The late afternoon sun bathed the meadow in golden light, casting long shadows across the tall grass. Forest, Emma, Ava, and Zara collapsed onto the soft ground, their limbs heavy after a long day. Emma stretched out with a sigh, her dark hair falling into her face as she brushed it back, her sharp blue eyes scanning the sky. Ava leaned back on her elbows, her small foxlike ears twitching slightly as she enjoyed the warmth of the sun. Zara flopped onto her stomach beside them, her Therian senses sharp as she caught the distant rustle of leaves. Forest sat cross-legged, her wolf instincts keeping her on edge, her amber eyes sweeping the field for signs of danger. The soft rustle of grass and the hum of crickets filled the air, lulling the group into a rare moment of calm. But the peace didn’t last. A sharp, mocking laugh shattered the stillness. Forest’s head snapped toward the sound, her ears twitching as her hackles rose. At the edge of the field, the tall bully from earlier stood smirking, his lanky shadow stretching toward them. He crossed his arms and strode closer, his overconfident swagger grating against the serenity of the meadow. Forest rose to her feet, her tail flicking behind her in irritation. “What do you want?” she growled, her voice steady but laced with warning. The bully shrugged, his smirk widening. “Oh, nothing,” he said mockingly. “Just wanted to see how the little animals are doing. Still playing pretend?” Emma stiffened, her sharp nails digging into the grass as her cat instincts flared. Ava glanced nervously at Forest, her fox ears flattening slightly. Zara shifted closer to Emma, her stance protective as her Therian instincts bubbled to the surface. Forest took a step forward, her eyes narrowing into a piercing glare. “Leave,” she said, her voice as sharp as a wolf’s snarl. “Or fight.” The bully raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Ooh, I’m so scared,” he mocked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Forest’s growl deepened, her fists clenched. “I said, get out,” she snapped, her voice low but filled with the power of her wolf nature. The bully hesitated, his smug expression faltering under her intense gaze. The group behind Forest stood tense, their eyes fixed on him, their quiet strength radiating as one. Finally, the bully rolled his eyes and scoffed. “Whatever,” he muttered, turning on his heel. He stomped away, kicking at the dirt as though it had betrayed him. Once he was out of sight, Forest exhaled and relaxed her stance. “You okay?” she asked, glancing back at her friends. “Yeah,” Emma said softly, her tail flicking as she exchanged a glance with Ava. “Let’s go,” Forest said, her voice calmer now. “Lunch is ready.” The group walked together to the dining hall, the scent of freshly baked pizza and crisp salad meeting them as they stepped inside. They found a table in the corner, away from the noise of the other students. As they started eating, Ava glanced at Forest, her phantom fox ears perking up with curiosity. “Can I ask you something?” Forest nodded, taking a sip of water. “Sure,” she said. Ava hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Are you an orphan?” she asked gently. Forest’s gaze dropped to the table, her wolf-like stoicism faltering for a moment. “Well… yeah,” she admitted quietly, her voice barely audible. Ava’s eyes softened, and she leaned closer. “My mom’s always happy to welcome more family,” she said with a warm smile. Forest blinked, her amber eyes wide with surprise. A small, hesitant smile crossed her face as she nodded, a hint of gratitude flickering in her expression. The group continued their meal, their conversation turning to lighter topics. Though the day had been exhausting, Forest couldn’t help but feel a little lighter, knowing she wasn’t as alone as she had once thought.
