xp_logs | (no subject)

Tabitha stood looking at a nearby tree, smiling. Not one to be cooped up inside for very long, she had decided to wander around outside the mansion and get a lay of the land. The idea of "staying put" was still new to her and she realized it might be good to get used to her surroundings as soon as possible. Everyone else was off doing their own thing and, while Tabitha was excited at the idea of being around more people (more people, better parties), she got the feeling that she hadn't arrived at the most opportune time. She also didn't know that most of the students would be younger than her, thinking that Professor X had invited her whole group because this was a place where older mutants got together. But she wasn't completely put off. Just because someone was younger didn't mean they were less fun; after all, Tabitha quite enjoyed acting her shoe size.

But, as everyone else was busy, Tabitha felt this afternoon was the perfect time to practice her powers. As interesting as her work in the Underground had been, she refused on principle to use her energy to break into anywhere. As a result, she was a little out of practice.

Spotting the large tree off behind the mansion, she walked over to it and stood beneath the large branches. Holding her hands out in front of her, she cupped them and closed her eyes, concentrating. Soon, the warmth that was spreading down her arms gathered in her palms and suddenly, two bright balls of what looked like fire were produced. Hovering just above her hands, the balls were tiny masses of swirling energy, black, red, yellow, orange, the energy circling and whirling around but always keeping with their spherical shapes. Tabitha smiled. She hadn't had the best history of using her powers but it always made her proud that she could do something, produce something like this.

She casually tossed the left-hand ball into her right hand and quickly made one more energy ball. Her smile widening, she leaned against the tree and . . . began to juggle. Making the energy was usually no problem for her; it was her timing that desired improvement. Around and around, the balls flew through the air, Tabitha concentrating on keeping the energy contained there. After a few seconds, beads of sweat broke out on her forehead but she still smiled. She could feel through every pore in her body the mounting tension, the sheer force the energy was creating. If only she could hold out a little longer . . .

Suddenly, Tabitha knew she couldn't keep it in any longer. With a gasp, she threw the balls up into the air and fell to the ground, curling into a ball and covering her head with her arms. Only just in time, the little balls exploded above her, a loud boom followed by a crack and then a thump. Tabitha unfolded herself and found a somewhat large branch lying on the ground next to her, a few of the leaves still smoking. Tabitha grinned. She may have been out of practice but a piece of dead wood but wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Looking around, seemingly casual, she stood up, brushed herself off, and headed back to the mansion