
Written by the talented shia-san!
“Gate 45, Australia bound, preparing for voyage. Passengers, please board at this time.” It was a calling, sending quaking shivers down her entire back. The young woman sat, hair frazzled and eyes glistening with fatigue; this was her flight—a plane that would send her off to her new home for what would be the next 7 years of her life in training. Sayuri sighed, pulling up the handle to one of her carryon suitcases and moved wearily towards the gate, the boarding attendant waiting patiently. “Hello.” Taking the offered Boarding Pass, the woman smiled and waved her hand gently. “Have a wonderful flight, and remember—there is nothing safer then a plane trip. Buh-bye.” Sayuri’s stomach dropped, eyes passing over the woman and out towards the long, wide open windows towards her left. There, gleaming white with bright red strokes on it’s wings, was her plane. It was tiny compared to the others, however seeing that it would cross to another continent possibly meant for it to be. She knew little of planes, this being her first trip out of the country, and walked passively into the long, musty hall that lead to the cabin’s interior. “Welcome!” Came another humble voice, much like the attendant at the front counter. This woman bore blond hair and moved her hands in a fashion that meant for Sayuri to keep it moving. Row “F”, seat 13. Her slender form slide clumsily across the aisle, stuffing her large carry-on into the top cupboard before smoothly inching into her seat. First instinct was to latch on her seat belt, which she did so carefully. The plane was scheduled to leave the airport at quarter to Nine, however didn’t leave till Nine-Fifteen, being that three other passengers were late on arriving. “So sorry” came one response to the Flight attendant as she moved towards her seat, the other two followed quietly. The lot seemed a bit uneasy with all, irritable eyes on them however smiled and nodded nervously. Sayuri chuckled, but as her own gaze met the first woman’s, she turned her attention towards the window, uneasily watching the men below clamber to pack luggage into the cargo.
“Excuse me—“ wearily turning her face towards the woman who spoke to her, she smiled and cocked her head. “Um…yes?” “Well—that’s my seat.” Sayuri’s features flushed, and she hastily unbuckled herself, jumped up and moved over, seating herself just slightly so as the woman could pass through. “Thanks, it really shouldn’t have mattered but I figure we should all just stick to where we’re suppose to and—well never mind.” The woman looked away for a moment, to her two other companions, one of which who now sat on the opposite side of Sayuri while the other sat in the row right beside their own, then glanced back to Sayuri. “What’s your name?” The two other friends leaned forwards, peering all to the girl seated in the middle. “Sayuri. And yourselves?” she eyeballed the other two friends, who slowly brought themselves back up against the chair. The woman that sat next to her chuckled, speaking first “Well, my name is Seeno, and that there beside you is Jynk, and in the other row is Jiraiyah. We’re all headed to Australia for animal or vet reasons. Why are you going?” Jynk and Jiraiyah nodded pleasantly, looking again at Sayuri. “Oh—well this is funny. I’m going to Australia for Vet reasons myself. I’m going to spend 7 years up there.” She smirked, casually becoming less uncomfortable with the situation. Animals were a topic she enjoyed speaking about, and would warm up to anyone who felt the same. “I could have stayed here and taken classes here, but I’ve taken a liking to the species out there” Sayuri paused, long enough for the three others to all speak at once “As have we!” The chatting continued, the four all content with the topic and sticking to it. Hours passed, the girls slept and awoke, spoke then fell back to sleep once more till a bounce occurred, followed by the Flight attendants voice. “We’ve landed in the Air Port of Australia. We hope you’ve enjoyed your flight, and we hope you’ll take to traveling with us again.” Jynk was the first to awaken, moving her hand towards Jiraiyah and nudging her. “Hey, we’re here!” Next, Sayuri awoke, and following her was Seeno. The lot left the plane and entered into the air port which appeared fairly small in size. Sayuri looked to the group, eyes flitting to and fro in excitement. “Well, I guess this is it.” Jiraiyah, Jynk and Seeno all nodded, a sigh escaping each. “Well, good luck Sayuri” “Yeah, good luck! We should see each other around, Australia isn’t that big.” The four laughed, and soon departed, all being escorted to their new homes by cabs.
The following weeks weren’t blurs; however they moved quickly, Sayuri less worried about her three pals met on the plane and more into the fact that Australia had so much to offer. After two years, Sayuri began to ponder on working at the preservations located in the area. Her professors were persuading as well, also coaxing her to do exactly that. Soon enough, Sayuri was convinced that working at a National Preservation was something she could enjoy doing, and even work at for the rest of her life. It applied to her going to college, so doing school wouldn’t be a waste of her time and she’d do something she enjoyed doing. So towards the end of her second year, Sayuri went out to find a preserve that would welcome her, part-time. On her way, she managed to stumble upon Jynk, who had been living with Jiraiyah and Seeno for the past two years herself. The three had been working at a preserve, but had also been speaking of opening their own. “Sayuri? Sayuri! Ah, it’s so great to see you! How’ve you been?” The voice was familiar, and Sayuri turned her attention towards the Echidna enclosed den. Sayuri was in the process of finding the manager or owner of the preserve to file for a job, however stopped to take time and chat with Jynk. “Jynk! Hey, I’ve been good. Going to school and trying to get a job, that’s all. You work here?” Jynk nodded, pulling off one glove, then the other and stashing them in her large pocket. “Oh, cool! Same here, and yeah I work here. It’s pretty fun, but me, Seeno, and Jiraiyah are planning on opening up our own soon!” Sayuri was flabbergasted. She had for so long wanted to open her own, and after an hour of chatting away—they had decided. Together, all four of them, they’d open a National Preserve and would house many of Australia’s wilting creatures such as the Platypus, Tasmanian Devil, Koala, and Wallaby. A year after this, it was established, the creatures housed and well and the owners; Sayuri Nitta, SeenoEvil, Jynk, and Jiraiyah all busily keeping up with both school, and the Walkabout Creek preserve.