"Many millions of years ago, there was a strange species of animal which appear to have been sentient. We call them Janeps. They had a successful civilization, lasting about five million years and creating many complex and primitive devises, including several we have yet to uncover. They were aware of creatures dating even farther back than them, and stored their bones, as well as their own creations, in buildings that are, and yet aren't, organized. Why they chose to store their own creations and skeletons in the same place, we may never know. However, that is irrelevant, as Janeps died out two billion years ago, and our own civilization has outlasted theirs by two billion years. In fact, the only reason we are studying them is that we believe that they knew how to cure the 'Dejodelin Quez' disease that threatens our existence. However, we have not been able to decipher their script. This is why, particularly at your age, as you have a fresh perspective, we are now focusing much of our efforts on learning more about the Janep species." And so begins yet another boring history lesson…

"I wish we could just learn Vesohupunavesa instead of Jotevusa. Those Janeps must have been so dull." This amuses me, as I know very well that my friend is actually enjoying the lesson very much.

"You'd be the only one; even Janeps aren't as dull as Vesoh."

"Nevej is better than Jotevusa any day."

"No talking, or it's a fivepevoup for all of you! Now, as I was saying…"

"Ms. Cusoph would be too late for me." Mina is the trouble-maker of the group. She's also the one with the worst grades.

"It's the first fez back from Dejesotevenet Cesiel, how can you have a fivepevoup already?"

"I forgot my script in my Han mudlis. I was just trying to study my lines like Mr. Pesenevod told me to, and I ended up not bringing it to Fesene."

"In other words, you lost your script before the vacation and tried to cover up your lack of studying by saying you lost it admirably. Also, you did not want to demonstrate your horrid acting skills, which is why you lost it in the first place."

"OK, Jin, you got me." Actually, Mina isn't half bad at acting; her heart just isn't in it. In fact, the only reason she does Drama is because the rest of us do, and the alternative is track.

"How many times do I have to tell you, the name's Jinuse, not Jin." Jinuse is the "creative one," if you want to put labels to us. It's actually really surprising, since she likes math. But her favorite subject is Creative Arts, which recently expanded to include creative writing. I have no idea where she gets some of her ideas, especially the dark ones. I've actually had nightmares about some of her stories.

"I said no talking!"

"Anyway, Minati, you know we haven't had Han yet this year, remember?"

"So, that's why it didn't work, and it's Mina!"

"What you do, comes back to bite you!"

"I think that's called Lesne, and it's not fair!"

"Yes, it is. Very fair, in fact."

"Quiet! Talk again, and Ms. Cusoph will give you a detention whether you already have one or not! And, once again, we'll be dragged along with you."

"Spoilsport! What do you know, Demmottu."

"According to the teachers, everything." Demmottu's not fussy about her name, but we usually call her Demmo, if we aren't annoyed by her. Jinuse is most jealous of her, because Jinuse actually wants to learn, and Demmo learns everything so easily. She's a bonified genius, but she finds it tiring to be expected to work for the greater good all the time. In fact, the only reason she still goes to our school is that she has a nuclear missile aimed at our capitol, otherwise she'd be sent to an institution so she could work for the "greater good."

"Yeah, cause you're a genius"

"It's not my fault."

"Don't see you complaining, either."

"Will you guys stop it already?"

"Why should we, Tilane?"

"Because if you don't, she'll tell the teacher."

"Tilane wouldn't do that, Otecim, you know that."

"She might."

"But she wouldn't."

"She could."

"But she won't."

"Guys, the teacher!" Tilane's the "goody too shoes," Otecim likes to mess with people's minds, oh, and my name's Sekuma. I'm me. If you try to put a label on me, I'll probably bite your head off. I know, I sound hypocritical, and, I guess I am. But like I said, I'm me. So, all six of us go to an all girls high school. I'm "supposed" to be paying attention, but everyone knows that this lesson is really meant for Demmo, so most of us read, or write, or draw, or study, or memorize lines, you get the picture. The teacher doesn't care, unless we distract Demmo, then you and whoever you're with are guaranteed detention. The six of us get a lot of detentions. I don't blame Ms. Cusoph, she's just like everyone else; she's hoping Demmo can find out how to cure the Chicken Pox. I'm kinda ashamed to admit this, but the truth is, I hope so too. Especially since the infamous disease struck my aunt a week ago. She's only been itching for a few days, but she already looks a mess, her feathers all falling out…

"That's IT! Two weeks of detention for all six of you! And, Minati, since you already have a detention, you can serve it, but I want an extra week from you."

"Nice work, Mina" I should have known better, but I just couldn't stop myself.

"And you, Miss Rema, will join her. One more word from any of you, and you'll all join her." My full name is Sekuma Rema, but I'd rather not have that last name. You see, my dad was an infamous criminal. He's currently in jail. My mom was raped by him when she was 17, because her dad was the president at that time. They were forced to marry, and he was caught on that same night he raped my mom. I shudder to think what he'd do to us if he got out.

"I am now passing around a painting of a Janep woman which would appear to be quite popular, as there are many copies of it, sometimes they are in what we assume are schools, sometimes in the same places as the Foputeas bones, and sometimes in what we think are homes. Exactly why it was so popular, we are not sure, as the woman depicted is quite ordinary by what we have gathered, she isn't smiling, exactly. In fact, it looks just like a portrait. Perhaps the woman was of some important historical significance. However, as there is only the one copied portrait of her, this seems unlikely."

As the painting comes to me, I can't help but notice the differences and similarities between Janeps and us. Like us, Janeps seem to have developed different colors as they evolved. As this portrait was old, even in Janep times, as you can tell by how yellow her skin is on even the best preserved copies, her fur is a plain brown, and she seems to have a natural curl. You get fur like that in later years in their development, but it's rarer. Her eyes are also brown. The most noticeable difference is, of course, the fact that they have neither wings nor feathers, except in their fantasies, which are quite different from their actual portraits.

I have curly white feathers, and blue eyes, much like the lighter blue of the Janep colored pencils, the blue of the sky in much of their paintings, not the red streaked sky of our time; I also have the rare "long feathers" that are often sought out. My wings are particularly beautiful because of this. Otecim has the typical short feathers, but hers are also curly, and her feathers, as well as her eyes, are completely black. She has larger wings than usual, though, and it gives her an advantage in Han, or Gym. Tilane has red feathers and green eyes. She has short, extremely curly feathers, except on her head and wings, making her look a lot like a Janep with wings, like you see in some of their pictures.

I've always wondered how they didn't freeze to death, since they are almost completely furless, except on their heads, and sometimes their chests. It might have something to do with the things they wear to cover themselves. Plus, the earth was supposed to be warmer in their time. Anyways, Demmo has short, strait brown feathers and warm brown eyes. Mina has long straight feathers that are hot pink and black, but mainly black, and she has pink eyes that match her "highlights." Jinuse has long, gently curly, golden feathers and wings that are the envy of all. They're even better than mine. Her eyes are the type that changes colors with her mood, but almost no one notices. For some reason, she's always sad. I've never asked her why; she doesn't even know that I know. The only reason I do know is because I remember from when she was little that her happy color is green, not light purple…

"Miss Rema, would you kindly pass the picture?"

"Oh, sure." I forgot I still had it.

"Thank you."

"So what's with the space, Seku?"

"You know, not everyone likes their name shortened, Mina."

"Fine, now, what were you just thinking about, Miss Rema?"

"You know I don't like being called by my last name."

"Answer the question!"

"No, I don't want another detention. I'll tell you later."

"Fine!"

"So, what were you thinking about when you were staring at the Janep?" Mina asks me as we get ready for bed in our dorm bathroom.

"I was wondering how they didn't freeze."

"That's it?! You made it sound like a huge secret. Why couldn't you just tell me?"

"You called me Seku, and then Miss Rema." I say, shrugging my shoulders.

"So?"

"Well, would you like me to call you Minati? Plus, you know I don't like my dad."

"You've never met the guy, maybe he's actually a pretty good dad."

"Are you really defending a criminal in a world-class prison?"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot he's a convict." I can't believe how clueless she's being!

"You forgot that? Who's spacing out now."

"Well, you never talk about him."

"For obvious reasons." Though Mina did make a valid point.

"Hey, Sekuma!" Tilane sounds panicked as she runs into the bathroom.

"What is it, Tilane?"

"Your dad escaped."

"What!?" A million different scenarios run through my head, and none of them are pretty.

"It was on the news, he and two of his old followers escaped from the prison, killing over half the guards, and the remaining guards were too busy keeping the remaining convicts in the prison to deal with them. More of his followers would have escaped, but a son of one of the guards pressed the lock-down before they were all out." Tilane is hurried as she tells me this disturbing news, and I can tell she's upset. Not surprising, as her mother was the one that locked my father up that night. She has just as much reason to fear him as me, if not more.

"Let's just try to get some sleep. We'll find out what their going to do about him in the morning." I say, not really sure of myself, but I want to calm Tilane.

As we make our way to the dorm room that the six of us share, Demmo, Jinuse, and Otecim intercept us, saying;

"Did you here—"

"I'm so sorry, Tilane, Sekuma, you must be so worried—"

"You realize they're probably going to increase security—"

"It took them five years to capture him when he first emerged—"

"Can you imagine how horrible it would be if they all escaped—"

And so we make our way to the dorm room, those with the least to fear chattering nervously, Tilane and me remaining quiet. As I lay in my bed, I don't think I can possibly get to sleep, but pretty soon, I drift of just like the others, my mind still troubled…

Next up, we meet our human character. Not sure her name yet… It'll come to me. I'm not explaining their language yet, it will be explained in time. It's actually really simple, and you can figure out what they mean by connecting the dots. Until I have time!

~ Serena