Recap of a Day on the Town (Open In Between)

[Ashla Marr]

Kira set there listening to what Richard said. It was such a sad thing for her to hear. She felt pity for the two brothers as she recalled how important the Lone Star Silver Ladder was to her during the years after her awakening. She wanted to speak up and say something but really didn't know what to say after that. Instead she picked up her plate and fork as she walked them over to the sink. She wasn't completely sure how to address what Richard said. But as she looked down at the dishes, she had her answer. "I remember the first meeting that I attended within the Lone Star Silver Ladder. My father and mother took me just months after I had awoken. Well, okay it wasn't much of a meeting. It was more like a barbecue than a formal meeting. It was held at a ranch just south of Dallas." Kira said softly as she started to rinse off her plate.

Kira really wasn't focused on the plate as she continued, "I was only thirteen at the time and I had never before seen so many mages in my life. But to my surprise, I knew so many of them. I remember thinking if everyone my father knew had been a mage. Some were personal friends while others were business associates of my father. What surprised me even more were the new apprentices like myself. Before, I felt kind of alone in this completely new and strange world. Sure, I had my father. But I really didn't have anyone else. Um, my age" she stumbled in her thoughts. "Someone who could relate to me and what I was going through. For me, This whole new world was kind of strange and scary. All those fairy tales that I had been told as a child, Now I was finding out that they were true. I remember those first months feeling, um just alone. But when I went to that meeting, I didn't feel alone anymore."

Kira turned the water off as she figured someone else would just finish up cleaning her plate with the rest of the dishes. She turned to face Richard and Simon, "The Lone Star Silver Ladder opened my eyes to a whole other family who knew the truth about who I was. People of so many different backgrounds, different dreams. People I could confide in and speak with about what I was going through. People I could trust. More importantly, it offered me access to training, lessons and" she started to smile with a big grin as her mind was flooded with happy memories. "a special camp for those just like me," She said with fondness in her voice.

She leaned back against the counter as she journeyed down this memory lane. "I remember going there each summer after I had awoken. We would learn how to do all kinds of fun things under the watchful eyes of teachers from the Ladder. It was the first time I met a spirit and opened my eyes to the realm of the faithful. Sure we did mage things like learn how to cast spells and more importantly, when not to." she said with a playful glance at Rebecca who only blushed at the glance. "But we did normal things too. We rode horses and were able to swim in a river. But my most fondest of memories are of Jason Blaine. An older camper who loved pulling pranks. He and I used to get in to so much trouble. He showed me the love of traps. But some of the best times were just sitting on the dock of the river and talking with other young mages like myself."

She paused a moment before continuing, "Sure the ages varied a lot. I think I was the youngest in the camp's history to attend. But all of the campers were just like me. New mages who were just learning how to understand and live in this new world that we all had awoken to." Kira turned to Rebecca, "I remember your older brother, Vincent's name being mentioned while I was there. He was renowned as being one of the most gifted Mastigos in the entire Camp's history." Kira paused one last time as if something was tugging on her memory. "Oh what was the name of the camp?" she said then put her finger to her lips as she tried to remember the name. "Ah...I remember, Texas Christian Youth Camp...."