Chapter 2: Rainforest Academy

Chapter 2: Rainforest Academy

"Are we there yet?" I asked as I clutched the hair at Guillever's back. He is currently carrying me as he maneuvered his way through the woods. He along with Guillermo, our pack's Beta were the ones tasked to chaperone us towards Rainforest Academy. At our side, two brownish wolves and one black one were keeping up with our pace. David, Viilla, and Guillermo.

At our west, the sun is already completing its day journey and casting the last of its golden orangy rays over the mountains and the river.

"Are we there yet?" I asked, knowing full well that I'm not going to get an answer. We can only communicate in a telepathic way once we're in our wolf-form, meaning, I can't understand a single thing they're saying.

They might be discussing the best possible way to get rid of me by making it look like an accident. I grinned. I've never gone this far before! Even the wind smells different!

Sir Finnegan rules the North Woods up the Manchester river, Rainforest Academy is supposed to be downriver. 

We're almost there! I can feel it. 

Then I saw it.

A huge looming structure of stone with a sort of flag at the top! And it's in the middle of the river!

How cool is that?! 

A small crowd had gathered at the edge of the river directly opposite the stone structure. But I was too engrossed with the thing that's supposed to be Rainester Academy to pay them any notice.

"Oh, and there are windows," I exclaimed breathlessly. Our shelters never have windows! 

"I wonder if they also have stairs." I jumped out of Guillever's back and stared some more. I was absolutely fascinated by the fact that I can't figure out where is the school's entrance and how we're supposed to go inside when it is standing at the middle of the river.

"Are we supposed to swim?" I muttered before I felt Guillermo pull me by the ear. "Aw!" I stared at him. It will always be a wonder to me how wolves manages to keep their clothes on while shape-shifting. 

"You!" He hissed. "Pay attention! I can't believe Finnegan's so lenient with you. You're such a mess. You better behave yourself!"

Viilla looked smugly at me while straightening her brown hair.

"I will," I answered, feeling a bit embarrassed when I realized that some other people have started staring at me.

I know I am older than them, freshmen usually start school at 14 years old, but so far I'm the shortest one. 

Still, I won't let that dampen my mood. I am so excited that I might just start dancing once Guillermo's out of sight!

"Remember that you are carrying Howler's- come back here!"

I looked guiltily at our Beta's thunderous expression. I may have started turning away while he's talking.

"As I was saying," he glared at me, "always carry our pack's name with honor. You will be ushered in once the drawbridge is laid out. And David," Guillermo glared at me again, " watch this thing!"

I watched as Guillermo shifted back to his wolf-form and started trotting away. The more amiable Guillever pat my head and grinned at all of us, "Enjoy yourself, cubs!" He winked and shifted as well.

"Let's get one thing straight," David uttered the moment our chaperones are safely out of earshot. "You do you, I do me. I don't plan to play guardian with y'all, we clear?"

I beamed. "Crystal!"

That's when we hear one mighty groan like some monster waking up with a big yawn.

There were several gasps of  "the drawbridge!".

I turned swiftly, in time to gape at a massive wooden bridge being lowered noisily from the side of the stone building. I stepped back instinctively, fearing that it would squash me flat, bones and all. 

"A bridge! A foldable bridge! Cool!"

My eyes widen when, once laid down, a giant arched gateway was revealed. "I think I'm going to cry," I muttered in awe. I've never seen anything like this!

A male voice suddenly echoed from the little tower beside the gateway.  "Freshmen! Get inside now!" 

I was still a little bit dazed when I followed the others to the bridge. The gateway is gigantic! In a scale of one hundred I'm probably about negative one tall out of the hundred!

A tall woman with a severe bun and straight as a rod back joined our group as I heard the groan of the drawbridge again. I turned around to see it being pulled back up by about ten men at either sides using sturdy looking chains.

"You at the back! Be quick!"

"Sorry!" I apologized as I tried to keep up with the group. For the first time I took the time to observe my soon to be classmates. There were about thirty of us, all from the four different territories; North, South, East, and WestWoods. 

The wolf-cubs from Westwoods had only been allowed to study here recently, because of some bad relations or something like that. I only knew this much because while Viilla loves insulting me, she also loves to run her mouth off about things she knew that I don't.

"This is the mess hall."

We were shown inside a huge dome-like area with lots of tables and chairs and fancy looking candle lights hanging in the high ceiling.

I could already imagine tons of juicy meat in those tables. 

The place looks generally cheerful and bright with all the tall windows very close to the ceiling. It allows the smell of the forest and the river inside, wolves love that.

"The other parts of the Academy, you can tour yourselves, as I am sure, you will. Last place to see is the freshman's quarters."

I almost started dancing in glee when I realized we're going up a grand stone staircase, curling up and up and we found ourselves in another hallway, this time lined with lots of huge doors and huge paintings.

Wow. They do love huge things.

We stopped in front of the first door and looked expectantly at the woman who, despite most of the wolf-cubs standing almost six feet tall (except me, I guess), still tower over all of us.

"Here's our stop. Class schedule and school policies are posted inside." Unexpectedly, she smiled. "Welcome to Rainester Academy, wolf-cubs, I hope you enjoy your stay." 

Her smile looks more of relief than happiness. I guess she's glad to get rid of us.

One of the guys opened the door and we stumbled inside a cozy room with huge fluffy looking chair, a table, and a huge unlit fireplace. Some of the guys immediately raced to take a sit on them all.

We were amazed to find two sets of stairs leading upwards, turns out those are the separate bed rooms for the hes and the shes.

"Let's go check out the rooms!" The one guy with reddish hair and playful grin exclaimed.

"Don't you dare enter the girl's bedroom!" One of the taller girls shrieked.

"As if! You girls are weirdos," the red-head replied and almost dragged the remaining guys up the stairs towards their bed.

"Huh, I bet they won't be saying that when they come of age and they're desperate to win their mates! Then we're gonna see who are the weirdos!" The girl grumbled. Then she smiled to all thirteen of us. "Hello, everyone! My name is Felicia Filicitus Faulkner! I'm 14, and I'm from the Southwoods, and most probably am going to be the next Luna." She laughed, totally not noticing that none of us couldn't care less if she's hubaloo, a bear, or a dinosaur.

"My wolf-form is a beautiful gray beast," she giggled. I inwardly cringed. "I'd love to hear about you all but I know you need to rest so...toodles!" She flipped her long brownish hair and with hips swaying in a way that's got to be unnatural, went up the stairs.

The girl beside me groaned. "She's always such a handful."

I gave her a sideways glance, noticing her sleek long hair, beautiful tan and dark eyes. What a beauty! "You know her?" I inquired.

"Yes, we're from the same pack. I'm Diana, by the way." She offered me a smile, showing complete and perfect white teeth.

"I'm Layan," I replied cheerfully.

"You don't look so wolfish," she observed, frankly appraising my figure.

"Oh," I thought for a moment and tiptoed to whisper confidentially, "I'm a special case." I grinned, hoping I look as carefree as I intended to be.

"Cool. Race you upstairs?"

"But you have longer legs!"

But up she go and I found myself following her as quickly as I could. I know that I've probably abused this word but...

the bedroom is huuugeeee! There are no windows, and it probably would look pitch dark even at day here without the lamps near each bed. There are fifteen fourposter beds, all with white sheer curtains.

"I've never slept on a bed before," I said in awe. Back at Northwoods, we always sleep on the ground inside our shelters. Sir Finnegan said such was the way of the wolves.

"I have, and it's the most comfortable thing in this world! C'mon, since we're already friends let's find beds next to each other!" Diana dragged me at the farthest corner of the room where three beds sat unoccupied.

I dropped my things at the foot of the bed and dived right into heaven. "Diana! I'm bouncing!" I cried in delight.

Diana laughed and I proceeded to bounce some more before finally settling in spread-eagled at the middle.

It's really happening. I'm in high school, unchaperoned. I remembered how Diana told me I don't look wolfish. I was scared I'd say the wrong thing.

I have grown so used to the pack treating me like a normal wolf (except for the weakling teases from other cubs) that I've forgotten how different I look.

Wolves in their human form are charactestically tall, tanned, strong and fast (tho not as much as when they shape-shift). They... because I really feel like I'm not one of them.

I am pale, no amount of basking in the sun could change my complexion, and trust me, I've tried. I am small, I am only as tall as ten-year old wolf-cubs, barely five feet tall. And my eyes are purple! How weird is that?! Wolves I know usually have eyes as dark as night, or as brown as earth or as gold as the sun! I bet no one has noticed it yet because of the low light but in the morning, everyone will notice and I bet that would make me an alien of some sort!

I know I should start screaming and packing back to Northwoods where it's safe and comfortable and absolutely dull. But I don't want that, I want this. I want to be here.

And I promised Sir Finnegan I won't die in the first week. I smiled and closed my eyes. 

I can't wait for morning.