Chapter One: First Day

Kara pushed open the glass door to Wilderness Heights. She had never seen such an elaborate structure pass for a school before. But it was apparently possible.

The halls were tall and made entirely of wood. There were hallways going three hundred different ways within the wooden frame and on top of that were as many different colored tiles as you could think of. And this elaborate scene was just the front office!

"Wow."

She passed by lockers and was almost blinded by the open door to one of them. Her vision cleared and then she saw blue.

His eyes were laughing as he set her body upright.

"Careful." he said, a deep voice ringing in her ears.

" How can you find anything in here anyway? Do you know where Mr. Black is?"

"In here Kara." Billy Black laughed as she dazily made her way over to a wooden bench and sat down in front of him.

"I have been expecting you. This is Wilderness Heights. Welcome. In this packet you will find everything you need to know about us. Don't worry about not fitting in right away either. A few hours here is all it takes. You'll see." Billy rolled over to the door of his office and handed Kara a plastic bag.

"What is this?"

"Dress code." he smiled. "You'll get used to it and I see you've met Johnny. He's a very good match for you. But hey, I don't want to jinx anything yet." he winked and Kara blushed.

"Just tell me what is the deal with all these people?" Kara felt a claustrophobic feeling coming over her and looked around as a bell rang and all the kids started pouring into their respective classes. Billy waited by the door until it became quiet and asked"Did you come to the open house last week?"

Kara shook her head. "I was sick."

"Well fine then. I'll show you around or better yet," he paused and turned to the side away from Kara's ear and hollered "JACOB!'

A door opened and a tall, burly, even frighteningly gorgeous teenager walked over to the bench.

"You can show our newest student around for today can't you son?" he smiled at him and Jacob muttered something under his breath.

He tore down the hallway and ended up back outside. Kara could sense that Jacob didn't like doing this much and tried to keep up. She found herself wandering through the halls blinded by Jacob's many muscles and he turned and saw her starring.

"I know, I'm super hot. Why don't you change clothes first and then meet me out here. I can't be myself yet."

"What do you mean?" she asked and Jacob sat down on a log. Kara was looking at trees and birds sang in the branches.

" You don't like me do you?" she asked.

Jacob smiled slightly. "Hey, of course I like you. I am a very friendly person. You just were in the wrong place at the wrong time. But now I'm happy and free."

"So in school you change?"

"Yes. I have to. Kara right?"

She nodded and Jacob stood up. "Tonight is the special fire. It's for all the new kids at Wilderness Heights. There, my father, Sasha and Quill's grandpa will introduce all the staff and students to each other officially. That way is so much easier. You won't get lost anymore after that. By the way, you have to wear what's in the bag. It's part of the dress code here. If you don't wear it, you might get a detention." he warned. Kara called out in thanks as Jacob headed back to class.

She sighed and tried to act like she was supposed to look like a deer in the headlights, though Kara knew as she was tossed about by people's bodies, that acting like an old pro would not be easy.

xox Wilderness Heights xox

As the clouds shuddered in the cool nighttime air, giving slowly away to a crystal coated sky and butter yellow moon, the students watched.

The fire gleamed inside a big, blackened pit made of rocks and ash covered wood. Billy took pride in his bonfires. They happened as a ritual of sorts at Wilderness. Tonight's was to welcome all the students and staff to Wilderness. Jacob sat next to him, at the head of the flames. The others- Sasha Belov and Quill Attera Sr. along with his wife were seated among the group along the three other sides of the pit. Everyone watched Billy and waited expectantly for him to speak. He took a deep, cleansing breath shortly afterward and started.

"Hello everyone and welcome. Wilderness Heights is a very special school and you are all very lucky to be able to come here. It is unlike anything you have ever seen before and will continue to surprise you at every turn."

Sasha Belov stood up and addressed the crowd of students.

" You are all very special. You are strong and have magic powers radiating in your blood. There is nothing you can't do. However, you must work as a team to achieve your goals. None of you will get left behind. You must stand together in order to really be strong."

Billy took over with " You've always had magic in your blood. You will find it here. However, you are expected to follow these few rules.

The dress code is to be worn every day. There are no exceptions. Not all of your classes will be indoors. Some will take place outdoors as well. You will arrive to your classes on time and if late five times you will receive detention. "

Quill Attera Sr. spoke up then expanding on what he believed was an important point.

"Always treat your classmates and teachers with respect. We are all people. No better or worse than anyone else. We are all equals. So act like we are."

"Another thing." Billy added " You are never alone. Everyone has a role to play in the pack and you can offer assisstance to others just by being a part of it."

They all sat down and waited a while, letting the students soak up what they had jus heard. Billy stood up and had everyone on the left side of his chair step forward.

"I would like to introduce the staff of Wilderness Heights."

Sam Uley stepped up and held his face in a hard line, serious.

"Samuel Uley. I teach pack duties. Call me Sam."

"Emily Young." Emily said smiling at everyone around the fire. "I cook the food and make sure all of you strong, powerful people stay fed." She let go of a laugh and the girls smiled. It made Kara feel better when she saw Emily smile.

Sasha stood up and spoke again.

"Sasha Belov. I am your gymnastics coach. I expect respect and want to see you guys succeed. But I can't help you if you don't do what I ask. Is that clear?"

Everyone nodded and mumbled a chourus of yeses.

" Marty Walsh. I teach gymnastics with Sasha. I want to see your talents and don't say you don't have any becuase I am going to help you find them." he said sitting back down.

Billy and Sara stood up.

"Billy Black. I teach history."

"Sara Black. I teach art."

Quill stood up and spoke now.

"I am Quill Attera. I teach art as well. I am also a tribal leader, teaching history of the tribe and tell stories of our ansestors."

It went on like that until all of the staff were named.

"If you please, stand up and tell your name." Billy said and the kids all rose to their feet.

Students were hesitant at first but once the first few were out of the way, the others relaxed.

"Jackson."

"Melissa."

"Nathan."

"Daley and this is my brother Lex."

The others were announced and all recived a consolation prize. Each necklace had a tribal design on it tied together with amber beads and a precious stone gem on the front. With their newly adored necks, the students of Wilderness Heights sat around the fire again.

Billy assigned boys to a dorm and girls to another.

When Kara stood up, Billy called her over and laughed.

"You're wearing the dress wrong." He tied the red silk around her breasts and let the rest of the see through fabric fall down around Kara's legs. She blushed but then noticed that Daley, Melissa, Taylor, Emily, Kaylie, Payson and Lauren were all wearing their dresses that way as well.

"Must be a thing here." she said to herself.

The boys wore the tribal necklaces they received along with soft brown pants and a fluid shirt. They looked to Emily like a bunch of Arabian dancers. Taylor laughed and went inside.

Shutting the lights off Lauren played her music on low and Kara fell asleep watching the moon wash over the sky and turn pink with daylight.