Hello, everyone! This is Mourning under the Moon, and I'm back! I would've told you all this in my last update, but I had no time. I have time now, though, and I am hoping to update twice a month. The one good thing is I have plenty of chapters to share, and I am working on the next exciting chapter as I write all of this. It's a very exciting chapter when the dark secrets are illuminated and 'giant fireflies' plague the Institute. (You'll have a better understanding of that statement when I post chapter 18.)

For now, enjoy Chapter 14!

Chapter 14: Tours of the Institute

Talyda watched Rose as she told Taly about the area they were walking in. "It was so funny, the first few days. The only place I'd really been was the restrooms, my room, the kitchen and dining rooms, the Professor's office, and outside, so when I had to go down this hallway, I couldn't find my way out until one of the students came up and helped me," Rose giggled.

Taly laughed, but smelled a stranger around the corner. "There's someone there," she whispered.

Rose walked around the corner, and smiled. "Hey, Kurt! I'm showing someone around that I want you to meet. Taly," Rose turned, and pulled her friend around the corner, "This is Kurt Wagner," she said, pronouncing his last name as 'Vagner.' "Kurt, this is Talyda."

Talyda saw something she didn't smell. He had blue-black hair, but his skin was normal, but her nose told her something else. An illusion or something? she guessed.

Kurt couldn't believe it. The girl that Rose had pulled around the corner had blue, fuzzy skin and yellow eyes with no pupil. She looks a lot like me, he thought. Maybe I should show her that. His left hand began to go to his right wrist when he heard Kitty call to him.

"Kurt! We have yet another new girl. Her name is Kestrel Woodbriar," Kitty called.

Kurt turned, and gave a slight wave with his left hand. He suddenly noticed that it had gone to its normal blue and fuzzy. He gasped, and disappeared to his room.

Rose sighed. His Inducer is acting up again, she thought sadly. She had seen this happen only once before, but proved to him that it didn't bug her that she was living in a place with someone who was blue and fuzzy. In fact, I like blue. And fuzzy, she thought with a smile.

Talyda had nodded as soon as she saw that Kurt had the tail that she had been sure was there. He looks better as blue and fuzzy –just like me! she thought excitedly.

Whoa, that's weird, Adea thought.

Beam me up, Scottie, was Kestrel's first thought. AH! I knew it! ALIENS! But only, why did they want me? Oh, what are they going to do to me? And why isn't Adea panicking? What if they'd already brainwashed her so she wouldn't mind being here? Oh, no! Kestrel panicked.

Kitty noticed Talyda. Whoa, now there is someone I haven't seen yet, she thought. "Rose, is that Talyda?" she asked.

"Yes. Taly, this is Kitty Pryde," Rose added.

"Hi," Talyda said coldly. I hate it when people (whatever they are) stare at me like I'm a freak, she thought angrily. She glanced at Rose, and a light smile lit her lips. At least I have Rose, she thought happily.

"Hi there. The Professor said that Rose was showing you around; I just wanted to make sure that was who you were," Kitty explained. "Have you met Adea and Kestrel?" she added.

"Yes," Talyda answered, glaring more at Adea then Kestrel. Adea just gave her a look that plainly said, 'I don't like you, either.'

"Kestrel, Talyda, and I rode up here together," Rose explained. "We met Adea when Kestrel –came back in," she added hesitantly.

(ROSE, WHERE ARE YOU?) an angry plant screamed. Rose winced. Kitty looked at her worriedly. Rose noticed.

"It's Diamond," she explained.

(ROSE, ANSWER ME! NOW!!!) he added, even louder. Rose winced again.

"I'd better go up and see to him before he hurts my ears," Rose decided. She then noticed a hint of a growl coming from Taly. "Come on, Taly. I'll show you the upstairs afterwards," Rose added, yanking on Talyda's arm.

Taly reluctantly followed, shooting evil glares at Adea. As soon as they were halfway up the stairs, Taly growled, "I don't like that cat-girl."

"Cat-girl, huh? That must be her powers, 'cause you're pretty good at guessing them," Rose commented.

(ROSE!!! WHY AREN'T YOU ANSWERING ME?) Diamond shouted, getting louder. As Rose winced, she noticed the hint of hysteria in her friend's voice. She began to run up the steps.

Taly ran after her, easily keeping up. Rose ran down to her room, not stopping to see if Taly was still following. Diamond seemed to turn to face her.

(There you are. You know how long I've been calling for you? Where in the soil have you been?) Diamond demanded.

(I went very far. I went through Vermont and New Hampshire. We even went into Maine before the Professor found us,) Rose answered.

(You left New York? Without ME?) he screamed. Rose winced.

(Calm down, Diamond. I accidentally forgot about you, Carla, Jordan, and the others. I'm sorry,) she apologized.

(You forgot about us. How pleasant. Did you forget to eat, too? Did you forget you're roots? Boy, you must be really smart to leave behind you're friends. Why, exactly, did you do it?) Diamond demanded. Rose blushed.

(Well, first of all, Taly needed me. She needed a friend, and a person she could trust. Second, well, this place has been heavenly. I didn't want to be forced to leave it. I wanted to leave of my own free will. This wondrous place won't last forever, you know,) Rose explained shyly. And now I have my reason! I felt that Taly needed me! she thought excitedly.

(Humph. Who ever said that you wanted it to last forever? One day, you'll be able to help others grow their vegetables that they need to survive. You will one-day leave this place of your own will. Do you doubt that? You have friends here. Make them you're family. Family doesn't necessarily mean blood, or flesh, or whatever it is that you humans use. Family is people you really like, and who really like you back. These people are like that. They probably trust you. Why can't you see this? Are you too blind to do that? Rose, you have to make smart choices. I won't always be there to help you out, you know,) Diamond reminded her angrily.

"Yeah, I know," Rose answered aloud. (Are you all right now? I've got to finish showing Taly around. I promise I won't run off again,) Rose added silently.

(No, I will not let you. You didn't even leave you're new rooting address the last time you ran off,) Diamond snapped.

Rose groaned, and saw Talyda's startled look. "Diamond won't let me leave!" she explained. "He's upset I left without much warning." (Diamond, I swear that I'll be back.)

(NO!) Diamond screamed. (I will not let you!)

"Diamond, stop being a seedling calling for help," Rose scolded. "I can take care of myself. And have you ever stopped to consider the fact that the Professor, Jean, Scott, Ororo, and Logan will not let me leave?"

(Well…no, not really. But you've got to promise not to leave me without saying goodbye,) Diamond agreed.

"Okay, I promise. I'll be back," Rose replied. "Come on, Taly, let's finish your tour," she added, dragging her friend out the door.

"Do you often talk like that?" Taly asked. Rose blushed.

"Yeah. I'm getting better, and talking more in my head, but from time to time I forget. Sorry," Rose apologized.

"It's fine. It's a little hair raising, but fine," Taly assured her. "It can get annoying." Rose burst into a fit of giggles.