Lyra sighed with relief as her new friend - whose name she doubted she could pronounce - placed her in a wheelchair. Her arms burned from the exertion of holding on while she was being carried. As she settled herself in her seat, she couldn't help but feel a little pathetic. This was the first time in a while that anyone new was introduced to her disability - it was embarrassing how little she could do on her own. Shame gnawed at her as the two of them advanced through the hallways, encountering others around the same age as they passed. At first, she thought all of them were staring at her - until she realized that they were far more interested in Stasya's scales. Relaxing a little, she mentally thanked the girl for drawing the attention away from her.

Once they entered the auditorium, Stasya pushed her to the side and then sat down next to her. Lyra blushed as her companion covered her exposed back, reminding Lyra that she, too, was wearing a hospital gown - and she didn't have the strength to cover herself up. She shifted her bare feet so that one was resting upon the other atop the wheelchair's footrest, her legs tangled together like a pretzel. The others around them seemed confused, like they, too, were new here. Hopefully, the foreignness of the situation would keep their eyes from her.

After a short while, two adults - a woman and a man -  entered the room, and the woman began speaking. Lyra's heart twisted as she struggled to digest her words. They had powers, and they had been kidnapped? Was this some manner of sick joke being played on kids with strange diseases? Lyra had no powers; only extra weaknesses. And, though Stasy's scales could be interpreted as some kind of transformation, surely they were better explained as some sort of skin condition. She clenched her fists, anger mounting as the woman kept speaking and speaking. She bit her lip, hard, when they were asked whether they had any questions. Surely it was best to hold her silence. If one thing about what they were saying was likely to be true, it was that they had been kidnapped; Mother and Father would have never left Lyra with people like this. She exchanged a glance with her friend, wondering if anyone would speak up. Honestly, she hoped someone would give her the satisfaction of telling the miserable woman off. She just dared not face the consequences herself...