Walking into the Mess Hall, the Aero boys and one girl cheered and clapped and made barking noises. Apparently the Houses Aero and Canis were close. I smiled a little, my hands sheepishly tucked into my grey hoodie. Harley completely ignored it, and Jared made a total fool of himself, flexing his nonexistent muscles.

"Are you on drugs?" Harley asked looking at him, eyebrows raised as we picked up our trays.

"Maybe. I think I pulled a muscle." he said, looking over his arm.

"You can't pull what you don't have." the fierce redhead said with a cocky smile.

I snorted and giggled.

"It's not funny!" Jared pleaded.

"It's true!" I laughed.

We walked towards the only empty table, and I noticed a girl with straight black hair whispering and glancing over at us. Harley, also noticing this, shouted,

"Speak up, b-!"

I clamped my hand over her mouth, and through gritted teeth said, "Chill!" and pulled her towards the table, hand still over her mouth. She licked my hand and I quickly pulled it off with an "Eeep!"

Wiping any excess saliva off on my shorts I shot her a look, but she wasn't paying any attention, instead staring daggers across the room at the girl, who was obviously in Felis because she sat at the same table as the boy, Jamaree, who started a conversation with me the previous evening.

I snapped my fingers in front of her ablaze olive eyes. Not even a blink. Turning to face the table and my cereal, I said,

"Look, we'll get her tomorrow when we start events."

"Or we can beat her up now!" she said excitedly, pounding her fist into her open palm.

"Well, we'd probably get thrown out of camp for that." I answered.

"True . . . I don't really want to go back to my Grandparents yet . . ." She said turning around to eat her food as well.

"You live with your Grandparents?" Jared asked in surprise.

"Shut up Pipsqueak." Harley said lowly.

"Geez I was just asking." he said.

"Well stop it, it's none of your business." Harley said, her voice losing some of its fire. Jared, noticing this, asked,

"You okay there, Freckles?"

"Shut up." Harley warned, although she now wore a tired expression.

"Cool, cool." he said with a slight nod, biting into his apple.

Disposing of the remainder of our food, we made our way back towards Canis House.

Opening the door to the cabin, we saw Kitty right where we'd left her.

"You three ready for the grand tour?" she asked.

"Totally!" answered Jared, practically jumping up and down with excitement.

"Well then follow me." she said, leading us right back out the door.

We followed her as she showed us the lake and said that in our spare time we could swim in it or go fishing. She walked us pass the Mess Hall, and said tomorrow a notice board would be put up so we could see which House was winning. We walked past a small general store where we could buy candy and stuff. Then we came upon a huge building, the gym. Kitty said we'd have to go and work out two hours per day. She also said we could practice archery, knife and hatchet throwing, sword fighting, spear throwing, and survival skills around back. Then she took us through the woods and to the two campsites. One was beside the small stream that filtered into the lake, close to a small waterfall the camp was named after. The other campsite was in the middle of the woods, and she said some activities would be held there.

Leading us out of the woods, we stopped by and surveyed the field where most challenges and activities would take place. Behind the field was a big pit where they held bonfires

Next she explained the rules. No shapeshifting in challenges unless permitted, no fighting with other Houses, always tell someone where you're going, and no being out past twelve without permission.

"Personally, if I were you three, I'd hit the gym right after lunch to do some archery and the likes. Never know when they'll pull the archery or hatchet throwing challenge." Kitty finished. I scanned my Housemates. We were all pretty tired and thirsty from our long walk.

"We'll go after lunch." I answered.

"Well get it on it then." she said, nodding towards the Mess Hall and turning and walking back towards the cabin.

"Ughhh . . ." Harley sighed, shoulders slumping. "It's only 12:00 and she's making us work!"

I snorted and rolled my eyes. I felt the same way, but only Harley would say it out loud with a Head of House a meter away.

"Let's get this over with." I said, making my way towards the Mess Hall. Nearly walking into someone, I looked up and apologized, "Oh I'm sor-"

"Excuse you." she sharp voice cut straight through mine. I looked in surprise at the girl from this morning. Flat black hair plastered to her shoulders. I tried to say something back, but I opened my mouth and closed it, probably looking like a fish gasping for air. A wicked smile curled up on her lips at my befuddlement. She was probably my age, with a really snobby attitude.

"Vanessa lay off." Jamaree said, trying to tug her away from me, but she shook his hand off. Harley was beside me then, and I knew she would have no trouble thinking of something witty to say.

"Back off, twig." Harley growled, that defiant glare in her eyes.

"Aren't you cute, little ginger?" the girl, Vanessa said in a sarcastically sweet voice.

"I'm sorry I didn't get that. I don't speak idiot." Harley said crudely.

"It has quite the mouth on it, doesn't it?" Vanessa said, looking over at an older looking guy, who had a wide smile on his face.

"Indeed it does." he said sophisticatedly.

"Was I supposed to be offended? Insulted maybe? You really aren't very good at this."

"At least I don't have leprosy." Vanessa said with a sneer, referring to her freckles.

"This is coming from the one who fell from the ugly tree and hit very branch on the way down. Psshh, I can get plastic surgery for my freckles, you on the other hand will be stupid for eternity." Harley countered.

A couple of spectaters 'oohhed' and Jared jumped in and said,

"Why don't we take it down a notch?"

"Stay out of this runt." Harley said indignantly.

"You should quit trying to be the hero here Ginger, you'll never be the man your mother is." Vanessa said, her sneer widening as Harley's eyes narrowed in fury. She shoved Vanessa out of the way and pulled me after her, turned around, walking backwards and said,

"So sorry, but we don't associate with attention seeking twats!"

I Could hear Vanessa say something else but Harley wasn't responding, so I didn't either.

"You alright?" I asked.

"Yeah." she said, showing about as much emotion as a brick. "I figured it would be a better idea to leave before I had to kill someone."

I smiled. "Wise move my friend."

She looked at me.

"What? You aren't my friend?"

"No! It's just . . . I mean . . . look, I'm not really a good friend."

"What was that back there then?" I asked. I knew she was just saying that.

"That was just me going off on a stupid self-centered snob." she defended.

"Right. Look you've got some kind of wall up," I said, poking her in the shoulder. "I know you're a good friend. You don't show it that much, but I can see it in your eyes."

She was quiet for a bit before saying, "Yeah? Well you're too girly."

"What? I'm not girly!" I protested.

"Please you're one of the biggest goodie-two-shoes I've ever seen. At least you're not stuck up though." she continued with a considerate nod.

"Thanks I guess . .?" I said with a small laugh.

"Anytime." she said with a wave of her hand.

"You were so awesome back there!" Jared said catching up to us. "The way you stood up for Ayla like that!"

"Dang! Is that the image I put off?" she asked an eyebrow raised.

"Kinda." I answered.

"Great. Now they're all going to think I'm mushy like you." she said poking me.

"I'm not mushy!" I said defiantly.

"You're kinda mushy." Jared said, also poking me.

"Whose side our you on!?" I asked, kind of irritated.

"Hers right now." he replied.

"Why!? She hates you!"

"It's a mild hate." he said with a shrug.

I sighed and dropped it, Harley chuckling the whole time.