The house on the rocks

Kendra

"Same, I woke up here. No chance of getting out either. The sea's too rough and it's pouring."

Sarah

"Oh, lovely," I replied with a slight scowl, looking at a nearby wall.

Kendra

"So it's better we just wait it out, so far I think you and I are the only ones here." I say, pouring myself a cup of tea.

Sarah

Well, at least there was no one creepy around or anything... I wasn't sure if I should've been more angry or more worried that I had no idea how or why I'd gotten here.

Kendra

"you can sit down you know," I say, gesturing to an empty chair.

Sarah

"Right, thanks," I said, going to sit. Sorrel curled up at my feet.

"I don't think we ever had water in ours," said Kafadzwa. "I'd remember something like that."

West is 18 and normally wears simple jeans and tee-shirts. He's pretty fit, having a slightly more stocky build than in the picture. He always has his familiar, Liri, with him.

West

Get up.
"Leave me alone," I grumbled under my breath.
 I was pretty tempted to just take a swing at her. I could feel where Liri's feet digging into my cheek. 
West, get up. 
"My alarm hasn't even gone off yet." 
Don't see why I need one, she was good enough. I bet she never sleeps. Just some sorta super-bird that stays up all night waiting for her chance to annoy me. 
GET UP NOW.
"Fine, fine," I grumbled, giving up. 
It was about then I opened my eyes. Instead of seeing my ceiling, though, I saw something way different. Rafters. 
"Where the hell are we?" I snapped, jolting up the rest of the way. 
Liri shot up into the air, her annoyance echoing through our link. Aw hell, she'd give me a headache at this rate. It was bad enough with the sounds of rain and wa-
Wait. I don't live near water. Nearest thing being Shawnee Lake, and that had to be at least fifteen miles. 
If I knew that I wouldn't have woken you up, idiot.

Sarah

"Oh look," I started, "we've got another one." I turned to the guy. "No idea where we are. I just woke up here, same as you."

West

My eyes shot to where the voice had come from, all former sleepiness gone. Liri, the annoying thing she is, shot into my hair, burying herself as she normally did upon discovery of strangers. 
Get out of there. I grumbled through our link.
Make me.  
"Another one? How many people are there?" I asked the girl who'd spoken, deciding to just leave Liri be, for now anyways.

Sarah

"As far as I know," I said, "just one more. But who knows how many it could really be. I haven't been here for very long, so I haven't explored yet."

Is it me, I thought to Sorrel, or does that guy have a hummingbird on his head.

Looks like he does, Sorrel thought back.

West

I considered that as I stood, doing my best to ignore how Liri's feet dug into my scalp. She could be really annoying when she wanted to be and there was no doubt in my mind she knew that hurt. I could feel the satisfaction practically radiating from her. 
"Why not start now?" I asked, looking around the room. "Exploring, I mean." 
Name, moron. 
"Oh, and I'm West by the way."

Sarah

"I'm Sarah," I said. Then I decided to just be forward with it. "Is that a hummingbird on your head?"

West

Told you that doesn't work. 
Shut up! She snapped, and I barely kept myself from snickering in response. 
"Yeah, her name's Liri. She's not exactly the most friendly sort." 
Liar!
Hey, I told her. You're the one hiding.

Sarah

"So she's like your pet or something?" I asked. Sorrel was gazing at her curiously.

West

I hesitated, reaching a hand up and hoping Liri would cooperate for once. Surprisingly, she didn't protest as she hopped onto my hand and allowed for me to move her to my shoulder. 
"Something like that." 
NOTHING LIKE THAT. 
I knew she could probably sense my amusement, which was fine with me.
Would you rather I said you were my familiar and that I'm a witch? 
... no, she admitted grudgingly.

Sarah

"Cool," I said. "I've never met anyone with a something-like-a-pet hummingbird before."

West

Something-like-a-pet, Liri grumbled. 
Oh shut up. 
You shut up. Have you even noticed that? she asked, drawing my attention to a cat. 
"I'm not surprised," I told Sarah, giving the cat a curious look. "It's not that common. You have a cat?"

Sarah

"Yeah," I answered. "I haven't thought of a good name for him, so I'm just calling him Sorrel for now."

The easiest way to get by this was to pretend he was my pet. We both understood that, and it wasn't like Sorrel minded any.

West

I hate cats.
You're a bird, of course you do.
"That's a pretty neat name," I told Sarah, ignoring Liri as she fluffed up her wings.
She's always been pretty irritable.

Sarah

"Thanks," I started, "but it still doesn't seem right. Anyway, about that exploring..."

Something's strange about that bird, Sorrel thought, licking a paw and dragging it back over one of his ears. He was good at acting like a normal cat. It's her energy. She's not a normal animal.

I wonder if that has something to do with her only being like a pet, I thought back.

West

"Right," I said, taking a few steps towards the door of the room. "The sooner we know if there's anyone else here, the sooner we know if anyone knows what's going on." 
I don't like this, Liri said, the feelings flooding through the link suddenly turning from irritated to wary.
For once I agree with you. 

Kendra

"That's not a pet," I snorted, patting the black cat next to me. "Its a familiar. If I'm correct," I smirk.

Langston

"Do you want to head down stairs to see if anyone else is here?" I ask, looking at her.

Sarah

"Huh?" I asked Kendra. "Like a witch's familiar or something?"