"Hey, Durham. Did you see the new girl that joined the drama club?"
"No? Just because I go there more often it doesn't mean I go around with the gossip. What about it?"
"Get this, the new girl is a gray wolf."
"...and?"
"Whaa...? Really?! Don't you see what this could mean?!"
"No? Honestly I don't think I should either. Why don't you start explaining it to me Jack."
The labrador couldn't help but feel aggravated by the coyote's obtuse response. Ever since Jack joked with Legosi, making his best friend uncomfortable about potential love affairs, he had been feeling excited about who could be the girl that stole his heart. Despite what Durham said a few days back Jack was assured that a girl was involved somehow.
Jack heard from Collot, who heard from Tao, who heard from Kai, who heard from Aoba, who heard from Dom, who heard from Shiira that a female gray wolf has joined the drama club recently. Jack was thinking it to be too much of a coincidence that Legosi's mood changed around the same time that happened.
He felt ecstasy run across his body, hundreds of scenarios playing in his head as he tried to imagine what the wolf girl might look like. Surely she has to be far more interesting than than the other wolf girls, otherwise he couldn't see why Legosi would be so worked up about it.
He wanted to share this exciting occurrence with Durham, but the coyote clearly wasn't that much interested on whoever Legosi might be falling for.
Jack bit his lip apprehensively. He felt conflicted about the way Durham insisted on this weird affection of his for an herbivore. The dog would never discourage his roommate from seeking her attention, but he feared what challenges this would bring to Durham and those around him. Ellen was well known among most herbivores and even some carnivores. The zebra was the closest person to compare to Louis when it came about challenging carnivores upfront. Although Jack wondered if Ellen was only doing that for the sake of impressing Louis.
"Yeah, no thanks. I just thought you would be happy to know Legosi probably has found someone."
Durham shifted his attention from his laptop back to the other canine. His fingers resting still over the keyboard, his mind slowly processing what he's been told.
Personally the coyote didn't care much about who the others were going out with. Sure, it was going to be a huge deal when one of them got a girlfriend, the downside of such achievement being the agreement that the 'lucky' romeo would be on fur cleaning for the rest of their stay at the academy. Durham shivered when thinking about all the mossy fur that usually accumulates on the shower's drain. An awful price to pay for being the first one to find love.
Durham was actually hoping Legosi gets his dream girl before the coyote could sway Ellen out of her speciest bubble.
"Yeah, I mean, I will be happy for him. I just got a lot on my plate to worry about. I actually got Ellen to see me later this afternoon. Hopefully we can talk some sense without her slapping me across the entire campus." He said with a playful smirk. Jack stared at him in disbelief.
"She sounds very... worked up. Is there a reason for her being so incensed?" He asked worriedly. Durham shrugged, not really knowing how to reply to that question.
"What about you? Not going to try your luck with Shiira?"
Jack jolted for a second, his cheeks flushing as he mumbled incoherent words out of his mouth. Durham couldn't help but chuckle at how easily the labrador would fluster about his own crush.
"Yeah, nevermind. I'm sure you will find something to get you going on that. Just don't go into panic when you talk with her. She might look serious most of the time but she's chill once you get a conversation going."
Jack nodded slowly, surprised that Durham actually talked with the cheetah on more than one ocassion. He moved to reorganize his backpack and school uniforms, a quick glance at the coyote as he heard the sound of typing echoing across the room.
"What you're working on?" Jack asked curiously.
"Hmm? Oh, just researching stuff outside the country. Internet sure can broaden your view on the world if you know how to use it." The coyote said distractedly. "Kinda curious to know how herbivores and carnivores get along in different cultures."
"That's actually interesting to look up." Jack said in agreement. The labrador never spared a thought about what life on lands far away might be like. This town and the school was the only world he knew of. "I wonder if their food is even more eccentric than ours."
Durham rolled his eyes. Typical Jack thinking about food varieties when it came about new stuff. Although the coyote had to agree with him on that regard, different options could provide something tastier than the blandness of most of the processed food the carnivores have to eat.
"Hey, have you seen Collot? I borrowed him my periodics tab. Kinda gonna need that really soon." Jack asked as he started packing books inside his backpack.
Durham yawned before replying. He was never an early riser and the Sports club schedule only brought him nightmares.
"Dunno. Haven't seen fuzzball since last night. How he even can read anything with that furry jungle on his face is beyond me. He never heard of trimming? I know he does it, but I never understood why he keeps his eyes sealed off." Durham replied quizzically. Jack laughed, amused at the mention of Collot's particularity.
"It's part of his charm." The labrador responded nonchalantly.
"How so?"
"Well... what's the thing in Ellen that you find yourself looking at the most? Please don't say her butt." Jack added while whispering.
"She has a nice striped ass." Durham retorted cheekily.
Jack gasped rather dramatically. The coyote bursted out in laughter, enjoying seeing the scandalized look on the usually innocent and pure labrador.
"Oh, come on Jacky boy! You know I'm joking! Also, did you really think I wouldn't hear you talking under your breath? These pointy ears of mine aren't just for show." The coyote pointed straight at the aforementioned appendages. "You know, the great hearing all of us canines have? Well, lots of animals actually, but that's besides the point."
"Y-Yeah, I guess you got a point." Jack replied after calming down his nerves. "But going back to what I was saying..."
"Hmmm, I guess... her eyes. Yeah, that's what most amazes me about her. Big blueish eyes that shine like a diamond under the moonlight. Yeah..."
Jack couldn't help the smile on his face as he watched the coyote's gaze waver into dream land. He never saw Durham ever get enamoured about anything or anyone. None of them ever did actually, at least until recently. The way Durham reacted when thinking about his crush was far different from the way Jack or Legosi behaved when confronted with their own thoughts about their love interests. Neither Jack nor Legosi allowed themselves to express their feelings when such thoughts surfaced, but Durham had no worry whatsoever letting it show how he felt.
"... and powerful muscles with enough strenght to break my bones like twigs."
Jack could only give him a deadpanned look as a response.
"What?" Durham asked, noticing the look on his roommate's face after few seconds of awkward silence. "I'm into strong, independent girls... sorta."
Jack snorted. He had no comment for that. Durham, much to the dog's surprise, wiggled his eyebrows at him.
"Hey Jack, how you think Shiira will feel when you get to see her naked?"
"W-What?! What are you talking about?! I would never-
"Never what? See her naked? Bro, if you're really interested on her you do realize you will be getting the whole package, right? What do you think couples do for fun aside talking feelings and shit? You gotta understand at some point Shiira will want to play with you. Yes, I mean that in the exact way it sounds."
"Huh, uhhh, I... damn. I'm not sure. I don't even see how I will get her to talk with me."
"Hey, I got Ellen to open up a bit. After getting my ass handed to me a couple of times unfortunately. You gotta make sacrifices if you want to conquer the girl. You could try asking around. Maybe Els can help you too."
Jack frowned. While he appreciated Durham's encouragement the dog was weary of asking other students. He was well aware that the other students knew him well enough to be suspicious if the labrador started asking around about a girl.
"You think Els can be trusted? I mean, she's pretty close to Shiira from what I heard." Jack asked with a tinge of nervousness. Durham dismissed his concerns with a wave of hand.
"Yeah, nothing to worry. She's close to Ellen too but I know she won't give me away. I can introduce you if you're not feeling confident about it." The coyote offered sympathetically.
"No, no, no. I... need to do this on my own." Jack replied thoughtfully. "I... yeah, I need to do this. I guess you're right. I need to, well... grow up."
Durham couldn't help the amusement he felt at seeing his friend becoming determinate on bettering himself for the sake of his love interest. It would do wonders for Jack's self esteem on the long run, the labrador always shied away from whatever girl came up to talk with him. To see him mustering strenght to be the one on the initiative side was quite admirable.
"Well, I gotta say you're on the right path for a more interesting life. I would love to chat more but I have to go for my Biology class. Ellen is in it, but I don't think we will get any talk going. She's usually surrounded by a pack of herbivores in this specific class."
The coyote powered down his laptop before shoving it back into his suitcase. Durham was weary every time he opened the case, fully aware of the fake cover that contained hideous things underneath. He was thankful none of his roomates were nosy about other's stuff.
He closed the case, randomly scrambling the lock combination numbers that were built within the material. A convenient safety mechanism despite his trust on his friends. Some things you could never be too sure.
Without sparing a second thought he slipped into his shoes. He hated the School's choice for pattern uniforms, while the shirts and pants were alright, the shoes always felt uncomfortable. He was constantly working his toe claws so they wouldn't grow in a way that would either pierce the material or hurt him somehow. He was thankful for every Sports activity and the weekends, slipping into snickers was immensely refreshing after hours of going from class to class with these bothersome boring looking shoes.
"Oh, sure! Thanks for the advice Durham. I mean it." The dog sighed, a sad smile on his face that intrigued the coyote.
"What's the matter?" Durham asked after a quick glance, his attention going from Jack to his backpack. 'I hope I don't forget my notes this time. I don't feel like going back for afterclass.'
"It's just... do you think Legosi would've done this?" Jack asked slowly. Durham raised an eyebrow, his expression demanding a more specific inquiry. "I mean... you think Legosi would've helped me with girl issues?"
Durham's immediate answer would've been 'no'. The coyote was pretty sure Legosi couldn't help himself on that matter, imagine others. Yet, Legosi was mostly an enigma for Durham, he knew almost nothing of the wolf aside a couple likes and a hobbie or two. He couldn't say for certain that Legosi wouldn't try to help Jack on that regard.
"Well, even if Legosi isn't an expert I can say for sure he would've been willing to help you. You both are best friends after all."
That answer seemed enough to ease Jack's doubts. The labrador smiled in agreement, his eyes focusing at the coyote with some intrigue.
"Yeah, you're right... say Durham... do you have a best friend?"
The coyote shook his head.
"Nah, never needed if I had to be honest about it. I like the friends I have, never will one be above the other. I like you all the same."
"That's... really nice." Jack spoke slowly, surprised and touched by his words. "I wish I had known you sooner." Durham snorted.
'No, Jack. Be thankful you didn't.'
"Well, but we did. Regardless of time." Durham replied cheerfully. The coyote's smile felt heavy all of sudden, he realized how much more difficult it was for him to put up a mask over himself. He wasn't really lying to Jack about anything, but it pained him to think the 'what ifs' of that could've happened by meeting any of his friends before the academy.
It was also painful for Durham to think about the friends that he lost before moving into the campus. Legosi might be enigmatic, but Durham was well aware that the wolf wasn't the only one with things to keep under the carpet.
"I'm heading out. See you around?" He asked while adjusting his backpack. Jack nodded.
"Yeah, I will be out soon. Take care." He advised. Durham chuckled.
"If I die out there you can start asking a certain zebra about my corpse." He joked before leaving the dormitory, his smile widened as he heard Jack's laughter echoing acroos the room.
Closing the door smoothly Durham found himself on a rather busy hallway. Most students from the carnivore male dorms were already on their way for classes. The coyote recognized few familiar faces as he greeted them while walking by. He made his way for the staircase that connected the male dorms to the female dorms.
For whatever reason the building design was made in a way that the students have to exit through the staircase, go all the way to the first floor, then exit the building and make their way to the main structure of the campus that was only a few dozen meters away. It was unclear why the dorms weren't connected with the main building.
Durham found himself walking downstairs alone, it surprised him considering this was the only way to reach outside. His heavy steps ringing into his ears, he turned around for the last set, his eyes immediately locked into a student that was climbing the exact set. His eyes narrowed as he realized it was a female gray wolf.
He wasn't sure why she was going up. This would take her into the male dorms and that wasn't a very good idea. While it wasn't exactly forbidden it wasn't deemed safe either.
"Huh, hey. Where you going?" He asked her as he stopped at her side. The girl looked at him and Durham was taken aback by the gorgeous and sizable amethyst eyes the wolf has.
"Oh, I was looking for someone. I'm not sure they went this way." She replied hesitantly.
She was about the same size as him and, despite the bland school uniform, Durham could tell this girl was well built on the right places. Her fur was somewhat red brownish. A color he couldn't exactly precise, her tail was wiggling slowly as she regarded him on a rather shy manner.
"What's their name? I can go look up if you want. Not really a good idea to walk by yourself into male territory." Durham joked.
The girl seemed thoughtful for a second. The coyote's words probably made sense for her.
"Yeah, I suppose. I had enough awful interactions with males for these last days, except for one." She said with a sad smile that caught Durham's curiosity.
"Really? Well, I hope I can make that two. Name's Durham by the way." The coyote said as he offered his hand for a greeting. The girl shook it without hesitation. 'Smooth and strong hands.'
"Nice to meet you. My name's Juno. I'm a first year. Actually joined this semester." She explained, looking more cheerful all of sudden.
"This semester? Explains how I never saw such beauty around way before." He teased. Juno giggled nervously, playing with the fur on her cheek with one of her hands. Durham wondered if this was an habit of hers. "I'm a second year, which would mean I'm your senior and blah blah blah, I don't really care about that crap."
Juno's eyes widened in surprise. It was unusual for a student to disregard the senior system so blatantly.
"Oh, is... that alright?" She asked worriedly.
"Hey, as far I'm concerned you're old enough to tell right from wrong. Old enough to make life decisions and understand society and whatnot. I can help you if you're having difficulties to adjust to the environment, but you don't have to act like I'm your dad or something like that. We're all the same here and a couple years of difference on age doesn't mean shit to me."
Juno stared. She wasn't sure she ever heard any animal be this blunt about his own take on the world around him. The coyote wasn't looking worried in the slightest, his carefree attitude when talking about such things caught her attention without a doubt.
"That's... very straight to the point." Juno said slowly, regarding the coyote more thoughtfully. "Huh, are you in any clubs?"
"Yeah, sports. You?"
"Drama club."
Durham felt something click as regarded the wolf more carefully. Didn't Jack mentioned about a wolf girl that joined the club recently? Could this Juno possibly be the one that Legosi was falling for? At least that's what Jack thinks.
"Say, do you know Legosi?"
The way Juno's face illuminated like a Christmas tree was all the confirmation Durham needed.
"Yes! Isn't he so amazing? He helped me the other day when I was in trouble. Never thought I would find such a gentlewolf."
Durham couldn't believe the absolutely lovestruck and passionate way she spoke about Legosi. This girl has her head way over the clouds about it. Durham didn't think he looked this way when thinking about Ellen, nor he should. Juno was looking way too into it to be deemed reasonable.
"Oh, yeah. He's my roomate. He's a nice guy." The coyote spoke while carefully observing her reaction. Juno immediately broke from her trance, she looked at him in a way that made Durham very uncomfortable.
"Really?! You think... did he mentioned me?"
"Huh, you see. He doesn't talk much. Legosi is hard to talk since he keeps his thoughts mostly to himself, which is fine to be fair." The coyote explained, not really liking how the wolf was inching closer to his face. "Juno, personal space please."
The girl blinked, realizing the sudden closeness between their faces. She took a few steps back sheepishly. With her fur color it was impossible to tell if she was blushing, although the fur on her muzzle and long neck was white.
Durham would be lying to himself if he didn't think the wolf looked adorable, but he got worried due the naivety she expressed when talking about her crush on Legosi. She barely knew anything about him and clearly was worked up about a brief encounter they had.
"Hey, just take it easy, alright? You look really nice, just don't obsess too much over him. Legosi ain't easy to get by. It took a lot to get him to open up, he's quite shy so don't be too straightforward, you might end up just scaring him." He advised, genuinely worried for her and his roommate.
Juno seemed conflicted, probably she did not expected to hear that Legosi was a shy type. It didn't look like that the first time she met him.
"I... will try. Thanks Durham. I'm glad to know there's more animals out there that don't hate my kind." She said rather slyly. Durham snorted.
"Just don't mind these idiots. Typical insecure fools that can't see the bigger picture. Say, we might talk again soon. I do go to the drama club from time to time."
At this the wolf was clearly confused.
"How so? I thought you were in the sports club."
"Yeah, but I go there to talk with some friends, and check on my crush." He added with a smirk.
"Ooohh... but... I don't remember seeing any female coyotes there."
Durham glowered at her. That stereotypical way of thinking was something he despised immensely. Juno immediately realized her mistake as she noticed his expression.
"No. I never said it was a coyote. Is that going to be a problem?" He asked unamused. Juno fidgeted for a second before replying.
"Huh, no. I just... it's just... aren't you worried?'
"About what?"
"Well, if you date outside your species... wouldn't people ostracize you for it?"
Much to Juno's confusion and incredulity Durham just laughed at her concerns.
"Ha! Is that it?! I'm supposed to bend over and accept some nobodies opinions and feelings about who I'm supposed to love?! You really want to know what I think?! Fuck people! I love whoever I want! If they got a problem with it that's their problem. I'm not gonna let some society contriving bullshit dictate my life."
Juno was shocked by his response. She had grown under the constant influence of current culture, that it was hideous to have a relationship outside her own kin, that she stopped entertaining that idea many years ago. The constant abuse she suffered due being a gray wolf only solidified her belief that only one of her own kind would truly love her. To see a coyote speak so strongly against this concept brought back long buried doubts into her head.
"I'm... not sure I can do that. Not if..."
"If what?" The coyote asked, noticing the tension that was building up on her. "If it's a secret you don't have to tell me. I won-
"I want to be a Beastar."
Durham immediately quieted down.
"I want to make things better. Especially for us carnivores. I don't want for people to abuse others because they are different. I want to help make our society better."
Durham sighed. This was not the first time he heard such things. Working for a noble goal was admirable, but just like his father, Durham knew that this girl would be destroyed by the system currently in place. He couldn't help but feel pity towards her.
"Juno... being a Beastar... you are willing to give up being you? Just to be something you're truly not?" Durham asked, looking at her with genuine concern. The girl blinked, unsure of what to make of this question.
"I want to help others."
"Does it necessarily means you have to be a Beastar to help anyone?"
"I... don't know. Isn't that the best way?"
"Hey, don't take me wrong when I say this, but... Beastars have been around for years. None of them managed to stop predation from happening and the growing mistrust and division of carnivores and herbivores. We have a good number of Beastars, so... why we keep watching people dying? Why are we afraid of walking alone on a campus? Why can't we love without being judged? When has a Beastar ever made any significant change regarding our culture?"
Juno remained quiet, her eyes lowering towards the ground. She looked absolutely defeated at this point. Durham hated to crush her hopes, but he would hate it even more to see her life being wasted doing something that wouldn't bring any sort of significant change whatsoever.
His father knew how Beastars operated, how they acted upon crisis, and ever since Durham despised them and their underserved significance.
Much to her shock (and Durham's own) he hugged her. His head rested on one of her shoulders, he hoped the gesture brought her some sense of care. It was never his intent to demoralize her.
"You don't have to be a famous person to make things better. Small acts of kindness go a long way. Making people smile and feel cared about is enough to make things better. Show that you care and they will care about you. You don't need the whole world to accept you. Just the love from few will give you enough of a sense of accomplishment."
Juno didn't reply. The silence stretched for few seconds, at least until the sounds of footsteps alerted both for the income of other students. Durham slowly retracted from her, quietly observing the wolf as she stared back at him. Something in the way she looked at him gave the coyote enough assurance that he made the right call.
"We should get going. See you around?" Durham asked bashfully, suddenly feeling self conscious of what just happened.
"Yeah... see you." She replied quietly before turning around hesitantly. It looked like she wanted to say something, but as soon the other students reached the top of the stairs she walked away at a reasonable pace.
"Durham? Why you still here?" Asked the unmistakable voice of Jack. Durham turned around to regard him and Collot standing near the labrador.
"Oh, hey guys. I was just talking with this wolf girl." He replied enigmatically. Jack blinked.
"Wait, wolf girl? Here? Wait, wait, wait... was that the one I talked you about?!"
"Oh, the one of the drama club?" Collot asked without delay. His excitement evident despite being impossible to tell his expression. "You think she came after Legosi?"
'That would explain why she was here.' Thought Durham as he waited for his roomates to join him. "Yeah, I guess that was her. We didn't talk much though. She was in a hurry." He lied. Jack immediately looked at him, looking skeptical right away.
"You sure?" Asked Jack with a frown on his face. Durham huffed.
"Yes Jack, I can tell for myself the amount of time that goes as I talk with someone. Are you done being nosy?" He replied with annoyance.
"Oh, sorry. I was just curious." He apologized with a guilty expression. Durham hated to lie to Jack, but Juno's conversation concerned no one.
"Let's get going. I have a long day ahead anyways."