The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Chapter 1: Last Night Together


...

It was a quiet night.

Or it would be – thought the leader of Team TWIL (Twilight) dryly – as her teammates laughed at each other, throwing soft, fluffy pillows to their opponents of the night.

Laughter and shouts and mild cursing were in the dorm room of Team TWIL.

The team leader of Team TWIL was only a nineteen year old teenager, yet if one look at her eyes, they can see wisdom in them. And if they stare at them long enough, they can see flecks of electric blue streaking across her heather eyes. Her raven hair was let down for the night, its edge, violet in color.

It was a cool night, but she refused to take off her lilac scarf lest, exposing the fine scars on her neck.

She pursed her lips, thinking back of her strange dream in one of her daily naps. She blinked as she felt the floor shake, but then nodded in acknowledgement.

"By the gods, how did we survive taking care of our team?" Said a familiar voice. It was a jest.

The team leader of TWIL merely shrugged, her two metal necklaces, moved with the motion underneath her shirt. The two metal tags clinked together, it rang clearly despite the chaos. She tugged her lilac scarf with her fingers.

She sensed the person pouted. "You're no fun," lamented the person.

The team leader did a sidelong glance. The person who was complaining is the team leader of another team.

His name is Owain Dark. Like most of the group here, he wore pajamas which consists of a white singlet and black trackbottom. His eyes were almond-shaped, his coffee brown eyes complementing his beachy brown hair. Despite being age 21, he still looked like a child, thanks to his baby face.

A smile tugged the raven haired leader's lips. "I do, it's just…" She trailed off before helplessly waving at the white projectiles across the room. Unless she was seeing things, even the blankets were thrown into a mushy mess.

He sighed and threw his hands dramatically in the air. "But you're not joining in the fun? C'mon! This will be our last night together in Haven Academy!" half-whined Owain and threw an arm over her neck.

She made a dangerous growl, but Owain conveniently ignored the only warning as his only arm held her tighter.

"Please…"

Somehow, just somehow, her cold heart softened a bit under his quavering voice.

Immediately, the girl shoved him roughly away to the battlefield. With a very, very mischievous smile on her face and a glint in her eyes – which none of the occupants miss.

She made a T-gesture. And the fighting stopped, their attention on her.

She looked at each individual, and paused at the fallen team leader, who was grinning ear to ear, still on the carpeted ground. Around him, were at least 2 good pillows.

"Sooooooo," Owain rolled the word off his tongue. "Tara, shall we?"

Tara, the team leader of Team TWIL smirked before turning to her teammates.

"Team TWIL, PREPARE FOR BATTLE!"

"HELL YEAH!" Roared one of her teammates – a fitting description since his voice was gruff, and also a lion Faunus. His tail was swishing too fast, indicating his excitement. On his right shoulder, a yellow cloth with his symbol on it – a roaring lion.

Tara once argued it was a bandana, but the owner argued otherwise.

The Faunus only removed it during bath time – that much, her team mutually agreed.

"Leon Huang," chastised her other teammate. A female in her flowing orange-white gown had a look between serenity and trouble. "Calm down kitty boy. The game won't start too soon yet," She smirked at the Faunus before winking flirtatiously.

"BLOW A KISS!" Prompted the opposing team.

Leon blushed. His tail's movement was slower now – noted Tara.

"I, Irisviel Zisa, will give her champion his prize." Proclaimed the orange-head girl, her left topaz earring with her symbol, an orange poppy, shone under the soft light. She teasingly leaned forward to the full Faunus, but the latter panicked as he hid behind the white-haired boy. His gripped onto the white-haired boy made the latter smile with strain – it was visible as his grey eyes twitched a little.

"Sorry…Wobi-san."

The aforementioned Huntsman-in-training merely nod before gently pried the hand off. He wore just a plain singlet that showed off his well-toned muscles and shorts, to show off his smooth legs, also almost as toned as his upper body.

Tara cringed at the thought. It sounded so wrong in her head – at least part of it, she conceded.

It was then, he blinked his brilliant stormy eyes at her, his head titled questioningly. Then he signed.

"Tara-chan. Your orders?"

Tara blinked and spoke aloud instead, knowing Wobi Garen could read her lips.

"Leon, I know you are a cat,"

"I'm not!" Protested the Faunus.

There was a silence that stretched to minutes before Tara chuckled all in good humor.

"Anyway…" Tara muttered and stopped her tracks before turning to the opposing team. Their expressions were one of anticipation and excitement.

"Let's go!"


The dorm room delved into chaos as each individuals scrambled to take their ammos (read: pillows and blankets) scattered around from the earlier battles.

The rules of this impromptu pillow fight?

No. 1 – Do not destroy properties – including ammos.
No. 2 – Physically assault is forbidden, example fist fights without pillows.

The first rule was a mutual agreement.

The second rule was due to a little incident when their teams went overboard and ended up with two casualties.

Wobi Garen and Leon had flanked one of the opposing members of the team. Pillows were raised.

Eyeing warily on the weapons, Owain threw his ammo and retreated. It bounced off the shields. Hot on his heels were the boys, but he succeeded in finding refuge behind his teammate (a.k.a Garul), and restocked his ammo.

Tara and Irisviel jumped off the beds and charged forward, and their pillows gripped tightly to their shoulders and slammed against the opposing team. The opposing members held their ground, their feet sturdy despite being barefooted.

"Andrea, Maleep," grunted Tara, voice wavering slightly. Andrea, the ginger-head, merely chuckled, but it was strained.

The competition lasted a few minutes.

Irisviel's feet slid backwards as Maleep, the blue-haired girl, won against sheer strength.

Immediately, Tara loosened her hold and slid between Andrea's legs. The latter recovered quickly as she turned around and engaged Tara in sort-of-pillow-combat.

Their dance was mesmerizing to the others – it was as if watching two talented dancers, their quick footwork, their taunts and their sly smile – complimenting each other like the stars and the moon in the night sky.

A fitting description – mused the mute Huntsman-in-training as he watched them, completely ignoring his task of aiding Leon.

Until Leon smacked him, backhand.


Garul Kouche was out of the game.

In just two seconds.

How did that happened?

Friendly fire?

Enemy fire?

Human shield?

The gray-haired man asked himself. He blinked his brilliant emerald-colored eyes as he spectate the chaos in the dorm room of Team TWIL. Unlike the other boys, he opted for shorts.

Finally, he shrugged off the question and sat down like a quiet sheep, smiling at the scene as he integrate it into his mind.

He should draw this memory later…


Irisviel, on the other hand, was doing well despite the disadvantage of strength, though her endurance was the weakest among the team due to her small build. Fortunately, the young girl managed to bring Maleep – her opponent for the night – down.

Irisviel gasped dramatically as she pointed something behind the bluenette, and put on a face of horror. "What…is…" She trailed off, taking one step back, her fists knotted around his white pillow as she clutched it until the knuckles were white.

Wondering what was scaring the orange-head, Maleep turned around.

And was smacked down by the pillow once her back was turned.

Maleep scowled and muttered profanations. Her scowl gave way to warm smile when Irisviel escorted her out of the game – and choose to sit out, content with watching their teams play, for once.

"Pity we have no popcorns," Maleep sighed. Irisviel gave her a long-side glance, a smirk on her lips.

There was a crash. The girls used to this sound, only glanced at the boys' direction, their eyes taking in the sight of Irisviel's teammates' shelter.

"But the entertainment here is worth it. Let's enjoy our last night together."

Maleep winked. "Whatever you say, Iris."

Was all she said before they joined Garul, both sides waved 'hi' in greeting before turning their attention back to the game.


Meanwhile, Wobi and Leon slid across the red carpeted floor – leaving a trail of dark patches left from their bodies – to evade another round of projectiles. Somehow, just somehow – Owain cheated – mused Leon.

There is no way this room have that much pillows!

It would be stupid to not know that – since each dorm room has its own set of pillows and blankets.

The deaf and the Faunus exchanged a look behind their temporary shelter – an overturned bed, courtesy of Leon. The former with a raised eyebrow while the latter's mouth now in a thin line.

"Any bright ideas?" inquired the sandy blonde Faunus.

The white head teammate pointed at Owain and made a question mark with his free hand.

Leon blinked. It's hard to tell if Wobi is joking or being serious.

As if reading his thoughts, Wobi mimed eating. Then, signed. "It would be a piece of cake to take him out…"

Leon widened his eyes.

Oh.

A sly grin crossed their faces before they peeked above their cover. A pillow flew over their heads with a soft thud.

Wobi to his credit, was unfazed. He picked up the pillow and waved it above their shelter.

"Are you surrendering?" hollered Owain.

Leon rolled his eyes. "Fat chance!"

"MAY THE GODS OF REMNANT BLESS YOUR SOULS!"

Leon facepalmed.

"Make it quick," Leon whispered. Wobi clapped his hands once and gave the faunus a thumbs up before running out of their shelter.

After counting to three, Leon casually walked out of his shelter just in time to see the quick battle. Leon swatted the pillows away with his own, his eyes squinted to properly watch Owain's quick aim and Wobi showcasing his athletic abilities.

Eventually the pillows attack became more focused on Wobi as the white haired Huntsman-in-training closed the distance between them. A lightest shade of green surrounded his body, and hummed with power.

In a blinding flash Wobi was by Owain's side, his pillow thrown to his unguarded back.

Leon whooped – it hit!

"THAT'S CHEATING!"

There was silence and the spectators and most of the players stare at Owain. Then, a voice, one rough from not enough use, spoke from Wobi's lips.

"Pillows." Said Wobi with a trace of underlying sarcasm and a tone of finality.

That effectively shut Owain's whining.


As the night goes on, gradually, the match between the two teams came to a close.

Tara and Andrea were too exhausted to continue, thus ending the game.

Both girls mutually agree to ceasefire. Though they look unsightly and needed a bath and a good long night rest, they shook hands once – strengthening the bonds of friendship and sense of camarade.

The two teams joked and teased each other before cleaning up the room. The lone overturned bed was placed back to its original position.

Laughter and light-hearted chortled and banter filled the room once more.

It would be the last time, the last time the two teams will have a sleepover in this room of memories. The room has been cleared out of any personal belongings, saved for a few pieces of paper on each individual table, and a marker pen, waiting to be uncapped.

The papers were waiting to be written upon – to deliver a message to the upcoming students for the following year.

All of them wished for time to stop, alas, they knew it was impossible. Their age was the proof.

"I can't believe these four years fly past us so fast!" Andrea exclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah! It felt like it was only yesterday, we awkward teenagers came here to Haven Academy for training." Irisviel chirped.

Tara gasped. "And remember the awkward me? I was the only one who is one year younger in that batch!"

"Ah, milady, do not concern yourself about your…awkward self?" Owain said sheepishly.

"One year younger does not make any difference." Garul stated bluntly, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

"It does to a lady!" huffed Tara as she tucked her arms.

"Girls," Leon muttered with a roll of his eyes.

"Boys," replied Tara evenly.

"...Really?" signed Wobi, clearly unamused with this childish banter.

The bluenette laughed, rolling on the floor, clutching her stomach before gasping for air. Her face was red from laughing too hard from all these childish and playful banters from earlier.

In the middle of this, all eight scrolls rang, signalling their bedtime. Reluctantly, team DUSK spread their bedrolls across the floor and settled in. Team TWIL did the same, except with their beds.

Except for Tara – on duty of switching off the lights, stood standby. She noted that some of them has their eyes closed.

The rest of them gaze up the designs on the ceiling.

They are getting more and more sentimental since their final semester of their final year started. Tara gazed at her friends one more time, wishing for the umpteenth time, her eyes are cameras.

"Good night," Tara began, her words marked their nightly ending of sleepover.

"Sleep tight." Muttered the boys before coughing to their fists. Tara raised an eyebrow at Wobi, whose cheeks were flushed.

"Don't let the bed bugs bite." Echoed the girls, a little strain when they said it.

"Nighty, night." Tara finished.

The lights were off with a quick jab of the switches.

And the two teams drifted off to sleep.