Probatio Barracks - Boys

Barracks for boys that are probatios. Girls are not allowed over night.

Kauri stepped inside after dropping off his sister in the girls' barracks. He looked around appraisingly, eyes narrowed as he took in the space.

Dean walked in, pulling Sam behind him.

Kauri stood. "Kia ora," he greeted quietly, inclining his head.
Gabriel peeked over Sam's shoulder. "Yo." He winced at the raised eyebrow he got in return.

Sam practically jumped out of his skin when Gabriel spoke beside him. He inched closer to Dean, who pulled him towards some empty cots.

"I'll just, um, go then." Gabriel mumbled, and slunk out.

Barry walked inside followed by Bruce.

Kauri smiled gently at Dean and Sam, gesturing to the cots next to his.

Dean nodded his thanks and set his stuff on one and Sam's on the other. He glanced at his little brother and saw him staring at the door. "Sam?" he questioned quietly. The young boy looked at his brother and pointed to the door, signalling that he was leaving. Dean nodded. "Stay safe." he told him before he disappeared outside.

"He is your brother?" Kauri questioned quietly, watching the younger Winchester leave.

Dean nodded. "Younger by four years." he replied.

"I have a sister, and you look at him the way we look at each other. You were thrown into this, were you not?" His thick accent obscured his words somewhat but he got his point across as he faced Dean, sitting crosslegged on his cot.

Dean nodded, his jaw clenching slightly.

Kauri nodded. "I am here, if you need to talk to anyone, my friend. But to cheerier matters, yes?" He held out his hand in the manner he had learnt. "I am Kauri."

Dean leaned over and shook his hand. "Dean." was all he said.

Kauri smiled. "Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere karohirohi i mua i tou huarahi," he murmured.

Dean raised an eyebrow. "Sorry I don't speak...that." he said.

"Very few people in America do," Kauri nodded. "Is... a blessing, of sorts, in my culture. I would not wish misfortune on anyone of our age."

Dean nodded. "Thanks." he said and sat down on his cot.

Kauri nodded slowly. His fingers went to his greenstone pendant, but said nothing, just leaning back on his own cot.

Dean glanced over. "What's that?" he asked, pointing st the pendant.

"Pounamu," Kauri murmured. "Greenstone, in English. It is a taonga, treasure, with much mana, prestige. It was one of my ancestors'. The older, the more history it has, the more precious it is to my people. Aruhe has one as well. Mine is a matau, fishing hook, see?" He laid it on the palm of his hand and held it out as far as the cord would allow.

Dean got up and walked over. "How interesting." he said and leaned in to closely examine it.

Bruce walked past Barry who had sat down on an unclaimed cot.

Kauri smiled. "The matau... its origins are in our legend. Te Ika a Maui, the North Island of New Zealand, yes? Was once a huge fish caught by the great mariner Maui using only a woven line and a hook made from the jawbone of his grandmother. The hei matau itself represents not only our land, but also... prosperity, fertility, safe passage over water. Also shows our relationship to Tangaroa, the God of the sea," he murmured softly.