Ilvermorny: Andrew, Jasmine, Adria and Bonnie
"Paladin Andrew may go next," Crio called.
"All right, now," said Andrew, flexing his fingers, "I hope that I'm either Wampus or Thunderbird."
"He and Shondo have a lot in common, I think," whispered Lina to Bonnie.
Bonnie chuckled. "I know. Who ever knew they would both be gunning for action and adventure?" she replied.
Andrew stood on the Knot and faced the carvings. For a few moments, not much happened, apart from a slight movement from the Thunderbird's wings and a rumble from the Wampus. Then, the Wampus fell silent, and the Thunderbird beat its wings hard.
Andrew looked pleased. "Good to see I'm in Thunderbird. I'm going to show Verlox how adventurers are better than ordinary soldiers at being heroes."
"Is that a slur on Wampus, buddy?" asked Shondo.
"No, of course not," said Andrew defensively, "I just believe that adventurers can learn more about how to defeat evil through discovery, than through merely being a warrior who follows orders."
"Whoever said I'm going to follow orders, Andrew?" Shondo replied, "Except, of course, for the Queen's. And knowing things isn't everything you need to win."
"Maybe not," said Andrew, "But adventurers have more freedom to discover original things than soldiers."
"It's a free country," said Shondo. "Or, at least, back home, it is."
"Can we continue this little dispute another time, please?" asked Crio. "We must move on."
"All right, we'll discuss this later," said Shondo, "But we will settle this, Andrew, and we'll see who's right."
"I look forward to it," said Andrew.
"Paladin Adria," Crio called on.
Adria came forward with eager interest. She stood in the appropriate place and faced the carvings. Inwardly, she was looking forward to being declared a Horned Serpent, because she was so logical. So she was a bit surprised when the carving that moved was the Pukwudgie, raising its arrow into the air.
Adria blinked. "I'm a Pukwudgie?" she exclaimed. "But how, and why?"
"Maybe because you're a good mother, like me," suggested Jasmine, "You apparently love to take care of people, and maybe you'd make a great healer."
"I suppose so," said Adria with a frown. "But it's still weird, Jasmine. I thought I was smart enough to be a Horned Serpent, especially after being sorted into Ravenclaw previously."
"Speaking of Jasmine, her turn is next," interjected Crio.
Jasmine walked to the Knot. She, too, was confident of what she would be part of. She wanted Pukwudgie, because she was a nurturing mother and liked healing hurt people. But she, too, was in for a surprise. Soon, the Thunderbird flapped its wings, while the Pukwudgie remained motionless.
Now Jasmine blinked. "No way!" she said. "I'm a good mom, too! Well, I do like to be part of an adventure, as well. Why else would I go to a renaissance fair and admire the knights in shining armor?"
"Paladin Bonnie," requested Crio.
Bonnie walked to the spot of sorting. As she stood on it, all four of the carvings twitched a little. Evidently, her sorting was a little more difficult for the spirits. She whispered to herself, and perhaps also to the carvings, "Make me a Thunderbird, please, make me a Thunderbird."
The Horned Serpent's crystal in its head glowed slightly, while the Thunderbird spread its wings. As if she heard a voice the others couldn't, Bonnie said to it, "I know I have a great imagination, but the soul is a better thing to channel awesome adventurers through than just the mind, and I'm an adventurer. I want Thunderbird!"
The two rivaling carvings hesitated a little longer. Finally, the Horned Serpent's glow faded, and the Thunderbird beat its wings as furiously as if it were trying to take off.
Bonnie beamed. "Awesome!" she shouted. "I knew I was a Thunderbird! Whatever controls those carvings obviously knows what I really am!"
Adria and Jasmine glanced at each other. "If that's true," Adria murmured to Jasmine, "then why did we get less than our heart's desire?"
Jasmine shrugged helplessly.
To be continued...
