At first glance, Calria was completely normal, and for that, Sarah was grateful. She loved her other friends who spent their preteen years having adventures like hers, but breaking in a new Traveler could be time consuming. She could always sense the mix of secret knowledge and out of place awkwardness that tended to accompany Travelers like herself. Sure, Calria had a slightly ethereal air, but she was new to school, and you couldn't live in a border town like Oddford without some weirdness down the line.

Calria had been lost as a haint looking for her locker, and Sarah helped her out. They had the same first period and spent it snarking side-by-side in the back of the class. Lunch was spent comparing classes, dishing out dirt on teachers, and suggesting good coffee shops. They agreed to meet up at one such cafe that evening.

Sarah was surprised by her good luck. Considering her history of crappy first impressions, she and Calria had hit it off quite well. Her new friend seemed like the type to make friends with everyone, but without compromising her own personality. If anyone could battle Sarah when she went into her megalomaniacal, hyper-competitive mode (William-zilla, as Turner put it), Calria could be that contender.

At the Clockwork Bean, Sarah & Calria had the wandering, lengthy conversations best friends at first sight tend to have. Sarah didn't know how late it had gotten until she received Momma-Karen's 9:30 'It's a school night. Wrap it up' text.

Groaning, Sarah grabbed her bag. "My stepmom wants me home." She noticed Calria's posture slump for a moment. "Aren't your parents worried about you?"

Calria laughed. "I live on my own."

"Wow, how did you get so lucky."

The new girl shifted awkwardly as they left the shop. "My parents work out of the –erm- country. They wanted me to stay grounded and go to a normal high school. So, I ended up here. My parents support my house & necessities as long as I keep up my studies."

Some people had all the luck. "Cool. Slightly strange, but cool."

Calria shrugged. "A lot about me is strange."

Sarah inwardly snorted. Sister, I think I've got the market cornered on stra- OH CRAP!

She didn't see the stupid owl until it swooped down upon her with a familiar voice saying her name on the wind. Mid-air, the owl form shifted to that of a man as Sarah attempted to remember her katas and not have panic attack. Did he have to choose now to slink back out after two years of radio silence?

The man-shape produced something round and glowing in his hand. "I've brought you a gift," the low voice said before hurling the ball straight at Sarah and Calria.

This could not get any worse.

This could not get any worse!

Then, without flinching, Calria stepped forward and caught the crystal confidently in her palm. She then began to tear the Goblin King a new one at the top of her lungs, using his first name.

Well apparently it could get worse.