Christian's P.O.V.-

We were watching tv in our dorm house. The news was reporting on another carnivore attack; this time a twenty-five year old cow was murdered outside her apartment in the city centre. Needless to say, the room was pretty tense. This was so soon after Tom's death too….

Sensing the collective mood, only Jason tried to be not cheerful but at least talkative. "Man, it sure is dangerous out there," he awkwardly grinned. All the herbivores in the room looked to us carnivores. "I'll say," one antelope said with a bit of sour tone. "Er, I'm gonna head back to my room," a deer then announced. "Me too," a parrot joined him. Before we knew it, all the herbivores were leaving the common room. Jason frowned sadly and I peered over to him.

"Don't worry about it, man," I sighed, giving his shoulder a little pat. "Ah, this is nothing new," John rolled his eyes as his planted his hands on his hips. He's right- it's not. To be honest, carnivores are used to this kind of treatment. And with some idiots like Jack running around campus, I can kind of understand why. Still…

I thought about this as I made my way down the hall towards third period. Back when Tom died, I told Alice that I was fine with it; I was ok with the bias and mistrusting treatment. I wasn't lying when I said that, only…. "You know, you shouldn't have to pretend to lose to morons like them. No one will think anything less of you, Christian, if you use your real strength for once." It's one other reason, to keep myself under check, with news stories like this going around. It didn't help that the attackers were also canines…

"No! Let go of me!" My foot paused as I gazed up in front of me. These two losers, a panther and an eagle, were tormenting someone on the staircase. I didn't see who yet but by the sound of her voice, I knew it was a girl. "Didn't you hear? Apparently a grey wolf was calling all the shots after all!" "Oh, what a surprise!" A wolf? So they were in charge of the attack last night? Oh boy….

"I-I'm not like them! I would never attack anyone!" Wait, she said she's not like "them". Does that mean she's also a wolf? "That's what they all say!" The panther reached to snatch her arm, giving it a harsh tug. It doesn't look like they're playing around. They could really hurt her if they wanted… Nugh, what should I do now? Should I help her? And if so, how do I help her? How do I approach the situation in a helpful but not threatening way? If this was Anastasia, it would be easy; I'd step in without thinking. But a fellow wolf like myself… Man.

"Are you even listening? You're a wolf too, right? Why don't you show us your true colours, howler?" Well, here's where I intervene. I approached the two carnivores with an air of dominance but non-aggression. I tried to keep my voice as calm and cool as possible, not trying to terrify them out of their minds. "Excuse me, but would you mind letting go of her? You're hurting her," I pointed at the girl now on the steps beside me. That's the first time I got a good look at her; she was indeed a wolf too. "W-what do you want?" The two bullies took a frightened step back. God, even when I'm trying not to be scary….

"Please leave her alone. I think she's been bullied enough," I replied, not moving an inch; I didn't want to step forward in case they saw that as enticing. "Why do you care, wolf boy?" "Yeah? She your sister or something?" Sister? Do they know we look nothing alike? Still, I realized that I'd go nowhere with them fast, so I turned to the girl; she stared at me with large, brown eyes.

"Are you alright?" I asked her gently. She gawked at me stunned for a moment before nodding her head slowly. "I-I'm ok. T-Thank you." The bullies tisked, seeing that their playtime was over now. "Let's go," the panther told the eagle, who fired off a glare before following his friend down the hall. I waited until they were gone before turning my full attention onto her.

"You sure you're alright? They didn't hurt you, did they?" "N-no, you arrived just in time. You really saved me just now. Thank you so much." "It's nothing. I just don't like bullies," I rubbed the back of my neck casually. "D-does this thing happen a lot on campus?" "Sort of; more so since the news of recent attacks. Are you a first year?" I asked her. "Second; I transferred here this semester," she rubbed the corner of her eyes. "Ah, well I wouldn't worry about them again. They just thought you're an easy target because you're a…. a…" "A wolf?" She then peered up at me. I didn't respond right away, instead electing to watch her for a minute.

"Yeah, because you're a wolf."

The female wolf stayed quiet for a minute, as if to let this really resonate with her. Then, she eventually grinned up at me, shifting her feet so to face me directly. "I'm Elena. What's your name?" "Huh? Oh, I'm Christian." "You're a senior, right? On the football team?" How does she know that? As if to be reading my mind, she smiled. "I've seen you play. You're heh, the one who punched Jack Hyde that game last month. Good for you; I've never liked him either. You sure are strong." "Uh, thanks?" And if I didn't know better, I'd say she was blushing a tad. Why'd she be blushing now? What's there to blush about?

"Everyone says what a great football player you are. I think you play even better than Paul. I-I'm…. I'm really looking forward to watching you play again, Christian," she clasped her hands and brought them up in front of her chest…. for some reason. As for me playing better than Paul, well that's just objectively not true- he's the quarterback for a reason. Still, I grinned and tried to be polite; she was new to the school, after all. "That's good. It's nice to hear support from fans," I said because I really couldn't think of anything else to say. I wouldn't say I was feeling awkward, more just meh right now.

She seemed to be really happy at this response; I'm not sure why. "Um… I… I wanted to ask you. Since we're both wolves, would you…. like to keep in touch with me? C-can I give you my number, is what I mean!" Boy, she sounds flustered. What's there to be flustered about? And why does she want my number; we just met? Still, I guess there's no harm in it. "Sure," I shrugged. She excitedly gave me her phone where I put in my number. Then I turned to leave, giving her a wave along the way. "See ya around." "Yes, see you around… Christian," she sighed wistfully. What was that all about? Maybe she just wants some more carnivore friends on campus or something. Who knows.

Anastasia's P.O.V.-

"You didn't have to walk me to class, Paul. I can go just fine on my own," my eyes rolled. "Are you kidding? Didn't you hear? There's been another attack; this time in the city centre," Paul walked alongside me down the hall. "That doesn't have anything to do with our school," I let out an exasperated sigh. He's been so protective of me lately… Imagine what he'd say if I told him I had dinner with a wolf the other night. Yeeeeeeeah, I should probably keep that to myself for now.

"Would you just shut up and let me do this? I feel much better…. when I know you're not alone out in public." Oh man, this was getting claustrophobic. I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes again. "Look, Paul; I appreciate your concern- I really do. But this is overkill. Nothing's going to happen to me." "How can you be so sure?" He shot back and I paused. I wanted to retort that I was sure but… deep down I knew that wasn't true. An herbivore already died on school grounds this year and I was attacked that night back a while ago…. My eyes lowered in a thoughtful manner as my head turned forward. "I can't… but I don't think anything will happen again." "Again?!" "I mean to an herbivore like Tom! Not to me personally," both my hands shot up into the air.

Paul huffed and also spun his head straight on. We walked in relative silence for a moment before some girl shoved my shoulder as she passed. Now, I initially thought this was a girl like Clarise or one of her friends but was surprised to see she was a wolf instead; a wolf with brown eyes. "Watch where you're going, lamb chop," her tone was rude and condensing. This caught me off guard; it's one thing for a fellow herbivore to call me a name like "lamb chop", but it was less socially acceptable for a carnivore to. Paul also saw and immediately frowned in disapproval. I'll admit I flinched as his arm unexpected snaked around my shoulder, pulling me in closer to his side.

"U-uh, Paul?" I blinked up at his face, confused at what was happening. "Bitch," he merely responded her way before glancing down at me, still keeping his arm in place. "Don't listen to her, Ana. She's just…." "Oh no, it's ok! She didn't hurt me," I tried to defuse the situation. Paul didn't release his grip, however. Instead he sighed and kept his gaze down at me for a moment. Then he grinned as if he was happy…. for some odd reason. "Come on. Let's get you to class."