Sunflower

"When your past catches up to you."

"May 20th." Keziah said as she took the cup from him. His sudden question of the year made her pause and look at him with wide eyes. Surely he hadn't hit his head too? "It's 1775...you don't have any history of hitting your head, repeatedly, do you?" She asked. Keziah and Samuel had given him a once over, with her tending to his wound and him checking the man for any other injuries. Samuel had objected when she had opened the man's shirt. He claimed that her modesty was at stake and she'd leveled a glare at her brother in response. Keziah had seen a man's body before, knew what everything did and looked like. She was Samuel's nurse for crying out loud! She had tended to his sick and injured patients when he could not, and more often than she liked to admit, it meant wiping butts and cleaning soiled linens.

The woman filled the cup for a third time, dipping it into a large bucket of water that was on the old oak table her parents had left to her. It technically was part of her dowry, hand carved and expensive. Her father, bless his heart, had thought she would have married the man she'd been courting. She thought so too until this war had started up. She left the cup on the oak table and grabbed what remained of the loaf of Bread Samuel had brought the other day. It was crunchy but at least it was food. With the fighting going on outside she couldn't go to the market or even out into her garden yet.

"Supper will be ready in a few hours. Eat this for now. It isn't much but it's all I have right now." She held the bread out to him, watching him closely. He looked no different than any man she'd pass on the street but she could tell there was something a little off about him. Perhaps her views were colored because she found that she couldn't trust many men nowadays.

She would have started supper now but with the man laying on the table that she usedto prepare meals. (Her father had forbid her from using the expensive table across the room to cut vegetables on. "No daughter of mine is having a tarnished table as part of her dowry!" He exclaimed.)

She busied herself with washing the vegetables that she took from her garden the other day. When Samuel finally came back into her small home, he gave the now awake man a hard look beofre turning to his sister. Samuel was a bit more traditional like their mother was, and by contrast Keziah was the opposite. This was a time of war, a time when the usual rules didn't apply because men fighting for their lives don't play by the rules. The fighting outside died down and it was a miracle that no Lobsterbacks came in and demanded that Samuel tebd to their wounded. They even would have likely asked for Keziah's help too.

He pulled his sister aside and kept his voice low as he spoke to her. "Peter is dead."

Peter had been one of Samuel's good friends for as long as Keziah could remember. He had often taunted Samuel that they would become brothers because he planned to marry Keziah. It had been a joke of course but sometimes the look that Peter got in his eye when looking at Keziah made her stomach turn. Keziah was rather plan, mousy almost, and that was fine with her. It wasn't until she'd woken with sharp pain in her belly and blood on her thighs that she'd actually started to look like a woman. That was when Peter started to look at her differently. She just looked at her brother with a shocked expression, unable to say anything. They'd already lost so many people they had known.

"He was killed less than an hour ago." Peter had, like many they knew, sided with the Patriots. He firmly believed that they could rule themselves. "I will see if they need any help patching up their wounded." Samuel told her. "Please keep an eye on my wife," he looked at the other man again, "and you know what to do if he behaves inappropriately."

Samuel left again, cramming his hat onto his head and straightening his jacket as he closed the door behind him. Keziah released the breath she'd been holding. Seeing her brother go out there, to where men had died and were dying, made her nervous. With their father living so close to Lexington, where a battle had taken place not so long ago, she didn't want to lose Sam too. Elizabeth and her baby would need him as well. She wiped her sweaty hands on her apron and returned to preparing the vegetables. Her brow furrowed as she weighed her options of letting the man rest on the hard table or giving him a chair so she could use that same table. In the end Keziah decided that a few cuts in the oak table wouldn't diminish it's price.

"What is your name?" She asked, looking back at the man as she put a few clean potatoes on the oak table.

"When your past catches up to you."

Things were changing and she didn't know if it was for the better. Good men were fighting hard and their wives, mothers and daughters were giving as much support as they could but it seemed like no matter how hard they tried, the fighting was getting worse. Honestly, she couldn't believe that they were one of the last remaining Patriot families on the block, well several blocks actually. Which made it a bit dangerous now. The rest had up and left, fleeing to the countryside before they closed off Boston. She had wanted to flee as well but her brother refused, saying that his wife in her delicate condition (see: pregnancy) wouldn't be able to tolerate the journey. In the end she had stayed because they were the only family she had left.

They were currently crammed into her small home, waiting for the fighting outside to stop. Her sister-in-law was resting in her room while the strange man that her brother had drug in was in the second bedroom.

"Keziah?"

She looked up at the sound of her name and quickly finished washing her hands in the basin before wiping them on her apron. Her brother, Samuel, stood in the doorway. He was a fine man, ten years her senior with dark hair and eyes. He held out his waddedup shirt to her. He wanted to wear fresh clothes, not ones covered in a stranger's blood. The woman sighed and took he shirt from him, dumping it with the other linens that needed washing. Therw wasn't much that hey could do right now, other than hope and pray that everything calmed down soon enough.

Samuel watched his sister, feeling a pang of guilt that he had forced her into this. She shared the same hair as him, dark with slight curls, but her eyes were a light shade of green with a hint of brown in them. There were dark circles under her eyes, making her appear much older than her twenty one years. She looked like their mother greatly and even had the same spattering of freckles across her cheeks and nose. Her dark green dress was one that their mother has made and the apron tied around her waist had been their mother's. Samuel only knew because there was a small patch on the middle of the apron that their mother had sewn on after she'd accidentally burnt a hole through it.

"Go see if Elizabeth needs water." Keziah told him. Samuel might have been a doctor but he'd never dealt with pregnant women. Keziah was a midwife, although she had no formal training. She was also the reason why the young man in the second room was stitched up. Women usually tore with giving birth so learning to sew someone up was essential to her job. Samuel's hands had been shaking too badly to do it. He'd almost been caught in the crossfire...

"I will not leave you with that man!" Samuel kept his voice quiet. He doubted the man would wake so soon but Elizabeth didn't know about their uninvited guest.

Keziah sighed and listened to her brother. "Just because the man I was courting before all of this started turned out to be a Loyalist doesn't mean that every man is one." That had been a topic that was rather...sensitive. The man that she had been courting the past few years had been nice, pleasant to speak to and had pretty blue eyes, but once the tension rose and Keziah sided with the Patriots because that's who her brother had sided with, he'd shown a different side of himself that had frightened her. A few weeks later he had been killed in a small skirmish out beyond Boston.

"And he is our patient, brother. We cannot just leave him there." She pointed out.

It was Samuel's turn to sigh. "Fine, but I will come to check on you and the door stays open." He grabbed a pewter cup of water and took it to his wife.

Keziah took the time to go check on their patient. His clothes had been a little funny, but that might have been because they didn't look well worn like a soldier's uniform should. She grabbed a cup of water and a rag dipped in cool water for him. "Oh. You're awake." It was more of a statement than a question. She really have ought to have been a bit more reserved and polite, like she'd been raised, but right now she didn't care. Her mother was probably rolling in her grave though. Her mother had always been a traditionalist.

She held cup of water out to him. His wounds weren't serious. He'd survive them and that meant thay he'd heal up quickly. And it was in her experience not only as a midwife but as a nurse that men didn't like being treated like glass.

New Beginnings {Arista & Sunflower}

Osamu was the one to tell them about Kouri. His eyes remained focused on the small wolf and eventually he dropped the hand that had been on Koharu's had back down to his side. "Long ago, before this village was founded, this land and been nothing but hardships for our ancestors. They were attacked by outside forces, by monsters and men alike...and then they learned of the protector of this land. Back in those days our clans used to be fairly close," He glanced at the old woman next to Akaya.

"They found this protector and worked together to break the seal that was binding him to a prison and in return he was to help them protect the village."

Koharu was taking in Osamu's words. She looked down at the ground before glancing at the wolf. The animal felt safe, like she could trust him and the warm feeling that radiated from her mark helped greatly to soothe her. "Our clans have been tied to Kouri since then and every generation or so there is always a child born in each clan bearing the mark." Osamu asked Koharu to show Kasmui what he was talking about. She pushed her bangs out of the way, swallowing the lump in her throat before facing her teammate.

"As they are bound to Kouri and he to them, you are as well. Although you are a teammate you play an important part in helping them." The Wakahisa clan leader said to the boy. Koharu let her bangs fall over her forehead again and she glanced at Akaya, wondering if she felt nervous too. Her attention went to Kouri again.

Minoru placed a hand on Kasumi's shoulder. "As a teammate you must help them just like you would if they didn't have Kouri, alright? They're here for you too." He didn't want the boy to feel pressured because of their link to Kouri. Minoru wondered if Kasumi should know that he was picked specifically for this team. He assumed that it would be unwise to lay anything else onto the boy when this alone was a heavy enough burden.

@Arista

New Beginnings {Arista & Sunflower}

They were joined by Minoru and Souma a block and a half before the Aisukage's office. It was the tallest building in the village, housing other official offices, and the academy. Souma was talking a mile a minute about something or another, Koharu wasn't paying much attention. Their sensei looked about ready to just knock the blond man out when they finally reached the top of the stairs that connected to a short corridor. At the end of the small hallway was the Aisukage's office.

Souma knocked on the door and entered before they did, instructing the two girls to stand by their respective clan heads. The purple haired man from earlier was there, standing closest to the window. With one quick glance at her teammates, Koharu took up a spot next to the man but still close enough to her team in order to not seem so distant.
"Lighten up Osamu. You've turned the girl into your clone!" Souma chuckled, poking fun at the Wakahisa leader and his heir. They both wore similar thin-lipped expressions.
"You need to learn to speak to your elders with respect." Osamu said, folding his hand over the sword strapped to his hip. He was their senior by twelve years, not much but enough to make a difference in his mind. Back when they were younger both Souma and Minoru had been mentored by Osamu for some time, Minoru a few years longer than Souma. He'd been nicer then, less reserved but still just as serious. Minoru assumed the loss of his sons nearly a year and a half ago changed him.

"Father." Koharu said softly, turning to look at the man, "Can you please not look at my friend that way?" Osamu had been practically glaring at Akaya (even though that was his normal look and just how he looked at everyone.)

Osamu was caught off guard by her request; it was very rare for Koharu to speak to him without being spoken to first. He nodded, resting a hand on her hair in an uncommon display of affection. He was a distant man, one who rarely let his emotions show, but he was still capable of providing some form of affection - she was his heir after all and they did spend large amounts of time together training and furthering her education. The action even made Minoru and Souma send the older man questioning glances.

When the door opened Koharu's attention was drawn to the figure in the doorway. The moment the bag was placed on the table Osamu had returned her hand to Koharu's hair in a comforting gesture. He'd explained very little about the mark and what it meant, Koharu only knew that it was important for her to have. Osamu's own mother had been born with the mark. She passed just before his sons were born and it was a rather painful topic so he'd never told Koharu about her. When the little creature revealed itself the young heir mirrored Akaya's actions and brought her fingers to her forehead.

@Arista

A Clarior Futura {Arista & Sunflower}

The following day when the students were in the Great Hall eating breakfast when the Headmaster made the announcement that some of the students had fallen ill and had been taken to St. Mungos for treatment. Some rumors were swirling around that the sick students were being used in experiments, being sold as slaves or had died. The Headmaster also asked for the students to keep an eye on each other and anyone exhibiting symptoms must report to the Healer immediately. There had been a seventh year and a fourth year in Hufflepuff who'd been taken for treatment. It hit Silas a little close to home as they were both students that he'd see daily and he talked to them a few times. Adella was taking it a bit harder as the fourth year Hufflepuff was someone that she tutored in Charms.

Adella was quiet and said very little when she did manage to speak. She was feeling so guilty even though none of it was her fault. Silas was sitting next to her and unlike the others who kept trying to get her to talk; he just left her alone unless it was to ask for her to pass something from the middle of the table. They had a mutual understanding that if they didn't want to talk then the other wouldn't press them.

Eventually Adella turned to him and gave a soft sigh. "We should get going to our classes." She wanted to get away from everyone. Silas nodded and helped her up; ever since the news broke she'd been shaking.

They walked to the library rather than their classes. Adella was explaining a few things about the fourth year that she'd been tutoring and how she wanted to go see her.

Silas nodded, remaining quiet so she could talk as much as she wanted to.

@Arista

New Beginnings {Arista & Sunflower}

Minoru and Smouna joined the three students nearly a block and a half away from the Aisukge's office. Souma explained that the meeting was just to ensure that everyone was on the same page and to explain a few things to the girls. The Aisukage's office was located within the tallest and largest building in the village. It not only housed her office but it also housed other offices for other village officials, a simple barracks for the shinobi to come and go to if they couldn't go home, this included for visiting shinobi as well, and the academy. Souma led them up a small flight of stairs that connected to a small corridor. "It's the very last door in the hallway." He said before turning back down the stairs in order to get a few things.

Minoru greeted the Aisukage before introducing his team. Koharu bowed to the woman and gave a polite smile before looking down to the floor. Souma had explained that Osamu would be attending the meeting as well. He'd yet to arrive and Koharu was feeling a little nervous about it.

Not long after the door opened again and the man from earlier walked in followed by Souma. "Wakahisa-san." Minoru said with a bow to Osamu. In their younger years he'd mentored both Minoru and Souma, although Minoru had stayed under his wings longer than Souma had. Osamu gave a polite greeting before taking a spot closest to the windows. Koharu moved to stand a little closer to him.

"Aw would you look at that. Like father like daughter." Souma teased. After the loss of his own sons a year and a half ago, Osamu had become colder than before but he'd always been a little distant and cold. Osamu shot him a glare before Souma hid behind the white haired woman. Minoru chuckled and shook his head.

"Some things never change."

@Arista

A Clarior Futura {Arista & Sunflower}

Ugh potions.
It wasn't that Silas hated the class. He got average grades and did his best...it was the people he was usually paired with that made him dislike the class. He'd admit that he was quite the pushover, doing as they said because he couldn't afford to get expelled for fighting. Silas honestly didn't know if he'd get expelled or not but he didn't want to find out. Once he entered the class he took a seat near the front and waited for the professor to arrive.

Beside him was a fellow Hufflepuff, one that he rarely talked to anymore. Once they used to be friends, they had been on the Quiddtch team together and Silas felt like they had a good bond. After his accident that ended his venture into the sport, they drifted apart and just stopped talking all together. The light haired male next to him gave Silas a brief glance before looking back to the front of the room. When the professor, a small woman with graying hair tied into a neat bun that seemed a little too tight, entered the room Silas was among a few students who greeted her. She was a wonderful professor, a bit funny and unconventional but she was willing to be patient and listen to Silas when he wanted to complain about his partners. The woman grinned widely and returned the warm hellos before having the students line up to get their books.
Silas and his partner walked quietly to the small closet that held the books; Silas grunted when his partner none-too-kindly shoved his potions book into his hand.

Oh this was going to be a fun year indeed.
He was sure that his sister would cry if he wrote about this, so he' probably leave it out of his letter to her later. Back at their shared table, Silas took out a sheet of parchment and his quill before beginning to write his sister's name in neat script along the top of the parchment. She had always loved his handwriting. The professor was simply going over a few things like the general rules of the class and safety instructions so most of the students seemed to drift into daydreams and a few seemed to totally skip daydreaming and went straight to dreamland. His partner was among some of the few to pay total attention to the teacher. Silas was listening to her, every once in a while he'd drift into his thoughts for a few moments before coming back to reality at the sound of her voice.

He only looked up when she began asking about the various ingredients that they had learned about over the past six, well now seven years that they had been attending Hogwarts. Silas was silently praying that she'd skip over him once she began calling on students. When his name was called, the blue eyed teen wondered how hard he'd have to hit his desk with his face to go to the Healing wing.

"Mister Hayward, please tell the class what this is." The professor held up a small clear jar with dried roots in it.

Silas stood up, as had the other students before him, she was stickler for such things, "Valerian root. It's used in the Draught of Living Death." His fingers nervously tugged at the end of his sleeve until she allowed him to sit down, then she called on the boy next to him.

---

What a hell of a way to start school. A mediwitch with curly black hair cut to just below her ears ran into Astana's office and rummaged around for the list of out-patients. There were dark rings under her eyes and she seemed ready to drop over within the next few minutes. One of her own children had fallen victim and she'd be damned if she let another child die of this...whatever it was.

"Victoria."

A soft hand on her arm stopped her for a moment. "You need to rest, let us handle it." The woman shook her head and continued leafing through the papers until she came across the correct one. A total of eight students were at Hogwarts and she passed the list onto another mediwitch before rushing to aid the remaining patients. Owls were sent out to the school and the families of the patients. It would be cruel to not notify them.
Victoria sighed softly and did her round with the more stable patients.

@Arista

New Beginnings {Arista & Sunflower}

I'm going to dealing with a cranky toddler today so I won't post tonight.

@Arista

New Beginnings {Arista & Sunflower}

The dark haired man gave his three students a smile. "I will leave that up to you. Since this is technically a mission I'm required to go with you, even though it's only around the village. I will not interfere nor will I dictate your moves. You must decide things as a team and I want to see that you're all capable of doing so." Minoru gathered the file before closing it and setting it back onto the table just shy of his cup.

"You will be required to meet with the Aisukage soon, all of you. Kasumi there are things about your teammates that you must know." Minoru wanted to rip the bandaid off right now. Better now than later, which could lead to a chance that the boy would loose trust in his teammates. Koharu's serious face cracked and Minoru could see the nervousness that pushed it's way to the top. The other patrons paid them no attention as Minoru spoke. He lowered his voice as an extra precaution; who knows what someone would do if they happened to catch wind but would fail to understand the importance of what he was saying. "Their clans, the Moriya and Wakahisa have been in this village since the beginning...and the beginning is where we shall start.

The clan heads of the Moriya and Wakahisa found Kouri, a beast that has given protection in times of need. Every few generations one member from each of their clans is born with a link to Kouri."

Koharu was staring down at the table. Her hands were wrapped around the small beige colored tea cup and Minoru could see the way that her knuckles were beginning to turn white.

---

Souma gave the woman a nod before disappearing from hsr office. Minoru wasn't hardto find, the man was a creature of habit after all. Souma was surprised that he was telling the odd man out, Kasumi, about the history of the Moriya ans Wakahisa. "Couldn't wait for Aisukage-sama to tell him?" Souma teased lightly. He had been a classmate of Minoru's and the two had been on the same team for a while before moving to the next rank together and taking different paths. They rarely spoke nowadays, and even when they did it was minimal.

"I didn't know if she would tell him or not. I assume that she's called for them?" Minoru said as he stood up.

Koharu turned to watch the blond man before turning her attention to her teammates. "Are you okay Kasumi? Akaya?" Nit many people outside of their clans knew about Kouri or their links to him. She didn't want Kasumi to think they were freaks.

Souma smiled softly. There was a great deal ofthe typical Wakahusa coldness in the girl but he could see that she was a bit worried that her teammate would have an unsavory opinion about them. Souma explained that they needed to head to the Aisukage's office while he asked Minoru a few questions. Before Minoru could protestthat his team needed him there, Souma sent them away.

@Arista

New Beginnings {Arista & Sunflower}

I'm going to change my posting to every other night until I can get back on track with consistently posting each night.

@Arista