[u][b]Shay[/b][/u]

Shay leaned against a willow tree inside Fernwood Academy's gates, sighing and wishing she could sleep.  She had to be up at 6:00 A.M to catch the train that took her to the academy.  Now it was 7:15, and the damn place still had not opened up.  Her uncle, Garrett, was not available to drive her due to a business meeting he had to attend. Although it did not bother her, she hated being up early.  She surveyed the people littering the grounds ahead. There was Mike - a friend of hers since elementary school.  He had nicknamed her "Moony" after her silver-grey eyes. It was one of her favorite features, next to her wings. Shay would have said hello, but he seemed immersed in his book and she did not want to disturb him. 

She meandered over to a bench and sat down quietly. Laughter filled the air and caused her to whirl around. As meek as it were, they backed off. She sighed and rested her head on the back of the bench. Hopefully these underclassmen would learn to not be rude to others - especially in the morning.  It was taking all her self control not to say anything. If anything bothered her, it would be bullying.  Why people did it was beyond her.  People could justify it anyway they wanted to but there was never a valid enough reason for it.  She wasn't someone to just stand around and take it either, but she knew when to let it go. Now was that time. 

Turning her attention away, Shay watched parents bidding their children goodbye and tore her gaze away. Shay had only known her family for a few years, Garrett had told her, until a fire engulfed their house. From what she understood, she had been at daycare when it occurred. However her parents had been home to prepare for work.  They had murdered; murdered by King Zakheav of Russia. His reasoning had been for political reasons, though Shay did not know them entirely. She was furious with the situation and missed her parents.  From what Garrett told her, they had been the best parents ever: loving, protective, and above all else, selfless. Their positions were Guardians, which was a career Shay was striving for daily.  No other career had been considered. She would follow in her parent's footsteps and avenge their deaths.  That had been a promise she made to herself years ago that she would keep.  Garrett had been training her for her position, too.   He seemed as adamant about her avenging their deaths as she. 

Shay glanced around, looking for a familiar face or voice.  She hoped Alex would arrive soon; he meant the world to her. He was everything: her rock, confidant, sunshine.... The list went on.  He had been her best friend for the longest time.  She had seen him as often as she wanted over the summer break.  Garrett kept her busy this summer by training her frequently and extra hard.  She had asked him why but he wouldn't tell her and asking more only caused him to yell.  That, she admitted weakly to herself, had been frightening.  The teenager had not dared asking him again and had cleared her mind of it.  He must have had a good reason.... Garrett loved her and protected her.  She trusted him entirely.  From the training, Shay had joked he was doing it for war.  It did not occur to her that it might actually be the reason and the war she would be facing was beyond her comprehension. 

Alexander's familiar voice broke through her reverie and she bounded up excitedly.  She gazed around, grinning wildly.  She spotted him and smiled even more. Emma was with him!  That little girl meant much to her, too.  She had always wanted a sibling, and everyone in their group had one: Jason had his twin brother, Alcina and Ariana were twin sisters, Rose had an older brother, Alex had his sisters' though two were missing.  She didn't know where they were, much less Alex.  Shay had tried looking for them, but the guardians yelled at her too.  It was a common occurrence to be yelled at, though she never truly cared.  This year, however, gave her a sense of foreboding that being yelled at would be the least of her worries.  She shook her head, clearing her thoughts and reminder herself Alex could read minds. 

"Alex!" she chirped in delight as she joined them and beamed. "Emma!" Shay embraced Alex tightly and knelt down to Emma's height to hug her.  "Good to see you here, kiddo! How are you? And how's Mr.Alex?  Was he a good boy this morning?" With a teasing grin, Shay picked up Emma and set her on her shoulders.  She didn't want her to feel left out or scared and shrived to make Emma's day as cheerful as possible.  Of course, she would do the same for the other,s but she didn't see them.  Shay thought she had seen Jason skulking around but wasn't sure.  Either way, she'd see him eventually.  That was a thought powerful enough to wipe away any dark or unhappy memory: her friend's who were pretty much her family.