“Your Max reminds me a little of my Scout,” Bran said with a little smile. “He’s my pet squirrel and loves a free ride…usually on my shoulder or my head.” “And Cleo uses me for her perch a lot of times,” Lynnie smiled. Bran studied Merlin a moment and then said, “well if you can wait till tomorrow a group of us were sort of planning to go exploring a bit…maybe even do some flying. River promised to share her flying carpet.”

River shrugged at Terry. "That sounds very jaded. You have to trust people at some point." She gave Merlin a smile. She could see why they weren't the best of friends. "we can explore the forest together, Merlin!" She beamed when he said she was his favourite champion. "Why? There's nothing wrong with cheering for another person. After all, its about strengthening friendships between schools too."

"Aww, I'd love to meet him. He sounds cute. And I know I already love Cleo." The teen nodded. "I'm totally bringing the carpet."

Merlin heard Bran talk about a squirrel and smiled. "My dad has a squirrel named Pip, its a funny guy. My Spellz, likes to be on my shoulder most of the time too. I even take classes with him there." Merlin points at the little owl sleeping on his shoulder. Merlin kinda pout when he said until tomorrow and then sighs. "I guess I could wait but would rather go for a peek tonight, is it forbidden to go out at nights like in Hogwarts? I haven't heard any rules from the professors yet."

Terry nods to River, maybe she was right. "I guess, just haven't found who to trust yet. Its been hard earning a place in the wizarding world, especially when you have no background on wizards and their ways and have to start from zero. Not making an excuse but I had to be extra serious and strict to compete. Maybe I got used to it and now don't know how else to be." She shrugs.

"Well Teresa, you can trust me but its ok if you don't believe me." Merlin said and then smiles to River who was excited about exploring too.

"Yes, strengthening friendship outside the tournament not during the tournament." She simply said and Merlin rolled his yes. "What?"

"When you are friends with someone, you are in every moment not only when its convenient girl. You have no common sense Terry." Merlin said seriously and she looked offended. "Just stating the facts."

"So I should cheer for my friends during competition too? Its a competition!" She didn't get it.

"Yes Terry, that is what friendship is all about. Support each other in good and bad times. I will cheer on you and everyone because I don't want anyone to fail their trails." He smiled and she nods.

"I see, well I can cheer too!" She finally said and nods.

"I want to go flying too." Merlin tried to sound little excited but the idea made him super happy.

"I want to fly too!" Terry said. "can I come along?"

"I understand. Finding one's place in the world isn't easy. I'm sure you'll make it though, because you seem determined. But there's nothing wrong with who you are."

"I agree with Merlin, supporting friends is important. Just cheering for people to do well. I want you to do well if you where champion." When Terry asked if she could come, River nodded. "Why not?"

Lenore wanders into the group. She usually spends her time alone but figured that it wouldn't hurt to meet some new people, she was after all, in a new place. She smiles at Bran and River whom she's already met and nods at her fellow Hogwarts students, Terry and Merlin.

"Hi. I'm Lenore." she says to the younger girl with the bright hair.

"So you're going exploring? Do you have room for another?" she asks the group at large, "I have my broom in the dorm."

"Thank you River, you are a nice girl." Terry smiled and looks at Merlin, they were good for each other it seems. She took some food and sits down to eat. "I was trying not to eat but I'm too hungry." She smiles. "I thought it was rude to just come here and eat."

"I had no problem with that, I was hungry so I ate." Merlin grins. "So we'll use your magic carpet? That would be fun."

"Of course you can come Leonore." Terry said but then looks at River. "Right?"

"I have my broom too just in case we need more room, it will be fun Leonore with so many people from other schools. Its great to see different cultures, so much to learn from others. But flying will be the best." Merlin said with energy.

"I didn't know you like flying so much Merlin." Terry said curiously.

"Cause you don't know me well, I love flying and feeling the wind on my face. You like flying too Leonore? Terry?"

"I'm not good at quidditch but I can fly well." Teresa said as an answer which was not what he asked.

Bran smiled and River’s () comment. “He’s a pest at times, but yeah, he’s cute,” he said fondly. “Especially when he curls up to sleep and wraps his tail around himself. He makes a pretty good scarf at times too, with his long fluffy tail.” He grinned. “I’ll bring him to breakfast and let him steal part of your food,” he teased. “Kit is my aloof one until he gets used to you. He’s a winged fox and my partner in exploring.” Bran’s blue eyes showed his love for his pets as he spoke. When merlin () added his dad also had a squirrel, Bran nodded. “That’s cool. And I like the name.”

“And awesome about the carpet!” he added. “I can’t wait to try carpet surfing!”With a laugh and a Kai-like move, he jumped onto his chair and struck a surfer pose. “Come on, River! Ride the wave with me!” He reached down a hand to pull River up on the chair with him.

Lynnie shook her head at her brother’s antics and looked over at Merlin. “Spellz is so cute! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen an owl quite that tiny. I’d love to pet him, but I don’t want to wake him. He seems to be having a nice nap, snuggled in your hair,” she smiled. “And it’s frowned upon to go exploring at night…though a good many things my brother does are frowned upon,” she added.

Bran, still perched on the chair for the moment, waved to Lenore(). “Sure you can come! We’ll form the Explorers Expedition at breakfast and set off right after that if everyone is agreeable. Brooms, backpacks, and um…bacon!” he declared trying to think of a food that started with a B to keep the pattern going.

Looking at Terry, he urged, “Eat and enjoy. That’s the point of the eat and greet.”

"Great! Thanks Terry!" Lenore beams. She hopes that River won't have a problem with her joining in. Before she could find out River's () position on the question though, the girl was pulled onto a chair by Bran.

Lenore laughed as she watched the two mock-surfing.

"Butterbeer too!" She added to Bran's () list, and then waved her wand causing small blobs of water shaped like fish to swim about in the air around the pair on the chair.

"Yes, I love flying" she answers through her continued laughter. "It's how I escape from the rest of the world. The wind blocks out everything. And when it's raining it's like nothing else exists at all." Her laughter subsides and she smiles contentedly at the thought.

Lenore looks at the owl half obscured by Merlin's hair. "He's so teeny. What type is he?"

"Well, you've been here for awhile now, Terry, so eat!" River nodded. "For some, though I think brooms are being brought too. That, I don't have though, which is probably why I haven't really played quidditch."

Bran's pets sounded cute. River was about to answer Lenore when she was pulled onto a chair with Bran to "surf" it. Which she obliged in. After chair surfing and the laughter faded she smiled. "Sure Lenore, come with us.

"Yes he is really cute, he also has a bird named Sora. We all have pets, but I have more." Merlin giggles.

"You can pet him when he wakes, and between you and me I go out at nights at Hogwarts too even when its forbidden. But shhh." He whispers to Lynnie.

"I'm eating, thanks Bran. I think I'll bring broom, backpack, and bread." She smiles since she too kept the b pattern.

Merlin looks to Lenore. "Well he is an elf owl, don't know what he was doing in the United Kingdom but I found him abandoned by his family on my forest, I adopted him since then and its my beloved."

"This is good, I think its a turkey sandwich but not sure on the meat type." Terry took another bite and looked very pleased. "I brought my broom just in case I need it for one of the trials."

"You are so sure of getting picked." Merlin mocked and she nods. "Well I hope you do, I'm taking my broom, my backpack, and blackberries! MMM." Merlin laughed at the surf scene and noticed Spellz woke up with the noise. "Sorry little one." Since it looked in a good mood he gave it to Lynnie. "Here, pet him he is awake, be gentle he is delicate."

[img align=left]https://sapi.subeta.net/shared/271331.png[/img] Ivy grinned as Lydia () raced by her.

She then disappeared to the owlery to visit Selene, who she tried to visit each day. That made it necessary to go back to her own dorm room to freshen up and change. By the time she was ready, it was nearly time for the Goblet of Fire ceremony in the Great Hall. She cheered along with the rest of Ilvermorny as Corvus () and Bran () were selected to represent them as champions.

(OOC: Just jumping in because I don't know how much time has elapsed!)

Bran laughed as Lenore ()joined in the fun. He was delighted with the little water blob fish she created. “Awesome, Lenore!” he said with a big smile. “Thanks for the new friends.”

After a moment more, he hopped down, watching as the ‘fish’ appeared to swim off and disappeared. He offered River ()a hand down with a bow and an easy grin. Retaking his seat, the teen smiled at Terry and Merlin (). “Sounds like we have a plan then.”

Lynnie giggled at Merlin’s whisper knowing her brother snuck out at night plenty of times. When Spellz woke up, she was surprised but thrilled that Merlin handed the little owl to her. She gave the older boy a quick look though at the warning to be gentle. As if she’d be anything else! “Hello, Spellz,” she spoke softly. “Aren’t you a sweet little one? My name is Lynnie and I hope we can be friends.” With one finger, she gently rubbed the owl’s chest and stroked the soft feathers.

As Ivy () entered, Bran caught sight of her and waved.

(and all)

River jumped down accepting Bran's hand down. She giggled a lot. "I have to admit, chair surfing is pretty tame." The Alexandrian student not sure how to jump into any of the conversations. "Er..." Why was it when you had a thousand questions, you couldn't think of a single one? "Do...er..." her voice trailed off as she realised she had no idea what she was going to ask.

[img align=left]https://sapi.subeta.net/shared/270041.png[/img] Ivy noticed Bran () waving to her. He was sitting with his sister and some of the champions from the other schools. The girl from Alexandrian Academy () caught her eye in particular. Her pretty blonde hair was dyed a rainbow of pastels and she had a killer tan.

Lenore smiles when Raven says she can come. Thanks! I'll bring my broom so I don't take any room on the carpet. I've never seen one though, they're banned back at home. What's it like?

"An elf owl in the UK is strange" she agrees. "I've wanted to experiment with some of the smaller types and hoped to find some while I was here in America." Lenore reaches over to Lynnie () and gently pets the little owls head. Noting the confusion the word 'experiment' might create she adds "I breed owls."

Lenore sees Bran waving at a student a ways over. She has dark hair and appears to be from Ilvermorny. Lenore picks up her own teacup of coffee and points to it then at an empty seat at the table, indicating that the girl should join them. Now that she was talking to people she found it quite enjoyable.

River seemed to be a bit stuck and looking confused. "A little dizzy from the surfing, Riv?" she asked grinning, hoping to clear some of the awkwardness.

"I would love to go explore by foot, so I hope its not just flying. I may get lost thou, not literally but because I can't resist the land, it surely will call on me so don't worry if you suddenly can't see me." Merlin warns just in case. He smiled to Lynnie as she strokes Spellz. "He likes you."

"When you are used to have the strong wind against you, this means nothing." He smiles. "Can't wait to explore the school, unfortunately I'm getting sleepy, maybe the change in time."

"Maybe someone brought a couple and set them free when they couldn't keep them or they escaped. I don't know, but Spellz was left and he was sick when I found him but we heal him and never again have he left my side."

Terry sighs, Merlin was such a chit chatter and for her it was hard to find words. That boy seems to always be smiling and she was jealous of that. She took a slice of cake and took a bite. "Oh! This is good, you have to try it." Merlin took a piece of hers and she protested. "Hey! Get your own!" He grins and chuckles making her blush for screaming for food. "What's your favorite dessert River? What kind of desserts they have in Egypt? I now know this red velvet is delicious."

Rain nodded to Terry, "I agree, we do all have different needs." "That would be cool if our houses expanded like the school, I am not sure what spells are involved in that particular enchantment," she mused. Rain laughed, "Hot dogs are not for everyone, I suppose! Perhaps you could request that the kitchens offered some more variety in vegetarian dishes?" she suggested. "They are usually pretty receptive to special requests."

"It is fun to be scared sometimes," Rain agreed, chuckling. "I've seen some of those films, they are fun to watch!" Rain looked excited when River offered to let her have a ride on her magic carpet, "Oh, that would be fantastic! You are welcome to try out my broom too, if you like," she beamed. "I'm more sporty than artsy too," she nodded, "it's neat that you do pottery, that takes a lot of skill to do," she said, looking impressed.

Rain noticed that Ivy had come in while she had be chatting with some of the new arrivals, "Hey Ivy!" she waved happily.

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/ozsKJW2.png[/img]

Corvus listened to Teresa's() explanation carefully. "I'd love to see that hat. Maybe even try to put it on.", he said and grinned at the last sentence. "My family is actually of Scottish heritage.", he added as he somehow felt that the last statement may sound somewhat childish. Taking another sip of tea, he made a note to himself to skim through Hogwarts - A History again. When Ivy() entered, he waved to her as Bran did some moments before. It was nice to see some of his housemates.

(OOC - are we all in the same timeline where the champions have already been chosen? I'm a bit confused, sorry xd )

River noticed another student and she was fairly sure the other girl was eyeing her with interest. So she waved and said, "hello, I'm River from A4. Nice to meet you."

"Aww that's a shame they are banned," River replied. "Though I might've brought mine into the UK many times. There's not enough room for too many people on it at one time, but I'm happy to give everyone a go. Its like sitting on a cloud, or what I think that'd be like. I sometimes just lay on it and let it hover. I don't actually own a broom." When the girl said she raised owls, River straightened up. "You do? Oh I love all birds. How many do you have? What kind? Do you have any breeds that are unusual? Do you sell them?" The teen giggled. "I just don't know what to say, which is funny cos normally I'm pretty talkative."

She nodded. "Yeah chair surfing had a lack of speed." She smiled.
"Well in Egypt there's rice pudding and Baklava, Balah El Sham which are pastries made of fried dough and are eaten with honey, powdered sugar or sweet syrup. There's also Feteer, which is a sweet pastry that was served as an offering to the gods in ancient times. Its often topped with honey, jam, cheese or sugar. But Bastani is my favourite. Its an ice cream with rosewater, pistachios and saffron; it originally came from Persia. I also love chocolate covered strawberries, and puddings and mars bars. I have a pretty big sweet tooth. What about you Terry? Merlin here loves doughnuts."

"We should watch some together," River suggested, "that'd be fun. I'd be happy to borrow your broom. Well, clay is pretty easy to get and I've gotta keep myself entertained. Its fun though."

(Nope, I don't think they have been chosen.)

Lenore lightly strokes the little owls tummy and it hoots softly. "Poor baby" she cooed, "Owls make wonderful companions, don't they? I know a lot of wizards think of them as post carriers first but they're so much more than that if you get to know them."

"I would love to give it a try. Though I'm sure you'll be getting a ton of requests before this tournament is over." Lenore laughs at the number of questions she receives about owl breeding. "I don't sell them" she says, "I would need a permit from the Ministry and haven't gotten it yet. I usually just let them live on my family's grounds though some of them move on to other places. The really cool ones I keep in an owlery and care for myself or give to other wizards in my village. But it's Pallas who's my companion. He's a stygian owl but he had a grandfather who was a blackistons fish owl. Those are huge and Pallas got his genes so he's a lot bigger than normal. He can be a bit intimidating looking if you see him staring down from a tree at night."