The time was 10 o' clock PM, a sign that it was night. The moon shown brightly in the sky, it's light hitting sections of clouds as the weightless masses of vapor float about without a destination. The cool breeze blew in numerous directions, whisking pass the lush trees that stood next to the mansion. The sister school of the Xavier institute was expecting the arrival of a student who was a mutant. He had the unique ability to manipulate electricity, making him an electrokinetic.

A train came racing towards the mansion, moving at impressive speed. Inside this train was the mutant that would be starting his new life at the academy. As the train came to a halt when it reached it's stop, the doors which allowed others entrance opened. Passengers exited the automatic doors, walking to their own destinations. A certain boy with black hair and grey-framed glasses walked out of the train carrying a backpack over his shoulders. His skin tone was chocolate brown along with his eyes being the same color, but a shade of golden. He was quite slim, but had a toned body. His clothes obscured the developed muscles, leaving them unnoticed. The boy who exited the train was Malik J. Roberts. He looked around, gazing at his new surroundings. Everything seemed serene and interesting. His gaze settled upon the large building known as the Xavier Institute sister school.

'Wow, that pace sure looks impressive. So, here starts my new life as a student there and hopefully will begin my career as a hero.'  He thought, anticipating the many good happenings that could take place. Of course, Malik was also nervous. He wondered if he will make any friends or make a good first impression. He decided go one ahead as he started to walk down his path to the mansion in the dark of night.

Amber found herself standing across the street from the Mansion. She still wasn't entirely certain why she had come there but the urge had struck and so that's where she found herself. Just before dusk she had left, shifting into her Pterodaustro form and flying the distance between Sanctuary and the Mansion as the sun slowly set. In her long almost bill-like mouth she held a set of robes and when she landed and shifted back to human for she put them off. They were black, a colour she had become increasingly fond of. Being a child of death it seemed fitting.

Amber hadn't been keeping close track of time since she arrived, but knew it had to have been at least a couple of hours. She had stood, motionless, simply gazing upon the steel and stone building. So many memories from that place, so much had changed since she had last walked its halls. When she had first entered she had been nothing more than a niave teenage girl who could barely control her ability to transform into dinosaurs. Now she was a daughter of death and a lich, something beyond human and apart from mutants. Something beyond and maybe something not entirely natural. Still, she felt no shame in what she was. Child of death was a label of honor not one of shame, unlike what many might claim. It was only natural the living should fear the non-living.

Finally, Amber turned at the sound of an approaching train and watched what she assumed was a young mutant walk out. His words suggested she was right in her assumption as what human would need to start a new life in such a place? She turned her void black eyes upon him and smiled. There were very few who could meet her eyes without looking away and it was a game she had become especially fond of. To discover who had the gall to meet her gaze and who was skittish enough to drop their eyes from hers. Such was even more the case since her recent changes created the appearance of herself as a walking desiccated corpse.

"I wish you all the fortune in becoming a hero," Amber spoke, her voice soft and even. It was a niave wish of course, but it wasn't her place to say as such. "Those who run this place are good an honorable people." Truth, in her eyes, although an often over-rated and all too human sort of truth.

It had been a long time since Sara had staid at the mansion. She normally would have spent the night at her own apartment, but after her little… talk… with Sam, it didn’t feel right to leave the mansion. Also, she had taken the opportunity to warm herself up, before moving on. Sam’s ice abilities were annoying. Especially when he was ticked and Sara’s own attitude hadn’t helped the situation. But staying at the mansion did have it’s purks. She’d gotten pizza from the mansion’s kitchen, and her room here, was still stocked with her own cloths. It was nice not taking the time to go home.

Sara had decided to talk a walk around the mansion’s grounds. Her long feline tail whipping the air behind herself with every step she took. Ok. She hated admitting it to herself, but she was starting to enjoy herself again, here. It had been a long time since she’d felt anything but frustration. And moving around the grounds also helped.

The wind picked up, brushing Sara’s longer hair against her face, and also bringing an alarming smell to her nose. Her brow pinched in sudden concern. It smelled death. Not good. Her steps on her clawed feline feet quickened. “Is everything alright?” Sara called out to the robed person she saw ahead of herself. Clearing around the mansions long fence so that she could get a better look at the scene. Ok. No one looked panicked about seeing a dead body and that thought made Sara’s head tilt a little to the side as she moved and her movement slowed to a light loping jog.

The young electrokinetic continued down toward his path to the school to teach mutants. He was still a little nervous about what could happen at this building. He wondered what kinds of events he'll witness and become a part of as well as what kind of people he'll run into. Speaking of meeting new faces, Malik noticed a girl cloaked in a black veil. When she turned to look at him and give a smile, what the boy saw interested him. Her eyes were not of the normal variety. Instead, they were entirely black, devoid of any other color but that certain shade. Along with her eyes, her skin was as pale as a corpse. Other people were expected to divert their gaze from the girls due to her unnatural eyes, but Malik was like the others. He looked straight at the deathly pale girl, returning a smile of his own filled with kindness and nodding to what she said.

"Thank you for your support as well as telling me of the people that work at this mansion to provide a better future for us mutants." He said, holding out a his right hand for a friendly handshake, "It is nice to meet you, my name is Malik Roberts. I am also a mutant." He waited for the girl to take his hand and shake. As he did, he notice another person in the distance who was lightly jogging in their direction. From certain feature, the person was a female. On closer inspection, she didn't look human.

'I wonder who is she? She seems to be friendly. By her appearance, it's obvious she's a mutant as well.' Malik thought, wondering about who this feline-like woman was. He hasn't even been in the mansion yet and already he was meeting new people, people like him.

Amber accepted the handshake of the eager young teenager, a smile playing at the sides of her lips. Oh, he was an innocent one and she couldn't' decide if that was refreshing or profoundly unfortunate. The world was not a kind place to such as them and in time that innocence would certainly be stripped away. Perhaps he'd be fortunate and it would be gentler than her own loss of innocence.

"My name is Amber Thirsis," Amber replied. She was pleased to see that his eyes didn't skitter from meeting her own. Perhaps there was hope for him after all. "I used to go to school here a long time ago. I don't anymore. Something of a difference of philosophy. But I think it'll do well for you." Perhaps not that long ago, but it seemed like many years had passed when in truth it wasn't more than one.

“Is everything alright?”

Amber's attention was abruptly drawn to another figure, clearly a mutant and familiar in a distant sort of way. She couldn't quite remember the cat lady's name but she did remember her being instrumental in saving her from herself and an angry mob while she was just discovering the use of her own powers. "Everything is fine," Amber answered in a quiet voice. "I simply had the fortune to run into Malik here," she gestured at the guy, "while reminiscing about past times."

Sara slowed to a walk as she got closer to the two a head of her. Her amber eyes scanned both of them and even though the smell of decay was still in the air, she let herself calm down. Where once there was a readiness in her, there was now more of a curiosity.

Even from the time that Sara was further away, her ears could pick up on the bits of conversation that had started. The name Amber rang a distant bell in the back of Sara’s mind, and she remembered a little of the girl. What she remembered didn’t fit the mutant who stood before her now though, so redoing their introductions wouldn’t be a bad thing. “Good to see you again, Amber.” Sara said with a twitch at the corner of her mouth.

As interesting as Amber was, Sara found something more interesting in the way that the other person had reacted to her. He didn’t. There was no surprise or terror in his eyes like many other normal individuals had when they first met her, and he looked very normal compared to the way that Sara and Amber looked. Even some of the other mutants reacted in surprise to her sometimes. To the point where this felt a little odd. Nonetheless, Why not embrace the moment. “Malik then.” Sara nodded when she came to a stop and extended her right paw like hand towards him. “Most call me Sara.”

Malik nodded happily at the introduction of the pale-skinned girl with pitch black eyes, a smile stretched across his face. It showed kindness to her, not having one hint of hostility, unlike other humans who lacked the X-Gene. His also never diverted their attention due to being uncomfortable. This is because he wasn't uncomfortable at all. He actually thought of  Amber as an interesting person. He was also intrigued about the fact that she was once a student at this institute. He wondered what had happened before he came here. He decided not to ruin the moment by pressing more on her past. It wasn't right after all, it was her business.

"Well Amber, I am happy to be supported by your words and I like to thank you. Maybe we can hang out sometime and get to no each other more, maybe even become good friends." He said, a happy tone evident in hia voice. The young mutant gently released himself from the handshake. He then, turned his gaze towards the cat-like woman next to him. Out of the three, Maik seemed to be the one who's appearance wasn't altered by his X-Gene. He was also the reason why he was able to fit in so well back in Maryland with the other students. He knows in a world filled with prejudice, many people wouldn't except him. He didn't see why some people hated mutants so much. They are just trying to fit in, like everyone else. Back when Malik was hiding his powers from the public, he felt like he was hiding an important part of himself; a part that made him unique.

Seeing the mutant known as Sara's paw-like hand outstretched to him, he decided to take her offer and shook it with his own. He had a smile on his face as well. In his thoughts, Malik felt like it must have been hard for both Amber and Sara when they both don't look like regular humans. He can only think of what they were called out of fear and hate. Truthfully, the boy never experienced this kind of prejudice against him before, but he knows it will not be good. It will be painful for sure to his heart, considering he's such a sensitive person and senitivity combine with an electrokinetic can result on destruction, if pushed too far. Malik was unaware of how much power he possesses. When the time comes, he will be able to realize himself.

"I am happy to meet you, Sara. You may call me Malik. Do you happen to go to the school for mutants as well?" He asked her after a friendly introduction, wondering if she is a student as well. He had just got here and he hardly knew any of the mansion's residents.

Sara, so that was the name of the cat mutant. Names were a human convention but a useful one. Perhaps if she could remain shifted constantly they wouldn't be as necessary; in the animal kingdom they were not, after all. However, to be human was half of her life and thus names were important. "A most unexpected surprise," Amber offered with an inclination of her head.

Amber wasn't entirely sure about the whole hang out concept. She could remember a time that seemed like a lifetime ago when such casual concepts were welcome. She might have been a shy teenager but she had also been friendly and most considered her nice. That was a long time ago. Her time trapped in the Brazilian rain forest and all the changes that had come over her afterwards had forever changed her. Now she was something all together other than human and, quite likely, something other than mutant as well. She was a child of death.

"I am not so certain you would enjoy being my friend," Amber spoke to Malik although she offered a smile to soften the words. "I don't think of myself as a bad person but most seem to consider me somewhat....off." Most not touched by death in some fashion didn't understand. It wasn't even so much how she appeared, although that was part of it. It was the killing. It was the ease in which she hunted and the simple pleasure she took in warm blood and tender flesh upon her tongue and teeth. Among the most natural things in the world and yet things that so many humans and mutants alike were so far removed from that the very thought of killing, even the killing of animals, caused no shortage of discomfort.

Sara smiled with closed lips. A smile that she had practiced and because of the practice, didn’t always look natural. When Malik took her hand she’d given it a small squeeze. “I’m not a student. I started staying at the off and on when my health and my mutation made it hard for me to live on my own.” Sara didn’t go into great details about her past. She might share that dark time of her life later, but that would depend on if Malik continued to stay on her good side.

“For years I’ve hung around here. I have friends who are students, and teachers here, but as much as I value the help that they’ve given me in the past, I still have my own apartment.” Sara shrugged.

When it came to the idea of Amber and Malik hanging out, Amber seemed.... not quite apprehensive, but something that Sara couldn't put her finger on. Sara sighed. There were some sensations that didn't need a name. You just got the feeling and that's all you needed. "One step at a time. If you need any guides for the city, I know my own way around." She glanced back at Amber to see if she'd pipe up as well as a tour guide, or not.

Before Malik can reply to Sara, he turned his gaze back to Amber. His mind is in wonder of why most people would consider this girl a bit "off". It must have something to do with the way she looks or the abilities acquire after her mutation. He is curious as to what powers she possessed. His own mutation is considered to be dangerous. Malik might consider his power to be a force of nature sense it is the ability to control an element.

"Well, I'm certain I'll be your friend no matter what. Friends accept each other no matter what flaw. After all, my powers are considered very dangerous when out of control. They are like a force of nature. I am just relieved that I didn't hurt anyone while I was going to school back in Maryland." Malik said, hinting about his mutation to his friends.

The young mutant returned his gaze back to Sara to listen on her answer about his previous question. It must have been hard for someone like her, who doesn't look human at all. Even though Malik was a mutant himself, he at least was able to blend in. No one shunned him for how he looked. He can only imaine the pain she must have gone through. However, relief rushed over the boy upon hearing of the help and care she has gotten from the mansion. The people that lived there must really be kind, like Amber said.

"I am very glad that your were given help by the people here. It must be nice living here. I can only imagine the interesting experience I'll witness later on in the future. Also, I'm happy to accept your offer of guiding me around the campus. I'm new here, so it's pretty difficult for someone, like me to find their way around" Malik said, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment that he doesn't know he way around at all. He felt clueless as to where he should go that that he has arrive at the school.

In her past life, friends were something Amber had. Perhaps she had never had them in plenty, but those few she did were valued and she had felt valued by them in return. That was a lifetime ago, however and she had thought she had left those things behind long ago. Such talk of friends by both Sara and Malik, however, brought her to the rather startling realization that she was lonely. Of course she had her sister Aura who she would always be fiercely loyal too but that was different. That was family. Besides, Aura wasn't like other people.

"I have been around the city for a while," Amber spoke. A deviation from her usual calm, she felt apprehensive in her words. Who was she, a daughter of death, a hunter and a killer, to speak so casually to one who seemed so innocent? "I don't do well in daylight, but I know some lovely places to spend a night or an evening." She was entirely certain why she was even trying to be friendly.

"It is good your powers never hurt anyone," Amber answered. "I guess I'm fortunate that my own powers were never really dangerous to others." No time to mention that she had hurt people and those had been intentionally done. Mostly in self defense, but some would argue that was no excuse.