Greetings! Doggy is almost through with his training!

Doggy: woof!

But then comes the internship and the thirty month waiting period!

Doggy: GRrrrrrrrrrr...

AHEM! Like I commented in my other story, I'm going to be busy so new chapters may take a while to put up. But don't worry, I'll try to keep on top of things.

Laureate: Flying Rats was last chapter! (oh, and I wasn't actually upset with you- I found the whole Doggy/ Rahne thing quite amusing)

Flamingo: You know, I actually don't know what her codename will be. I'm willing to look at suggestions.

Akai Kah'ghe- Thanks! I always thought bats might sound like that. I love bats.

Aslyin- Doggy loves you too.

Saying of the fic

Pencils and pens are now illegal on school campus; this was made law after a student successfully proved that a sharpened pencil was, in fact, a weapon.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

I checked my bag again to make sure I had everything. It was my first day of school in Bayville, and I didn't want to miss anything.

Doggy was pouting on my bed because he couldn't come with me. He just sat there mournfully while I checked my bag and my appearance.

My appearance has changed slightly since I first came here. Kitty and some of the other girls got tired of me running around in my ripped up clothes, so they dragged me to the mall. I don't really like shopping, but it was a good thing I was there, or they would have bought me some awful looking clothes. I had to learn the art of compromise. I got new clothes, but I got to choose.

They almost had a fit when I picked jeans and t-shirts. But to my credit they didn't have holes.

Satisfied I had everything and that everything was in its place, I bent down and gave Doggy a kiss on the forehead.

"Ms. Monroe said it was okay for you to watch cartoons in the rec room, so behave until I get back, alright?"

Doggy whined in response and hid his head under the covers. I patted him on the shoulder, feeling guilty.

Roberto stuck his head into my room.

"Ride leaves in ten!"

"I'm coming!" I hurried after him to the garage.

*^*^*^*^*^^*^*^*^

"Now, I don't want to hear about any fights breaking out, or fireworks, or unexplained fire, eletric, or cannon-ball like instances. Got it?"

"Yes Mr. Logan!" The entire group chourused.

Most of the new mutants (as Scott had dubbed them) caught the ride. I was sitting between Amara and Sam looking out at the school.

It was bigger than my last one. But the grounds weren't as green. It was still nice looking though.

That was until we got out of the van. When Mr. Logan drove away, we kept to our circle. But then a flying coke container hit Jubes full in the face.

"Go back to where you came from, Mutie!"

Apparently they hadn't been brave enough to try that when Mr. Logan was still there.

Roberto handed Jubes a tissue and glared back at the direction which the coke had come from.

"Come on." Rahne's voice was barely above a whisper. " Let's get our schedules. Just keep together."

We must have looked pretty odd, with our close knit group moving as one towards the office. But nobody messed with us.

When we got inside, Jubes went to the bathroom with Amara and Rahne while I stayed in the hall with Sam, Ray, and Roberto. We got all sorts of nasty looks from people as they walked by.

I turned to Ray. "Is it always like this?"

"Naw. People didn't know who we were until recently."

"Great." I was full of fake enthusiasm.

Jubes and the other girls came back and we all trooped down to see the wonderful Principal of Bayville.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Did I mention how much I hate to be talked down to?

Principal Kelly sneered at us from the moment we walked in.

"I don't see why they allow.Mutants to still be allowed in school they should be kept separate from normal people at all costs."

Being the incredibly shy person I was, I didn't pipe up and tell him to go to hell.

"Here are your schedules. Get out of my office. Just remember if you put one toe out of line, you're out."

We grabbed our schedules and ran out like good little muties.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

I actually grinned at my schedule. I had Advanced history (they were pressed for people), PE, algebra, computers, English, and biological studies. But not necessarily in that order. I figured with my gift I'd need the last one. All in all, it was a good schedule. And my friends were scattered in those classes too.

Jubes, Rahne, and Roberto were in algebra with me. In Advanced history I had Roberto again, but this time with Sam. Amara and Ray were in my computers class. I also had Jubes, Amara, and Rahne with me in PE. (Probably wanted to keep the mutants together- the guys all had the same class too). In biological studies I just had Ray.

In English there was nobody. I was all alone.

But right after that I had biological studies and I was really looking forward to it.

**^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

"Hey mutie. What's the matter? Want to learn English so you can turn into a real human?"

I felt my neck grow hot as people around me started laughing. It was almost the end of the period and this one kid would not stop giving me grief.

"So what's your power mutie? Got something to do with your hand? Hey look guys! She can't even control herself! She really is a subspecies!"

My hand was still bandaged from Rahne's bite. It turned out it was a bit more serious than we all had realized. And Mr. McCoy, knowing how clumsy I was, wrapped it up nice and tight for me, with a little extra padding.

Breeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saved by the bell. I scooped up my books and ran out of the room.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Ray and I were flipping through our new textbook. It was full of good information.

The teacher in this class treated us with indifference. My algebra teacher had treated us like the other kids. Most of the others had just chosen to ignore us.

And that was just fine. Or it would have been, had not the boy who kept giving me grief in the last class been in this one.

"Oh look, two muties. Bet you really like that, hunh? Safety in numbers? You guys are so primitive."

I just couldn't take it anymore.

"So what's your boyfriend's power, mutie?"

I looked him square in the eye and said calmly, "He has the power to make anyone within a ten foot radius a complete idiot."

It was difficult to keep my face straight when I added, "Ray, I thought you weren't supposed to use your powers in school."

He snorted loudly, earning us both a glare from the teacher.

"Is there something you wish to say, Mr. Crisp?"

"No Mam."

"Then be quiet! As I was explaining, today we are going to study a very important creature. The rat."

"I got two sitting behind me," the kid snickered.

The teacher ignored him and motioned the class over too where a large bunch of cages were sitting. Each had a rat.

"Now, take out the rat and observe it. Part of all biological science is observing. Two to three people in a group."

Of course, I picked Ray. We took a really big gray rat out of it's cage. It was a female, and when Ray put her down on my desk she just sat there.

"I think he feels like I did this morning." Ray commented gloomily.

"She." I corrected.

My attention was actually more on the grief-giving kid. One of his cronies called him Joey. They were currently picking up a spotted black and white rat by the ears and feet, and generally making jerks of themselves.

Ray tapped me on the shoulder. "Don't do anything stupid."

I gave him a look with all the innocence I could muster (which wasn't a whole lot at the moment.), " It's not my fault if the rat fights back."

Ray looked around discretely and suddenly became very interested with the giant rat that wasn't doing anything.

I called out to the rat. Not vocally, but mentally.

(What? Who? Getme out I really don'tlike them they are so meanandnasty.)

She was scared and her voice would slow and stop at weird intervals. I told her that if she bit the boy that had her, they'd drop her.

(But what then? What doIdo they will steponme and I'll die)

I swiftly formulated a plan and told it to her.

(I believe. Youpromise.)

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

It was a good thing that Ray and I were so engrossed in our project. I mean, we might have been blamed for the whole incident that followed.

See, the rat that had been tortured by Joey and his two cronies suddenly got fed up and bit Joey on the finger. They dropped it and were trying to step on it, but it went up Joey's pants.

That was-I mean, would have been an interesting dance to see.

Anyway, Joey started screaming, even when the rat slipped out of his pants. I didn't see it jump into my bag. I didn't make sure it had enough room and breathing space when I put my books back into my bag.

So when Ray and I got into the van with the rest of the new mutants, I didn't know it was coming along for the ride.

And when we got to the mansion, Ray just walked with me to my room for no reason, not to help me dispose of evidence that wasn't there.

*^*^*^*^*^^*^*^*

I reached inside my bag to where my new furry little friend was staying and pulled her out into the open. I passed her to Ray.

"Wow. What a smart rat. Made Joey cry like a baby." Ray gave me a grin.

"Where do you think we should put her? I mean, with stray cats coming into my room every night, it isn't a good place for her to be."

Ray put the rat on his shoulder. "I got some boxes in my room. If you tell me what she needs, she can stay there."

"Just the usual. Food. Water. No cheese. Or just very little. A name. And I'm going to have to swear you to secrecy."

Ray put up his hands innocently. "I saw nothing. Um...What's a good name?"

I shrugged. I really had no experience naming rats.

Ray kept talking

"How about.Let's see.it's a girl so.Kally!"

"Yeah ..Kally? Where'd that come from?" I stared at him. He shrugged.

Doggy choose that moment to start scratching on my door.

I winked at Ray. "Mum's the word."

He grinned and hid the rat in his pocket when he went out.

Doggy came in and jumped on the bed so he could give me kisses. I hugged him around the neck. Everything was good. And I just knew that things would be good from now on.

"I had a good day today Doggy. Wanna hear about it?"

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**TO BE CONTINUED*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Doggy didn't get a big part this time. But I know fans love every bit of him they can get.

Wow, first I had Doggy, now I've got Kally and Herman.

Leave a review everyone! Kally and Herman gotta get into the swing of taking reviews.

And plus, Doggy will give you a cute grin!

And now, it is with a heavy heart that I tell you that Empath of the Animal Kind is finished. That's right, the origin of Danny and Doggy is over.

BUT NEVER FEAR!

The reason I stopped this here, everybody, is because

A. Good place to stop.

B. I need to start writing Arcane again.

C. I'm going to have this big long-winded story about Danny and the new mutants and X-men and the Alcolytes and didn't want to put it on this one.

So wait for it! And, by the by, I'd like to have people look at my other works, just to see if they're as good as this one.

Oh, and because I love this story so much, look for the first chapter of the new story soon!