the Little Windy Hill -- Common House

At the very top of the Little Windy Hill are the main buildings of the Wind Dorm. They are made of stone, with grass growing over the roofs to make gentle, open platforms where students may sit to feel the wind upon their bodies. From up there they can look down upon the country, miles and miles in every direction.

No matter where one might stand upon the summit, there are wide, open spaces and emptiness.

There is a single large structure able to hold all occupants of the Wind Dorm. This building is the Common House, a solid, stone building able to be converted from a study room to a meeting hall at a moment's notice. A fire burns on every wall (courtesy of some fire magic), and a single crystal at the apex of the ceiling acts as a motion sensor so that the room is always lit when occupied.

The Wind Dorms are actually four separate clusters of individual, small huts. They are all at the same level and are split into upper/lowerclassmen dorms by direction: upperclassmen to the East and lowerclassmen to the West.

Each wing of the dorm has two clusters, each with their own central courtyard for gatherings. The individual huts each have their own small bathrooms and students with roommates are the exception, rather than the rule.

Othala Wing is on the South side, closest to Route 13, the road connecting Baggs, WY and Craig, CO.

Jera Wing is on the North side, closest to campus.

<<Cheshire>>

From the Dining Hall, Cheshire led his new charges along the winding paths toward the Wind Dorm. He ignored their whinging and complaining about the long walk, though he used the time to tell them that with the amount of walking they'd be doing they'd be in shape in no time.

"This first week or two, your bodies are adjusting to the altitude." He abruptly slowed down with a sheepish smile. "So, take it easy. As new residents, you are automatically enrolled in my beginner's hang-gliding course, so those will be available to you as well, once you pass the proficiency test."

At the foot of the hill, he paused to let them all have a good, long look at the stony stairs. He pointed. "That's home. Welcome to the Wind Dorms!"

Giving the new students plenty of time to make it up the stairs, Cheshire paused for a few minutes on each landing to point out features, especially of the school once they rose far enough above the trees.

"There's the library, and the gym, over there's the general ed buildings, and those are the stables ...."

At the top, he went towards the Common house. On the wall next to the main doors was a map of the complex. Pulling out his list again, he gave the students his brief version of the welcome speech, told them to meet there again in the morning, 9 am sharp, he gave them their hut assignments and told them to settle in, and get a good night's sleep.

Meanwhile, he kept one eye on the sky. The cloudless night had him worried.

Casey followed the professor without a further reply. Well, she would have talked had she not been busy gaping at their surroundings. She kept clear of the others as Cheshire rounded them up. There wasn't much talking amongst the student's anyway. Most were too busy gawking or pestering the man with questions. Casey kept an eye on the weather too - but there didn't seem to be any storm gathering, let alone clouds. Maybe the guy was wrong?

Luckily, Casey only managed to get winded a few times up "Little Hill" and barely maintained her composure as she stopped for a rest. While he gave the grand tour, she breifly wondered who she would be bunking with, which led her onto thinking about eyes glowing in the dark. She barely surpressed a shiver.

Casey himself was silent for most ofthe trip, probably soaking it all in as much as she was. The new year was starting and they were going to be on their way to making a change of their lives soon. Jess was missing her body, well, most of the time she did. And Casey... he was missing his freedom. A few times were all that he attempted to break free and almost half-heartedly at that, Jess simply ignored him.

As Casey was given her room, she saw that she didn't have a roommate just yet. While the rest were finding their way towards their beds, tired from the walk, she moved up beside the professor. "Umm.... did you turn away the storm then?"

<<Cheshire>>

Looking down at the question, Cheshire smiled at the young man. That was probably the most intelligent inquiry he'd had all evening, a far cry from all the questions about roommates. Few people had roommates on the Hill, and if he had to say so one more time ...! But that was the way of things, and it always irked him; he ought to be used to it by now.

"No," he answered the question with his usual amicable expression. He pointed towards the North and the building storm system. Not much had changed; again odd.

"It's there, a few hours away." He frowned slightly, eyes closing half-way as he sensed the weather patterns. He said, mostly to himself, "Not sure what it's waiting for. Anyways!" he continued brightly. "Your hut is over that way. You should get settled in, Mr., ah." He had to consult his list. "Terra. Hm, that's an interesting -- oh. I think I know your Family."

With his Family being illustrious Fire Witches, he was almost positive that this boy was from another, similar clan. His smile gained a little more warmth.

"Welcome to Northwood, young Mr. Terra. If you'll please excuse me."

He bowed and departed, within a few strides mounting invisible steps. There was still too much light from lanterns and the star-filled sky to really get the full effect, but there were still plenty of returning students around who could use the reminder.

Lilyue came to his silent command, obediently hovering with help from the winds. Cheshire grabbed the bars and released his spell, the wind catapulting the glider up into the sky. There was work to be done.

<<Cheshire>>

The night had been a long one, but the storm finally broke up shortly after midnight. Released, the clouds billowed Eastward, dumping rain on everything in its path. The protections of the school and Cheshire's magic dispelled the storm still further, until the morning dawned gray and overcast, drizzling in a constant stream, but minus the heavy winds that had rattled the roofs overnight.

Yawning, Cheshire trudged up the path from the stairs down. With the weather, the gliders were off-limits, so the first thing he'd done was set up a corridor along the steps down the Little Windy Hill. Although the wind wasn't particularly strong, he didn't want any of the students to be blown off by accident or mishap. The protective dome sapped his strength, tired from weather working and little sleep, but he could nap during the first part of Orientation.

He reached the Common House to see only a few students gathered under the overhang and inside. Looking at his watch, he tapped his foot impatiently, stomach growling, and then stepped back outside.

Discerning eyes could see that the rain didn't actually hit his skin. It was as if the rain parted for him, not raining in the spot where he might be standing.

Outside, he clapped his hands once in each direction of the Lowerclassmen dorms, releasing a thunderclap of sound. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he said, "Rise and Shine, Wind Dorm! Time for breakfast and Orientation. Freshmen report to the Common House in five minutes!"

The wind-megaphone magnified his voice across the Dorm, more effective than any alarm clock. Smiling with satisfaction, he looked at his watch again, consulted his list, and moved back inside the Common House. He'd send another wake-up call in three minutes.

When he'd gathered all his students, Cheshire led the way to Orientation.