Issue 1 Downtime

Vertie pulled her back pack up her shoulder as she boldly pushed her way into the main office of the Administration building. She leaned over the counter looking for a secretary. "Hello? We'd like to register for school!" She called out as a very large figure stepped in to the lobby behind her.

The figure lightly took Vertie's bag and moved to the side to wait. "I still don't think this was a good idea and why did you have to bring this...thing?" Gar set his sister's bag down as a hedgehog wriggled it's way free from a side pocket and bolted towards the small girl, curling into a protective ball between her feet.

"I have to prove I belong here too. It's all well for you, but I need Knobby and you know it." She bent down and scooped the small mammal up and tucked it into the large pocket of her reclaimed military jacket. "This will be good for us. I promise."

A tall-ish woman came out to the receptionist's call. "I was told there were new students here," she said, looking the two over. The woman was dressed in jeans and wearing a t-shirt that looked like it had a couple of vehicle grease stains on it.

"Yeah, Hi! I'm Vertie and this is Gar. We're from the States, we'd like to register." She smiled at the tall woman and tried her best to look less road worn then she actually was.

Gar stood taller as his head lifted and he took a deep breath. His eyes narrowed and he moved to stand directly behind Vertie having caught Allison's "predator" scent.

Allison's eyes narrowed at Gar, but she turned her attention back to Vertie. "Where from in the States?"

"All over, originally Alaska." Vertie looked between Allison and Gar, she gave a small sigh and a smirk. With in moments Allison would pick up on a clumsy "friend not food" sensation in regards to the small girl. "It's Ok Gar, she's...staff. Yeah?"

"School's lawyer," she said to Vertie, pointedly ignoring Gar. "Telepath?"

"Empath." She grinned. "Gar's..well, d'uh! Did I bother you? I usually don't bother people."

Gar rumble chuckled and took a single step back, though not taking his eyes off of Allison, but now no longer attempting to look as intimidating as possible.

Allison's eyes went feline for a moment before returning to human. "Feral shifter," she said. "So... Empath and..." She looked at Gar.

Gar held out his hand slowly and flexed, his claws appearing then retracted. "Nothing special."

Allison managed to mostly keep herself from rolling her eyes, "Do your parents know you're here?"

"Ah, I hope not..." Vertie seemed to visibly become closed off.

"Careful...Vertie." He finally turned his full attention to his sister.

"Okay, we can handle that," Allison said. "How old are you?"

Vertie nodded and the heavy "not here" sensation faded, she smiled again. "That's right you're a lawyer, can you make him my legal guardian. I'm about 16, Gar is, what, 19?"

"I am." He smiled and lightly rest his hand on her shoulder.

Allison scratched her chin, "It may be easier to make the Institute your guardian, but we'll deal with that when we get to it. Let's see about getting you a place to stay and some food."

"Food and beds are always good." Gar turned and picked up their bags.

"We'll put you in guest quarters until we get everything sorted out," she said, pulling a map of the school out of a folder of school literature. "Here's a map of the place, just in case you need to find your way around. The cafeteria's here," she said, pointing to the manor on the map.

"I'm navigator this time." Vertie's hand shot out fast, claiming the map as she smiled smugly back over her shoulder to her brother.