“Are you guys freshmen too?” asked a girl who was sitting on a recliner reading a book. She was already dressed in her school uniform - a blue plaid skirt, black shoes and leggings, a white button-up shirt, a blue necktie, and a black blazer with blue trim along the lapels. The school logo was printed on the blazer over the heart and on the tie. Her long brown hair was pulled into an elegant braided ponytail similar to Miss Bailey’s. Her skin was a light shade of mocha and her eyes were a vibrant bluish-purple. 

“Yeah, guilty as charged!” Mallory replied with a grin. “I’m Mallory Dane and this is my best friend Emmett Haldeman. And this cute little furball here is Nyx!”

“Oh, pleased to meet you! I’m Selena Luna!” She smiled as she got up to shake their hands. She then reached up to pet Nyx, who purred loudly. The cat was still sitting on Mallory’s shoulder. “You guys better go get changed, we need to get to the Dining Hall soon.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Emmett agreed. Other students began entering the Hall or coming down from their rooms, prompting another round of introductions. Soon Mallory and Emmett headed up to their room on the third floor. Inside it looked like a typical two-person dorm with a twin-sized bed, nightstand, and desk on opposite sides of the room. The communal bathrooms for the third floor were just down the hall. 

They showered and changed into their uniforms - which were similar to Selena’s with the exception of black pants instead of the skirt. After setting out food, water, and the litterbox for Nyx in the room, they headed back down to the first floor. 

Selena was waiting for them in the Common Room. “I figured we could all walk together.”

“Okay!” Mallory replied with a smile.

“Yeah!” added Emmett. 

The three of them made their way back to the main Academy building and headed down a long corridor towards the Dining Hall. Like the Atrium, it was a massive octagon, but was only three stories high with an ornate, vaulted ceiling and several gold chandeliers hanging. Light from the evening sun was shining in through high, pointed arch windows. Wall-mounted sconce lamps sat on each side of every window, the purple flames now brighter as it was nearing sunset. There were many round wood tables spread about with six cushioned chairs at each one. Across the room from the main entrance was an elevated stage, where faculty seemed to be gathering. They were all dressed formally as well. 

“Let’s sit there!” Selena pointed to an empty table. Mallory and Emmett joined her. They looked around as what must have been hundreds of students poured into the Dining Hall. They all had the same uniform regardless of which dormitory hall they were assigned to.

“Check out Zeb all formal and shit,” Mallory said with a chuckle. His elder brother had just entered the room, heading up towards the stage. He was dressed in a black suit with a fancy green necktie. His hair was pulled into a Half Down Half Up style and he had cleaned up the neckline of his stubble some so it better resembled a very short beard. 

Mallory groaned as he noticed a blue-skinned elf with long golden braids enter. He was wearing an elegant red and black trenchcoat. He had a twinkle in his yellow eyes and a little spring to his step. “Oh great, don’t tell me he’s working here too…”

Selena looked up. “Oh yeah! That’s the famous bard, Pineapple Jojo! He’s the new Music teacher! Why is him being here a problem?”

“He’s my brother’s ex-boyriend,” Mallory revealed. Selena cupped a hand over her mouth. 

“Their break-up was pretty bad,” added Emmett. “Jojo has held a grudge against him ever since.”

“Maybe he’s over it now?” Selena pondered. The three of them looked up to the stage and saw Zeb facepalming as Jojo stood in front of him with his arms crossed, just glaring. 

“Nope!” Mallory and Emmett said in unison. 

“Mind if we sit here?” asked a few students. Mallory recognized them from the round of introductions in Tamreon Hall. 

“Please, join us!” offered Emmett. They sat down in the other three chairs at their table. 

Jasper Jade was a junior, the oldest of this new little group. She was a green-skinned elf and was quite tall and muscular. She had yellow irises and an emerald mohawk pulled back into a braided topknot while the rest of her scalp was shaved. She had a variety of piercings in her eyebrows, nose, and ears. Her voice was heavy and deep, which paired with her masculine frame might have caused some people in faeless communities to question her gender identity. But in modern otherkin society, that sort of hate and prejudice was simply not tolerated. 

Max Danverweis was an androgynous catfolk with long elf-like ears, sharp fangs, and amber eyes with slits for pupils. Xer skin was covered in a light layer of orange, black, and white fur in a tiger pattern. Xe had dark brown hair pulled back into long braided dreadlocks. Although xe identified as non-binary, xe preferred to sleep in the girls’ dorm. Xe was a freshman too and Selena’s roommate. 

Linnie Luxey was a short and hyperactive lavender-skinned tiefling with black hair pulled into twin braided ponytails. Her irises were silvery-blue with black scleras and her ears were pointed like an elf’s. She had quite a few freckles on her face and two thin sickle-shaped dark gray horns extending from her forehead and curving back over her scalp. And of course, her school uniform had a hole for her long, pointed tail. She was a junior and Jasper’s slightly-younger roommate.

“I guess we’ve adopted these younglings now,” Jasper said to Linnie, grinning. 

“Just be careful, or else she’ll try to recruit you for the Chimeraball team,” Linnie added with a chuckle. Mallory and Emmett both displayed sudden excitement. 

“We wanna try out!” they both said in unison.

“Oh wow, that was quick!” Jasper cackled. “Well, you’re in luck, because I’m the new captain of our team this year, the Monsters!”

“Why is it called that?” Selena inquired. 

“Our dorm was named after Theodore Tamreon, a troll who proved that even ‘monsters’ could be heroes.,” explained Jasper. “He helped evacuate communities of otherkin from Salem, Massachusetts during the whole witch scare thing back in the late 1600s. Those refugees came here and built Pixiewick and the school. So to honor him, we call our team the Monsters.”

“That’s so cool!” Selena replied. The others nodded in agreement. 

“So, how many openings do you have on the team?” Max inquired. 

“Everyone else on the team graduated last year, so right now it’s just me and Jasper,” Linnie revealed. 

“Each team has six players, so we need to fill four openings,” Jasper added. “We’re gonna hold tryouts tomorrow. You all should totally give it a shot!”

“Consider us there!” Max said. 

“Mallory and I have been training all Summer!” added Emmett. 

“I like your enthusiasm!” Jasper replied. 

Their attention was drawn to the stage as a faculty member called out that the Welcome Dinner was about to begin. A tall, chubby, black-and-white furred dogfolk man stepped forward, raising his arms in a welcoming gesture. He looked like an anthropomorphic Siberian Husky with bright blue eyes. He was wearing a glittery cobalt robe over a black suit and an elegant crimson necktie. 

“How is everyone doing on this lovely Saturday evening?! Welcome to another year at Qrowdell!” he boomed in a deep voice that was magically enhanced to fill the room. “For those of you who are new here, I am Principal Howler! Yes, yes, funny name for a funny guy, am I right?”

The students all smiled as Howler spoke. It was clear he was an extremely warm, cheerful, and lovable person. He gave off big dad energy. 

“Before we eat, there are a couple things I’d like to go over. First, the timing of the Homecoming Dance is going to be pushed back a bit this year. Normally this happens in late September right after the Homecoming Chimeraball Tournament, but renovations to the Arena are taking longer than anticipated and it won’t be ready in time. So, the Tournament will now be held in the last week of October, followed by a Halloween-themed Homecoming Dance! That’ll be fun!”

The students cheered at the prospect of getting to dress up in costumes for the Dance. 

“And second,” he continued. “Tomorrow is a day to get settled in, and then classes begin on Monday. You all have your schedules for the first semester, but if you have any questions, please see your Dormitory Hall Monitor. And of course my office is always open as well. Except Thursday afternoons. Thursday afternoons are for howling at nothing and cannot be interrupted! Nah, I’m just mad goofing! Haha! Let’s eat!”

Suddenly, dozens of silver plates, bowls, goblets, and utensils came flying in from a side door, finding their way to the tables and landing down in front of each student. A moment later, they were followed by a stream of large serving platters loaded with hot, steaming food. Turkey, ham, meatballs, black bean burgers, tofu, potatoes, assorted boiled vegetables, freshly baked rolls, mini-cauldrons of soups and pastas - it was an absolute feast! 

“This is great!” Mallory exclaimed as the platters began making the rounds, floating magically. Everyone was filling up their plates and bowls, and holding up their goblets as pitchers of various beverages came flying through as well. The faculty sat at tables closer to the stage, and everyone was content as they chowed down. Enchanted instruments floated around overhead, playing soft, relaxing melodies. Soon the Welcome Dinner came to an end and everyone began making their way back to their rooms. Mallory made sure to wave at Zeb before departing. 

Once back in their room, Mallory and Emmett changed into their pajamas and climbed into bed, deciding to wait until tomorrow to fully unpack. Nyx curled up on Mallory’s chest once he pulled his covers up, and sleep soon came to them all. He had nearly forgotten about his nightmare from the previous night, but unbeknownst to him, he had not seen the last of those greenish-yellow dragon eyes…