so that a girl red fur could go by. "This environment is strange to me."

Ryan brushed the remnants of the hedge off of his sleeve as the other boy proposed that they finish the maze together. He was still a bit dizzy from the fall and didn't have much of a chance to answer before the other boy began to walk away saying, "Come on, this is the way out." Ryan nodded and followed him quietly.

As he walked through the maze he studied the boy in front of him. He looked pretty put together. Meaning he didn't seem like he was stupid or immature. Eiter way the suit and fedora the green haired boy was rocking made him seem like a prep-hop badass. The boy walked calmly in front of him, not really seeming to care whether or not Ryan was tagging along. He wondered if the boy was just a quieter type, or if he was just apathetic. Ryan didnt try to make conversation, he just followed. The boy knew where he was going, at least Ryan assumed so.

The end was finally in sight. As they turned one last right the exit was in view and the two of them exited. The boy yawned and scratched his head, stating that the maze wasnt as entertaining as he'd hoped. Ryan stepped next to him and stretched his back. "Soo, whats your name?" he asked as he held his hand out to shake. "Im Ryan Huntington."

I couldn't help but feel sympathetic to Lorra's pleas. She wanted so badly for someone to understand her, and I knew how that felt. "I'll give it some thought, ok. I'm not sure how I would go about it though. It's not something I have ever done." I looked at my watch and back to Lorra. "You hungry, I haven't eaten all morning." Then something made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Something unexplainable felt like it was threatening me. This was a feeling far different then my normal empathy that I felt, this felt more like it was coming from somewhere deeper, somewhere more primal. "Sorry, I need to go."

I turned and walked out of the garden, leaving Lorra behind without any explanation. Something had arrived, and it was bring a reaction in me I had never felt. I had to know who or what it was. I walked back into the academy, the feeling getting stronger as I went. I began sniffing the air, trying to catch any scent that didn't quite fit, but I couldn't pick out anything specifically. I would just have to follow the feeling I had in my gut. I felt myself wandering in circles, the feeling growing and shrinking as I took different hallways, and went on to different levels. As he came off a flight of stairs he saw her, and he felt his feral instincts rising to the surface, something about her put him on edge, as if she was a threat to him somehow. She was just a a young, blonde girl slumped against the wall. Hardly a threat by any stretch of the imagination, but Skye felt differently. He approached cautiously before speaking up, more harshly then he had meant, "Who are you?"

"We will go eat, then," She heard Lily announce as Alice punched her fist into the air, "Yes! Food!" She called out before hurrying behind Lily when she realized that the girl had already walked ahead. "To answer your earlier query, yes, the boy you saw with me was my twin brother, Caleb. We are from South Carolina. There are not many mutants in our town." She paused a moment "This environment is strange to me." Alice tilted her head as they found themselves approaching the cafeteria, surprisingly, without getting lost. "Strange how..?" She asked before she could catch herself, of course this was strange! It was probably strange for every new student here to be around so many mutants in one place. She shook her head, hoping Lily didn't mind her stupid question before as she asked another one, "When you say there weren't that many mutants in your town, did you know some of them?"

Alice was a little jealous, the only mutant she knew in her town was her and, recently, her mother. That was it. She was always alone with no one to share her discoveries with when her powers came through. At least now she would be able to share her problems with people similar to her. At least she hoped. "I can tell you and your brother are close. Well, beside being twins and all." She said with a furrowed brow as she tried to figure out where to go for the food. She saw people leaving with trays of food but didn't see where they were going to get it. This was an outrage!

Kesiah turned and looked at the outstretched hand that his companion had offered with is introduction, "Kesiah" he said, taking the boys hand and giving a quick shake before releasing. He looked around at the rest of the area, seeing other students simply chatting away with each other. He gave a yawn before his stomach gave an audible complaint to be filled with food. There was no helping, it had been at the very least twelve hours since his last meal, although he wasn't quite sure as to the location of the cafeteria. It wasn't much of a problem, the school was large, but not impossible to completely search through for what would possibly be one of the larger rooms of the school.

"I'm gonna go grab something to eat," he said to his companion, "You can come if you want. Although I'll probably get lost first" he said starting to walk back towards the school. He pulled open the door, looking around as he entered. The halls were filled with students as well, each going their own way which didn't give him any hint to finding his destination. With no sign of the correct direction, he simply went with his intuition and turned a right, going down a long hallway. What should be an obvious give away would be a slightly more open area, with fewer doorways, and possibly leading to a set of double doors as the entrance to the cafeteria. It would most likely be on the bottom floor, so the search was narrowed down quite a bit, but if he was going in the wrong direction, none of that information would really be useful. "What a pain" he said to himself as he walked down the hall.

Colleen had her hands buried in her hands angry with herself for getting lost. How can you already get lost on the first-wait...something isn't right. I sniff the air and catch a strange scent it smells familiar but I can't quite place my finger on it. She looks up and see's a boy staring at her. Startled her instincts kick in and she jumps up and back up against the wall in the corner. She didn't know who he was and his scent was familiar but whether it was good or bad she couldn't determine yet.

"Who are you?" the boy said in a harsh tone. His tone made her feel unsettled and a bit scared of what he might do to her. She started to shake and stared back at the boy with worried but soft eyes. "I-I'm Colleen. Please, I'm just lost..." She wasn't sure whether to run or stand there waiting for him to move. Instead, without even knowing what she was doing Colleen walks up to the stranger and sniffs him closely, then licks his neck and looks at him curiously thinking

"What are you? Who are you?..." She asked curiously staring at him trying to figure out what it was that drew her curiosity so much over the edge that a moment ago she had been scared of him but now was utterly curious as to whom this boy was.

Then everything passed by quickly. First he asked her, "You hungry, I haven't eaten all morning."
Lorra was about to nod at his invitation when Skye's face suddenly his face grew pale and he quickly excused his self, "Sorry, I need to go."

Lorra was left with a raised eyebrow and a startled look, "What was that about?" She asked out loudly. Obviously she was alone again, she tilted her head and looked at the morning sun. Somehow its rays powered her that she didn't feel hungry anymore, so instead of going to the cafeteria- Lorra stood up and walked towards the dormitory. Not sure what was up, she decided to see if there were some interesting individuals she can meet.

Somehow the way to the dormitory uses the same passage way going to the cafeteria. She turned right and was about to turn left when two guys made her wonder, the blonde's clothes had some dirt and some leaves clinging on his clothes. And being her usual, i-don't-care self, Lorra walked up to them and asked, "So I guess you were the guy who crashed into the bushes? They were pretty pissed that you had to shed their leaves."

I stared at Colleen, trying to understand who she was, and what about her made me feel like she was a threat . That I had to make her submit to my power less I had too leave. This wasn't normal for me, I was gentle, easygoing, but she had to be put in her place.

"I-I'm Colleen. Please, I'm just lost..." It was such a simple answer, she was just like any normal girl. Maybe I was just being ridiculous. Collen suddenly walked up to me and began sniffing, and did the same until she licked my neck. I felt goosebumps raise across my back and neck. I quickly stepped back, my face getting hot with embarrassment.

"What was that for?!" I looked at Colleen long and hard, waiting her answer. This girl was so strange, but something about her was also familiar, something about her was important to know. "Colleen, why did you come to this school?" I wanted answers, no, I needed answers. I grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the wall, my fury rising again, "Answer me now, Colleen." I didn't feel right, something inside me was creeping to the service. Something savage, and brutish. The wolf inside me was baring its fangs at Colleen. It didn't feel like it meant to hurt her, but wanted to know why she had enter its territory. 'Wait was this really about territory? Why would that matter.'

"what was that for!?" the boy yelled stepping back. He seemed almost angry with me. But why? I hadnt done anything bad. Had I?

"Colleen why did you come to this school?" he asked. I stepped back slightly hurt. I thought people were nice and accepting here. Why was this boy being so defenseless and...territorial.

Suddenly his hand shot out grabbing my wrist in a tight grip and shoved me against the wall holding me there. He was very strong, I twist my wrist in his tight grip but his nails were dug into my skin, and it hurt a little. The boy demanded in a serious almost deadly tone, "Answer me now, Colleen." I was beginning to get frightened. I shrunk down trying to make myself smaller less of a threat. I whisper, "p-please, let me go?...I'm s-sorry."

My instincts were kicking in and I could feel my animal begin to fight to take control. 'No. He can't do this to you. Fight back!' I start to struggle more and am just on the surface of shifting right there. I calm myself down and bite the boys arm not too hard but strong enough to let him know that he shouldn't talk to her in that tone. Maybe now he'll let me go.

For the second time today Kesiah found his path blocked, but this time by a person rather than a plant, although the feeling of being in a maze seemed to remain within the school. He gave a curious look to the girl that had arrived in front of himself and his companion. Judging by her statements it seemed she was able to speak with plant life, if so it's possible that she was the one that caused the bushes to block his path earlier. He felt as if there were a pattern occurring here, and looked towards the walls to see if anyone would come crashing through them. Although by the sound of her question and statement it seemed she was mostly talking with Ryan instead of himself, so he wondered why he was still standing there when his stomach was angrily demanding nourishment.

"Have fun" he said as he walked passed the girl, "I'll continue on" he gave a slight wave as he continued to walk on. It seemed the hallway was starting to expand a bit more, the ceiling also climbing higher, this might be a good sign. Fewer doors were seen marking the walls as he walked on, he could be closing in on his destination. Stepping further down the hallway he could hear the faint buzzing of a large group conversing somewhere nearby. As he continued further the buzzing grew louder, now distinct voices could be heard as well as a few words here and there. With the turn of a corner to his right he found himself face to window with a set of large double doors. "Must be the place" he said to himself as he put a hand on the long push bar. As the door opened the sounds of the loud conversations going on inside burst out and filled the immediate hallway. Each conversing group speaking loudly to drown out any other that might be near. It was loud, to loud for his liking, but the need for food forced him to push on deeper into this jungle of noise. He would get his food and get out, hopefully finding somewhere a bit more quite to eat, he didn't like to be distracted while eating. Without knowing what foods would be on the current menu he simply stood at the end of a nearby line, hopefully it would be a line to get food and not a ridiculously long line for the bathroom, that would just be a waste of time.

She bit me, she freaking bit me. She was going to pay for that, I would rip her a part for daring to bite me. No one bites me and gets away with you, I am the alpha. She will pay just like the hunter did, I will make sure of it. I will...

I let go and step back quickly, suddenly scared to my core. Scared of what I was becoming and what I was thinking of doing. This wasn't me, I didn't want to hurt nobody. I just wanted acceptance, so was I trying to hurt this girl, was there really any reason to see her as a threat. "I'm sorry I didn't....I don't know what...Please, forgive me!" I turned and ran down the nearby stairs, I was losing it, too much has happened today. I didn't even know who I was. I didn't even bother taking the stairs, instead throwing myself over the banister a flight at a time. I had to get out of here, had to run free.

At the bottom level, I ran the halls, heading straight for one of the doors that led to the outside. I barely even noticed the person I bumped into, there emotions barely even scratching the surface of the bubble I was trying to hold myself in. "What's the hell, bub?" I didn't even hear the comment, I just kept running. I had to find seclusion. I got out of the school, and ran straight for a line of trees in the distance.
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James Howlett, Wolverine, was simply making rounds, greeting new students here and there when he was bumped by Skye. The kid didn't even stop, something had obviously spooked him. He knew he should go after him, these kids needed help, just like he did when he first had been brought here. He gave chase, not quite able to keep up, but keeping enough pace to not lose the boy.
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I was almost to the trees, just a few more yards. Then I broke through, now surrounded by the forest I loved so much, the one place that let me be other self without fear. I fell down to all fours while shifting into my wolf form. My run slowing to a slow trot, I shook my canine head, feeling the rage subsiding as I distances myself from the school. I let out a long howl, the emotions in my head spinning and spinning, everything was just so mixed up, I didn't know what I was feeling, why I had done what I had done, who was I really. Then everything went black.
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James followed the boys scent through the forest, 'Damn this kid can run fast.' Then came the howl, it stopped him dead in his tracks, he poised determining which location it had come from. His long adamantium claws ripping through his flesh, he moved cautiously through the trees, still following the scent of the boy who he had been following when he came across his unconscious body. He retracted his claws and ran to his side, "Hey kid, you ok. Wake up." He shook him roughly.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Somebody was shaking me, leave me alone, I don't want to move, things were better if I didn't move, the shaking continued until l my eyes opened. "Huh?" I looked up to see the face of Mr. Howlett. He was standing over me, about as much concern as that face could manage visible, "Hey kid, you ok?" I sat up, looking around, still groggy and unsure of what was going on, "Ya, I'm fine, just..." I trailed off, no idea where that statement was going. I stood to my feet shakily, trying to collect my thoughts. "How did I get here?" Mr. Howlett gave me strange look, his eyebrow cocked up, "You ran bub. Quick as hell. Did something happen?"

I don't know, did something happen, then I remembered the incident with Colleen. "I think I attacked somebody, sir. I didn't mean to but I did. I didn't mean to hurt her, I don't know what came over me, I just lost control of myself." I felt like I was gonna cry again, God today just wasn't my day.

Mr. Howlett smiled, kind of an odd reaction I would say, "Well kid, if losing control is the issue here, You've definitely come to the right place. I've been in your shoes more times than I can count, bub. Let's see if we can't figure this out. The walk back to the school was quiet, guilt eating away at me the whole time. I hope I hadn't hurt her, I didn't what to hurt anybody. I had come here to makes friends, not scare people. I hoped against all odds she would understand. Then I remembered the lick, and my face turned red, my heart beat speeding up. I was no good around girls, I've never even kissed a girl, or had a girlfriend, but that was just too much to think about. What was I suppose to make of her licking me. I touched my neck, the spot still moist, I quickly rubbed it off blushing even more. 'The universe was out to to drive me insane, I swear.'

Instead of letting me go I see his eyes burn with rage, I could tell he was going to hurt me for doing that. I tried to be brave but he was getting scarier and I knew that he would be too strong for me to fight off. I close my eyes and wait for the boy to make his move, but instead he steps away and says guiltily, "I'm sorry I didn't....I don't know what...Please, forgive me!" and with that he ran off as fast as he could. Why would he want to hurt me? Why was he so scared? He apologized...why?

Feeling sad and worried about the boy, I run after him. I need answers. Who was he? Why was he so threatened and angry? He said he was sorry, I felt bad for biting him though. I run faster and come out onto the grounds of the school. I can't see him hes gone completely vanished. Wait! I think I smell something. I run to the trees and shift into my wolf form and run through the woods. I miss this feeling so much. I cant help but run around and jump through the plants and trees. I missed the woods so much, it was the only place where I felt myself and safe...at home.

I smell something strange a wolf's scent and another person's. I curiously trot closer to the scent and break through a patch of trees. There he is I stare straight at him...suddenly I get nervous again and scared. I timidly back up and hide behind a small tree, staring at the two guys in front of me. I see the boy I met earlier, blush and rub where I licked him on the neck. I smile slightly and move out from behind the tree so really only my hind legs are hidden. I let out a happy bark at them and give them a wolfish grin.