Pellicius High School, 4200 Hanso Lane

[Oceanic815]

        As they walked together to English - a pair of misfits in this school, they'd both found - Mark reflected on how strange this whole day had been.  He had to admit, he'd always been wary of dragons - the few he'd met had been quiet, reserved, and generally intimidating.  Plus, they had abilities - many could breathe fire, for example - that other species considered unnatural.  Nonetheless, Kamren was friendly and approachable, and apparently liked to laugh.  So that was good.

        During the trek to English - during which time Mark was pretty sure he would have gotten more dirty looks from canines if not for the dragon next to him stealing the show - Kamren outstretched his wings several times, apparently uncomfortable.  Mark, concerned, was about to ask what the problem was before Kamren spoke up instead.  "Ugh.  Those seats definitely were not wing-friendly," face in discomfort.  Mark couldn't help but snort slightly as he smiled.

        "Well, what were you expecting out of this" he motioned to the structure around them "particular school?  They're not exactly gonna make it easy for you like other places would" Mark finished.  Kamren immediately responded, motioning back to his wings as he did so.

        "You'd be surprised. These things are just a pain in the ass, more often than not. They get uncomfortable, they get in the way, y'know..." his voice trailed off for a moment, creating a lull in the conversation.  They were apparently both masters at small talk.  "...but anyway, enough about me complaining," he giggled. "So, it sounds like you're from out of town, too? I actually just moved here from the West Coast myself," he forged on as they reached the library doors.  As he checked his phone, Mark perked up, excited to find somebody who'd moved here from the same place as himself.  What if they'd lived, like, one town over from each other?  That would be something crazy.

        Mark was about to speak up and ask him where he was from before suddenly Kamren spoke again, gesturing to the half-circle of chairs set up around a projector, which Ms. Dancyon was walking away from, going behind a bookshelf towards the back of the library.  "So, uhh . . . did you wanna sit together?" he asked, unsure.

        Mark smiled, turning to him and looking every so slightly down at his new acquaintance's eyes.  Confusing and upsetting feelings or no, he enjoyed Kamren's company.  "Sure, I would!  Where were you . . ." his voice trailed off as he saw a form with its head down on the desk.  Gray hoodie, black pants, he recognized the figure instantly.  Gauge was in here.  "Shit," he whispered, turning to face Kamren.  "You see him too . . . ?"  Kamren's face spoke the answer as he gulped a little, eyes suddenly gone from happier to scared-er.

        Simultaneously, just when matters hadn't seemed able to grow worse, the canine's head lifted from his desk to look at them, distaste in his features as an ugly grin grew on his face and he let loose on them a quick chuckle.  "Hey blender!" he started in, "I uh didn't know halloween was coming so soon where you get those horns?  I'll slide by there myself."  Mark quickly glanced over at Kamren, watching as embarrassment and . . . what was that?  Shame?  Mark couldn't believe what this absolute ass was doing to Kamren.  Still, though, the guy's voice marched on. "What are you supposed to be anyway?  A lizard dressing as a wolf?  No, no I got it!  The creature that never should have been conceived . . . ah . . . much better ring to it don't you think?"

        The inner spring of anger that Mark had earlier sampled water from was gone, nowhere to be found.  Instead, the more familiar presence of defeat and disappointment - something he didn't feel often, but still experienced more than anger - was there as Mark stared sadly at the wolf spewing things at them.  Kamren's face only continued to look more downcast as other canine students in the classroom smiled or even laughed at the remarks being pushed their way, the non-canines (fangless was the slur he hadn't been able to remember!) stared on, some giving them very minor inclinations of pity.

        "And why don't you go check on your buddy and his girlie.  Because I heard he ain't doing so well hombres."  Mark stopped at this.  What the hell was the guy talking about?  He searched his brain for just a moment before he very suddenly remembered distantly registering the gray and green wolf and the Sergal from homeroom talking after the outburst this morning.  Mark's eyes grew and breathing quickened as he felt his ears grow cold with fear - what did Gauge mean?  Was the blustering to get a rise out of them, or did he actually . . . had somebody already gotten to them?

        Gauge gestured to a wolf sitting near him.  "Why jackson was just telling me he . . . fell out of a pretty tall tree . . . shame really. But Wolves shouldnt be climbing trees."  Mark felt that anger rising again in him, but it was easily and swiftly overshadowed by a more primal emotion - fear.  Fell out of a tall tree?  What was that supposed to mean?  Was that some kind of secret canine code for something?

        And how the hell could this happen in a public school?  Why hadn't the government stepped in and done something?  Maybe Mark should, he didn't know, tell somebody.  Or something, anything!  Before his thoughts could continue, Gauge interrupted them, now speaking directly to Mark.  "But I bet an otter like you would love to try wouldn't you Mr. Outburst. What'd yah say homie?" he asked, mouth agape and showing his pointed teeth in an ugly imitation of a smile.  Mark turned his head, looking at Kamren, mouth open slightly.  Should he just not say anything?  Express disinterest?  This morning seemed to have proven he couldn't count on at least this particular teacher to intervene, so what should he do when he couldn't rely on her and didn't want to fight this guy?

        Mark was so caught up looking to Kamren for help that he didn't notice Samantha, who came up behind Gauge with a book and slammed it down on his desk, cutting him off before the wolf could say anything further.  Mark jumped just a little, taken completely by surprise in the relatively quiet library - though the room was now completely silent.  Standing on Gauge's right, Samantha spoke at him, bending slightly to be close to his face.  "That is more than enough out of you, Gauge!" she said sternly, words clipped, fangs showing a little.  She wasn't as loud as this morning, but now there was something in her . . . something more.  Something calculating.  It scared Mark, and it took even Gauge a moment to recover his posturing.  She paused for a moment before speaking in a voice silent enough Mark might have had to normally strain to hear it - but the completely enraptured room provided a low enough noise level that Mark had no trouble picking up on what she said.  "Now you either keep down your voice or your head - or both, I really don't care - or so help me, I will flunk you right here, right now.  And then you'll have to take this class again, and be at this school another year.  Is that really what you want?"

        Now, Mark had to admit, he found it an odd threat to make.  If he wasn't mistaken, what she'd just offered would be just what this guy would want, so . . . perhaps it was just all she had to say?  Perhaps it was about the worst she could threaten him with?  Mark didn't know how bad the faculty here was with the speciesism that the students exhibited - yet given how rampant it clearly was, Mark could only guess that the faculty at large didn't really make efforts to prevent it, so it was possible she'd nobody else to back her up on any education-related threats she made.

        Mark's attachment was drawn back to the two as Gauge stood up to his full height - which, amusingly enough, only placed him on the same level as Samantha.  The two stood there facing off, not saying anything, as they stared at each other, eyes drilling into the other's skulls.  The moment was punctuated by the bell signaling tardiness to 1st block ringing - which only seemed to make the whole thing even more like a showdown at high noon, or whatever.

        For what seemed at least a minute or two, the pair stared at each other, surrounded by a vacuum of noise as everybody anticipated what would happen next.  Finally, Gauge spoke.  "You think you scare me?  Bring it bitch".  The invitation was simple and threatening, and Mark instantly felt bad for Samantha.  Gauge'd just taken this up to a triple-dog-dare, and if she didn't do anything, she was basically inviting the wolf to do whatever the hell he pleased, whenever the hell he pleased to do it.

        Yet, instead of escalating the situation further with the attempted use of intimidation, she moved her face away from his - they'd been almost touching noses - and instead smirked at him.  "Fine then, Gauge.  You have lunch detention today, with me.  And we will continue this discussion there."  She began to turn away before adding:  "Oh, and if you've anything further to say, at all, about them or anyone like them, then you'll say it to me then, not now."  And with that, she immediately went back to her projector, typing in a password to open the laptop as the projector itself warmed up.

        Shit.  That right there had been something hardcore, and Mark wasn't really sure what he'd witnessed go down, he just knew it was very, very serious.  What was she gonna do?  Talk to him?  What was to stop him from beating her up?  As these questions flicked at his brain, he suddenly saw a very small red panda come up to Gauge, tugging on his pants and motioning something to him before leaving as he watched her.  And wait, hadn't Mark seen her earlier today?  Where at?  In homeroom?  And what was she doing, being buddy-buddy with him?  Didn't she know damn well what that meant?

        Plagued by all of his confusion, Mark turned to Kamren, clearing his throat.  "So, you, uh, you wanna go sit down?"  Couldn't at least a little bit of this day not be distressing in some way or another?

[anonsucks117]

Detention. Ultimate cop out. She wasnt following through on her threat but she wasnt backing down either. Well played. Most teachers just wanted him oit of thier class shed just vouleentered for an extra round if Gauge in her life. Ballsy. She hadnt won though. Her precious little fangless students wouldnt last a week. Then everything would be back to normal. Everything would- he felt a tug on his leg. Tempest? Shit. She was saying something but he could focus on it as his mind reeled at what to say. She wanted him to go talk to her by the book cases. He felt a million canine eyes waiting for him to squash her like a bug. He had to think fast. Then he knew what to do. "Whatever. I already gotta spend detenion with that bitch. Why spend anymore time than i have to." he huffed. As she went to wait. "Im gunna go talk prices with this panda. She wants the good stuff you feel homie?" he said, loud enough for the room hear, to Jackson who nodded. Typical drug, alcohol, and contraband selling Gauge.the rascal. He Almost laughed. It was fine to talk to another species if he was doing something illegal. But if he just wanted to date her. Whooooaaa that was terrible..the pack confused him sometimes....wait..did he just say date. He pulled up his hood as he felt a blush come on. Date her..date her..nice ring to it that. And he grabbed his bag. He moved off to the book cases as other students went back to thier daily tasks. "Tempest?" he whispered looking around. He finally found her and walked over almost collapsing next to her as he laid his back against the book case. Keeping up walls took alot of work. Always saying almost exactly the opposite of what you wanted to. Having to think in a different way..it was exhausting.At least there was someone here he could at least lower them when he was around them. He looked over at Tempest who was now at face level. "What do you want. Im busy." it was gruff. But with an undertone of softness. His face didnt change either. Stone cold indifference. But his eyes had a softness in them. only someone who was looking for it would hear and see. This little panda was his only friend. And if she was for real about sticking with him she'd have to understand how he was..he hoped that when she did she wouldnt run..but he wouldnt blame her.

[Tempest (Red Panda)]

She bit her lip and looked around to make sure no one should see them, then she suddenly hugged him around the neck, nuzzling the side of his face. She spoke real softly "I understand your temper, I can tell you've been through a lot and you feel like you need to keep a high profile around everyone and I'm glad that you loosen up around me," she sighed softly and hugged a bit tighter, standing on her toes. She wasn't sure what else to say but if she didn't speak he might just push her away and leave. She smiled against his cheek and purred softly. "And we Red Pandas have teeth similar to canines, so you could say I was. My ancestors were weasels of all kinds though and I think a few bears at one point, but It's not like people would correct you. We have big canine teeth, but we're all vegetarian. " She giggled quietly. "Do you think it'd work? Or do I have to be undeniably dog?" She pulled back to look at his face, softly putting her hands on his shoulders. Showed him her teeth and giggled softly. "They're kinda scary, right?"

[Heartstrings]

     "Yup. That's..." Kamren didn't even know the wolf's name, as he whispered to Mark. But he was sure Mark knew the exact individual the dragon was referring to. Probably the last canine Kamren was hoping to see in this class. But, he looks like he's sleeping. Maybe he won't even notice that I'm here...

     But just as he thought that, Kamren heard that oh-so-familiar voice. Hey, blender! Stopping in his tracks, the dragon flinched. Here we go, he braced himself.

     And sure enough, the jackass had already started spewing out ugly comments toward them both. Refusing to even look at the guy - Kamren was picturing the most hideous, wicked smile on the dude's face - the dragon just stared down at his boots, breathing heavily. Little wisps of smoke flew from his nostrils every few breaths. He didn't even think to glance over at Mark, see how he was holding up. Just please... he thought. Just... no more, please... He was being made a complete fool of, in front of everyone.

     Kamren's ears perked up when he heard the teacher - Ms. Dancyon - raising her voice. Thank God! He watched as Gauge stood up, going toe to toe with her. God, how much nerve does this guy have? But at least the attention had been drawn away from the dragon, the entire class staring in awe as the student and wolf made their Cold War threats at each other.

     From the fiasco, Gauge - that was his name, Kamren had finally heard - had earned a lunch detention. That was something. A little bit of retribution for his behavior, at least. And Kamren was glad that Ms. Dancyon had intervened much sooner than she had in homeroom. I should go thank her later, he thought. And then as if nothing had happened, she went back to setting up the overhead projector as before, the class settling down into their seats.

     Gauge had left, too. To who-knew-where. Kamren hadn't even seen him leave. Whatever.

     Kamren's thoughts were interrupted by Mark's voice. "Oh, yeah, uhh, sure..." Kamren sighed, rubbing at an eye. His paw wiped away a single tear that had been welling up. "The creature that never should have been conceived"...

     It was at this moment that the dragon discovered that he'd had a death grip on the otter's paw throughout the whole thing. How had he not noticed that he'd done that? Why had he done that?

     Feeling a hot blush creeping up his cheeks, he immediately released Mark's paw from his own. "I-I'm sorry...!" he breathed. "Y-yeah, let's uhh... Let's sit down." Kamren hurriedly paced over to his seat, sitting down with his paws clasped in his lap.

[kasaithefurry]

Kasai gathers her notebooks and crap.She gets up from her seat and takes out her phone to text her dad. She texts:
Hey dad.School is going great right now.Also please don't foret about my basket ball martial arts and hockey on wedsday!
bye!!
Kasai waits for Ave to awnser about her invitation to her place after school or lunch.She hopes Ave can be her new friend.
 

[Oceanic815]

        Slam.  The moment the book held by Ms. Dancyon banged down on the desk next to Gauge, Mark had jumped a little, so busy was he looking at Kamren, and therefore not seeing the teacher creeping up behind Gauge.

        Kamren, however, had a different reaction entirely.  To begin with, he was clearly startled, for he had been looking down at his shoes and had also not seen the silvery wolf coming with the book.

        However, his paw-talon also instantly flew to Mark, deathly tight, gripping his paw.

        Mark's immediate reaction was to pull away.  Or at least, that was almost his immediate reaction.  The furred paw-talon (palon?) was warm with claws that dug ever so slightly into Mark's own webbed fingers, but he didn't care.  His heartbeat elevated, breath quickened, eyes wide, Mark breathed in, surprised.  The surprise, combined with his lack of interest in males or holding hands with them, almost caused him to pull away.

        His lack of interest in males or in holding hands with them.  But was it . . . ?

        Nah, it was.  It definitely was.  Whatever he felt at any point in time about Kamren, or anybody else, or Kamren, was just a passing thing.  It wasn't something that would stay, he, he believed that.

        His lack of interest in males or in holding hands with them.

        He refrained from pulling away, however, because he knew he'd an entirely different reason to hold Kamren's hand - he'd seen the dragon this morning, seen how he'd taken the comments about him and his lineage.  The poor guy was clearly vastly unprepared for such treatment, and furthermore, didn't take it well.  If he was holding Mark's hand for comfort, then Mark would give him that comfort - so he did not pull away, and instead squeezed his hand just a little in return.  He wanted to be there for him, because the clear speciesism Mark had so far experienced was awful, so he couldn't even imagine how Kamren, as a hybrid, felt.

        Furthermore, once he was no longer absolutely shocked and had gotten his thoughts in order, Mark moved his body slightly in his best attempt to block view of the hand holding from everybody else still in the library.  He didn't want them to see this, because given Gauge's earlier comments about Kamren's boots - did your boyfriend pick them out for you, or something like that - Mark guessed that the homophobia here was probably as rampant as the speciesism.  And frankly, Mark didn't want to take that crap himself, and he definitely didn't want Kamren to have to take part in it because he needed a little comfort.  Hell, judging from Kamren's continued gaze at the floor, Mark wasn't even sure if Kamren knew he'd grabbed Mark's paw.

        Just as quickly as the argument started, it ended.  Ms. Dancyon immediately went back to setting up class, and Gauge followed the little red panda to who knows where, throwing a comment over his shoulder about buying some contraband, or something, which didn't even earn a glance from Ms. Dancyon.  They were still holding hands, a fact that made Mark even more sure that Kamren was not cognizant of their current contact.

        Mark was okay if it didn't stop, even though his hand felt just a little crushed right now from the guy's tight grip.  He didn't want it to end, even though he did, even though he didn't.  However, the students were beginning to get back to their normal activities, turning to books, the teacher, and each other, and despite Mark's best attempts to angle his body and prevent the others from knowing they were holding hands, he was sure it was bound to happen that somebody would see them.

        So, with his best attempts at tact, Mark very gently cleared his throat before speaking up.  "So, you, uh, you wanna go sit down?" he asked, apparently bringing Kamren out of his current state - likely a shame-filled, positively negative reverie.

        "Oh, yeah, uhh, sure . . ." he said with a sigh.  He reached up with his free paw to wipe at his eye, although Mark saw no tears on his cheeks.  As Mark watched him, the dragon's face went through a brief state of confusion before it reached one of realization - and he immediately released the hold he had on Mark's paw, face shying away as the green on his cheek was tainted with red, giving the surface an almost warm-yellow blush.  "I-I'm sorry . . . !" he stuttered out.  Then, "Y-yeah, let's uhh... Let's sit down."

        They both began to walk to a pair of open chairs on the fringe of the "U" arrangement around the projector.  Mark was unsure about whether or not he should say something - on the one hand, he could speak up and let Kamren know that what the dragon had done was fine, that Mark was cool with it, even though he wasn't in for, yunno, that.  On the other hand, the guy was clearly embarrassed enough, and Mark didn't want to make him feel worse by accidentally saying something that would further exacerbate his distress - a possibility Mark found entirely likely from his own past social slip-ups.

        As they both sat down, the dragon placing his paws in between his legs as embarrassment continued to plague his face, Mark decided to speak up instead of staying quiet.  "It, that, um, it was alright, you know.  You, uh, you needed somebody to feel comforted by, right?  I get that."  Mark stammered out the awkward sentence, stumbling a bit over his words, hoping by god that he wouldn't say something to make it worse.

        Oh, and I'm not into that.  He thought the sentence, almost said it as he opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't.  This wasn't about what he was or was not into, it was about comforting Kamren.  Mark looked around for Gauge - but thankfully, there was no sign of him anywhere near, and 1st block ultimately passed uneventfully, Mark sitting next to Kamren, who occasionally stretched or shifted his wings (sometimes brushing Mark in the process).  Ms. Dancyon explained the class expectations and requirements as would be expected, passing out this week's vocab for a quiz on Friday before passing out copies of the first book they would read.  It was the classic A Treatise on Species, by Charlie Radlose, a book Mark knew of as a staple of High School lit, but hadn't read.

        Once the bell finally rang for the class switch, Mark gathered up his things, looking at the next class on his sheet - National History Honors - before turning to Kamren and smiling as he slung his pack over his shoulder.  "So," he asked, "what's your next class?"

[Yuro]

(finally  )


Yuro heard the bell ring and she got up. Grabbing her bag and places her things back inside. Stretching a bit as she exited the room. Science, science.. She roamed the hallway, looking for the classroom. Keeping her tail close. Then she spotted it. She shyly entered the classroom. No ones here yet.. She saw the teacher sitting there going through his laptop. First male teach i've seen so far, and a black panther as well. He was well toned for an adult. Pretty good looking. He looks pretty mello and serious. He twitched his ears as he noticed i was standing there. Gesturing me to my seat with a pen. Not much of a social cat.. I slowly sat down. As soon as i did students came in.

[anonsucks117]

Guage flinched at the touch. Not because it was unwelcome. On the contrary. He liked it alot. It was mostly from surprise. He was thinking hard while she was speaking but caught most of it. The important thing was she knew. Knew how he was and didnt shy away. Wow, what a woman. He nocticed she was showing him surprimgly canine teeth. Werent pandas vegetarian? He hadnt expected that. He was so interested he didnt realize she was trying to prove she was like him. But he reached that point quickly enough. "Oh no dont bite me!" he said with mock fear as they both laughed. "I wouldnt worry about whether or not your like me. I act how i do because..because of them." he gestured to the class behind him. "You cant really show weakness around here." he said finally. Holding her close. "But dont worry. No ones going to mess with me about it. They know  ill cave thier head in. Until thier brain leaks out."  he laughed before realizing her eyes had gone wide and her ears had gone back. He kicked himself mentally.of course violence wasnt that humorous to a non wolf. It was actually pretty sick. So he sat in an akward silence for a moment waiting for her to say something as the bell rang. Saved by the bell. He thought as he gave her a squeeze and rose. "Comon. Ill..uh..walk you to class if you want?" he asked slowly. "I have mr.knight next and the more of his class i miss the better. Weve...had our differences..ill catch enough heat if he finds out i beat someone up. Even if i didnt its always me in his mind. Aves responisble for half the stuff knight mentally blames me for id be willing to bet." Gauge sighed. "In fact i think hes the leader of the "lets get Gauge expelled." club." finally Willing himself to stand and get his walls ready. Guage gave tempest another squeeze before standing.

[Tempest (Red Panda)]

Her laugh was high, soft, and hardy. When laughing, she would always cover her mouth and nose for fear of people hearing one of her biggest insecurities; she snorted when she laughed too hard. Her face relaxed and it seemed like she always had a smile on her face around him. She  pulled back slowly. "I don't believe in violence unless it's absolutely necessary." She giggled and bit her bottom lip, stepping back a little and looking up at him. "Sure, that'd be nice." Her tail swished back and forth and she got her bag from the back of the nearby chair she was sitting on. Looking up at him, she tilted her head and eyed him a little. "So, prices huh?" She giggled softly and spoke in a low whisper. "Have any pot? Or was that just an act?" She glanced at the floor before returning her gaze back up at him. "Hehe maybe that's what we could do after school, I know a really good spot." She stuck her tongue out at him and smiled in a way that could both mean she was serious or joking, depending on how he took it. She started towards the library doors and waited for him to follow.

[Ræfóa Aldrnari]

Almost lowering his head down to the table to rest it there again, his ears picked up the sound of the ringing bell. Raising up his head again, he looked around, as the other students got up to leave, so he quickly threw his notebook and pen back into his bag, standing up, flung it over his shoulder... "Ow!", he quietly muttered, as that were one of the areas he was hurt. Leaning down, supporting himself with a paw on the table, he took a few breaths, before leaning back up, walking out of the classroom. Soo, what's next?, he thought, as he wished for it not to be PE. He took out his schedule, looking down at it. Biologi. Hmm. That wasn't too bad. It definitely wasn't his favorite subject, but it was ok. Walking down the hallway, he kept an eye on the room numbers (still getting eyes from students everywhere), until he found the right one. He reached for the door handle, about to pull down, just as a big, well-toned fox pushed him to the side. "Out of the way, mummy!", he said, as Marcus quickly grabbrd the edge of the door way for support. But why? He was a canine too. His reputation about helping the sergal, a non-canine, must have had gotten spread. Oh, that's just great..., he thought with a sigh, as he walked inside, finding a seat around the middle section, sitting down, putting his bag next to the table.

[Yuro]

Jake looked up slightly. Looking at the students that just came in. A fox that shoved the injured looking wolf. He wondered, isn't that the guy that the kids were talking about earlier. Something about helping a sergal and a fight. Maybe it was Ave.. Or either Gauge.No matter.. No time for another argument with these kids. He looks back down as he sways his thick long black tail. Waiting for everyone to be seated. The class began to get louder and louder. Jake started to get annoyed and he stood up. Slamming his paw against the board, everyone stopped and stared at him. He nodded and crossed his arms. Leaning against the board.Then with his deep rough voice he said, "Ok, i'm Mr. knight. Obiviously i teach different categories of science. I have only three rules. 1. Always pay attention 2. No talking unless i say so 3. No violence, or your dealing with me." he glared at the class.

[Heartstrings]

     Kamren fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat for the remainder of the class period. First off, he was still retaining those insults Gauge had been spewing at him in a very tender spot in his mind. Before long though, the dragon did manage to tuck them away, trying his utmost to listen to Ms. Dancyon's lecture.

     Which really wasn't that much of a lecture, actually. Just going over the class syllabus, class expectations, grading scale, upcoming assignments, and so on. Kamren's first assignment - due tomorrow, actually - was to be a quick, one-page autobiography. Things like where he'd come from, where he was planning on going after high school, that sort of thing. Just that sort of basic first-day paper for the teacher to get to know her students and give a first evaluation of their writing skills.

     Kamren hated writing, actually. Especially when it came to writing about himself. In fact, an English class had been the only class in high school he'd ever received a 'B' in, effectively costing him his 4.0 grade point average. He was determined to ace this class, however.

     He jotted down the assignment details in his weekly planner.

     Despite his efforts to remain focused on Ms. Dancyon's ramblings, however, the dragon's thoughts kept meandering back to his embarrassing act from before. God, that was awkward... For all he knew, Mark probably thought he was a freak by now. I mean, who even DOES that? Just grabbing his paw like that - I don't even know him, Kamren mentally berated himself. His face was feeling hot again merely thinking about it, sending shivers up his spine. Granted, he'd been unfairly antagonized in front of everyone, and he'd done it out of a desperation for some comfort.

     Or maybe you just wanted an excuse to hold his paw, his conscious mused at him. It had indeed been comforting after all, from what the dragon remembered. Hopefully no one else had seen the show.

     As if on cue, the otter sitting next to him broke the silence between them. Kamren had hardly even acknowledged him since they'd sat down.

     When he heard Mark speak, Kamren was pretty sure he was getting goosebumps, a light pink blush ever-so-slightly-visible under the green fur on his cheeks.

     "O-oh," the dragon muttered back, very clearly embarrassed, though a little surprised that the otter was being so chill about it all. "Well, umm... Thank you. I, uhh... I really did need that. Th-thank you." He scratched an itch between his horns, looking over at the otter next to him, smiling.

     For the rest of the period, Kamren took notes relatively silently thereafter. He occasionally bumped Mark with one of his wings to which he whispered a casual "Sorry!" here and there, until he was forced to uncomfortably fold in his wings as tight as possible. During that time, Ms. Dancyon handed out copies of their first book for the year, A Treatise on Species, which had actually been one of the assigned readings for Kamren's English class the year before at his old school. Kamren copied down "Read thru CH 5 - Quiz Fri" in his planner.

     And before long the school bell rang, signaling the end of first block. As he packed up his things and got up to leave the classroom, he was approached by Mark again. He wasn't sure whether he should continue to be embarrassed, but at any rate Mark didn't seemed to be bothered in the slightest. And at any rate, Kamren found himself happy to be talking to him. Which left him hoping that he'd be able to call Mark his friend before long.

     AND he's cute. There's no way he's into that, though. Hell, Kamren wasn't even one hundred percent sure what side he played on, for that matter.

     "Oh! Uhh, I think..." Kamren was recalling his class schedule, while pulling out his planner where he'd copied it down during class. "...umm, AP Calculus. With... Ms. Drescher." Hopefully not the same one that played Fran Fine in The Nanny.

     "Anyway," Kamren said as they were headed out the classroom. "I guess this is where we part ways... But, umm... It was really nice meeting you, Mark. And, umm... Thank you again for, y'know, being there for me today. I, uhh... Hang on." The dragon wrote his first and last name and a set of 10 digits on a page corner in his agenda, before tearing it out and presenting it to the wolf. "I don't have any business cards," he chuckled. "But if you'd like... If you wanted to maybe hang out at lunch, feel free to shoot me a text... But anyway. I gotta get going, the math department's all the way on the other side of the school."

     Turning to head off to Calculus, he turned his head to get one last look at the otter. "Talk to you soon!" he called back, starting down the halls of the campus.

     Kamren was smiling to himself as he walked, checking his e-mail on his phone as he did so. He'd found a friendly face in all of the madness so far that was his first day of school. Hopefully he'd see him at lunch, or possibly after school, or...

     Wait. Don't get too ahead of yourself, Kammy.

     That reminds me! He thought, pulling a familiar orange and black card out from his back pocket. I should thank Rocket, too. Stopping just outside the door to Calculus class, leaning against a wall, Kamren copied down the number on Rocket's business card into the contacts of his phone.

     Quickly he wrote out a message reading, "Hey there! It's Kam from homeroom, the green dragon. It was nice to meet you today, and thank you "

     Pressing send, the dragon clicked the phone's lock button, shoved it back into his pocket, walked into the nearly empty classroom and sat down.

[anonsucks117]

Guage walked tempest to class enjoying her easy company and got her there just befkre the tardy bell rang. He grabbed an excuse from her teacher for "showing her how to get there"  and let her crawl up and gave her a light squeeze. "After school. Out front. Ill bring the bike around to pick you up." he said as she crawled down and he left. He heard laughter as he came around the corner. "Yeah im not kidding! Big bad Guage was walking some giggly air head to class. One of those weird little things. Like pandas but tiny." a fox was saying to his buddies. He didnt see Gauge coming but his buddies sure did as they turned and walked away. "Hey where are you..guys..." The fox caught his scent and turned slowly. "O-oh h-hey Guage..homie..uh look i-" the punch slammed into a locker next to his head so hard it slighlty dented it. "You were just kidding right? What you ment to say was how beautifully kind and smart she is right?" he said dangerously. The fox nodded vigorously. "And im sure youll be posting that on furbook tonight. And sgaring it with everyone so they know too right?" he said his mouth turning into a dangerious smile. "I..i am?" he said with a gulp. "You are!" Guage said in a voice that had changed to a dangerous sort of friendly. "R..right..i..i am " he said as he turned and quicjly followed his friends path. "Ill be watching! If it doesnt happen tgis locker is being replaced by your face and i bet its a lot less resilient to denting!" he called as he turned in a huff and walked into mr.knights class five minutes late. He placed the excuse on the table feelingbthe usual glare from the panther he always got.he and dancy should be buddies. So much in comon. He thought to himself.  Then be smelt her. That scent. Surgal. He looked up to see anger management herself shooting death lazers out of her eyes at him. Getting her bent out of shape might be a little fun actually. "Hey no need for all that i come in peace and i can take you to the principles office if you need to see our leader." he grinned. That got the chuckles going canines laughed while fangless suddenly became quite interested in thier desks. "But seriously. Im just kidding. As a matter of fact.. I recall hearing a rumor you helped a fellow wolf! Poor guy fell out of a tree. Give him my condolences for his lost dignity." he grinned but i hoped he learned his lesson. What if your not there and he falls out of a taller tree..thatd be a shame.." he said looking mockingly concerned. The class continued to laugh until Knight did his while paw slap and icy glare routine and shut em all up before bringing that glare to bear on Gauge who took the hint. "Well. Be seeing yah. You ought to let me check out the ufo sometime." he grinned wicjedly as he went back to the very far right corner desk that migjt as well be reserved for him as supressed snickers came from the class. They died out as another icy glare made them all focus.

[Ræfóa Aldrnari]

Having sat down around the middle, putting his bag next to him, Marcus took a few seconds to look around the classroom. Hey, that's Yuro, he thought, as he spotted her. Giving a mile, he was about to give a little wave, as he smelled a familiar scent. Please no... just, no..., he thought, closing his eyes, slowly turning back, seeing Gauge go through the classroom door. Great... just what I needed..., he thought, giving him an annoyed glare. As Gauge began to insult Yuro though, he began to feel anger. Anger, that build up from the tip of his toes to the tip of his ears. He could take insults pointed at himself. Hey, he was used to it. But insults towards his friends? That was too much. Just as he was about to stand up, yelling back at him, Gauge began to talk about him... the tree story? That got spread?..., he thought, raising an eyebrow. Still, he felt angry, sad and annoyed at the same time. About to open his mouth to shut him up, the teacher gave a a big bang, as he slammed his paw against the board. A little schocked, Marcus looked up at him, listening to what he had to say, still keeping an eye on Gauge, in the corner of his eye, watching him seating down behind him. But this teacher... he didn't seem like someone that liked to beat around the bush. He seemed like someone, that would get straight to the point. He... kinda liked that. Maybe he could shut up Gauge. Better than Ms. Dancy at least.

[Yuro]

Jake looked at the pink sergal as she turned away and looked out the window. Scratching the desk lightly, trying to calm herself down i guess. Jake groaned from the immaturity of all the quiet snicker. Oh Gauge, the usual big talk of the school. Seems so tough and scary to everyone around him. Jake  glanced at Gauge grinning mischievously in the back. Even though he's as soft and weak as a worm. Looks like he doesnt look like his usual rough,stern look. His face seems to have a soft expression on it, odd. Was it that panda earlier? From all the talk of the school, it seems she's only attracted to the bad boys. Never knew he was into small species. Well whatever, gotta get on with the lesson.. He sighed and began to introduce the topic of life. Where it began and how it develops. Reading from a biology book and placing notes of the board. Showing examples and expressing the meaning of it.


She smiled as she saw Marcus walked in. She perk her head up as her joy rose. Hey it's him. Hopefully he's ok. Then she saw Gauge walked in.Yuro was angry she couldn't believe she was in the same class as him. She tried concealing her thought but then gauge said what if i wasn't there for marcus next time. She saddened and lowered her head. Wanting to for get what he said. Marc is my only friend, but i feel like i'm making his situation worsts.. Please.. Stop this. Why can't we just accept each other. I hate it how every stares and whispers,"Freak.. Mutant.." it's getting to me..