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Adrenidae was nervous. So super nervous. Gulping hard, he clung to the stuffed doll in his arms, staring at the milling freshlings. There were some a little older, some maybe his age. He didn’t know. He really didn’t care. Antennas vibrating nervously, he felt his eyes get teary. How was he supposed to find Mags in this big school?! It had to be bigger than his entire town!

”MAGGGSSSS,” he wailed finally, collapsing to the ground and clinging to the stuffed animal. It was once Mags but they had traded when she left. Now, he was weeping and howling her name, wanting her there at that exact moment. How was he ever supposed to find the dryad?!

Mags stared up at the sky. She had skipped class. The teacher had become so boring. And honestly, she didn't need math. There was no doubt in her mind that it was just a waste of her time. You didn't need math for farming. All you needed to do is know how to count! She knew how to do that. She couldn't waste the sunshine outside. It was too beautiful of a day to miss!

The sound of a familiar voice caught her ears, making her swivel around. "What in tarnation?" She could have sworn she left her buzzin' bee back at home. It had been a while, but the memory of their departure was still fresh on her mind. Something inside of her still had her getting up. Maybe it really was him.

Eyes widened as she approached where the sound was coming from. Sure enough, it was him. "What are you doin' here?" Her eyebrows knit together as she hollered, obviously concerned. He was usually too sick to be out and about. One of her hands went to her hips. "Are you visitin'?"

The holler had his sobbing hiccupping to a stop. Without even looking to the owner of the voice, he stumbled to his feet, wings weakly attempting to help, before barreling into the body of the other freshling, wincing only slightly at the press of his flower in between them. Still, his arms went around her and he dried his eyes on her. "I missed you, Mags!" he sniffled, rubbing his face once more into her shirt before pulling just his head back to stare up at the taller and older freshling.

"Mama said I could come to school now. So I thought I'd find you. Your mama told me you'd be happy to see me. Are ya happy, Mags?" he asked, head tilting. He was so happy to find her. Winter had been awful without her. Now that it was spring, his parents had decided it was the best time to send him, to get him adjusted to his new environment.

Realizing what season it was, he moved back and his hands went to grip hers, to help her with her sickness. His mama said that allergies weren't a sickness but still. It didn't make Mags feel good so it had to be a sickness. "Are you feeling bad, Mags?" he fretted, gripping her hands with both of his, stuffed animal on the ground for the moment.

She knew that the body was coming towards her. She just didn't expect him to fall into her. Mags gave an oomph as she took a step back, her arms instinctively wrapping around Andren. A short chuckle left her lips. "I missed you too my little bee but that doesn't mean I want you bumblin' aroun' here. It's not safe. You'll hurt yourself and then what am I supposed to do, hm? I have schoolwork to worry about." Obviously, she wasn't going to let him suffer alone. But Andren being here made things so complicated. Math was already difficult enough to pass. She scrunched her nose together as she felt a sneeze coming on. One thing was for sure, it really was Andren in her arms. Her allergies wouldn't be acting up otherwise.

His mama said he could come? Mags perked a brow, surprised. Honestly, she thought that he would never go to school. Too sickly, too fragile. It was a big bad world outside the farm. The dryad had had a few fights to prove it. "I am happy to see you," she softened, one of her hands lifting his chin. "But it's not safe here, Andren. Not for your health. There are more folk here than..than anything!" He had to understand how dangerous it was. There had to be some way that she could get into his simple brain.

He always was a worry wart. Thoughts momentarily derailed; Mags sniffed and gave him a cocked smile. "I'm as fine as can be." Spring might have had the flowers in bloom but...oddly enough, it wasn't as bad here. It was one of the few positive things about city life. Less trees. Although..she did miss seeing all the flowers and trees bloomin'. Just didn't care for the allergies that came with it. "Are you alright?" The urge to check on his flower was fierce but that was indecent in public. She was no cavewoman.

Andren was shaking his head before she even finished speaking. Not safe? It was safer with Mags than anywhere else. He pouted stubbornly as she lifted his chin, eyes welling up with tears. He didn't want to leave. "But you're here, Mags! I'll be fine! I got better about takin' care of myself, promise! Mama said I could come and so, I'm here!" he proclaimed, desperately looking up at her. She wouldn't make him go home, would she? Mama said that it was fine, although Mami and Mom had been skeptic. But Mags didn't need to know that.

"I'm alright! Can't I room with you? I wanna be with you, Mags. Pleaassee? I won't get in the way of your countin'," he swore, referring to the math. What else was there to math besides counting? Math was a funny word for something as simple as one, two, three.

"Now, now. Don't you go arguin' with me. It ain't gonna get you nowheres." Magdeline clicked her tongue and give him a firm stare. Darn those eyes! She could feel her own gaze slowly softening at the edges as she continued to try to stare him down. He really was too innocent and cute for this world. "I'm here but that doesn't make it safe, darlin'," she ruffled his hair affectionately. "Don't you go cryin' on me. I can see those tears in your eyes." His sobbing really was her breakdown. She sighed, shoulder's slumping. A breath of air escaped her lips as she talked underneath her breath, mainly to herself. "What am I going to do with you." His mama, although she might not like it, did have power over her own word. It wasn't like she could send him back. Even though she really wanted to.

And having a roommate that she liked was tempting. The one that she currently had wasn't fun, stuck to their notes and had no sense of adventure. It was boring. Andren....why, she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. She couldn't take care of a farm by herself after all! Another sigh escaped her lips. "I guess you can room with me," she gave him a small smile before attempting to be stern again. "But you gotta stay healthy, alwright? I don't want to have to ship you off back to the farm because you got yourself sick."

His tears gathered even more so. She really was going to send him back! He wouldn't let her. He would cling and cry until she just had to let him stay.

He was preparing himself for quite the tantrum when she finally conceded. And even said they could share a room. His expression brighten, tears being wiped away with his sleeve. Oh, he would promise anything to stay! "I'll do it, I'll be healthy, okay?" he agreed excitedly, wings fluttering, antennas perked. "I'm so happy, Mags! We can be together again!" he cheered, practically bouncing, wings feebly trying to lift him up. It didn't matter that he couldn't fly. It didn't matter that there wasn't as much plants here or that there were too many people or that he would have to do homework. He was with Mags again and was even going to share a room with her! It would be like a sleepover, but every night! Grinning widely, he once again burrowed his face into her chest, hugging tightly, though mindful of his flower. He didn't want her to worry and send him away, after all.

Deities, he pulled on her heart strings so much. She couldn't help the wistful smirk that came upon her face. "Boy, you better be healthy." She jabbed a fat finger at his head, trying to stop the excitement from getting to her too much. She was to the responsible one, after all. She hummed in agreement, one of her arms wrapping around his shoulder. "We can but you're going to have to prove that you can stay healthy. I'm watchin' you." The hand that was on his shoulder lifted to ruffle his hair once again.

"Now, why don't we go check out my room, hm?" She didn't bother mentioning the class that she should be in right now. It was probably over...maybe. Didn't matter. Nothing mattered when it came to spending time with Andren.

Andren was ready to agree to that. Nodding enthusiastically, his hand reached for her's, not ready to let go anytime soon. He had lost time to make up for, after all!

"Does it really have bunkbeds? Or is it not? What kind of food do they have? Is there a garden?" he asked excitedly.

Mags nearly jumped out of her skin as her hand was grabbed. She stared at Andren before grinning, warmly gripping his hand in return. She missed her li'l buzzin pal.

Mags laughed. "Nah, it don't have to be bunk beds." She smiled at the thought. Andren having to somehow get up to the top bunk was very amusing. How when he didn't know have to fly? "Seperate beds. I could see if we can get it bunked." she bumped his shoulder. "All sorts of food, more than they have at the farm." she was surprised herself the first day. City slickers couldn't make the food taste as great as back home but the variety gave her something fresh to look forward to. Yeah, there's a garden. One things for sure, tonight was going to be an interesting night. Mags could hardly wait.

Andren squinted his eyes suspiciously. No bunkbeds? Why not? His eyes did light up at her next words, though, wings buzzing with eagerness. He wanted to have a bunkbed so much! They could make a fort out of it! He could have top bunk![/oi]

His mouth salivated as he thought about all that food. He was particularly fond of fruits but... they have more than the farm? Why, he should have came to the academy sooner!

"Is it a big garden? Are there lots of flowers? Are there strawberry plants?" he asked breathlessly, clinging to her hand as he followed her into the academy.

Mags ruffled his hair. She sure did miss this kid.

"It's not as big as good ol' home, but it's a fair size. " One of the few things that the city was lacking--space. There couldn't be big plots of land here when the buildings were all bunched up together like daffodils. "There are flowers." She nodded. But a lot? "They got more types here. Red ones. Blue ones. Purple ones. Anything you can set your mind on." Even she was surprised. How they grew so many was beyond her. But, she hoped that she'd have more.

Oh man, strawberries. Mag's mouth began to water at the thought. It was a surprise she wasn't drooling. "All sorts of strawberry plants. Shame ya can't pick 'em though." Mags sighed. She had tried to pick a few plump berries her first visit and had her hand smacked.

Andren watched her with wide eyes, trying to imagine all the different flowers. His smile grew as she spoke, those his eyes did wander around to the other freshlings milling around. So many different types of other children! He was quite used to people from the countryside.

"What?" he asked incredulously. His eyes went back to her. "We can't eat them?!" Why wouldn't they be able to pick the strawberries? That was what strawberries were for! For eatin'!

Mags sighed, her fingers trailing down and comfortingly kneading the place where the neck meets the shoulder. "'fraid not." She hung her head but gave a wry smirk. "But they got classes where you can pick 'em." She wasn't there yet. They were for the older kids. The ones who were practically grown ups. All they had for kids her age was book work and li'l activities in class. Talk about boring.

"They got fresh strawberries in the cafeteria." Well, they weren't completely fresh. She was sure that they froze them. But there was no need to ruin Andren's dreams.

Ah! Her room! Short and stubby fingers took the key that was hanging around her neck and unlocked the door. "Welcome," Mags flashed Andren a smile as she held the door open for the lad. "Make yourself comfy." Fortunately, her roommate wasn't there.

Andren was slack jawed as Mags spoke. Strawberries that they could actually eat? Picking classes? It was all too good to be true. And on top of that, he was with Mags again!

Immediately, he let go of her hand and stumbled into the room, spinning around to look. "This looks great!" he hollered with a giggle. He spun around some more, eyes bright, before immediately moving to a bed. It looked so comfy! His stomach growled, however. He was too excited to eat earlier. Pouting, he turned to Mags and gave her a wide eyed look. ”Let’s go eat Mags, okay?” he suggested before dashing to the door, not waiting for her reply.