Atricapillus

                "We're here!" Squealed Amina, jumping up and down and clapping her hands wildly. Mercia looked at her with a look of annoyance and amusement. But before Mercia could voice her distaste, a soldier in uniform boarded the train and began barking directions.                 "You are to find your unit name written on the parade grounds. All cadets must stand in order with their squad leader. You are one of five academies being named today, so pay attention. The naming ceremony will start at 7:00 sharp. Remember, the flower or leaf picked from the bowl is your new assignment. There are no renames, the flower or leaf that lands in t

In the story that I've posted "Burgundy Rose", the cadets are given a new name after they graduate from the academy. Here's a little more info, and a chance to see where YOU would be assigned! All you need is a pair of dice, or visit this link for online dice: https://www.random.org/dice/?num=2 ... Roll them once, and the number that you roll is your color from the list below (for instance, if you roll a 3 and a 4, you would be number 34, the color Jade). Then on to where you would be assigned! Roll again, and do the same with the numbers. If you're a girl, you get the flower name (on the left), if you're a guy, you get the tree name (on the

                Alis stepped to the side of the engine where the ignition was. She reached under the body of the engine and felt along with her hand until she found the key that she had hidden.                 Alis's hands trembled as she slid the key carefully into the ignition slot. She looked up at Mercia, who backed away from the engine.                 This was the moment Alis had waited for. She closed her eyes, grabbed the key tightly with her fingers, and turned.                 Alis heard a sound like a raspy, purring cat. She felt the key start to vibrate in her hand, then smelled acrid smoke as the engine putted and coughed t

                "I need to talk to you." Mercia replied in an urgent tone.                 “Oh sure you do, only because you were caught!” Alis spat angrily as she stood squarely and watched Mercia approach.                 “No, it's not about that...” Mercia replied as she shook her head.                 “What could you possibly have to say to me?” Alis stated as she folded her arms and peered at Mercia through narrowed eyes.                 “It's about Evangie.” Mercia began as she drew a deep breath. “I heard her talking about you…”                 “Well I'm not

                Alis made her way back to the girl’s dorm room in a daze. So many questions...so many riddles for answers. She just wanted some straight up honest truth.                 When she got to her room, there was no one there except Mercia. She looked up and glared at Alis before returning to polishing her boots.                 "Where is everyone?" Alis asked quietly. Mercia rubbed the rag back and forth furiously on her boot.                 "They're in the guy’s room." She replied without looking up. Alis walked to her bunk without speaking. "So are you going to tell me what all that was about? Or pretend like not

                 After the cadets returned from running, they went to work in the hanger. Mercia and Alis talked to each other only when they couldn't avoid it. All the other cadets were having fun, singing as they worked, and throwing tools to each other to use.                 Alis watched Evangie and Rennel, laughing as they worked on the engine together. She would love to trade places with her friend...if she hadn't had to come in every single night to work on her engine, she could have gotten to know him better. Maybe she still could...                 Life went back to normal for a while. Days were spent working on the newer engines,

                The next morning the squad convened in hanger 27 as usual. Alis's old engine had been wheeled back into a storage room, so Alis rejoined Crecinda, hoping the Instructor wouldn't notice. To her delight, he said nothing to her, and focused his attention on the other cadets. In fact, he didn't even look at her.                 He was avoiding her.                 Alis worked with Crecinda for the next week on her newer engine. Alis loved working on all the new parts...the components of the electric combustion engine were much different than those of her old diesel engine. After dinner, Alis would work in the hanger by herself