Elysia stepped out of the boat, holding her blue jacket tighter around her. The jeans and butterfly covered t-shirt beneath weren’t keeping her very warm on their trip across the water, and the chill still ran up her while the spray hit towards their backs. She hesitated saying anything, large hazel eyes drifting to the wooden staircase they were surely meant to scale. Glancing behind her, she saw their ferryman rowing back away, and she knew there was no turning back. [b]”Hmm…”[/b] she breathed softly, before turning back and watching first a red haired boy try climbing the stairs, but then get frightened back by dipping seagulls. Her eyebrows knitted together at the mean old birds.

Well, this was not the welcome Kirona had painted for Eysia’s mind before she left. She had barely gotten to say goodbye to her father before she was taken away to the boat either. Whatever knowledge she’d gained over her short life span, she could only hope it was enough. After all, she had no idea what these others could do or how much training they’d had. She was sure they were all incredibly talented though.

A braver boy than the first began to ascend the stairs, and Elysia looked to the others, specifically the red haired boy who had tried first. [b]”It’s alright! Look! He’s fine! Let’s go!”[/b] she smiled brightly, bringing a ray of sunshine to the meek atmosphere before moving quickly from where her feet had been planted. She stood at the base of the staircase, beginning to hop from one step to another in a sort of game, smiling and giggling with each creak. Her sneakers squeaked while the wood groaned, until she had second thoughts about jumping, especially when splinters began cracking off to the side of the planks. Taking a moment, she then began moving quickly and lightly until she was right behind the boy with the blue scarf. [b]”Get out of here!”[/b] she scolded the birds surrounding both of them now, a frown on her face as she waved her arms at them in protest between calm hums of a song from home seeping between her tan lips.

[b]”They’re ugly, hungry things, huh?”[/b] she called to the boy ahead of her, glancing behind to see if anyone else had followed.