A Quiet Escape {Open}

[Castilla Salinas]

I had been here a few days now and it was finally the weekend, I couldn’t wait to get away from the school for a bit there are way too many people here for my liking. I had spent the last few years practically camping in the woods with my horse so this set up was so far removed from what I was used too and I already felt suffocated. They had dragged me in and some teacher I forget her name had explained the basics to me. Told me I would be sharing a dorm room and would be taught how to control my power, mind walking they called it.

So far I had mostly sat back and watched the other students engage in the classes, I tried to stick to the back of the class and not touch anyone. On my first day I had accidentally bumped into a student and ended up in their head, when I had come too sprawled on the floor with my elbow and head killing me I had been sent to sleep it off and had missed the rest of the day.

I had no intention of confining myself to a dorm room on this beautiful day of freedom from the classes. I gathered up my sketch book and small pencil case, and set off for the edge of the school grounds towards the coolness of the forest.

It wasn't long after I entered the tree line before I had a shadow following me as I wound my way through the tree's. It was comforting to me to have Belle my dapple grey mare living in the forest by the school, at least she still got the freedom of the trees, and at least I could take these moments to be with her and relax.

"Hey girl I've missed you"

I said softly as I walked, her only reply was a soft snort that made me smile to myself as I wandered through the forest. I stumbled into a small clearing where the tree’s were just slightly thinner letting the sun filter down and light up the little area beautifully, it was a quaint little spot with wildflowers peaking out of the long grass taking advantage of the extra sunlight.

I settled myself down on the soft grass with my back leaning against a tree and pulled out my sketching tools. With the drawing pad propped up against my legs I pulled out one of the pencils and began to sketch yet another image of Belle as she investigated the area before settling down to graze.

My horse was my favorite model when it came to drawing and if I hadn’t sold my sketches along the way my sketchbook would be filled with images of Belle with only a few other drawings between. It didn’t take long for us to settle into our routine, my anxiety of being at the school faded more with every pass of my pencil across the page.

[Isabella Bellefonte]

Compared to the past dreary days at the school, it certainly was beautiful. Reclusive Bella could not help but feel obligated to enjoy the wondrous weather. The girl gathered her books, and quietly made her way into the forest. It was such a pleasant place to go. She was far enough from people that they couldn't cloud her head with their emotions. The constant humming of their feelings, and her abnormal shifts in mood made it difficult to live normally. Thankfully, she was controlling her gift better, but sometimes one just wanted to stop trying so hard to be normal. Was that so hard to ask?

The farther she walked, the lighter her step, and the happier she felt. She supposed that some people still slipped through her mental barrier sometimes. Bella shrugged, a smile forming on her lips. Her lungs expanded as she breathed in as deeply as she could. Not a cloud in sight, and utter silence made for a relaxing time. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Someones emotions hit her hard, and it made her gasp at the suddenly overwhelming feeling. That was what she got for letting her barrier down. At least this person was happy. They seemed so content.

As she walked deeper into the forest, she found the source of the happiness. A girl was with a horse. A horse? Bella wondered how she swung that with the academy, and wanted to pet it all at once. She hadn't really come into contact with horses much. It intrigued her. Isabella was always ready to learn.

The horse girl seemed to make herself comfortable with such ease, therefore, Bella felt at ease. Her mental wall could come down for now. She realized she had seen the girl in classes. Quiet Bellefonte tended to notice the other quiet people, because she always ended up being friends with them. Without much hesitation, she walked over to her. "Sorry, hope I'm not intruding. I know that everyone comes to the forest, because they are looking for company," Belly said with a chuckle, "I just remember seeing you in a lot of my classes. Are you new?" Her voice was light, as if she didn't want to disturb the environment around her. What if this stranger didn't want to be approached? And what made it okay for her to go around approaching people she didn't know in a secluded area?

Her chocolate eyes landed on the horse, and a grin broke out across her lips. "What's his name? I wanted a horse when I was little, but didn't every girl?" It was true. In all the books she had read, it seemed to be a common interest for little girls. This person seemed to have successfully achieved that dream. Bella gave a mental fist in the air to her. Sure, little Bellefonte probably could have begged for a horse, and easily have gotten one, but after the first "No, you cannot have a horse," she decided to move on.

[Castilla Salinas]

Cassie always lost track of time when she was drawing she had finished with all the basic shapes and had moved onto detail. The head was almost finished and she was working on getting the mane just right when Belle snorted and looked off to the side of the clearing. Following her gaze Cassie didn't see anyone or anything so didn't think anything of it returning her pencil to the paper.

"Sorry, hope I'm not intruding. I know that everyone comes to the forest, because they are looking for company, I just remember seeing you in a lot of my classes. Are you new?" A voice spoke from where Belle had looked and growing closer, Cassie looked up to see who the speaker was. She hadn't been expecting anyone to stumble across them it was a decent sized forest after all but she smiled up at the girl walking across the clearing regardless after all even though she maybe was more distant with people now not wanting to touch them for fear of triggering her power she was a kind and open person at heart she didn't like being mean to anyone.

"No your not intruding" She responded kindly placing her sketchpad and pencil on the ground next to her and lifting herself onto her feet, brushing at the back of her jeans in case there was dirt or grass stuck there. "Yeah I just started here this week, they haven't even assigned me a dorm room yet apparently I get one today, how about you have you been here long?" She asked in return. Cassie saw the girls eyes move to Belle and a grin break across the girls face it was contagious as soon Cassie was wearing a grin too she loved animals they had a way of making people happy unless that person was a droid or something incapable of happiness.

"Her name is Belle, my parents got her for me in the hopes that she would keep me grounded they were worried about me taking off to live a gypsy life, little did they know they were just giving me the transportation and companionship I needed too do just that" She responded with a chuckle it was kind of ironic really. As if she knew she was being spoken off Belle pranced over always the show of and bumped her cranium into Cassie for attention.

Without thought the girls hands went up to caress the mare gently. Belle's attention was now on the newcomer neck stretching forward she took a step and bumped her as well. "Wow you must be something special she doesn't usually like new people" Cassie said with a grin and it was true Belle could be a real snob when she wanted too and very rarely liked other people. "I'm Cassie by the way"

[Isabella Bellefonte]

"Ah, well, I hope you get a nice one. You seem like a sweet person." Bella offered a smile and clasped her hands behind her back, rocking on her heels. The girl's question made her laugh softly. "Oh, yeah. I'm Isabella Bellefonte. My siblings and I were pretty much raised here. Needless to say, I'm kind of tired of this place," she chuckled and continued to rock on her heels. It was kind of a nervous movement, with a hint of awkwardness.

Her reaction to the horse apparently made the girl before her very happy. Good. I could always use more friends. "She's beautiful. Parents can be a little off like that," Bella nodded and gave a small sigh. Sometimes parents were filled with good intentions that always seemed to turn out wrong. At least they tried, right? That had to count for something. It's what made Isabella always forgive their mother; even when the woman picked favorites among her children. "At least you had a friend. Are you an only child? It would be like Belle is your sister!" This made Isabella happy, because the shy people here often had dark pasts. When they had friends, it made her feel better about the world. That's why her mission was to befriend all the distant, silent kids in the school.

The recognition of the horse made Belly smile even bigger. She read somewhere that was supposed to be a sign of trust in the animal world, correct? Animals had some sort of ability to judge character. She felt humbled, and began to pet the horse, "I'm honored, Miss. Belle."

Cassie.. Was that who her dorm monitor said was moving into her dorm? She wasn't sure. "I think you're my new roommate, but don't quote me on that. They told me she was coming sometime this week, but I honestly don't remember." All she could recall about the conversation was the bad mood of the dorm monitor; it put Bella in a bad mood the rest of that evening. "I hope so. That would be great! I need a study buddy." Cassie was filled with such happiness, it was making Bella bubble over with friendliness. "You can just call me Bella. It's nice to meet you, Cassie. I hope we'll be good friends," she said softly, with a friendly expression.

[Castilla Salinas]

Cassie couldn’t help but be happy around this girl who had stumbled into her quite moment, she was so nice and the fact that Belle liked her was a good sign too. “I don’t blame you for being tired of this place, I’m a bit of a gypsy myself so it is really tripping me out being tied down to one spot” she answered easily if it wasn’t for the ability to escape to these woods and her art Cassie might have given up on this place and the idea of controlling her power the second they brought her here.

“My parents just hoped to keep me home and it worked for a little while as I trained Belle and all, but even though I had a great childhood I got gypsy blood in me and the call of the unknown was too tempting” Cassie said with a grin, after all she wasn’t one of those kids who were all my life is so bad I just had to run away.

"At least you had a friend. Are you an only child? It would be like Belle is your sister!" the girl spoke with such enthusiasm that Cassie couldn’t help but grin wider. “Yeah I am an only child which is why my parents tried everything they could to try and distract me from my gypsy tendencies. Your right Belle is like a sister too me we have been though a lot together, that’s why she followed me here I guess”

It made Cassie so happy to see how well the girl and Belle got along and that she respected Belle there were a lot of people out there who didn’t think animals deserved that kind of respect.

"I think you're my new roommate, but don't quote me on that. They told me she was coming sometime this week, but I honestly don't remember. I hope so. That would be great! I need a study buddy. You can just call me Bella. It's nice to meet you, Cassie. I hope we'll be good friends," Cassie got excited at that thought she could see herself happily sharing a room with this bright bubbly girl without too much hassle. “That would be pretty cool, they probably told you my name is Castilla if they did, I prefer shortening it to Cassie though it just seems simpler, also I am sure we will be great friends roommates or not” Cassie said with unrestrained enthusiasm.

[Isabella Bellefonte]

Isabella shrugged at her response. "The only thing that keeps me grounded here is my siblings, my sister mostly. And the fact that I'm so close to mastering my powers. That has been the plus side of living her; I get to practice as often as I can manage. You just have to find that reason to keep you here, if not you'll go crazy." Bella had never been one to roam from place to place, but then she was never given the chance. What would it have been like? "Have you been to a lot of places? Do tell," she smiled and delicately sat on the ground. Lady Bella must act like.. a lady.

Bella nodded as though she could relate. "I commend you on being brave enough to do it! I couldn't be so.." Bella made a 'hmm' sound in thought, "care free?" The girl shrugged. "I worry too much, and I have to plan everything out. Being a gypsy was not my calling," she grinned. That had to be so fulfilling to see the world. She wished she could be brave enough to try it. That's why she wanted to go to college so close to home, because she knew the town like the back of her hand. "I'll need to take lessons on how to become a gypsy."

Once again, Bella nodded. "That's good, I suppose. Usually people just get goldfishes here, but I like the idea of a horse better," she laughed. And she had a reason to come out to the forest more often. Especially if they were roommates. She could help care for the horse. No big deal. Just a dream of mine. She smiled at the horse. "We can be best friends, Belle. I'll bring you apples, and whatever it is that horses eat. What do horses eat?" She was asking a bunch of question to poor Cassie. Bella loved to learn, and she appreciated the chance to learn something new with the horse.

Ah, yes. Castilla. "Yeah! You're my roomie. I'm glad to have someone like you." Compared to all the other people she could have been paired with, Castilla was an angel. Belly wanted someone more like her. Cassie would be perfect. "I think so, too," she said with a smile. Cassie's happiness only made her that much happier. This was definitely someone she needed to be around, if she was going to continue practicing her powers. "Your happiness is really helping my head. I don't have to put up my mental wall around you." That probably sounded really weird, so she added, "Empathy, I can sense other's emotions."

[Castilla Salinas]

Cassie nodded at the Bella’s reasons for staying she could understand that if it wasn’t for the promise of learning to control her craziness she would still be roaming the world. She followed suit and lowered herself to the ground her legs folded underneath her leaning forward with excitement. “Well I started out in Canada that’s where my family lives and traveled most of that, I was in the process of exploring all around the United States making my way down to Mexico when my power set in and I got dragged back here. I loved every minute of it seeing all there was too see but I am nowhere near done once I can control this thing I will be back off exploring the world” Cassie spoke with excitement it made her want to get back out there right away but she knew for now she needed to be here she would be too vulnerable out there with the limitations of her power.

“The gypsy life isn’t for everyone but you can still see the world through travel, I hear some people even stay at hotels and such” Cassie said with a grin, in all honesty she didn’t understand how those people every truly felt like they had seen the world when they stuck to the tourist locations. Going backstage to the real lives of the people living there now that was experiencing the world.

I giggled at the idea of people having goldfish as pets I never got that why have a pet that you couldn’t touch. “Well I don’t know if the school would be so happy about it but Belle is used to living as practically a wild horse so living out here in the forest won’t be hard for her” She spoke easily "We can be best friends, Belle. I'll bring you apples, and whatever it is that horses eat. What do horses eat?" Bella spoke and Cassie grinned as Belle sniffed around the girl as she did before snorting and walking off to graze. “I think she was hoping you had those apples now, Belle mostly lives off grass but she loves apples and carrots when she gets them, they also like the chaff and such you can get from the stores though that’s a little rare for Belle the gypsy life doesn’t lend itself to having much spare money for that kind of thing”

It made Cassie happy to know that they would be roommates she had suspected if the school had told Bella who her roommate was they would have used her full name they wouldn’t know her nickname. “Your happiness is really helping my head. I don't have to put up my mental wall around you.” Cassie was confused by the first statement until Bella brought up that her power was Empathy. Cassie didn’t know a whole lot about all this power stuff but she knew what empathy was.

“Wow that must be hard at times, I will warn you right now you do not want to be sensing my emotions when my ‘power’ kicks in” Cassie said putting a real sarcastic edge on the word power she still wasn’t convinced it wasn’t just a recurring brain aneurism or something. “They told me I’m a mind walker; apparently I can snoop on other people’s minds find out their secrets, thoughts and dreams or whatever. At the moment though it’s more like I just get bombarded with all these random images and come too sprawled out on the floor with a migraine so unfun, so I totally wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to like run in the other direction if it decides to kick into gear” Cassie said with a slight grin it felt good to sit and talk about things with someone close to her own age, there weren’t many options for girl talk when you’re a gypsy and so far she had only had teachers to talk to about her power.

[Isabella Bellefonte]

As Cassie began to speak, Bella's mouth opened slightly in awe. A map was in her head, and she trailed the girl's path all the way down to Mexico. That was a good distance. "That is amazing. I'll have to take you to Europe when my mother drags us together for a vacation every few years. You sound like you would enjoy that. And I would love the extra company!" Someone who loved to travel so extensively? Europe would be a breeze for Cass.

Bella shrugged. "We only go to Europe every so often. We haven't really traveled extensively. My parents have, but my siblings and I remain in school, because of our powers. The joys of being an adult," she said with a small laugh. It didn't matter. Bella wasn't sure if it was her cup of tea. "If I decide to leave, you'll be my guide. It's decided," she nodded, a smile at her lips.

Cassie spoke about horse etiquette, and Bella listened with open ears. "I think I can easily get my hands on apples and carrots. I'm not sure about the chaff, but for Belle? I think I can manage that," she grinned, looking at the horse as it walked away. The sweet thing already had a soft spot in her heart. "I'm happy to hear she's comfortable. Nothing but the best for Belle," Belly nodded firmly.

"I'm sure you'll handle it. You seem pretty fearless, and that's a great start. People are scared to control their powers, here. They are too timid. It makes them struggle more." She heard this said many times by her teachers. "Your power sounds neat! I'm curious to see how you do. I love watching the different people come through here. It's one of the reasons I love living here." Her last words, made Belly frown. "No, that's what the school is here for! We are all unique. No judging here." The girl was right though, Bella didn't want to be there when she started sifting through other people's minds. The emotions that flow through Cass might not be good ones. "You'll get a control on it. Then you'll probably like having it. That happens a lot here, too." She smiled softly. Bella loved encouraging others. This was a hard time for a lot of people; adjusting to such a drastic change in their life.

"We can practice together. I'd be happy to lend you my brain. But be warned, there's nothing entertaining in my life, but a bunch on dusty books. You'll be bored out of your mind." Belly grinned at her pun.

[Castilla Salinas]

Cassie laughed lightly “Deal, if you ever decide to go see the world I’ll show you the best way to do it” she said with a grin. Although she had a feeling that Bella wasn’t actually the traveling sort of girl it was kind of exciting to think of doing the gypsy thing with a friend instead of alone even though she had no issues with being alone.

"I think I can easily get my hands on apples and carrots. I'm not sure about the chaff, but for Belle? I think I can manage that, I'm happy to hear she's comfortable. Nothing but the best for Belle” Cassie smiled it was nice having someone else who wanted to look after Belle though she wasn’t sure how the girl intended to get all that though if their family went to Europe every few years they obviously had a little bit of money behind them.

Cassie listened to Bella as she talked about people struggle more if they are scared of their powers and it got her thinking. Ever since the first time her power was triggered it had terrified her though she didn’t admit it, but honestly if you suddenly lost all connection with yourself and ended up in someone elses head before returning back to yourself sprawled on the ground with a huge migraine you might be a little scared too. It made her scared to touch people as she had noticed that it triggered more easily with contact. “You'll get a control on it. Then you'll probably like having it. That happens a lot here, too."

Those words gave Cassie hope maybe gaining control didn’t just mean learning how not to do it but maybe she could learn how to do it without the bad side effects or at least they might be lessened, she could turn it into a sideshow act to help earn money on the road. She snickered at her own internal monologue and the irony of not only being a traveling gypsy but being a “psychic” traveling gypsy. She could pretend to read peoples futures by delving into the subconscious and finding out their dreams.

"We can practice together. I'd be happy to lend you my brain. But be warned, there's nothing entertaining in my life, but a bunch on dusty books. You'll be bored out of your mind." Cassie laughed out loud at that one it was such a bad pun that it was funny. “Nice you’re so punny” She said with a grin knowing full well her response was lamer then lame

“So Bella tell me what do you do to put up that wall thing you were talking about to block the empathy? I mean so far all the teachers have told me is I need to concentrate, but not what to concentrate on.” Cassie asked with curiosity they may have said a few other things but she hadn’t really listened properly and maybe since both of their powers were mind powers maybe just maybe she could implement a similar technique as Bella to gain some control.

[Isabella Bellefonte]

What did she focus on to put up the wall? Bella had done it so long she had to think back to how she even started doing it. "It takes a lot of practice, and concentration." She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and furrowed her brow in thought. Over time, it just came naturally to her. It was like the mental wall came along with her powers. "Picture a wall. Any kind of wall; be it brick, leaves, even a rock wall if that's what calms you. Then try to tune whatever it is you're hearing out."

It was difficult. Like shutting someone who wouldn't stop snoring out, or tuning out the loud music down the hall. It took practice. "It was hard for me, but since we have a stronger mind, we can do it easier than those who don't have powers connected to the mind." Belly pushed her lips out to the side. A little ant crawled up her tights, and she flicked it away. "Just pretend like you are the only one in the world; zone out, if you will."

The girl remembered struggling through her first year. People's emotions would floor her mind, and she seemed bipolar to the normal eye. One second she would be happy, then she would be stressing about a final she didn't have. Five minutes later she was in love with the bagel she was eating for some reason. "You'll probably have a few one on one sessions with trainers, because it's difficult to concentrate when there's multiple people around. Like I said, I'm up for helping!" She smiled and looked up at the girl.

Since they were roommates, it would be easier to train. They could help each other. She was glad to have someone so nice living with her. A few of her roommates in the past she could not stand to be in the same building with, little on the same room. "So, tell me your story, Cassie. What was it like learning about your power, does it run in your family, how did your power come about.." Bella waved her hand as she talked. "Whatever you're comfortable talking about." There went that learning factor, she was always ready to dive into knowledge. And she was living with this girl she didn't know much about. Might as well get to know her in one swoop, right? Yeah, that's how you make friends.

OOC - Sorry, life has been super busy lately. And I don't feel confident in this reply either haha. But here ya go

[Castilla Salinas]

Cassie sat listening intently taking everything that Bella said and filing it away to properly process later though she wondered if she would be able to apply this to herself or not. The way that her power worked seemed different to Bella, Cassie didn’t need a constant wall she didn’t find thoughts or emotions trying to invade at all times. It seemed mostly random to her when it would happen but so far it was when she touched somebody. Her brow furrowed slightly in thought as she listened to Bella, nodding slightly without realizing as she processed it. Maybe she could try to work on putting up a “wall” and then making physical contact with someone to test if she could prevent the onslaught.

"You'll probably have a few one on one sessions with trainers, because it's difficult to concentrate when there's multiple people around. Like I said, I'm up for helping!" This last statement made Cassie smile again tucking the information she had just learned to the back of her mind for further reflection later on. Although she knew she should have faith in the trainers she was an independent soul and liked to try and suss things out without the classroom feel of things. Working with a fellow telepath outside of the classroom could work to satisfy that side of her. It was close enough anyway she knew this was one time that trying to do it completely on her own was not the best plan.

"So, tell me your story, Cassie. What was it like learning about your power, does it run in your family, how did your power come about.. Whatever you're comfortable talking about." Cassie paused for a moment thinking about the questions and realized she didn’t know if it ran in her family she hadn’t spoken to her parents since finding out maybe she should call them.

“Hmmm let’s see...” She spoke more to let Bella know she was going to answer but giving herself a moment to collect her thoughts. “Learning about my power sucked in all honesty. It was actually only 3 weeks ago apparently I was a very late bloomer in the powers department. I was working a job to earn some extra money working with this girl and her horse, I went to give her a boost into the saddle but as soon as I touched her it hit me like a Mac truck.”

She paused for a moment thinking about that moment and what she saw and felt she still had some trouble getting it straight in her head at times. “I didn’t know what was happening all of a sudden instead of standing there I disconnected as if I was suddenly dumped in a room watching these images flash on a screen, images of the girls life, echoes of words around me. Then I woke up and I was laying in the dirt and had a killer migraine. After that I took off leaving that place hoping I could run from whatever it was like it was that family that did it to me or something. I ran for 2 weeks before the recruiter caught me and brought me here.”

She finished that part of the girls questions pausing, she probably went into more detail then Bella actually wanted to know but she couldn’t help it. Since coming here no one had asked her what it felt like to learn about her power, they had just told her what it was and never cared how it made her feel to find that out. Cassie found herself feeling better about her power after getting that out she knew it didn’t change any of the fundamentals of it but it felt good to talk about it.

“As for my family I’m not sure they never mentioned it being in the family but then I haven’t been home since I was 15... My family does have a long history of gypsies, maybe they had some form of power too” She spoke, the thought had just occurred to her but it felt like it was right she didn’t know how but it did. “What about you? What was it like for you learning about your power?”

^{OOC – No need to be sorry for life or the post I liked it and clearly it got my fingers typing so all good hopefully mine does similar for you?}