Week 3 Day 2 Loren - What is Going on?

When Sky woke up, she was in her room. To her left below the window was the small, cherry wood desk and chair. It was obvious how old and well used they were from their numerous scratches and nicks. In fact, everything in the room from the washed out, lumpy sofa to the dented, oak dresser, had clearly been in use for a long time.

Sky got out of bed and stretched. She felt well rested and hungry, as if she'd slept long past the time when she normally ate breakfast. Enjoying the feeling of waking up slowly, Sky walked to the window and looked out. Her eyes widened as she saw several flocks of females dressed in school uniforms, hurrying towards the school.

That meant it was Alontil, the first day of the week. Sky glanced at the clock on the wall. It read 7:45. Class started in just fifteen minutes.

Throwing on a clean uniform and ignoring how hungry she felt, Sky raced to the classroom. She entered the room and doubled over panting as the crystals chimed the start of class.

"So, you stupidly did not leave." Instructor Drakkon commented loudly. Sky looked up at him in surprise. She shook her head and walked to her usual spot under the windows. "Do not ignore me when I deign to talk to you." He snapped. Sky met his gaze as a wave of anger hit her.

Suddenly, her mouth felt smaller than usual. She traced her tongue over her teeth and felt a sharp edge scratch it's surface.

Frowning, she asked, "What would you like me to say?" Instructor Drakkon's jaw tightened as the rest of the class jeered.

"How about an apology for your disgusting human stench?" Alyssa drawled.

Nix sneered, "Her appearance is worse."

"What about an apology for imposing her foul person on us for so long and her word that she'll go back to that class of losers where she belongs." Vael suggested. The class laughed and several of them nodded enthusiastically. Sky looked around to see how Dain was taking this, but his seat was empty, so were those of West, Lorien and Uriel.

"That's not far enough." Rage said firmly. Raking a hand through his hair, it was down today, he turned and looked at Sky with a false smile. "You must find it so terrible here on Gothe, what with all of us creatures treating you so poorly. I'll tell you what, I'll pay for your passage on a ship going to Lyon. In exchange you have to promise you'll never come back." Sky's eyes widened in surprise. It was meant as an insult, but it wasn't all that bad of an offer.

Lyon was the other major continent on Gothelyon. The Higher Creatures lived on Gothe. When the War of the Races ended with their victory, they exiled all the Lower Creatures to Lyon. The Lessers did not fight in the war as they did not unify into tribes or countries. After the war ended, they were culled and now only existed in small numbers in the untamed wilds. Apparently, the forest behind the school was one such place.

Lower Creatures fell somewhere on the evolutionary ladder between Higher Creatures and Lessers. Supposedly they were vicious, violent, and war-like but Sky knew quite well that history was written by the victors. She had several books on Lower Creatures which led her to believe that they might not be as they were made out.

"Well, how 'bout it?" Rage pressed when she'd been silent for too long. "You can find a nice ogre and-"

"No, she will not be going to Lyon." Instructor Drakkon said interrupting him. Rage glared at him. Instructor Drakkon ignored him and turned to Sky. "I wanted you to say that you had realized that I was right and you didn't belong in this class; that you were joining class S because that is where you belonged. An apology wouldn't have gone amiss either."

"I belong here." Sky pouted drawing her knees into her chest and wrapping her arms around them. She turned her eyes on the floor because she could see a fine web of small blue lines on Instructor Drakkon's neck and for some reason looking at them made her feel like she had a metal claw clenching in her gut. She was very hungry.

"Fine." Instructor Drakkon said coldly. He promptly began calling attendance.

As he was finishing, the door burst open and Aven appeared in the doorway flushed and wide-eyed.

"I'm in the middle of taking attendance."

"Is everyone alright?" Aven asked in a slightly frantic tone as his eyes roved across each person in the room. Instructor Drakkon turned and stared at him.

"Yes of course we are. Why wouldn't we be and where have you been all week?" Instructor Drakkon's tone was irritated and confused as he questioned Aven, who ignored him.

Aven crossed the room and stopped before Sky. She could see a sheen of sweat on his skin.

"Come on, Skylar. It isn't safe for you to be here." He held out his hand expectantly. Sky just looked at him her eyes wide in surprise and a soft, round oh on her lips. Aven's eyes fell to her mouth and he sighed. "You're hungry again. Come on, I'll get you something to eat." He said resignedly. The entire class stared at him in shock.

"I know you have some strange notions about things like kindness and hunger because of how you grew up, but since when did they apply to humans?" Instructor Drakkon asked walking over. Since Aven's only response was to stiffen, Instructor Drakkon looked down at Sky. He frowned. "What wrong with your teeth?"

An intoxicatingly delicious, rich, masculine odor filled Sky's nose and clung to her tongue. It reminded her of, well, in terms of deliciousness it was like a vanilla ice cream cone drizzled with strawberry syrup. Her mouth watered.

She jumped to her feet. She was so hungry. She had to find that smell.

She sniffed the air. It was coming from Instructor Drakkon's direction. She got closer to him and closer still. She sniffed again. It was coming from his chest. Sniff. No, it was coming from his exposed, bronze neck.

Standing on her tip toes to reach him, her tongue flicked out and lightly licked his skin. That was it! She just needed to-

She was yanked away. Looking up at Aven, who'd grabbed her, she pouted.

"I'm staaarving." Sky whined.

"I told you, I'd get you food." He said softly as he started pulling her from the room. Sky looked back at Instructor Drakkon.

"But I-"

"No." Aven said firmly.

"Did she just lick me? What the Other is going on, Aven?" Instructor Drakkon demanded, now recovered from his shock. Aven paused at the door and looked at him.

"I don't know. The Magical Oversight Committee is investigating." He said. Then he pulled Sky from the room.