dinohigh, no humans allowed!

The bus clunked and rattled down the twisting rural road, its old engine groaning with every turn. light filtered through the cracked windows. The landscape outside was a muted blur of rolling meadows and sprawling fields, the fog hanging low like a damp shroud over the early morning tranquility.Anon slouched against the cracked vinyl seat of the bus, his forehead resting on the cold window.He could hear the distant murmur of the other passengers, their voices blending into a constant hum of complaints and low curses.The bus was filled with students—mostly dinosaur girls—chatting animatedly, their voices a mix of excitement and irritation. Anon kept his gaze fixed on the window, trying to ignore the occasional sideways glance and the murmur of voices that seemed to center on him."Ugh, look at that cave monkey," a girl in the front seat sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "What's he even doing here? "Her comment was met with a wave of laughter and whispers. "Seriously," another girl added, "with that scrappy coat, he looks like he's come straight from a trash heap."A boy with a spiked tail rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I bet he's gonna screw everything up. Humans always do."Anon bit back a retort, forcing himself to stay calm. This was his first day at Dino High, and he was acutely aware of how out of place he felt. He had more important goals than these dumb kids.Just a bunch of meteor dodgers, running everything like it's still their little empire," muttered an archosaur two seats ahead of Anon, her voice carrying above the din. She was talking to a girl beside her, who nodded and spat out the window. "Think they own the whole damn planet." Anon couldn't agree more, and to think he'd be stuck here for the next 5 years.As the bus drove through the lush meadows and plains of the rural countryside, Anon's thoughts wandered. The landscape outside shifted from tranquil pastures to small, quaint border towns, their charming facades contrasting sharply with the industrial sprawl that lay ahead. He could already see the transition from the calm of the countryside to the bustling, crowded streets of the city.Anon let the words drift past him. His eyelids felt heavy, and he was tempted to let them fall, to drown out the noise and escape into whatever sleep would come. But his mind wouldn't let him rest. The thought of Dino High gnawed at him like an itch he couldn't scratch. He'd read all about it, back when it was just a distant possibility, an absurd notion. Now he was on his way there.The conversation on the bus grew louder as the students woke up and started discussing the day ahead. Their voices were laced with a mix of curiosity and disdain as they continued their commentary about him."Why even let him in? "One girl grumbled. "It's like they're begging for trouble.""Seriously," another added, "what's next? A whole class for humans? That's ridiculous."Some of the students were more direct in their disdain. "He's probably going to be a total disaster," a tall velociraptor said, shooting Anon a pointed look. "You know how humans are—always messing things up."Another girl, a fierce-looking carnivore with a sharp snout, chimed in, "Yeah, he's probably gonna be a walking catastrophe. Just look at him."The bus rolled into the small neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city. The once quaint border towns were replaced by a sprawling, industrial landscape. Factories belched smoke into the sky, and the streets were choked with the constant flow of vehicles and machinery. The air grew heavier with the smell of industry and the ceaseless hum of progress."This is gonna be a shitshow," a girl muttered to her friend, her tone dismissive. "I can already tell.""Yeah," her friend agreed, "he'll probably get lost within five minutes. Humans always do."As they entered the busier commercial and industrial zones, the atmosphere grew more frenetic. The buildings got taller, the streets more congested, and the general air of activity was palpable. Anon couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the city.The bus driver, an older triceratops with a scowl permanently etched into his features, navigated the bus through the congested streets of the city. The large, imposing buildings loomed over them, casting long shadows that seemed to mirror Anon's mounting sense of dread. The driver's irritation was evident in every jarring stop and start."I don't get why we have to have a human on our bus," the driver grumbled, his voice low but clearly audible. "What the fuck is this world coming to? Can't even trust the fucking list anymore."A concerned-looking student voiced her worries. "Do you think he'll even manage to find his way around here? What if he messes everything up for us? ""Please," another scoffed, "he's just another dumb human. They always screw things up."As the bus approached the walled-off park reserve where Dino High was located, the tension among the students seemed to rise. The towering walls of the reserve loomed large, their imposing structure a stark contrast to the busy cityscape outside. The reserve was a marvel of artificial ecosystems, with biomes from around the world meticulously contained within its boundaries.His father had secured a rare scholarship for him to attend Dino High—a prestigious school catering to a wide range of species, including dinosaurs, archosaurs, reptiles, and some amphibians. Once, the school had been open to all, a beacon of education and integration. But over the years, it had become a fortress. An exclusive, elite boarding school reserved only for the top students of the dinosaur anthro world. The doors had been slammed shut to all others—especially humans—for as long as anyone could remember. To most, it was just a legend, a place where only the best and the brightest could go. To him, it was a desperate gamble, a last chance to save his community from getting wiped off the map by some damn eminent domain claim.smelled like old leather and sweat, and the seats creaked with every bump. He glanced down at his lap, where his fingers were still curled around the red meteorite pendant hanging around his neck. It was warm now, heated from the friction against his skin. It wasn't just a piece of jewelry—it was a piece of history, his family's history, a relic from the time when his people dodged death from above.The pendant was given to him by the human mayor of his town—a symbol of a promise made and a reminder of the stakes. It had been a family heirloom, lost for generations, found by the mayor, and exchanged for Anon's ticket to this hellhole. A ticket that came with a price."Get into city planning," the mayor had said, leaning over his desk, eyes sharp. "Help us keep our town from being swallowed up by the scalies. Get in good with them. Make them think you're one of them. Or at least not a threat."Anon knew what that meant. Play nice, be polite, keep your head down, don't rock the boat. But he also knew it wouldn't be enough. Not when the dinos hated humans on sight, not when they threw around slurs like "cave monkey" and "spearchucker" with a casual venom that could strip paint. He'd seen it before, felt it before, in the looks they gave him when he walked down the street or tried to buy something from their stores.He wanted to do more than just survive. He wanted respect. He wanted power. He wanted to become someone they couldn't ignore, someone who could shape policy and protect his people from the top down. A mayor, maybe even a city planner—a position where he could rewrite the rules that were stacked against them. That's what the pendant was supposed to represent. A chance to dodge the next metaphorical meteor, to save his community from being crushed by the powers that be.Anon's heart pounded as the bus drove past lush tropical rainforests, arid deserts, and icy tundras. The grandeur of the school's setting was awe-inspiring, but it also felt intimidating. He knew that the school's history was one of separation and exclusivity—a fact that weighed heavily on him.A few students continued their snide remarks. "Look at him, probably thinking he's on some grand adventure," one girl said with a sneer. "He's just a clueless human.""Yeah," another agreed, "let's see how he handles this place. I bet he'll be completely lost."The bus hit a pothole, jolting him back to the present. He looked out the window and saw the gates of Dino High approaching, their dark iron bars twisted into the shapes of roaring dinosaurs. The sight sent a shiver down his spine. The place looked more like a prison than a school. He straightened up, cracking his neck, feeling the tension coil in his shoulders. He had to be ready. No mistakes.The bus finally pulled up to the grand entrance of Dino High. The school's gothic architecture was even more imposing up close, with its spires reaching up into the overcast sky. The old brick walls were cloaked in thick ivy, casting long shadows over the cobblestone courtyard. The grandeur of the building was both awe-inspiring and intimidating."Last stop! Dino High!" the driver called out, his voice gruff and tired.As the bus came to a stop, the students began to disembark, their movements a mix of eager anticipation and casual indifference.Anon took a deep breath, grabbed his bag, and stood up. He could feel the eyes of the other passengers on him, some with hate, others with envy. He ignored them all and stepped off the bus, the cold air biting at his cheeks. and onto the cobblestone path that led to the school's entrance. The air was cooler here, and he could feel the weight of history pressing down on him.The driver looked at him and spoke, "Don't think this is gonna be a cake walk, kid. Just because the new law forces us to take you in doesn't mean everyone is too happy about your kind being here, chimp. How are you even gonna afford going to a place like this, let alone affording the housing, food, school supply, and other expenses?"Anon straightened his posture, adopting an air of confidence despite the harsh reception. He pulled out the pendant around his neck—the red stone glinting in the dim light. "Actually, I'm here on a special scholarship," he said smoothly, his voice calm. "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't judge me before I've even had a chance to settle in."The bus driver's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He seemed to reconsider his attitude, though his scowl remained. "Alright, alright," he grumbled, waving Anon off with a dismissive gesture. "Just try not to kill anyone on your first day."anon smiled. "I would never do such a thing, sir." He walked past the driver as the driver looked at him nervously, squinting his eyes at him. "That kid is gonna survive a weak at best here, and everyone else's life expectancy just dropped by him being let in here; what are the suits thinking?"Anon watched as the bus pulled away, leaving him standing at the edge of the grand entrance to Dino High. The towering gates loomed before him, the gateway to a new world of trials and enemy dangers and threats beyond his imagination. The students continued to trickle into the school, their conversations a murmur of anticipation and casual disdain. Anon took a deep breath, steeling himself for the challenges ahead.The pendant around his neck felt heavier than ever. It was more than just a piece of jewelry—it was a symbol of his father's promise to protect their land, a promise that now fell on Anon's shoulders. If he could gain a foothold here, earn the respect of the dinosaurs, and get involved in city planning, he could help save his home.With a final glance at the receding bus, Anon turned towards the imposing gates of Dino High. The gates creaked open slowly, like the mouth of a giant beast, and he stepped inside. The ground was slick with rain. The school rose up in front of him, dark and foreboding. He could hear the faint murmur of voices from everyone around him and more inside; the chatter of students was so loud, like going to a cathedral filled with dino noises; the clatter of footsteps on stone was deafening. all entered its hungry maw, ready to devour them.