5305 not bad, but still strugling.

The girl said. “I didn’t think of that, but yes there are some. So that could be why it is that no natives are human gets said so much. I was wondering how that could be true. Then with all we hear everything more than an hour past the border will be out to kill us, so it could be that they weren’t considering the boarder zone as native. There are a lot of crazy things said about Fogtem, for all most just say the west. So they could be talking about something else, but yet there is nothing else known west of us. Come on, I don’t know about your folks, but mine will say I am hiding if I don’t go in there soon. I hate these things.” Alice said. “I have not had this experience, but it does not sound as if it is something to enjoy. However there are worse things than taking to a bunch of unknown beings.” She looked at the build and shook her head at how it was made against the land. Then that was normal. They seldom looked at the land, just their needs. Perhapses that was related to their need to avoid using the things of nature. She forced a smile and followed the other girl in. The other girl groaned. “Name tags even! Bet this is one where they will group us up with get to know quizzes.” She shook her head. “Yap, there are tables with papers. Lets get our tags and then we can go see if they set the groups or we can pick a table. This is nuts. Yes we are going to be on the road together, but we will have a lot of time and the mandatory classes before then. That would see we found out who we got along with just fine.” Alice decide the best thing to was follow her as most of that made no sense to her, yet asking was unlikely to help. They got to the table to find the tags were preprinted and they were among the last to get there, as there were only six left. The girl picked up the one that said Grace Grayriver, meaning she was a cousin, as that was Phillip’s last name Alice found hers and nodded. “Not badly mangled, it will do.” She picked up the one that read Alice Wilowlbrak’nedragonbluk and the Grace looked at it, then frowned a bit. Alice said. “Alice Willowbark’nuch’Dragon’blue, which is fine for an informal gathering, but they did mess up a bit. Less than I was fearing. Names are complicated among the tribes, and the more that you have alliances with the worse they can be. This is the simplest form of mine, but it is enough in most cases.” Jordan came over and looked. “Good, that is close enough not to be insulating. I was just coming to check it. I didn’t think you would be here yet, so took care of Mist’s first they some how had Williow ire’norbathMar’Oak. I can get the ire from fire, but bath? How in the world is that even close to cat? Grace blinked. “Wait her name changed? I thought it was Willowbranch like yours.” Jordan said. “It was, but she completed the medical training she was talking about, the change of the name is reconnection that she has it. Those with Fire all have a important profession, but aren’t politically involved. Yet are to be listened to in the areas related. In Mist’s case it would be the same as Shannon’s job with the board of health.” Grace shook her head. “I don’t get it. Just why does your job have to relate to your name? Why not just have it be your family and be done.” Alice smiled a bit. “I see the value in your way, but like mine. In yours one is expected to produce credentials to establish authority, in mine it was right there in my name. I need not wave a piece of plastic to get people to move when I need them to. Though the badges on my normal clothes like do the same thing as your plastic cards, for all they just say my name.” Grace said. “I am glad that my name doesn’t need to say anything but my name. So did they out us in groups or do we pick a table and where do I get a drink?” Jordan said. “They assigned them, and there are waiters out there with the the drinks. Right now we are to be mingling as they wait to see if the last few people will arrive, but will be taking seats soon.” Grace said. “Then lets see about finding ours and a drink. I wounder how they set the groups.” Jordan said. “That is likely what a lot of the question in papers were about. There was a ton that didn’t seem to have anything to do with the trip.” He smiled a bit. “Mist and I filled out Alice’s. I do wonder what they made of her hobbies being climbing old buildings for lost silverware and yelling at birds to bring stones.” Alice laughed. Grace said. “Not really? You didn’t? They wanted real answers not jokes.” Alice said. “It will be interesting to see. However I don’t think they wanted a job disruption as a hobby and where does the silverware come from? Well I guess I have brought some back a few times, but I wasn’t looking for it as well know.” Grace looked at her. “Yes I regularly go climbing around and in old buildings, and have a habit of yelling at beings that appear to be birds. A few times that did indeed involve asking for stones.” Jordan lead them on into the room, known they would both rather turn around. “And they brought the stones. In fact there is likely to be a few at the door when we get there. Now Uncle Phil and dad are over there, so we will just go let them see you are here, then can find the tables. Dr. Homles is in that group and he will know how the drinks are marked. They have to be, but I have no idea what any of the ones I have seen are. Taking something at random seems a bad idea, even to me. Therefore I know sis wont take anything unless she knows how to tell what is all natural.” That was close enough to be heard so Fred said. “Every thing here or at any meeting for the trip is all natural, a few are even from brought across. Still a bit on the fancy side. Now the blue trays are carbonated, so you will want to pass on them. Alice every one here is planing on being on the trip, so feel free to call Jade and Feather if it will help. Truly you could have had them with you at the dinner. I know why you didn’t, but you don’t need to try so much. Fix your name tag however you want, no one is going to care. For all that isn’t to bad, no need for you to leave it.” Jordan said. “It isn’t bad, but I am going to get it fixed before Jade shows up. I just didn’t want Uncle Phil thinking Grace needed to be found.” Phil said. “I knew she wouldn’t get lost and would be in soon. She might delay as long as she can but she doesn’t skip out.” He blinked a bit as the letters on Alice’s tag changed and a symbol was added below it. Another man said. “I am sorry we had it wrong.” Alice said. “It was closer than I was expecting it would be, and claimed nothing that was untrue. Just not fully correct, but there are times that a bit of inaccuracy is helpful. Sir the symbol under our names, is our full names, just written in Olchen, the legal language of the tribes. It is no longer spoken anywhere that is known, but the written form remains in use.” Jordan smiled a bit. “She means the formal form, not the informal that is used here. The reason it is used for law matters is it can say a lot in a small space.” Phil said. “I can see where that would be handy. I can’t imagine having to write out your full name in English every time you needed to sign a legal document. Just the informal one is enough to cause hand cramps. Not that the other looks much better to write.” Alice said. “It isn’t that hard, but there is a stamp on our bracelets and it is valid to sign with it in most cases.”