The Cat and the Bird

Graiter's Academy

"....and since then, the Khatan's Eastward expansion rapidly spread to become a large empire."

My pen lazily scrawled the notes as my professor droned on his history lecture. The next slide of the PowerPoint had images of portraits of the Khatan and his armies. I started to doodle the scaley ruler in the margins. I glanced back up at the clock on the wall. Again. Only 5 minutes had passed since the last time I looked. World History always felt like my longest class.

Ironic, considering the professor is a speedster.

I hear a soft, squawking yawn behind me. The contagious sound makes me yawn as well.

Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks so.

Blinking away my boredom, I tune back into the lecture. At least the subject is interesting enough.

Once the dismissal bell finally rings, I try to quickly pack up so I could ask the professor something. By the time I reach the front of the lecture hall, there's already a line of other students with questions. I notice that most of them are the ones who usually sit up towards the front.

That'd be smart. Forces you to pay attention. But I don't like having the kind of pressure that comes with being so front and center. I like my spot on the wayside.

I shrug and just walk out. It was just a clarification detail that will probably be on the review.

Navigating the horde of students can sometimes be tricky: someone carelessly flicking their tail up high behind them, a telekinetic's floating books, larger wings in cramped spaces, a speedster shouldering their way through... It was hard for me when I first got to this school. I wasn't used to being around so many different kinds of people. I was awkward around some unfamiliar kinds, namely some exotic Featured and a few rare Abilitied.

Featured and Abilitied. The two categories of adaptations humans had undergone long ago. Featured were those born with animal traits to their otherwise human bodies. Abilitied had no such unique physical traits, but had superhuman powers that set them apart. Nothing crazy or impossible, just mostly elemental capabilities, physical boosts, and telekinesis.

In some communities, tensions between the two kinds exists. However, I grew up in a peaceful, integrated community. And my school seems to have an equal amount of each that get along quite well.

Graiter's Academy truly is the best.

"Excuse me." I mumble, moving around a boy who had walked in front of me heading the opposite direction.

After dodging a tall lion girl's tail, I free myself from the migrating mess of student squeezing past the double doors. Watching my feet, I walk down the concrete stairs towards the central campus courtyard.

I find a nice, sunny spot on the grass and sit down, tucking my uniform skirt carefully under my thighs so I don't accidentally flash anyone. I gently comb my tail with my fingers, smoothing out the soft, short fur that got a little dischevled after sitting around for my classes and navigating the crowded hallways. I was part house cat. Brown furred, no patterns. I casually admired the deep chocolate shade of my fur catching the sunlight.

My ear flicks as a bag is dropped on the ground next to me.

"Maaaaaaan chemistry is such a pain." Sam groans, taking off his jacket and laying down beside me.

He places his uniform blazer on my lap, allowing me to sit more comfortably. I give an empathetic chuckle and pull out my lunch. Before I can take a bite of my turkey sandwich, Sam leans up and opens his mouth expectedly. I give him a mocking scowl before letting him take a bite.

"Hey! Not so much!" I exclaim when he takes a big bite out of it. He rocks back to avoid me hitting him, giggling as he chews.

Sam and I have been friends since childhood. Our moms had been old friends, and when his family moved next door to mine, we were introduced to each other. We were both kinda shy kids. Him more so than me at the time. But as we grew up, he became a bit more confident socially than I did. I was then marked as the more timid friend. But we always had each other's backs. Sam was like a brother to me.

"Relax. I got some, too." He says, his voice muffled due to the food in his mouth. At least he covered it with his hand. He pulls out his own lunch, one that he had grabbed from the cafeteria rather than packed from home. A tangy, spicy smell makes my mouth water as he unwraps his buffalo chicken wrap. He hands it to me and rummages in the plastic bag for his apple. I quickly take two bites. "Hey, that was two!"

"Well I don't have as big as a mouth as you." I retort, swallowing and sticking my tongue out at him.

"So mature." Sam says sarcastically. We continue into our lunch, discusses our classes.

This was our usual routine after morning classes were over. Since we had a class together after lunch period, we eat then head over together.

I finish my lunch and lay back on the grass, stretching widely. I sigh contently, almost purring. Full and warm, I'm tempted to take a nap.

The sun feels so nice on my belly like this.

"Hey Claire, watch this."

I open my eyes and roll onto my side, propping myself up on my elbow. Sam was sitting criss cross and rubbing his hands. He snaps, an a flame flickers to life in his palm. Sam was a pyrokinetic. "Okay. Okay, watch."

"I'm watching." I reply expectedly.

Sam narrows his eyes and seems to concentrate. The flame sputters for a moment before starting to stretch and pull, almost like smoke. It eventually forms shaky ribbon that he then waves around slowly with his finger.

"Woah." I smile, watching it. Sam grins and lets flaming ribbon dissipate. "You've gotten better at that."

"Thank you. While flinging fireballs is fun, it's cool doing other things with it." He packs away his trash and gets to his feet. "Shall we get going?"

I nod and hand him his jacket back, gathering my lunchbox and following him to our next class.

"What're we going over in Logistics today?" Sam asks.

"I think we're continuing definitions and analysis"

"Still?" He groans. "We're always doing those."

"Well I feel as if there should be - mreeew!" I quickly slap my hands over my mouth in embarrassment. I feel my face flush as my body stiffens. Samuel looks down at me in surprise and confusion at my high-pitched cry.

"Claire, what's wrong?"

"M-my t-t-tail…something g-grabbed it."