Welcome to Gaia! ::

Exiting the elevator with the others, Alinedra breathed in the wonderful night air. She'd forgotten just how late it actually was. Understanding the need to cover their 'escape' so to speak, Ali made sure to keep Eden quiet, putting her fingers to her lips to make it a game. Normally they'd be reading a story right now, soon to be in bed for the night. Eden, however, didn't look the least bit tired. If anything, it was as if he was ready for this to start this very second. Eyes twinkling, he looked around excitedly, graciously remembering to keep quiet. Clutching the small pillow with a picture of Gong-Xi on it, the pair stood together, waiting for the next move.

___Edwin froze, the silence having been broken his instincts went wild. He looked around carefully, wondering if someone had heard. He stared widely at Sodashi, with all the darkness and secrecy that had been used this night how could she possibly find reason to speak before permission was given? He shifted uneasily and watched for Uenoh'ai's reaction. She gave him a sharp glance and signaled for him to survey the area, and he nodded and dashed off quickly, leaving a confused young Specimen in his wake. Esprit was extremely put-out by one of her favourite humans leaving her companionship, and dragged out her teddy bear to fawn over. Suddenly she noticed there were other children there, and curiosity got the best of her. Delicately she put her beloved teddy back in the bag and kissed him on the nose, before slinking around. The baby wasn't very interesting, but the red-haired boy and the green boy were. She looked at them both and debated which one she should meet first with a childlike intensity.

___Uennie had indeed heard Sodashi, and had briefly closed her eyes and counted to ten before turning around. She appreciated the humour of her comment, but she dreaded to think of if someone had heard them. If they were followed, they would have to go far off the path to try and lose that person. Though the situation was intense, she understood that some of the people here would either be uneasy, or over-excited.
___"About as normal as the rest of you." She whispered back, keeping a low voice just in case. Uennie noticed Esprit wander off towards the other Specimens, but returned to preparing herself. Esprit had meanwhile decided on introducing herself to the both of them, and had slowly moved forward to both of him. She knew how to introduce herself to one person, you hold your hand out and shake theirs, but there were two of them. How was this delicate social situation to be handled? Battling with herself, Esprit eventually held up both of her hands, and smiled shyly.
___"Hello, my name is Esprit."

Alinedra watched the specimen approach, and grinned widely as she watched the torn expression in the girls face as she decided how to approach both of them. When she put out both hands, it was all she could do to keep from laughing out loud. Putting Eden down, she stood back up and moved the hair back out of her face.

Eden had watched the girl approach, fascinated as he always was when meeting others like him. After being put down, he stood perplexed for a moment, then put both hands out like the girl did.

"Hiya! I'm Eden!" But suddenly remembering to be quiet, he covered his mouth and whispered it again, as if to make up for the first one.

___Uennie paused, feeling something eerie in the suddenly still area. She turned and wandered from the group slightly, her eyes looking for something but completely unsure of what it was. The run-down wall gave her an odd thrill, like something amazing was being held from her by it. Why it had drawn her interest she wasn't sure, in fact Uenoh'ai was almost positive she had given an order filed to tear it down and build a stronger one. Apparently the request had been lost somewhere in translation. Perhaps for the better? She knelt and began a careful examination of the wall, something was definitely here. Meanwhile, Esprit was happily chattering to her new companions about her entire day, starting with waking up to her dilemma with the precious teddy bear.

___Edwin noticed her curiously scratching and rubbing the wall with her fingertips. He didn't see anything special about the wall, though he felt his stomach flip when he suddenly remembered he was supposed to've had it torn down. Had she remembered as well? Well, hopefully she didn't remember she'd asked him. Her analyzing of the wall seemed different from normal innocent curiosity, and holding his hand up he silenced the small group. They drew closer to the Botanist, waiting for her to say something. Esprit was thoroughly upset with being interrupted in making friends, and being shushed was not appreciated. Edwin held Esprit by her shoulders, but it did nothing to placate her. Pulling away she ran up to Uennie, feeling a little superior because that was her momma. Uenoh'ai at that moment found a very odd-looking plant, in fact it looked just like a young Specimen sprout. What on Gaia was it doing here? The woman reached out a shaking hand, wanting to gently touch the leaf.
___"Mommy let me help!" Esprit gleefully shouted, stretching her hands out and grasping the plant, fascinated by the fact that it had started glowing as her mother reached for it. Her laughing turned into a horrified shriek as a bright starburst appeared on the place where her hand had touched, and it disappeared. Uennie grabbed the little girl and began to pull her back, but whatever it was continued to pull harder. Edwin latched onto Uennie, but they still weren't strong enough as the light began to suck the little girl's arm in. "Mommy, mommy, please!" Esprit was sobbing, absolutely terrified. A look of complete horror flashed across Uennie's face as she dug her heels in and tried to save her child.

___"EVERYONE PULL!" She bellowed, demanding that everyone grab on and heave. Esprit's small frightened face tried to bury itself in her mother's desperate arms, but more of her little body kept being pulled in. "ESPRIT!" Uennie screamed, holding tight to her daughter, just before the plant lit up the night sky.

Day 2