[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/ldhSAqU.png[/img][/center]Ophélie Moore or Philly, hugged her cousins, Devin and Lynn in one feel swoop. Of course her older cousin Devin, a fellow Good, loudly protested such affection. Lynn, her thirteen year old cousin just hugged back as tightly as Philly. After she let go Lynn moved over to hug Babs, short for Barbara, Philly's younger sister. Babs was fourteen and the two girls were both in Tituba together.

"Steve."

"Devin." 

The two seventeen year-olds greeted each other. Philly rolled her eyes at their [i]macho[/i] display. All of her siblings were red heads. Whereas her two cousins were both brown headed. Despite the fact Devin was also a Moore. He was a shame to the family name. Or so they teased him. Lynn got a pass because her last name was White.

As the two sets chatted Philly turned back to her parents. Aunt Jane and Uncle James was talking to her father. Devin's folks hadn't showed. Instead Dennis had brought his kid brother to the bus stop. He sensed Philly's eyes on him and gave a small smile. Dennis, despite being twenty-one never felt too old to hang out with the younger cousins.

"Be good." Philly's mom told her as the blonde bent over and kissed her daughter on the forehead.

"[color=82ca9d]Don't do anything Dad wouldn't do.[/color]" Philly said back. Her mouth raised into a crocked smile. It was a long running joke, because there wasn't a lot her father wouldn't do. And speaking of the Devil...

"I heard that!" Her dad shouted over to them.

Both mother and daughter shared a laugh before hugging.

"I love you." Said her mother.

"[color=82ca9d]Love you too.[/color]" Said Philly. They detached and her mother did her best to look like she wasn't crying. Philly was polite enough to not point out that she was failing. 

"The Horse is here." Devin pointed out as the beater rolled to a stop. A female head stuck itself out the window.

"Ah, the Moores. Always a pleasure." Pluto winked before pulling her head back inside. Both of her male relatives were already getting in the car, aided by Pluto who had exited the magical vehicle. Philly grabbed her bags and followed with one last wave to her family.

"Don't forget to write!" Aunt Jane called out to her daughter Lynn as the girl climbed in last, accepting her room assignment.

"I wont!" Was the last thing Philly heard before the door closed. The Peregrine lurched even as the five of them were making their way down the stairs.

"Watch it!" Steven shouted up as he finally made it to the landing of the second floor. Philly could only see the top of his bushy red hair. "People on stairs!" He helped the rest of them into their rooms. 

The ride to Salem was uneventful. The five of them shared their adventures over the summer and also sought out old friends. As they neared the school the five regrouped and prepared to disembark. Which was why they were all together when the Peregrine slammed to a halt. They quickly ran to a window and peered out. They were surrounded by a bunch of angry Centaurs!

Both Babs and Lynn took this turn of event terribly. Lynn began to sniffle, out of fear and Babs quickly followed. Philly quickly gathered her younger cousins to her and together with Devin sough to soothe them.

"It's okay. There's just a little misunderstanding. But the Headmistress will clear it up." Devin said, running his hand through Lynn's hair. Though he was speaking to the young girls, his eyes meet Philly's. There was something wrong and they both knew it.

"[color=82ca9d]Someone probably pulled a prank last year.[/color]" Philly added. "[color=82ca9d]That got them all riled up even now. Or,[/color]" She paused with a mischievous look. "[color=82ca9d]A student finally figured out how to avoid going to school. Get the Centaurs to block the road. Genius, but a real inconvenience.[/color]"

That illicited a giggle from the girls and lightened the tone of the room.

"I want to shake their hand." Lynn confessed. "That's brilliant." Her cry was slowly abating.

"I'd want to punch them in their di--" Devin started only to be cut off by Philly covering his mouth.

"[color=82ca9d]Language![/color]" She snipped, sending both girls into peals of laughter.

While Philly and Devin were calming Babs and Lynn, Steve had left the room to try and see if anyone knew anything. Since, the really strange thing was neither Pluto nor Mercury would say what was going on. Only that they should remain calm and it'll all be sorted. Even googling the event didn't come up with much. Much to his extreme frustration.

By the time the incident was resolved the five had retreated to Philly's room, since they were there already when this all started, and ended up dog piled on the bed around the younger girls. None of three older Moores said anything, but they all knew something was wrong. Badly wrong.

When they moved to the Lounge, the older Moores made a human barrier around Lynn and Babs to protect them from the crush of human bodies. They had chosen a spot against the wall, but with a clear view of teachers as they stood as silent sentinels by the door. The silence was oppressive. Apart from the conversation of the occasional student. Dread covered everything. It mingled with the heat of too many bodies.

When the door opened, it was a relief, a breath of fresh air. The Professor augmented his voice with magic. But with the silence they could have heard a pin drop unaided. 

[quote=Professor Endy]Students of Salem, I ask you to be patient as we settle everything out. For now, however, the outside is off limits to students and to travel outside will lead to suspension and possible expulsion. We would like you all to either wait here, in the Lounge, or make your way to the Great Hall for dinner if you are hungry. But please stay away from the outdoors and the dorm rooms.[/quote]
The lack of news was very telling. Along with the dire restrictions. 

Lynn, too young to quite understand the real and present danger, understood enough and started crying again. Devin quickly swept her up in his arms.

"[i]Great Hall.[/i]" Her cousin mouthed. With the uproar by the students there was no way that Philly would have heard him otherwise. The press of bodies became more uncomfortable as everyone tried to move at the same time. Philly would have none of that. As Steven picked up Babs, who bless her heart was trying to remain calm, Philly pulled out her wand and muttered a small spell. It was a simple thing, a small increase in her presence, to aid her making a path through the students. 

As soon as they escaped the Lounge they took a moment to regroup next to a wall.

"[color=82ca9d]Great Hall.[/color]" Philly said finally after they had caught their breath with fresh air. It was more an acknowledgment of Devin's earlier mouthed statement and a push to get them moving again. She also had pulled her shirt away from her body to help the sweat dry. If they couldn't go to the dorms, food was their best option.[hr][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/XdNSi7b.png[/img][/center]Ash's day was much less interesting. He got on a bus headed to the capital. Got off and boarded the King Tutt. No one had seen him off. Both his mother and sister did their best to ignore this part of his life.

Once inside the dingy car he made it to his room where he napped. He didn't awake until the commotion. And he only moved as far as the common area on his floor once he realized they weren't actually at Salem. Close, but not quite. He listened to the other students as they chattered excitedly about the turn of events.

Ash listened for a while, but as soon as they ran out of new speculation and started rehashing what had already been said, he retreated back to his room and took another nap.

In the Lounge he found himself a spot on one of the couches. Of course he had to practically sit on someone else, but he didn't mind. The person under him did, but he didn't. After the Professor finished Ash felt far more awake than he had been all day. There was a tightness to his skin, like it was stretched too far. And he was too hot too. But still he didn't move. He just couldn't muster up the wherewithal.

Instead he watched as the other students trickled out of the Lounge.