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guineapigsinwinter · 3 years ago

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Cat Among the Canines

So finished the first chapter, this is likely the final version.

Chapter one: For want of a smoke alarm.

It was two weeks before the start of a new school year, and the sirens of fire engines filled the air as the blaze raged throughout the building that housed the male feline carnivores. Half the building had been consumed by the flames when the fire engines had arrived, and whilst they had successfully prevented it spreading to any further, the damage was done.

Two weeks before a new term and one of the main dormitory buildings of the school was destroyed, though thankfully everyone had managed to escape physical injury.

Flying at a speed unheard of, the school’s administration team searched for a solution, trying to figure out how to house the 50 students who had been assigned to it. An old dormitory that had been closed several years prior for refurbishments that had never happened was hastily cleaned out and made habitable, and whilst this accommodated the returning feline student population, the 8 incoming young carnivore students still needed beds. An additional bed was installed in several rooms throughout several carnivore dormitories, with a table atop it instead of a top bunk, and the starting feline students were informed they would be in mixed dormitories for this year, with the option to switch to feline only ones the next once burnt out one was rebuilt.

And so a 12 year old tiger named Bill found himself nervously standing in front of the door to room 701, assigned to live with a bunch of dogs for the year, his aunt’s drunken rant about the situation replaying in his head as he took the key and entered.

Surprisingly, Bill fitted in quite well with his roommates, his rumbustious nature gelling well with the energetic canine group, though his attempt to bond with Legoshi as “Alpha carnivore” as his aunt has ordered him to backfired, the shy small wolf jumping back behind the slightly taller Labrador.

“I’m not, or at l, l, least I don’t want to be.. please d,d,d,d don’t call me that” the grey wolf stuttered from behind his friend, the shame and anxiety in his voice catching everyone in the room by surprise. Bouncing forward, trying to get past the protective and glaring Labrador to the wolf. “it’s who you are man, like me what is there to be ashamed of?” Bill said.

Shouting the Labrador replied as he shoved himself into Bill. “He’s not, he’s Legoshi! He knows loads about bugs and is my best friend and leave him alone!”

“I’m not doing anything to him, I’m just saying it as it is” The now angry tiger yelled in the glaring Labrador even as Legoshi tried to defuse the situation, quietly asking everyone to calm down. Seconds later, the Labrador shoved Bill to the ground with a cry of “Stop scaring Legoshi” even as said wolf shouted “Don’t fight Jack!” as the pup and tiger cub started rolling around on the floor, the rooms other inhabitants scrambling up into their bunks to watch. For several minutes of rolling on the floor, various insults being shouted and everyone else randomly cheering for Jack or Bill whilst a stammering Legoshi begged them to stop. This came to a holt when they rolled against Miguno and Durnham’s bunk, at which point the hyena and coyote grinned at each other and flung them onto the brawling pair shouting their own names as a means of introduction.

This caused the tiny Fennec fox atop the third bunk pair to laugh whilst rolling his eyes, whilst the walking cloud that was the young English sheepdog also jumped in, laughing. Panicking, Legoshi drew up to his full tiny hight and jumped in with a cry of “I’m coming Jack. This concern faded, as he realised both Bill and Jack were laughing as well and soon started enjoying the rough housing, at one point rolling with Jack off to the side whilst the sheepdog attempted to pin a wriggling Bill to the floor, energetically introducing himself as Collot.

Eventually everyone was lying on floor panting and smiling, Legoshi quietly asking “Can we do that again?” Glancing at the young wolf, Bill replied “Sure, sorry for earlier, wasn’t trying to insult you or anything”.

Following this, the small fennec fox jumped off his bunk onto Bill’s back, hopping atop each person before bouncing to the door, shouting “The name’s Voss, and you guys do know the cafeteria is now opening for dinner?”

--- Several months Later, room 701---

“C’mon Legoshi, it will be fun, the invitation mentions the technical and costume aspects, plus everyone has joined one!” Bill said from his position lying on his front across his bunk, legs kicked up and swinging randomly, an invitation to the school drama club in front of him. Across from him, nestled in his bunk, Legoshi looked up from a similar invite. “Why invite me though? Not like I have done anything like this before, and most people don’t want to see a wolf on stage.” He said quietly, before tilting his head in thought. “Also, Jack isn’t in any? He said he was going to focus on lessons this year, we could just stay with him”.

Pressing his head into the duvet, the tiger cub muttered far quietly then his normal bombastic cheer “Please… I don’t want to go on my own but also really want to try this…” he admitted with a blush.

“I’ll help you find bugs, bet you I can climb to places even a great wolf like you can’t get to and grab them for you!” Bill continued as the door to the dorm room opened, and Jack came in, the pup carrying a stack of books the same size as his chest.

“I got the books for history from the library for you guys, plus some cool ones on wolves and tigers!” Jack’s enthusiasm was clear in his voice and the frantic wagging of his tail. The young Labrador has already started a growth spurt, the six inches he had gained since term had started leaving him the tallest of the 701 boys. He set them down on the table above Bil’s bunk before flopping down on Legoshi’s bunk, leaning against the wolf cub before glancing around the dorm room “Where is everyone?” he asked.

“Durry’s at the swim club meeting, Mig’s at band practice, Collot went to the painting one I think?..” Legoshi grew quieter as he grew increasingly unsure which club Collot was trying out, the sheepdog had tried dozens in the last week.

“Wasn’t that yesterday? I’m going to the Warhammer and Wrestling ones tomorrow with him, maybe it was baking today?” Bill was just as confused as his lupine friend.

“I thought it was trampolining today? Or gymnastics.. one of the two.. pretty sure Voss was going to the school paper club so maybe Collot went with him?” For once, Jack was as confused about a situation as his dormmates.

“It was pottery club guys, I didn’t go as I’d go flying off the wheel with clay guys” said Fennec spoke from his own bed, causing the three others to all jump, Legoshi and Jack both falling back in surprise.

“Rex dammit Voss when did you get back? I swear your part ghost!” the tiger cub roared out, though it came out as more a squeak towards the end.

Chuckling, Voss jumped down be grinning at the tiger. “What can I say? You goofballs don’t pay enough attention.” Turning to Legoshi and Jack he continued. “It cant hurt to try Legoshi, plus it does look good to the teachers. Speaking of Jack you should at least try some, my sister said the workloads gets intense after first year so now be your only chance, got to be something you’d like to try.” Voss pulled a flier that listed all the clubs from where it had been discarded on the floor and shoved it into Jack’s hands.

Pouting, Jack gave in, closing his eyes. “Fine, I’m blaming you if I fail exams because of this” the Labrador stated, as he randomly spun his left hand before jabbing one claw into the paper.

“Huh, gardening, that could be nice”.

Gardening did indeed, turn out to be nice, so much so each of the inhabitants of room 701 would get dragged to the gardens at least once a month by Jack. Legoshi was the second most frequent, wanting to stay close to Jack but also amazed at the variety of bugs he could find there, Bill and Collen both enjoyed trying to show off strength wise, competing with each other as to who could lift the most compost, heaviest wheelbarrows ect. Durnham and Voss didn’t especially like it, but found it hard to resist when Jack asked them. Miguno fell in love with the gardens, more as a place to practice his music but also enjoyed the digging so ended up joining the society as well.

--- Two weeks later, night-time in room 701—

The storm outside raged, the sound of pouring rain and thunder constant, with flashes of lightning frequently blasting through the curtains. All of the dormmates were asleep, though for one it was certainly not peaceful. Bill tossed and turned in his sleep, murmuring unintelligibly in his sleep, whining in fear, his fur puffed up as the nightmare wracked him.

After a particularly loud sorrowful yowl from the tiger, Jack blinked awake, looking up from where he had been nuzzled in Legoshi’s bed. “Bill? You okay buddy?” Hearing no reply other then continued distress, Jack frowned before clambering over the grey wolf and out of the bed, waking Legoshi up.

“Jack, what’s going on? It’s not time to get up yet is it?” he groggily asked, rubbing his eyes.

“Bill’s having a nightmare, we got to help him!” Jack excitedly whispered, grabbing Legoshi’s hand pulling him out of the bed, over to Bill’s.

“Huh, er, okay then Jack”. He said as the Labrador huddle up to one side of the shaking feline, whispering reassurances and childish boasts of safety.

“Er you got this buddy, we got your back, it’s what friends do” the grey wolf cub said as he slumped into nightmare ridden tiger’s other side, sandwiching the scared feline between him and the cheerful Labrador, who’s tail started to wag slightly as Bill started to settle and calm into a more restful sleep.

“See Legoshi, we helped! I told you wolves are great for helping people to sleep! He exclaimed, having not realised said wolf had fallen asleep almost as soon as he had settled in. Grinning, proud he had helped a friend, Jack slumbered off as well.

---Rexmas eve—

Legoshi was gazing at the snow drifting down outside, lost in thought sat against the window. He had thought of going home, he honestly hadn’t meant to mislead Jack, but it was .. he couldn’t go back. Rexmas had been the one time his mother would come out of his room, and the idea of going back now.. he just couldn’t. Legoshi felt tears rolling down his face, and found himself unable to stop himself thinking about that night. He was startled out of thoughts by the room door slamming open, causing the young wolf to yelp and fall onto the floor. Getting to his feet, he saw Bill had come back, but was shocked by his face. The tiger cub’s lips were burst, he had two black eyes and faint scratches could be seen on his face. His expression turned to shock as he processed Legoshi was there.

“W,what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be home for Rexmas?” Legoshi didn’t think he had heard Bill sound so shocked and .. on edge? He certainly smelt it.

“I could ask you the same, what happened to you?” the wolf quietly responded.

Bill seemed to deflate, slumping his satchel off and trudged to his bed. “My aunt.. doesn’t approve of me being in here you guys, my cousin told her I was friends with you guys and enjoying living with you .. and she didn’t like me saying no.. I didn’t want to stay home after that.” The normally loud tiger half murmured, seeming to be second guessing himself and unsure what to say.

Legoshi threw himself at Bill, wrapping the tiger in a hug as he started to cry. “She can’t get you here, look your safe, you don’t need to cry” the short wolf gently said, desperate to help his friend. “I’m sure we can have a great time here, Tem is here as well so we could do something.” The tiger’s sniffles gradually stopped as he reached around Legoshi returning it, murmuring a thanks his lupine friend.

----New Year’s Eve, midday---

It was a slightly odd group that was walking across the snow covered school grounds, a Alpaca, a wolf, a tiger and a dog, all laughing and wrapped in winter coats and scarves.

“Really? Wow having siblings sure sounds weird but fun” the Alpaca said to Jack, smiling.

Thoughtful for a moment, Bill spoke up “Do you think that’s why we all got invited to the drama club? It’s a thing for kids with no siblings?”

Tilting his head in thought, Legoshi replied “possibly? Hmm, weird for you to think on something that much Bill, are you sure you are okay?” the wolf finished with a shy smirk.

“Hey take that back! I got a 70 on the last mathematics exam before the holidays!” Bill shouted, jostling into the wolf.

“Only because Jack helped you study for it! Would you have even passed if he hadn’t helped you?” Legoshi retorted, grinning and shovelling back at Bill. Whilst the tiger’s initial declaration of being kindred “alpha predators” hadn’t gone well, and even he himself admitted it was a stupid idea, between his good natured boisterous playing with the wolf and Collot, and Jack’s gushing enthusiasm for wolves had helped to bring Legoshi out of his shell when around those he considered friends.

“I could have passed on my own! Jack just gave me a boost as he is cool like that! Bill grumbled. The wolf and tiger continued to push and shove each other, bickering over how much Jack had helped, who was having the most help from Jack, who smelled worse and several other trivial things which seemed to be important to them before they ended up pulling each other to the ground, rolling about wrestling in the snow laughing.

Jack and Tem both stopped to watch their friend’s antics, the wrestling and the increasing bizarre and silly arguments and insults making the two laugh, their breath misting the winter air.

“Is all carni bonding like this Jack? Should I prepare to defend my exam performance from your accusations?” Tem asked Jack jokingly.

Grinning, Jack responded “Nah, I have a better idea” and whispered into the alpaca’s ear.

A few minutes later, Legoshi and Bill broke off each other and got up and both looked around for their friends.

“Over here guys, took your time” Jack called out, causing Bill and Legohsi to look over to where he and Tem were stood. Each next to a pile of snowballs, and each smirking in a way that told the two that they were now very, well and truly screwed.

So the premise is Bill ends up in room 701, his cannon behaviour reminding me of myself when I was in the closet, and massively overcompensating to a ridiculous degree, so figured him in the wholesome environment that is the canine squad could lead to a Bill who isn’t quite as much of a walking pile of toxic masculinity? Plus as he is another large predator and quite boisterous, he is more likely to encourage and engage in the physical play that would possibly help Legoshi with his self confidence/hatred of his body.

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