Vivii looked at the letter she had received the day after she had made her choice to attend this shindig and then looked around blankly. This was where she had been told to come, spent the last bit of extra money she had for a train ride to this small podunk town and now she was at a loss. Then she watched, mesmerized, as an orb of brilliant light materialized before her. She gathered it in the palm of her hands and inspected it as she stood perfectly still. Then the orb grew so bright she had to shut her eyes and even then the light was so brilliant it pierced through them and then it dimmed suddenly. As she opened her eyes again she found that she was in a different place.

It was so beautiful here that she was startled, her warm blue eyes needed to adjust slightly in the sunlight here. She blinked several times forcefully to be sure that what she was seeing was real. Even her small luggage case was here and the covered bird cage that contained her two finches was beside her just as it has been in the small park that she had been in before. 'Magic.' She thought as she looked around at this new place. It was insanity. Flowers bloomed and fell endlessly around her, a sweet floral scent filled her nose as she pushed her wild wavy hair behind her ear in an attempt to partially tame it or at least get it out of her face for the moment.

Suddenly the sunlight was gone and she was standing in a massive dark shadow and as she turned to look her eyes widened as she realized what has caused the darkness. Soaring above her was a colossal dragon, it appeared to be bright red in color and she simply couldn't believe her eyes. Her light blue loose button down shirt billowed in the gusts of air that came from the creature's wings and she pulled her aviator sunglasses away from the collar to put them on her face to cover her eyes from the variations in light. Vivii moved easily, long legs carrying her across the soft grass beneath her feet to the stone walk way that headed towards a large building that seemed to be carved into the side of a large mountain that stood before her. There were dragons flying all around and Vivii tried to not stare at them for fear of one seeing her. She was even more startled when a smaller dragons that was a pastel sky blue zoomed up to her and around her.

"Good Morning Madame, we are happy that you have arrived safely. There is a waiting area this way if you will follow me." She looked at the dragon, he was not speaking english but yet she understood him. It was a language that she had never heard other than the other lavender colored dragon speaking it. The dragon led her to an outdoor pavilion that was surrounded by beautiful plants. She could see a lake nearby that was the most beautiful shade of blue that she had ever seen in a lake, most of the time they were a murky brown but this was simply exquisite. The dragon bobbed his head watching her a moment before zooming away with a couple flaps of his wings.

It had been the craziest thing. What looked like a giant furry butterfly had dropped off some sort of letter about a dragonology school. Obviously, a viral marketing campaign using drones, though for what, Jenny couldn't figure. In any case, she immediately put it in the shredder without a second thought.

It was a few days later, and Jenny was cooking dinner in her apartment. As she turned to grab the pasta box, a light appeared in her hand. At first, she didn't understand what was going on, and then the words 'Take this letter and dispose of it' jumped into her head. And I... Oh. Oh my God.

The light seemed to bloom, becoming so bright she had to turn her head away. Thankfully, she didn't close her eyes, so she saw the incredible transformation of the room around her into a wide-open lakeside meadow, with actual, bona fide dragons. It was all too much by half for the young woman. She fainted dead away.

To say Graeden was ecstatic was an understatement. When he had been awoken from a brief nap by the sound of flapping wings only a day before he was certain he must of still been asleep. He quickly disproved that assumption with a quick pinch. Still it couldn't of been real, it had to be animatronic. Graeden never got the chance however to examine it close enough to see, the creature gave a curt nod and handed off a letter."Good day, Sire," it said before leaving as fast as it arrived. He curiosity had gotten the better of him and after reading the letter, found a quick means of disposing it by running it through a shredder he owned a few times over.

When the second letter had arrived, he had been awaken and immediately began to pack a luggage case even before the little reptilian creature was out the window. His mind didn't question the fact the letter asked for him to pretty much go to the middle of no where. His mind was to full of questions to think about it rationally at the time. He looked the letter once over upon arriving at his destination. Besides telling where to go it didn't say what to do next. He puzzled the though briefly before he caught a strange light out of the corner of his eye that grew closer and closer. It stopped only a few inches away from where Graeden stood. Graeden reached out to touch it but suddenly the light grew stronger, brighter then even the sun it seemed and he returned his hand, using it to shield his eyes.

When the light suddenly ceased, he removed his hand from his face and opened his eyes and let out an audible gasp at what was before him. Was he dead? Was it all merely a dream? A thousand thoughts a second went through his head at the sight before him. He wasn't in the middle of nowhere now it seemed, here the land seemed so vibrant and alive.

As he took in the sights, a shadow crept above him which caused him to look up and gawk in alarm. Above him was perhaps the largest creature he had seen, something he grew up thinking was merely mythical yet as clear as day there it was. A dragon in full form hovering just several feet above him, looking at him curiously before deciding Graeden was of no interest and heading into the sky above. Entering the building after a site, he wasn't entirely sure how he got there, his mind still on what he had just witnessed.

"Ah Sire, good to see you arrived in one piece," someone said, and Graeden looked down to be stunned again ",If you follow me please, I shall escort you to the waiting area." A small dragon spoke to him. He tried to form words but nothing came to his mouth. On autopilot he followed the tiny dragon to the waiting area. Someone else was all ready there but he hardly gave notice as he decided to sit down before his legs give way and try to process everything he was witnessing.

Jo sat on the balcony of her apartment and reread the letter once more. There was obviously some mistake here. There had to be. She had gone off her rocker. That could be the only explanation for a tiny green flying lizard flying through her open window and dropping the envelope into her lap. She shook her head and traced the neatly penned letter and the red wax seal that had closed it. There was an elegant "D" pressed into the wax. "Dispose of this letter or just let it sit...Do I want to see what happens?" She stopped herself. It was always bad luck to say 'what's the worst that could happen.'

She stood up and took the letter into the kitchen and flicked her lighter open. "Burn, baby, burn," She murmured and touched the flame to the corner of the parchment. It immediately went up in flames. Jo dropped the burning letter into the sink and let the ashes settle. Now to wait. She didn't have to wait long. A small orb of green/yellow light flashed across her vision. An orb of light rose from the drain in the sink and danced across the kitchen, sending swirling shadows all over the apartment. She took a step closer and impulsively reached for the orb of light.

A blinding white flash masked her sight for a brief moment. Disoriented, Jo fell to her knees in a desolate field. The dead grass crunched under her boots as she struggled to her feet. A voice out of nothing made her jump. "Hello, Miss. Glad you decided to join us." She looked around, confused. Her eyes landed on another flying lizard. This one was pink. "Miss? Are you alright?" The dragon cocked its head to the side and fluttered over to her, landing lightly on her shoulder. She fought the urge to shrug it off.

"y-yes. I'm fine. Where am I?" She asked the dragon and ran her fingers through her messy hair.

Not answering her, the dragon said, "please follow me to the waiting area. There you will be provided with further instructions." Jo nodded and followed the small pink dragon to a large waiting area full of plush sofas and chairs. There were a few people already sitting down. She sank down into the soft pillows of a large love seat. "holy crap," She muttered and looked around, trying to take everything in. This was too much.

Lucy had put much faith into this being real, the whole thing seemed like something she would do to someone else which made her understandably cautions. Yet she still came. Partially because it was such an odd letter to receive, it was English and she was in Japan. She had gotten a job in Okinawa teaching English to high school students though midway through the year it had gone from her teaching them to them teaching her basic Japanese in English, which surprisingly greatly improved many of the students English test scores. However, this thought was very much beside the point. What was relevant about this teaching situation was that she could reasonably conclude that one of her students had done this as an end of the year prank, they were much more tech savvy then even Lucy who had built a website from scratch. She assumed that it was a dressed up drone or something similar. Though even that was questionable but she was teaching seniors and she wouldn't put it past them, she had used many of her high school escapades into 'figure out how I did it' class discussions, which they actually seemed to like. So maybe they were like a force of Karma in the world, but part of her was sure this was real.

That little part of her was very sure in fact because said little part of her brain actually remembered what happened. No technology could have replicated the creature that approached her, it was too life-like, too real. Not to mention she had left the letter outside on accident and the Okinawa rainy season lived up to its name by pouring that afternoon and ruining the letter to the point that Lucy had to scrape it off the outdoor table to throw it away. Luckily she remembered where to go and now stood on a deserted beach , as most beaches were during the rainy season, with her she carried a worn duffle bag. A storm loomed overhead and with it wind and the sound of crashing waves and she waited semi-patiently though she wasn't sure for what. That was when the glowing started in her left hand, she briefly thought of ball lightning, a stupid thought because what was happening couldn't possibly be ball lightning. The light was becoming so incredibly bright that she just closed her eyes and turned away from her own hand. At least she was quite sure that this was what she was waiting for.

It took her a moment to realize there was no wind or the sound of waves anymore, even the smell of salt was gone. She ventured to open her eyes and she found that she was a big field but more importantly was what was above the field, Dragons. It wasn't a joke, it was real. Well that or she was gladly falling for the most elaborate ruse ever created. Lucy swallowed, her throat suddenly dry, possibly because her mouth was hanging open. Then she just nodded, this was all beyond amazing and her default was to just smile and appreciate the fact that her dreams had been answered. She was led to the waiting area by a little dragon, she would have attempted to have a conversation with the dragon but she decided there would likely be plenty of time for that, after all dragons were supposed to be like immortal or something. The dragon left her at a pavilion with three other people who were chosen. "I've a feeling we aren't in Kansas anymore." she gave a little laugh before taking a seat, by herself of course nobody knew each other yet so it was probably best not to make anything awkward.

Vivii

The young blonde found herself in the pavilion with several other people, all of them looking just as confused and amazed at their new surroundings as she was. The pavilion was beautiful, made of an iridescent white stone that was spiked through with a brilliant sparkling blue that ran like veins of water through the stone. Magnificent plants, the likes of which Vivii had never seen, spiraled, climbing up the stone columns that surrounded them and held the pavilion's roof aloft. They all sat on pristine white sofa's decorated with plush pastel colored pillows. They were not unlike the small dragons that seemed to be messengers. She still wasn't sure how she understood what they were saying, the language was fluid and beautiful. Not what one would expect from a dragon at all.

Vivii looked around at the others; an odd looking lad that appeared to be a bit older than she was and two girls who seemed to be pretty close to her own age. She gave them a nod, "You get teleported by a UFO after a set of letters delivered by the little dragons too?" She questioned of them, her voice was a smooth one with a unique accent. Something of a mixture of a southern drawl and a traditional London british accent thanks to her parents. Her mother was a quaint but wealthy southern belle while her father was a wealthy Londoner looking for a wife to please his father. Despite being the oddest couple Vivii had ever seen they were madly in love. They spent half the year in the cajun swamp on the estate her mother's family owned and the other half just outside of London on the estate her father's family kept. It was a different way of life but Vivii's parents had loved each other and loved her dearly, given her everything she could have ever thought of to ask for and then some. Another reason she had such exotic finches.

Thinking of the little birds she picked up the bird cage and hung it on a shepherds hook just beside the sofa where she was sitting. She carefully removed the cover so as not to dislodge the little birds from their perches. They were beautiful birds, elegant really, black with red bellies. Her female who she named Lola had small grey dots across her breast marring the brilliant red there. Their beaks sported a soft pastel blue and then faded to black at the tip. She loved them dearly. They seemed to like this new place, looking around eagerly and singing softly. She stuck her finger in the cage and petted Cheeky, the male of the pair as he rubbed her finger with his head affectionately.

"Yeah. I can scarcely believe it myself." Jenny's eyes flashed over to Vivi's birds. "Cute little fellas. Better be careful with them, though. These dragons might get hungry at one point or another." She shook her head. "Granted, some of them are so big they might eat us, too."

The excited whispers of fellow students, the air heavy with knowledge, baited breath warmed by the grand creatures that shook the ground with each step. Their claws dancing across the stone, glistening in ebony and ivory. They were beasts that Ariana gazed upon with unspoken words as the sun was blocked by vibrant colors of leathery wings. Sheer awe, silver eyes transfixed at this land that played before her, like a song that shall never be quelled.

It almost seemed like a disgrace, as though she were disrespecting these legends by not standing here on her own two feet. Still, she carried her head as high as those around her, trying not to be shaken by the seer power that have lived her years by a thousand fold. Her bags hanging behind her, weighing heavily on the bars that groaned in protest, the wheels of her chair sounding like the snapping of wire on a trash cane in comparison to the mighty heart beat that thumped against her ears.

"Stead fast child"
The words were like the raspy sound of creaking rusted iron. Brushing against her mind in a gentle wave that held no threat, yet demanded respect, that would not tolerate anything less. The raw power underneath such a voice caused Ariana's very soul to try and crack. "Y-yes?"
"I have sent for you long ago, what took you? I thought humans were in need of all the time they could gather."

The red head turned her gaze. Breath caught in her throat to finally be looking in the golden gaze of a beast that had seen generations rise and fall. Horns that were wider then herself, with scales of glistening ebony and patches of bronze, he reminded her of a warrior that the gods themselves would knight. Glistening jewels were his scales, they were dull, yet somehow shown so brilliantly that diamonds would forever be rocks in Ariana's mind.
"Well...you see I was faced with some stairs, I, I couldn't find my way around them for a while..."

"I heard enough excuses child. You will learn this place, and you will learn it fast. Do not allow yourself to be left in your peer's wake. Now, follow."
With his half growled words that held her mind captive. The lore began to move. His steps holding power unimaginable, yet with each click of the massive claws, not even the water that resided in one's cup would be stirred. Ariana, having no choice but to follow, stayed close behind, the waving of his tail reminding her of a grandfather clock the way it ticked back and forth with the end being decorated in talons.

Taking her through the halls, down ramps and past the judging gazes of her fellow students. Ariana was finally led to a room of white and blue tile. The color almost blinding her, Ariana looked up at her guide only for him to look irritated at her hesitation. "Go"

Quickly she nodded, read mane floating about her form before grabbing her wheels and making her way in. "Thank you.." But she gained no response, he was already leaving. Odd, he reminded her of a stubborn old book that refused to open because the pages fused together.
Looking around, the red head took a sigh. There were others here, others her own age. "Its quite nice to see humans. So? Anyone want to tell me if I'm dreaming or not?"

Rolling her chair, she moved it to a corner, silver eyes looking at each and every one that came and went. Trying to remember their faces, the way the breathed and moved. Even the birds that the blond had carefully looked after for a moment. "Name's Ariana"

Graeden Yourshaw

More people showed up over time, it seemed he had not been the only one to get the strange letters. While everyone seem to take the environment in their strides, a pin could of dropped in the silence as no one spoke. The silence was eventually broken by a few and eventually Graeden could put words together."Yes strange letters. Quite frankly at the moment I'm not sure if I'm dead or not, there was a bright light," Graeden stated ",It's a lot to take in."

He looked out a window still in awe at the world he was now in now with these new people. As one stated their name he turned to them giving a brief smile."I'm Graeden Yourshaw," he said his accent giving away that he was from the east coast of America. More specifically he grew up in the Bronx of New York, only recently having moved a bit more west to pursue his other hobbies and dreams. Now those dreams were put on hold and perhaps forgotten in this strange land. He wanted nothing more at the moment then to be able to study these strange creatures up close, creatures that had long been deem myths and legends. Creatures that normally seemed to be portrayed as mindless killing beasts for knights to slay and be deemed heroes. Yet here these creatures were intelligent perhaps even beyond that of humans.

"So any ideas on why we would be here?" he asked curiously ",The letter didn't give much away besides something about unique talents."

Jo nodded to the people that entered after her and pulled one of her earbuds out. "I thought I was just going crazy. Some bad pizza that I ate the night before or something," She joked and leaned back in her chair. Tucking one leg underneath her, she started talking again. "My name is Jo." She felt like she was in some AA meeting or something. A few more people staggered in, looking as bewildered as she felt. "How long do you think we are going to be stuck in here? I'm starving!" Her stomach growled loudly and she laughed. "Maybe the dragons are just herding us all in here for brunch."

The small dragons, about the size of Macaws, fluttered their wings angrily in Jo's direction. "I'm kidding, guys! Kidding!" She held up her hands, palms out. They settled down and a few of them flew off to different perches. A green dragon with light, forest green scales flitted over to the back of jo's chair. she reached out and lightly ran her fingers over its brow ridges. It chirped happily and closed its eyes.

Jenny fidgeted a little bit in her chair. "To be honest, I have no clue why the dragons would want us instead of somebody else. There's nothing abnormal about me, at least that I'm aware of." In fact, she was starting to get agitated by the complete and total lack of answers. Where was this Dr. Nidhogg, anyway? The least he could have done was be there when they arrived.

She turned to a small, emerald-colored dragon. "Could you find Dr. Nidhogg and tell him we're waiting for him?" The dragon didn't budge an inch. "Hmph. Guess there's nothing I can do but wait." She knew she was going to give the guy a piece of her mind when he did get there, though.

Vivii

Vivii looked candidly at the others, inspecting them as she did her small birds, light blue eyes making their way from one to the next as unwavering as ever. She managed to somewhat smile, she tended to have what one of her friends at school had called a resting bitch face. Though she was completely happy she generally didn't smile unless she was thrilled about something and people said it made her look like a bitch and unfriendly though she was quite the opposite. She had major anxiety about it and cast a secondary glance at the others to see if they were inspecting her as well or giving her a dirty look.

Her little finches seemed unbothered by the situation and sang happily, chirping brightly and reminding her that she was not alone. They were a comfort to her and she reached a slender hand towards the cage, quietly unlatching the mechanism that kept the small door to the cage closed. It was a pretty ornate bird cage not unlike one might find at an antique store long forgotten. The bars of hers were a muted black that made the beautiful copper accents shine that much more brightly. It was a rectangular cage with thin bars that allowed the best view of the bright birds within and the bottom was thick and covered with ornate and beautiful engravings that all seemed to be done by hand. She removed one of the tiny birds, the female of the pair. She was easily identified by the circular grey spots marring her red breast. Vivii smiled as she rubbed her hand along the bird's back and it chirped happily at her.

"For lack of better words I believe the one thing we have in common is that we speak the language the dragons speak." Vivii offered a slim smile as she said the words though she was still looking at the little bird that rested on her index finger. The finch was not very large and had no fear, it had no reason to fear anything because it had never been accosted. Vivii had bought the pair as chicks and hand raised them.

She was about to say something else when she heard or rather felt the ground shake as a giant beast landed before the pavilion. It was so large that as it peered within the pavilion it's breath made the plant life around them blow as if a tornado were near. Her little bird clung to her finger tightly with its small feet and she shielded it as best she could close to her body and with her other hand. Then she heard the voice, it was crisp and rough all at the same time, sounding like the ground itself was talking to them.

"It is so wonderful to see such a lovely bunch of young people who have chosen to join us!" The ground reverberated with the sound of the voice like when Vivii turned the music in her car to loud when a song with heavy bass came on. She watched as the dragon's mouth moved and the windy breath that produced the voice surrounded her, blowing her already wild hair around her face.

"I'm sure you are all quite concerned and confused, you are all here because you carry a rare trait that allows you to speak and understand the language that we speak, Gaea. Gaea is the language of the earth itself and dragons are some of the few creatures left that speak it. Humans used to all speak this language, now there are so few that we must keep tabs on the bloodlines that can produce speakers. When they are born and reach the correct age we contact them and give them the opportunity you all have been given. You all are here to learn about dragons and the forces that Gaea can bring into your power. You will also be allowed into the incubation caverns to search for the dragon that will choose to soul bond with you. Something I will explain in more detail another time. For now however I will show you to the Feast Hall and the apartments here so that you all can begin settling in."

Vivii placed the tiny bird back in her cage before reaching to pick up her other things only to see her luggage along with that of the others being flown away by the smaller dragons. This dragon before her was like nothing she had ever seen even in books as a child. It was covered in thick armor like scales that were the color of dried clay, an odd off white color though it was darker the closer you got to the center of it's back. It's great wings were tucked along its sides. "Oh dear, it's seems I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Dr. Nidhogg, director of this establishment." His great head snaked back around to look at them as he spoke, brilliant nearly neon orange eyes looking at them. Atop his head rested a pair of rams horns that curled twice around and away from his face.

Dr. Nidhogg headed easily off at a much slower pace than that which he was obviously able to achieve, seeming to walked in an exaggeratedly slow manner to allow Vivii and the other to keep up. The approached a large door which led into the side of the mountain. He spoke a phrase that she didn't understand and couldn't quite make out and the door creaked and groaned as it opened and rocks slid to make to door big enough to accommodate the dragon. Vivii could only watch in amazement at the spectacle. She had to jog to keep up and she felt sorry for her little birds as she bounded along to keep pace with the dragon. The doctor never looked behind him only continuing down a large ramp and into a beautifully styled restaurant that seemed to have a large buffet out. "You are free to eat as much as you like, once you have finished you will be shown to your rooms."

Graeden Yourshaw

Graeden with the others followed after the newly acquainted Dr. Nidhogg, jogging to keep pace with the dragon even when it seemed the large creature had slowed himself down quite considerably to accommodate for the group. He led them to a luxurious looking dining area that seemed even a dragon could fit inside. Seeing the buffet as well as Dr. Nidhogg's statement made Graeden realize that with everything that had been going on, it had indeed been some time since he had eaten anything. From the letter to the travel to this other worldly location, the thought of food seemed to of been little importance.

He battled internally over himself whether to stay and question the dragon or eat though hunger eventually seemed to of won. If this wasn't all a dream then he would have plenty of opportunity to ask his quandaries to the large creature later."Well it has been some time since I had a bite with everything happening," Graeden stated ",A thanks of hospitality Dr. Nidhogg." While it seemed odd to address the dragon as doctor it also felt right at the same time.

Jenny followed the dragon to the dining hall. Her mind had finally accepted that this was real, and she was excited about the opportunity. When Nidhogg opened the door to the dining hall, she was aghast at the vast spread laid out before them. "This is all for us? You really shouldn't have."

Jenny plopped herself down in a chair with a satisfied sigh, picking out a turkey leg. "Anyone want to sit by me? Human or dragon, I don't really care. I just need someone to talk to." She pulled out a chair, waiting to see if anyone would take her up on her offer. If not, well, she'd be okay with that, too.

Jo sat down next to the girl, Jenny, she thought was her name and picked up her own turkey leg. "This is way too much food!" She looked around the dining hall and took note of all the different varieties of food and dragons too for that matter. The room seemed to be teeming with life. Jo still wasn't convinced that she was here because she spoke some funny language that connected her to these giant lizards. She moved her foot slightly under the table to make sure that her bags were still there.

"So," She started as she picked up some potatoes and beans and piled them onto her plate. "I'm Jo." She smiled at the others as they all sat around chatting and eating. "So does anyone know what we are actually doing here?"

Lucy had a stupid grin on her face as she followed the Dragon, a Dragon who also happened to be a doctor of some sort. Maybe dragonology, maybe dragon medicine, maybe something else but the possibilities were endless. However she also wondered where this dragon had gotten it's doctorate or if perhaps it was an honorary title. That thought was soon abandoned as she caught sight of the banquet. It was apparently very easy to forget one's hunger when surrounded by creatures she had thought of as myths until a very short time ago. She realized in her hurry that she had forgotten her luggage but apparently that was gone, which was fine. This was all fine, even if her stuff was gone for good. Putting the bigger problems aside she decided to solve easiest ones first, why worry about her stuff when her hunger problem was practically already solved. She slid her self into a seat near the other two girls one had just introduced herself a Jenny. It was that time Lucy loved most of any gathering, the connection making. Yes, the first-impression was wonderful as it would leave these people convinced she was a maniac or head over heels with her charm. Though Lucy could say that the second had almost never happened, she would not loose hope.

After picking out anything that looked sweet, which was mostly just desserts, she looked at the other two girls. "Well this is pretty peachy, though I think my students will be a little sad when I don't return, hopefully someone sorted that out." She grinned at both of them, "I'm Lucy by the way." Her voice had a hint of something foreign in it as if the broken English of others had changed her own. She then chose to adress Jo's question, "Well I feel like this is a lot like that movie, with the kid and the dragon, we're going to learn about dragons. Well except we aren't vikings and its not really like that at all." Lucy shrugged, she had never questioned the wonderful, others did not always feel the same but she wasn't in the position to dish out life philosophies like they were the delicious food she was ready to eat.

- Niall Collins -

Niall was late, as always to the place where he was supposed to go according to the letter. He was just arriving as the orb of light was beginning to dissipate and he wound up diving for it for whatever reason his crazy mind could come up with. He'd caught his girlfriend cheating on him while he still had the original letter in hand. Crumpling it in his large hand as he reached for the man in his bed with the other, red covering his gaze and penetrating his every thought. The bitch had gotten up and begged for him to let the other man go and it was something Niall assured her he would do, right after he wrung the guys skinny neck. The man was built but he had been no match for his own strength and after busting his nose and lip thoroughly he tossed them both out the door, into the elevator really, rather unceremoniously.

In the midst of the brawl the letter had slipped from his grip, forgotten, but was now smeared with drops of blood. He had thunked down his boots and sat down in his chair before he recalled he'd had the letter in his hand. He didn't even bother to read it before tossing it out the window of his penthouse apartment. Now here he was in a strange land after he thought for sure he had killed himself this time. He could see the others being led away as he materialized into existence in this new place.

Immediately Niall jogged after them arriving just after the other and listening to the lesson on why exactly they were here. He wasn't so sure this wasn't a drunken stupor that he was in and this was all just a dream of some kind. He did tend to have strange dreams after he drank to excess after all but the smell of the food was all too real in front of him and he headed for the table sitting down across from a dark headed girl who had introduced herself as Jo.

"Well If this isn't all a drunken dream I'm having I'd say the closest thing to an answer is what that exceptionally large dragon thing just told us. I'm Niall, Niall Collins." He gave a bit of a smile, his voice a bit loud for the circumstances they were in but he was used to that. His voice was a low warm noise, people often said it made him seem even more like a teddy bear than he already appeared to be though he didn't see where exactly they got that from being as he was nearly seven feet tall and covered in slabs of muscle and tattoos.

Today though his tattoos were mostly hidden, only lightly visible through the thin white crew neck tshirt he had chosen this morning. Over top was a black leather jacket, his riding jacket. 'Damn,' that made him think of the bike he'd left in the parking lot of the park where he had been before. He would have to have someone pick the bloody thing up and take it back to his place to store. He had worn a pair of exceptionally dark denim jeans and a pair of leather boots that he always wore when he rode his motorcycle. His mother always scolded him about not wearing riding gear when he was on his bike but he always wore a helmet, jacket, pants, and boots. He really needed to get a pair of riding pants but they just never crossed his mind while he was in a buying mood.

Niall could only hope that the girls before him and the others would not recognize his face or his name from the tabloids that were always touting his latest move across the front page. It was ridiculous. Perhaps here he could get some peace from them. As he thought he piled his plate with food, all his southern favorites laid out before him. Gods he hoped they had a gym here for him to work out otherwise he would be a cow by the time he ever got to leave. 'Wouldn't those damned so called journalists love that shit.'

Jo looked up at the new guy that had come all but barreling through the doors after they had sat down and cocked her head to the side. He had a familiar face, but she couldn't quite place where she knew him from. She took another bite of her turkey leg and pushed some green beans around on her plate, chewing thoughtfully. The dragons were chattering away and the air in the dining hall seemed to be buzzing with magic and chatter. It was loud, almost like a quiet humming noise constantly buzzing near your ears. "So, Niall, Do you actually own a motorcycle or are you one of those guys that just dress like you do to look like a bad ass?" Jo asked as she popped a green bean into her mouth, smirking at him.

The food was fantastic. She wanted to just keep eating, but she was getting so full and sleepy. Perhaps it was just the turkey making her sleepy. She turned to Lucy and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Lucy, what accent is that? I can't place it," She said, trying to start up a conversation. If she was entering this school an planning to stay she might as well make some friends. She needed people to talk to. "The vikings were my favorite part though," She said with a smile.

Another person had entered the dining hall, looking for all the world like a yeti who had gotten shaved and inked. He introduced himself and several people reacted at the sound of his name, but Jenny couldn't place it. She'd never kept up with celebrity gossip. "Good to see you, Niall."

She got up and stretched a cramp out of her leg. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I want to see the dorms. If we're going to be spending a lot of time here, we should have a chance to get used to our accomodations." A thought suddenly struck Jenny like a lightning bolt. "Er... where is here, exactly?"

Graeden Yourshaw

The food was indeed quite good, but it was hard to even concentrate on eating with everything else still around them. Of course now that things were also starting to settle down and his mind wasn't in such a overloaded state, he wonder how long exactly they were expected to stay, let alone how any of their absence from the places they all came from would be told off or handled. Also another question would be where exactly were they at? By now he had deemed it not a dream and he was still alive so they were somewhere but where exactly?

Briefly those thoughts were interrupted by a new comer. The face of the new arrival at first seemed familiar but he could not place it. It wasn't until he spoke did he put it together. So it seemed a variety of people with talents were chosen, be they celebrity or not.

He overheard a few people talking, comparing the experience to a movie. While he could see the similarities he felt more inclined to lean towards a book where boy raised a dragon after finding the egg, keeping it hidden from others do to other elements of the plot. Of course that was where the similarities cut off.

Another person asked about their accommodations. Indeed the feeling fatigue was catching up to him and he wouldn't of mind knowing where he could shut his eyes after the meal.

"I think another good question would be if this still is on Earth, how have you hidden it?" he added to the question of the woman who had just asked on their location.