Alone, and scared

Maria sat under a trees, her legs clutched into her body, shivering. She was alone, as she didn't want to go dinner, and didn't want questions asked either. So she had to be alone until it was over. But she didn't like being alone. She was scared.

Seraphina was sitting in a tree, rather squashed but not caring.

Maria eyes flickered around, and her breathing increased. Why had she decided to do this? Normally she just pretended not to eat, instead of skipping. But she thought it might be esiar to skip. But it wasn't.

Seraphina was bored out of her wits, and the light was beginnint o go. She got out a torch and flicked it on.

A light flashed out of no-where, and Maria flinched, and looked around wildy. It was coming from a tree/ "Hello?" She said nervously

Seraphina grunted in response.

Maria visible relaxed at the grunt. Someone was here. She wasn't alone. But she didn't know who that someone was. "Um who are you?"

"Phin."

Maria frowned. What kind of name was that? "Um, I'm Maria. Why aren't you at dinner?"

"I already ate."

Maria nodded, patially to herself "Um, why are you in a tree?"

"Why not?"

"Well, isn't it...a bit..." Maria didn't know how to answer

Phin didn;t bother answering.

Maria dodn't know what to do. She could go back. But that would mean she would be alone again, at least until she reached the dormiteries. "So um, what age are you?"

"Fifteen. What's your name?"

"I already said, Maria"

"I wasn't listening."

"I guessed that"

Phin shrugged, still reading.

Maria sighed. It was getting darker. She would have to go back, as this person didn't seem much of a conversationalist. But she didn't want to leave. She began shivering again as a sharp wond cut throught the trees.

Phin dropped out of the tree about twelve feet, landing in a crouch.

Maria looked around at the noise,still shivering , and quickly studied the girl who she had been having a ,strange, converstion with.

Phin looked rather more like a boy than she did like a girl. She was fairly flat in all plains, with a face more handsome than pretty.

A sort of tomboy Maria guessed from the way she looked. Different from the kind of girls she normally saw.