"You've got to be kidding me," Xia mumbled to herself, her voice barely audible over the crunch of leaves beneath her feet. She tugged at the sleeves of her oversized hoodie, glancing up at the school that loomed ahead. It was another year, another school, another chance to start over. But as a shy red panda Anthro, she had grown weary of the constant moving and the stares that always followed.
Her eyes darted from the towering brick structure to the students already gathering in clusters around the entrance. Their laughter and chatter created a buzz that made Xia's heart race. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for another round of introductions and awkward silences. The scent of freshly cut grass tickled her nose as she approached the school gates. She couldn't help but feel out of place amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces.
The schoolyard was a whirlwind of activity, with students of various species mingling freely. There were the usual humans, but also elves with their pointed ears, faeries flitting about, and a few centaurs trotting along the pathways.
Xia clutched her backpack tightly as she stepped onto the school grounds, her eyes scanning the area for any hint of where she needed to go. A gust of wind blew her hair into her face, and she quickly tucked the unruly strands behind her ears. She had hoped that by arriving early, she might sneak into the library and avoid the initial chaos of the day, but she hadn't anticipated the sheer number of early birds. Just then a commotion over near the East gate caught her attention. It would seemed to be a fight.. and with three against one, a very unfair fight at that. Shouts of anger and body's moving in the roiling cloud of mayhem soon came to an end when campus security came running..it was then that Xia decided would be a good time to sneak on into the university.
The first bell of the day had just rung out as she slipped through the doors of the main building, the sound echoing through the halls. She hurried along, glancing at the unfamiliar faces that passed her by. Some looked curious, others dismissive, but she kept her gaze mostly on her own feet, avoiding eye contact as best she could. her mind raced back to that fight where thought for sure she saw another red panda tail in the midst of it.
The walls of the school were adorned with posters for various clubs and activities. Xia felt a pang of longing for a sense of belonging. She had always been a solitary creature, preferring the quiet companionship of her books to the noise of crowded social circles. But as she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that this school was different. That maybe, just maybe, she would find her place here.
Her eyes searched the hallway, looking for any sign of the owner of that tail. She had to know if it was true. If there was another red panda here, maybe she wouldn't be so alone after all. The thought filled her with a mix of excitement and fear. What if they didn't like her? What if they were just as tired of being the odd one out as she was?
Xia found her first classroom and took a seat in the back, her heart still pounding from the adrenaline of the fight she had just witnessed. The room began to fill with students, their chatter growing louder by the second. She pulled out a book and buried her nose in it, hoping to fade into the background. But as the minutes ticked by, the empty seats grew scarce, and she felt the weight of their eyes on her.