Relaxing By The Lake!, Open To Any!

[Zarah Lyam]

Zarah left the commonroom with Korali prodding close beside her and headed through the school and out onto the grounds. The afternoon air was a bit chilly, but Zarah was used to the cold and it didn't bother her the least.

Zarah headed over toward the lake, slowly, her hand was on Korali's head as they walked. 'You know Korali...this is a nice place and all...but I don't like being inside at all!' she thought to the wolf. {I agree sister....too confining!} Korali replied.

As they neared the lake, Zarah noticed a tree close to the edge of the lake and strolled over to it, taking a seat on the ground. Korali curled up next to her, placing his head in her lap.

{But sister....it was imperitive that you came here or all will fail...your worl will fail!} Korali told her, as Zarah placed her hand on his head and began scratching behind his ears,

'I know brother...I know!' Zarah replied, as she looked around at the nearly deserted grounds. It was early afternoon, and she didn't have classes yet, but she wondered where all the students were.

[joeashter]

Joe shoved his hands into his pockets as he strolled down through the corridors, having just emerged from the Gryffindor Common Room and decided to head out to the grounds for some fresh air.

Once outside, he headed straight for the courtyard, away from view as he undid the bandages on his left hand, eventually calling out Kaizer, who formed himself on Joe's palm until he was the size of an owl and sat himself leisurely on Joe's shoulder.

Joe breathed a sigh of relief. "It's rather annoying that we have to keep this such a secret, Kai."

'I agree. But what can we do? With you being a Dragon Samurai, it would be quite difficult for the other students to understand,' started Kaizer.

"Yeah.. You're right.."

[Zarah Lyam]

{Sister wolf?} Korali said to Zarah, just as she spotted someone crossing the grounds, heading toward the Courtyard. 'Yes Brother wolf?' she replied as she watched the boy.

At this distance, she was unable to make out who it was. Korali followed her gazed. {It's that Joe boy from the train Sister wolf!} he said. 'Well, let's go see him then! We've got nothing better to do!'Zarah replied as she stood up and started to head toward the Courtyard.

As they approached the Courtyard, she heard Korali's mental voice again. {He speaks to someone, Sister wolf! Someone who is not human!} he said. 'Then he can mindspeak to animals like me? That's great!' she replied as she continued to walk on.

{Zarah...wait!} Korali said, and she stopped and looked down at him. 'What?' she asked. {It's not a normal type of animal!} Korali responded. 'Then what is it?' Zarah asked him. {I'm not sure yet...but it might be best that you call out the boy's name first, before you just barge in on him.} Korali said. 'I suppose you are right Brother wolf.'Zarah replied.

She turned back toward the Courtyard, and though she could not see Joe, she knew him to be just on the other side of the Courtyard wall. She raised her hands to her mouth, to amplify her voice. "Joe? It's me Zarah...you know from the train. Didn't want to startle you or anything. I'm on the other side of the wall, but coming in." she called out. Then she started walking forward into the Courtyard, slowly...giving him time to do whatever he needed, so she didn't discover what he was doing, if that was his choice.

She then stopped, waiting just around the corner of the wall. She was curious to who...or rather what he spoke to....but she didn't want to be rude either and walk in on him. So she waited for his reply, without looking around the corner of the wall.

[joeashter]

Joe was the first to hear the approaching footsteps as he turned his head behind him.

'It's that girl Zarah and Korali the wolf from the train,' Kaizer said.

Yeah, I know... I saw them by the lake when we stepped out into the grounds, Joe replied mentally. You should head back now. I'll handle this situation myself, he added as he started redoing the bandage on his left hand as he watched Kaizer disappear from view.

'That photographic memory of yours does wonders for us. I don't have to be pointing out the obvious to you, right?' the dragon joked as Joe focused on the bandage on his left hand. 'And mind you, that burn might still be there for a few more days.'

Yeah, you told me so before we got on the train.

Upon hearing Zarah's voice from behind the wall, he finished the bandage and pulled his sleeve back down on it and got on his feet, bringing his right hand into his pocket while his newly bandaged left dangled from his side as he walked over to where she was.

"Needed to talk or something, Zarah?" Joe asked, stepping out from behind the other side of the wall.

[Zarah Lyam]

Zarah waited a bit longer than she had planned to, and was about to take a step when Joe came face to face with her. She stopped. "Umm...I was just a bit is all, and seen you come this way...and seeing that I really haven't met anyone else, I thought I'd come talk to you. But I didn't want to interupt you either. Korali said you were talking to someone, ans seeing that you were hiding behind this wall, Korali said it would be best to call out to you first instead of just walking in on you...so that's what I did!" she said.

"But if I'm disturbing you I can just go then." she said and started to turn away. She knew this boy had secrets, but she didn't care to know them, it wasn't her business to know them, she was just and wanted someone else to talk to besides the ghosts floating around inside the castle.

[joeashter]

Joe brought up his left hand and began scratching his cheek, looking out along the lake. "You weren't disturbing me. We can talk if you want to."

You just startled me, that's all.. Joe thought to himself.

[Zarah Lyam]

Zarah stopped and turned back to him. "Great! To be honest...I nearly ran headlong in there, when Korali stopped me." she said as she looked down at Korali for a moment and then looked around to be sure no one was around.

"He said you were talking to someone, though I heard no voice and I knew what he meant. Which is why I stopped. On the train I sensed that you held a secret, and Korali says you are a mindspeaker, but to what or who he didn't know, but it doesn't matter, we do not need to know! But do not be startled if Korali suddenly feels comfortable to speak to you, he has done that once that I know of....and the girl got pretty frightened by it." Zarah said as she gave a small laugh, remembering back on that scene, and then looking down fondly at the wolf.

[joeashter]

"Then I should be thanking you for that, then, Korali," Joe said, bending down to the wolf, giving it a small smile.

Nobody needs to know about it now.. But maybe soon.. When I think you're ready to accept that truth about me.. Joe thought to himself as he straightened back up and eyed Zarah.

"So where do you want to talk?" he asked her.

[Zarah Lyam]

Korali eyed the boy a moment as he bent down to him smiling. {'You are most welcome...she's young yet...which is why I am here with her....and don't worry she can't hear my words to you, Joe!'} the wolf told Joe as Joe straightened and spoke to Zarah.

Zarah smiled as she watched him bend down and talk to Korali, oblivious to Korali speaking to Joe. Korali has a way to block others out of his mind when he wants and needs to, and those people never even know it.

Zarah smiled when Joe straightened. "Anywhere is fine with me!" she said with a smile.

[joeashter]

Joe nodded at Korali and at Zarah. "Then I must insist that you choose the most relaxing place for you," Joe told Zarah.

[Zarah Lyam]

Zarah smiled, then looked toward the lake. "The lake would be the most relaxing, and calming too!" she replied and turned toward the lake. Atleast now she had something to do, but how long would it last?

Soon she'd be restless again, like a den full of wolves, but atleast for now she'd be content. She glanced back to see if Korali was following, though she knew there was no need, the wolf followed her everywhere.

[joeashter]

Joe nodded as he followed them to the edge of the lake, lowering his bandaged hand as he eventually sat down by the tree by the lake, bringing both hands to rest on the ground behind him as he stretched one of his legs out while the other foot stood its ground.

He looked out onto the lake for a while, gathering his thoughts.

[Zarah Lyam]

Zarah sat at the edge of the lake as she watched Joe relax by the very tree she had been leaning against earlier. Korali made himself comfortable between them, his head on Zarah's lap.

Zarah's gaze followed Joe's out over the water for a moment, then she looked back at him. "So Joe? Where are you from?" she asked wondering if that was the right question to ask. She had been away from others for so long, and not really sure of what questions were proper to ask.

She looked down at Korali, as if to get his advice on this, but his eyes were closed, and seemed to be asleep. She gave a small frown. "I'm sorry...I don't mean to pry...I just don't really know the proper questions to ask it seems!" she said as she looked out over the water, which seemed placid and dark.

[joeashter]

Joe side-glanced over to Zarah before returning his gaze out towards the lake. "From London, England.."

[Zarah Lyam]

Zarah gave a nod of her head as Joe replied to her question. "I've been there once, though I didn't stay long. Too many people bustling about, and people don't take too kindly to wolves." she said as she glanced down at Korali.

"I'm from all over, though I was born in Ireland." she said with a smile.