colours of the wind

[Tara Sitara]

Tara had spent the holiday at school, she never returned home during this break, it was to hard to arrange everything and due to the weather conditions, a decent cover story as to why she would return home for two weeks in the middle of winter would be hard to convince the rest of the village about. she was glad when the school started as it had meant that there were people around, especially her friends, however she had not failed to notice that one of her friends had not returned. Stefan. she hoped that he was okay, as he hadn't showed for the group meet up, and she had realised some pretty bad things about his hope life, she just hoped it wasn't the case. however on the first day of school the usual holiday chatter had turned to a hysteria with the appearance of a pile of posters around the school. she had seen one of them on the door to a girls toilet before they had all been taken down and she had felt sorry for the girl that it was about, she knew of her, she was a friend of a friend, and she was sure that (off the quidditch pitch) she wouldn't hurt anyone. and no one deserved to have such rumours spread about them.
Tara had made her way into the garden after class one afternoon, and had started drawing, it was one of her favourite things to do in the afternoons when she didn't have much homework, and favourite places to do it. As the buzz of the news was still going around the school and it had got stick in her head the outline of a wolf's face appeared on the paper, increasing in details as she worked on it (so that the end result would be something like this). she she was drawing her mind wandered she wondered how her family was back home, how her friends were here are the school, hopefully they were all okay, she was pretty sure Sara was, and Dymetris seemed happy and had a new girlfriend and she was happy for him, however kate concerned her, she hadn't been well, and the she seemed to be getting worse last term, as for stefan she hadn't seen him, she just hoped that he was safe. she put down her pencil and looked around. the garden was always beautiful and this afternoon all of the flowers were in bloom so the ground was awash with colour. and there was a slight breeze blowing in causing the smell of the flowers to be wafted over to where she sat.

 

[Kate Archer]

Kate lay in bed and just stared at the wall above her.She had tried to sleep with out sleeping tablets last night but had failed miserably.She had been up most of the night with a terrible head ache and she had gotten sick once or twice.Luckily she hadn't woken up Tara,she didn't want to be seen,at her worse.She had cried a lot too and her eyes had long dried up.Her tears were more out of frustration and worry.There was so much to worry about and her mind was in over drive worrying about everything.Her heart wasn't doing much better and even though she had been give medication she was still having panic attacks more then usual.Her days usually varied from okay,bad,worse and horrible.She didn't say a word to her parents and she tried her best to avoid her sister who she knew her parents had asked to watch out for Kate.Of course she couldn't avoid classes but mostly she spent classes looking at Stefan's empty chair,trying not to think of the worse.She was doing her best to eat as much these ast few weeks because she had a quidditch match approaching and she needed to be at her best.Plus training took a lot out of her but she was determined to keep going.She was doing her best at her homework,if she spent most of her times doing things she usually didn't have time to worry about other things.SO far it was working but she was often tired though sleep still didn't come.

Kate sighed and decided she may as well get up and receive some fresh air and she had to go to class anyways.She looked over at the other bed and saw that Tara had left,she must of been in one of her fitful sleeps whens Tara had left.Kate groaned and got out of the bed.She walked into the bathroom and looked at her reflextion in the full length mirror.Kate couldn't believe how bad she looked.Her pyjames which had fitted her perfect;y at the beginning of the year were practically falling off her and her face was a terrible mess.Kate turned away from the mirror and had a shower.When she came out she put on her clothes and headed out of the dorm.She went into the Great Hall and forced down fruit salad and yogurt.She then went to her first class and the day began.

When class was over,Kate went back up to the dorm and put on more comfortable clothes and walked out and headed for the Hogwarts Garden.The Hogwarts Garden was Kate's favorite place in Hogwarts,closely followed by the rosebush.It reminded her of her garden at home,plus the smell of flowers always calmed her down.She walked into the garden and she stopped when she saw a familiar person sitting down drawing.Kate walked over and sat down beside Tara.She looked at the drawing "Wow,that's really good"

 

[Tara Sitara]

Tara had, like what often happened when she was drawing, lost track of everything round her. she had even lost track of what she was drawing it was more that her body was drawing and she had no control over it, it was how she reached a mediative stage. she hadn't noticed the students passing her, or her picture developing past a few basic outlines. however a voice close behind her brought her back to earth. she looked around to see ho it was although she already knew. "Hello Kate." she said before looking at what had become of the picture, she was a little surprised herself at how far it had come on. "thanks, maybe i will give it to the girl everyone is talking about." she said referring to the posters, she had only seen one briefly before it had been vanished by professor snow but she had heard enough to know that what she had thought she had seen was right.
she looked back a kate and was surprised to see how much different she looked. she knew that she had been ill for a while but sometimes it is hard to notice people changing when you see them 20 times a day, in classes, the great hall, common room and the dorms. however over the break she had only seen kate once. and that day other things had been going on. now however she seemed a lot worse. she seemed gaunt. it seemed recently her rose tinted glasses were becoming less and she was starting to see everything a lot more real. she couldn't put a date on when it had happened, maybe it had been over the break when stefan hadn't shown up, maybe on halloween when she realised that the bruises on Stafans body were real, maybe as far back as when Dymetris' uncle had appeared in the park, and the holiday after when she had been almost forced into an engagement. as much as she missed her naivety of her younger years she realised that sometimes she had to come back to earth some time even though it could sometimes be horrifying, at times like those she would try at times to go back to what life had been. "how have you been going Kate?" she asked her friend a general question which she could reply to in as much or little detail as she wanted. on whatever topic that she wanted. Tara would listen, and try and help her friend out as best as she could.

 

[Kate Archer]

Kate smiled,so much had happened since she had talked to Tara properly.They had met twice but only briefly and she wanted to tell Tara everything but she didn't want to worry her even though Kate probably looked a mess.Maybe she would tell her,Kate wasn't sure she would think about it.Kate nodded that would be appropriate and it would be a nice gesture too.She wondered how many people were either scared or hated Briar.Kate herself didn't see how being a werewolf changed your personality or how you acted around people and she certainly didn;t understand how being a werewolf put you under wizard and witches.Sure,Briar was a witch and had been one since she was born,being a werewolf was a new development and she shouldn't be judged on it and anybody who did were idiots.Sh wondered who Tara was doing,she had seen Dymetris with Cosette,she didn't know if Tara knew and she wondered if she should break the news.Kate noticed Tara was looking at her and se knew what she was thinking.Kate must of looked pretty different and not a good different.Kate tried her best to cover it up bit it never worked properly.Kate smiled weakly "I've been better"She said truthfully "What about you?"

 

[Tara Sitara]

Tara was glad that kate seemed to think that the drawing was a good idea, she hadn't thought about it until she had said it but the idea had grown on her over those few seconds and she had decided to do it. would be what she was going to do. she put the book down and turned to her friend, she could finish it later, or tomorrow, right now though she wanted to talk to kate, she wasn't looking very well not at all, and she didn't sound it either. "I'm fine" she said truthfully. she was getting used to her position, and starting to finally accept it, though not quite looking forward to it. "did you see the doctors when you went home? are you feeling any better?" she asked, deciding she would ask about her friends health first, then about stefan after. she knew that kate had been ill and had thought that maybe she had been diagnosed wrong, maybe now she had found out what really was wrong with her. she looked at her friend and realised that she had lost a lot of weight, and up close she looked tired, it was hidden well with the make up, as though kate had covered the signs many times before which she probably had, but up close it was still clear. she didn't ant to pressure her friend, but she would do anything she could to help her friend. and the best start was to know what was wrong then she could figure a way to help her out from there.

 

[Kate Archer]

Kate was anxious about the up coming quidditch match.she definitely wasn't in her best shape and practicing for the match had just made her lose more weight and she often felt drained much quicker then the average person.She hoped she wouldn't let her team down because she would never forgive herself if she did.But she was sure she would be fine,she was s small bit nervous about it but they had a good team even if many hadn't shown up for try-outs.Kate felt sorry for Tara,she certainly wouldn't want to have a prearranged marriage.That would just suck on so many levels and here was her friends facing that fate. "Is there any way you could stop it?"Kate asked,she knew Tara must of accepted it but Kate couldn't do so as easily.She didn't know why her parents were doing it,or maybe it was because of their different cultures.Well she was glad for once that she wasn't Indian because Kate would not accept the fact that she would have to marry someone she didn't love.Kate sighed she had known that Tara was going to ask that question.She didn't know if she should tell her but then she remembered the times Tara had told Kate everything and it was only right that she did the same for Tara. "Well,yes I went to the doctors and that said that I have Phaeochromocytoma,which means I have tumor in my adrenal glands"Kate said waiting a second so Tara could process this new information "Since the disease is so rare there is no proper medication so I'm currently on sleeping pills and this other stuff that helps calm my heart so I'm not as prone to panic attacks but I'm still getting sick and I have the head aches so really everything has gotten worse but when school is finished the tumor is being removed"Kate said.It actually felt good telling someone other then her family and Kate was glad she had told Tara

 

[Tara Sitara]

Tara shrugged as kate asked if there was any way she could stop the wedding. "maybe but i dont think i would be able to, it would hurt my parents too much, and i don't think i will be able to hurt them" she said. Tara was sometimes too sweet for her own good, she was not strong enough to stand up for herself, not against her family at least. as much as she had wanted out of the wedding at first she had got used to the idea, and she knew unless she had a strong argument she would never be able to hurt her family that way, the Patils had been so good to them, bringing them food when there had been shortages, and even supplying tara with many of the drawing supplies she had used when she was little.
she waited for a pause in the conversation to pass as kate seemed to be woking out what to say. she let her friend take her time as she prepared herself for what she thought would come. when Kate did speak he was shocked at what she said, clad that Kate had cleared up what Phaeochromocytoma was before she asked. "Oh Kate" she said in shock she wasn't sure what to sat after, Thats horrible? that sucks? are you okay? so instead she kept it as it was. she gave her friend a hug. upon hearing that the disease was so rare that there was no proper medication she let go and looked at her friend the horror evident on her face. "goodness, that must be hard. but at least you can finally get it fixed" she said if she had the correct diagnosis once the next break was over she would be on the road to recovery. "how is everyone taking it?" she asked. she wondered how well Kate and the rest of the moon family had adjusted to the situation.

 

[Kate Archer]

Kate nodded she could see where Tara was coming from.Kate would be the same but there was just something she wouldn't,couldn't agree to but then again Tara grew up differently and then again maybe it was just Kate.Maybe things wouldn't be too bad either.She wondered how her fiance was taking it.She didn't suppose he was happy about it either but he should count himself lucky to be marrying someone like Tara.She was beautiful and a great person who deserved the best.Her love life wasn't much better but she was so worried and it wasn't helping her health.She just didn't know what to do.She couldn't tell anyone because she had promised but if he didn't turn up for the rest of the term she was saying something and plus if his dad had done extreme damage Kate was saying something she didn't care what Stefan would say.She was not going to sit around knowing what was happening.Kate cold see that Tara certainly hadn't been expecting that and Kate didn't blame her.Of course Kate was the one to inherit the disease,like she didn't have enough on her plate already but at least it was curable and all of this would be over in seven months. Kate nodded,if they had been in public health care she probably wouldn't be getting operation for another few years because it is expensive and hard to find doctors who will do the operation but she was going to America to get it.She would have doctors in training watching or something like that.Kate didn't really care as long as she was fixed."Well they are mostly taking it well but the atmosphere isn't that nice at home"Kate said truthfully.Everyone was giving her worried glances as if she was going to drop dead there and then but Kate understood where they were coming from.

 

[Tara Sitara]

tara shook her head slightly as kate explained that hat the situation was awkward at home. "I am sure everyone is really tense, because they are concerned for you." she said she knew she would be if anyone in her family was diagnosed with something like that. either her big brother Keval, or her parents, or cousins, there would be a feeling of unease in their home and she would not be happy. she wasn't happy that it was her best friend. "Is there anything I can do to help you?" she asked. she never liked seeing people unhappy. and her best friend was no exception. she would do anything to make her feel better and happy. she would do anything if it would make any of her friends happy. she would try and keep acting the same around Kate, if that was what she wanted, but if she wanted Tara would try and help her as much as she could.
Tara could see that the girl still seemed worried. "is there anything else you want to talk about?" she asked had an idea of where her friends thoughts were. Stefan hadn't returned to the school and he and kate were finally going out, it must be hard on her, hopefully it wasn't causing to get any more panic attacks.

Out of Character:

sorry it sucks my muse is not being very creative today.

 

[Kate Archer]

Kate nodded she agreed.She felt bad for putting a bad atmosphere around her house.Everyone even the workers in the house all gave her sympathetic looks and were always watching her.She hated it and she wished they would just stop it.She could totally understand why they were doing it but that didn't make Kate like it any more.She wondered how people could work in hospitals.That type of atmosphere would be there all the times everywhere.Kate would end up going mad.She had great respect for all the people who were muggle and magical healers.There would probably be hope and happiness sometimes in some areas of the hospital but she had a feeling it was more a hopeless and sad atmosphere.Kate looked up at Tara "Just to act as if nothing has happened"She said quietly.That's all she wanted to be treated normal and not like some person you have to be sympathetic to or feel sorry for.She hoped Tara didn't think she was being rude but if Tara did that for her she would be much happier and relieved.There wasn't much anyone could do anyway.Kate had a feeling she was on about Stefan/Tara had probably noticed he hadn't returned either "Well yeah,as you've probably noticed Stefan has come back and I'm worried because I learnt something before the term about him and I'm worried that that is the reason he isn't here"Kate said rubbing her hand together.she wanted to tell Tara what "That" was but she had made a promise that she would let Stefan tell everyone though she hoped he would be able to.

 

[Tara Sitara]

Tara let kate take the time she needed to reply, she certainly had a lot to think about. when the reply did come it was what she had thought and probably would have done either ways. "from now on you are no longer ill" she said, it may have sounded a little childish but in some ways Taras mind was childish, it was growning up but she still had some very innocent thoughts.
When Kate replied to her question she but her hand around her friends shoulder again. "Yeah, I noticed that he wasn't back." she said, not quite sure how to say what had been on her mind since they had all organised meeting up in the holidays and he hadn't been there. "those cuts and bruises he gets, they are not accidents are they?" she asked. it felt wrong for her to suspect something bad about someone, she usually only saw the good things in life but recently that was starting to change, she missed that life, but she knew that if she somehow returned there there would something missing. no one had perfect lives, Take had been ill for a year, Stefan must have serious problems at home, the sixth year whom she was giving the drawing to must have gone through a nightmare and relive it every month. and she, she had been delt a near perfect hand, a hand that she didn't want. if she wasn't at hogwarts she guessed that she would be overjoyed by what her family had given her, but now she had tasted what life really was she wanted to turn the traditional indian life for something more western. but she wasn't strong enough to, not strong like kate and sara, like willow and Stefan, she would just do what others wanted her to as she didn't want to hurt them.