Holiday Gifts! Christmas Morning!

[Narrator]

Most of the common rooms at this time of year were quiet and empty, as most students went home to see family over the winter break. Most, but not all students.

Those students who remained were always woken up, either by the gifts that had been placed upon their feet, or from the sound of other students opening their own gifts. Either way this was quite a warm morning for all the students waking up Christmas morning to find gifts waiting for each of them. There were gifts with Keladry's name on them, and others with Neoma's.

The common rooms were all decorated in holiday decorum and each looked wonderful. The fire was going and it was very warm and cozy inside. No classes were held, so many students took the opportunity to explore the castle, while others just stayed in the Common Rooms to relax. The occasional student could be found studying or reading, getting a head start on the upcoming term.

[Keladry Lindenshield]

Kel, after heading down to dinner, eating and coming back up, was now heading down the hallway from her dorm. Earlier this morning she had rushed through, nearly killing herself by putting her slippers on while hopping across the common room. She walked slower this time, fully dressed in a warm chocolate-colored corduroy fleece-lined sweatshirt, light brown bomber hat with the ear flaps folded up revealing plaid inner material, thick, waterproof black gloves and jeans worn over her familiar fleece-lined boots. She was looping a long forest-green scarf around her neck as she padded across the common room. Making sure she had everything she would need, she smacked herself in the forehead. She had almost forgotten Tiria!

'Duh! That's what the whole expedition is about!' She almost hit herself again, but just then Tiria crept out from underneath a large armchair beside the roaring fire. "Hey, Tiria! Want to go meet some other people's familiars? The humans will be snowball fighting and stuff, too." Kel addressed her pet.