[b]Arcana (Featuring Simon, Ajala, Nathalia, Fiona (mention), Lilith (mention), Shippo (mention))[/b]

Arcana couldn't get herself unhooked from the creature that slammed into her, and was jettisoned aside after an abrupt stop. She landed near the pots that the Gardening Club had set up, skidding to a halt just before she knocked one over. She stood, her knees shaking unsteadly, and cranked her head back to see what had happened to the creature. Her hands immediately when to her braid, tension seizing her body. [i]'He looks [b]d-d-dead![/b]'[/i] She thought in horror, hurrying forward. Thankfully, [i]blessedly[/i], the creature's limp form began to move. Arcana nearly fell over in relief, steadying herself by laying a hand against the tree next to her. [i]'Ohmigod, I thought... I thought I had...'[/i] She tugged on her braid even more sharply as her thoughts took her to darker places. Then she realized something. [i]'Ohmigod! What if he tells people [b]I[/b] tried to kill him!?'[/i] Horror seized her body once more, and she began tearing at her braid.

That was when she saw it. The bloody jacket in his arms, the leftover flecks of crimson in his hair, and she went numb. [i]'He's... he's hurt! He's dy-dy-dying! Ohmigodohmigod.'[/i] She paced back and forth frantically. He turned to ask her if [i]she[/i] was alright, and Arcana paused for a moment, going entirely still. [i]'I almost killed [b]him[/b] and he's asking if [b]I'm[/b] okay?'[/i] She felt her cheeks grow hot, and lowered her eyes to the ground. [b]"Y-y-yeah.. I'm sorry..."[/b] She mumbled underneath her breath, too late though, for he had already left. 

Arcana trudged over obediently at Nathalia's request, standing quietly with her head lowered. [i]'Great load of good I'm doing...'[/i] She thought dejectedly, her lips coming to a pout as she played with her ring. Coming to the rescue, as always, was Ajala. The young harpy perked up at the nagini's presence. [b]"I-I-"[/b] Arcana gulped, shocked at Ajala's words, [b]"N-n-no! I don't think he did any of that to hu-hurt me! I got in [i]his[/i] way. I almost[i]...[/i]"[/b] As she finished speaking, her voice lowered to a mumble, her words becoming indistinct. Nearly immediately, a loud clap brought everyone's attention to Nathalia, the pretty nymph who led the Gardening Club.

Her dour mood was broken upon the mention of [i]mandrakes[/i]. She loved them, they were one of her favorites. Babies were less exciting, in Arcana's opinion, but it was good to become attached to them as young as possible. She wanted to be the digger, but didn't know who she could partner with. She was never good at pairing up with people. She fidgeted in place nervously, her fingers twirling around her ring. Her hair, free to do what it willed, floated behind her head like a giant cowlick.

Her hand shot up mostly on instinct after hearing the word "carnivorous". [b]"I'll g-go! I wa-wa-want to!"[/b] Arcana exclaimed as she tippy-toed on her clawed feet. Nathalia smiled in response, pointing at Arcana. "Come to Fiona or me after the meeting, we'll make sure that enthusiasm doesn't go to waste." The nymph clapped her hands once more, then gave a gesture to the shovels and tin-can Smokers. "Alright everyone, front and center! Older students, please try to partner with the newer ones."

Arcana stood rooted in place, looking this way and that in nervousness. She made out a few faces in the crowd: a [b]small fairy[/b] looking at the mandrakes (perhaps somewhat mischievously, Arcana thought), [b]Shippo[/b] - the fox boy she bumped into yesterday (a blush rose to her cheeks as she quickly glided her eyes past him), [b]Ajala[/b], the pretty and soothing nagini Arcana had come to like in their two interactions with each-other, and finally [b]Fiona[/b], the cute dryad that seemed to be Nathalia's helper. [i]'I doubt any of [b]them[/b] have problems talking to people...'[/i] Arcana's dour mood roared its ugly head yet again.