Gunner walked with a stake in hand as they made their way around the perimeter of the school. It was always strange, wandering around the woods on the other side of the wards that had kept him within the school grounds for so long. He guessed that was part of becoming an adult.... Adult... That was still a weird concept. He tucked his stake away at the perimeter was deemed completely and entirely intact and night slowly began to fall. He smiled at Guardian Belikov, "This is strange... Being out here with you guys."

The two older Guardians laughed. Guardian Burns looked at him, "Its been three years, Marks. Surely the awe has worn off."

Gunner laughed and rubbed the back of his neck, "Ya, ya... But I'm still waiting for the two of you to start yelling at me for being outside the wards... Rather than myself yelling at other kids trying to sneak off," He shrugged, "We should probably head back. The students should be arriving...."

Guardian Belikov looked at him, "Teachers too...." He smiled, knowing exactly who Gunner and Anna were waiting for, "Why don't you run ahead. I doubt there are any Strigoi out. The sun is still up... Just barely."

Gunner grinned and nodded, "Thanks," Before running off and racing towards the gates to wait for Sebastian with Anna.
~
Serena had been wearing her hair up more often. Humans gave her almost as many strange looks as Moroi did. The scars had become something she over came though, a sign of her courage and strength. Something she came to hold close to her. Something that Sebastian had to basically drill into her head over the last few years. Something she'd finally come to accept. Not to mention, with her hair up, it allowed her to show her molnija marks that was were placed in the small remnants of undamaged skin at the back of her neck. It had been offered to her to place her tattoos on her arm, so that her scars may remain hidden. She decided against it, wanting something that truly proved her strength to rest with something that showed her weakness. 

So, her hair was pulled back into a ponytail as they drove to the school that had saved her. She looked at Sebastian and smiled before looking back out the window. As they pulled through the gates, they came to a stop and she looked at Sebastian as he addressed Anna. She grinned as the girl practically pulled him out of the car to hug him and hopped over to lean against him, coming into Anna's view, "Or what?" She asked in a light tone, smiling at her friend.

She opened the door and hopped out of the car, climbing over Sebastian in the process and properly hugged her friend, rather than trying the awkward through the window over Sebastian hug. She pulled away from the hug and push a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "It is good to see you... and really see you again."

Her and Sebastian's time at court hadn't brought the group together as she thought it might have when they first arrived. It wasn't exactly acceptable for Moroi to be hanging around Dhampirs, more so than at school, which almost stopped Sebastian. However, add them hanging around a lot with the Queen due to her interest in their bond. They also got to learn a lot about their bond from her as well. Things that they might not have had the chance to learn from someone who had never experienced it. It was a little strange though... Walking around with the Queen and her millions on guards. This also meant that despite being at court, she didn't really get a break to sneak off and see Gunner and Anna herself. She hugged Anna again as Gunner came running up. He looked at them all before snatching Serena away from Anna and hugging her tightly, lifting her completely of the ground, "About time you two came to visit," He joked before putting Serena back on the ground. He smiled at Sebastian and held out his hand to him, "Why don't you send the car ahead? We can walk back together."

Serena nodded, "My legs could use a good stretch," She looked between Gunner and Anna, "The plane ride from Italy was a horrible as I remember," She snickered. Part of the reason the four had been out of contact for so long also included the fact that Serena and Sebastian spent the last six months back in Italy, further south and about at far away from Sienna as they could get. Gunner pushed her lightly, "Stop bragging."