Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Cold Bites Deeper Than Fangs
It was a chilly winter afternoon at Cherryton Academy, the first day of the Winter Semester following the Rexmas Holiday Break. 3 years have passed since the downfall of Melon and the stepping down of the Sublime Beastar, Yahya. The segregation that had once divided the school had come again, once more the students have been separated. Herbivore and Carnivore were forbidden from mingling as they once had, as interspecies tensions had increased following the destruction of the Black Market. It was only 3pm but the sun had already begun setting as a lone figure runs along the northern pathway, his breath was ragged as he ran by himself, hugging his chest with his arms.
“Gotta hurry..Can’t slow down..Or I’ll be in..Real trouble…”
He keeps running even has his lungs had begun to ache, he felt a twinge in his abdomen, and the chill in the air made his fur stand up. He wore the Winter Semester uniform of striped trousers, and a blue buttoned vest over a white shirt. His backpack fastened tight as he goes, he was surely in a hurry, his quick pace the only thing keeping the cold from penetrating to his skin.
“Damn it’s cold..Should invest in a winter coat..My fur’s standing on end…”
The lone student takes a right turn and keeps on running, he thought his ears and nose might go numb from the winter cold, the sun was out but it did little to alleviate the chill in the air. He takes long, steady strides as he runs, up ahead he could see some buildings, six in total. He picks up his pace as he runs towards them..At the pace he was going you might think he was being chased...
“Must keep running...Must keep running...Almost there…”
Elsewhere another student was hard at work on a painting, sat amongst her fellow classmates who were also painting. The day’s object of art was a decorative bowl of wax fruit, the only sounds to be heard were the sounds of brush strokes, and the dipping of bristles in acrylic paint.
(Ugh. I’m just not feeling it today. Maybe it’s the cold? Damn central heatings not working right today. This sucks.)
She was feeling frustrated that her art piece wasn’t coming along as she’d hoped it would, one of the struggles of being an artist. When inspiration just would not come, it could feel like making works of art was impossible. A Fellow student looks over and notices she was staring at her canvas in frustration.
“..What the matter? Just not feeling it today?”
“..Huh? Oh. Yeah..Nah. Ugh, I don’t know. Inspiration’s just not there.”
“Don’t worry about it, it’ll come. Just be patient.”
(Easy for you to say.) “...I hope so. Maybe I just need some fresh air?”
“Sure? It’s chilly out.”
“I’ll manage, winter coat’s all grown in.”
“If you’re sure. Go ahead and get some cool winter air.”
“Thanks. I will...Ara.”
“Don’t be too long...Vix.”
Her name was Vix, Vix the Red Fox. A 1st-Year student at Cherryton Academy. Member of the Art Club, due to the segregation rules, only Carnivores could join. Ara, a Culpeo Fox. The Star Artist and leader of the Art Club. A 2nd-Year student, so she made sure to encourage Vix to improve her art, but also to look after herself. Vix stands up from her seat and walks towards the front door of the Art Club, then she opens it to step outside. No sooner did she crack the door open she could feel the chill even more..But she braces herself for the cold and walks out into the glow of the setting sun.
(Brrrrhhhh. It’s even colder out here, still, air’s fresher at least.)
Vix closes the door behind her and steps out a bit from the entrance, taking a look around she could see the other Club buildings. They were segregated between Herbivores and Carnivores. Across from her Art Club building she saw the Boxing Club building, Vix thought she could hear the sounds of sparring Herbivores inside.
(Hmmmmmhh. Guess it’s warmer in there, too bad I can’t go in. Heh, maybe I should have signed up for a Club that gets you moving around more? But I chose the Art Club because Mum suggested it. Maybe I’ll see something out here to inspire me?)
She steps out a ways so she could see all around her, Vix was careful not to cross the midway point of the pathway that separated the Carnivore Clubs from the Herbivore Clubs. She hugs herself as she felt the chill out here, she even wrapped herself with her tail a bit as she tried not to shiver. Her Winter Uniform was more padded and it had longer sleeves than her Summer Uniform, but even so it was icy cold out.
(Brrrrrhhh. Okay, I think I’ve gotten enough fresh air. I’m going back inside before I freeze my nose off.)
Vix turns and begins walking back towards the Art Club building, she didn’t feel any more inspired, and she felt silly that all she had to show for her trouble was a minor chill. However she was halfway to the door when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching...Someone was running down the pathway and she thought she smelled something.
(...Hmmmhh? Is that an Herbivore I smell?)
She turns to the sound of the running, but it was the scent that caught her attention the most. Vix gulps..She felt a tightness in her stomach, she holds her hands over her belly before hurrying towards the door. But before she could get inside she felt the tightness increase, causing Vix to double over. The inside of her mouth felt moist..And something inside her..Didn’t want to run.
(..Ghuuhhh..W..What’s this feeling..?..Did I let them get too close..?..Why do I feel so hungry..?..No. Get it together, Vix. You’re not like that, you’re not one of them.)
((...Oh, so there’s a ‘them’ now?)) “W-Whose there?”
Vix turns around in a fright. She could have sworn she heard a voice. But when she turns...She saw someone was stood at the intersection between the Boxing Club opposite, and her Art Club. He was looking right at her. He was an Herbivore. Some kind of Rabbit...But he was the biggest Rabbit she had ever seen.
(Crap. He’s fast, he caught up before I could reach my Club door. Rex he’s big...He’s taller than me. A good 4 inches.)
“….Hi. I’m Xerxes. What’s your name?”
He spoke! The giant Rabbit spoke and raised his hand, he was panting and half-doubled over, like he had been running, but he looked happy to see her.
“..H...Hiiii…I’m-” (What are you doing? Don’t tell him your name! Make up an excuse and get back inside. Right now.)
(Don’t go. He’s right there, you smelled his scent, look how friendly he is. You should go over and tell him your name.)
Vix gasped and covered her mouth! She heard that voice again! Was she going crazy? The Rabbit tilts his head and looks curiously at her, like he was concerned to see her reacting that way.
“Are you okay? You look worried."
(Rex. Now you’ve done it, you’ve got him worried.) “..S-Sorry, I’m not supposed to talk to Herbivores, you know the rules.”
“..Oh yeah, the rules. Whoopsies. Heh..Well can I at least get your name?”
He sheepishly chuckles and stands up straight, rubbing the back of his head, like in the moment he’d forgotten the segregation rules that were in place to keep the Herbivore students apart from the Carnivore students.
(..Come on, he’s been polite enough to tell you his name. Just say your name and tell him you’ve got Club duties.) “..It’s Vix, Vix the Red Fox. Nice to meet you, Xerxes was it? That’s a weird name-Oh I am so sorry, that came out wrong. I-I didn’t mean-”
“-I-It’s okay, I get that a lot, I know my name’s weird. Nice to meet you, Vix the Red Fox.”
Vix gulps, she didn’t mean to get bogged down in conversation..But something inside her compelled her to stay. Despite the risk of being caught fraternising with an Herbivore, something he didn’t seem at all perturbed by. But at least she knew his name now, this strange, giant Rabbit. Xerxes.
“..Thanks. I..You’re a Rabbit, aren’t you? You’re the biggest one I’ve ever seen.”
“..I’m a Flemish Giant. The biggest breed in the world, at least that’s what mum and dad say.”
“...No kidding. o.o”
ED: A Dog's Life