Quadrant Feathers

Chapter 53: "I'll Eat You Whole~"

Kwared stepped out of his dorm with a suitcase being dragging behind him by his tail. It'd been a few days since he had dinner and slept over at Phandrins house, and they never finished talking about his "check up," but all he was worried about now was this damned trip.

He growled under his breath as he made it outside, the path from his dorm leading to the circle parking lot that had other oaths leading from it, to the other dorms.

He hadn't seen Phandrin yet, he'd left early in the morning to help prepare for the trip.

He sighed as he made it near the busses, keeping his head high as he glared at anyone who made eye contact with him.

People would stare, obviously he was out of place, leaning on one of the unoccupied benches.

He sighed leaning on his palm as he opened his phone.

He was scrolling through his contacts- not really scrolling but looking at the few.

He was about to press Phandrins name before someone sat down on the bench he was leaning on, abruptly tapping him.

He jumoed, a loud growl leaving his throat as people around him glanced.

He snapped his gaze to the person, his eyebrows narrowing at the boy.

"What do you want," he barked as the person shrugged.

"I wanted to say hi, Phandrin isn't here and you were alone, so.." the person said as Kwareds ears pressed back.

"I'm Icarius," the person grinned slightly as Kwared paused.

"...you're Phandrins friend." Kwared deadpanned as the person nodded.

"Laughing fuckin hyena, great," Kwared muttered rubbing his eyes as a few people around him moved away when he stood.

"Go away before I pelt you," he sneered as Icarius faltered a moment. He's never actually spoken to Kwared, and the boy was alot more intimidating up close.

Kwared jumped when a hand pressed on his back, his head whipping around to see Phandrin who smiled.

Kwared paused, stopping himself from smiling back as he saw people watching from the corner of his eye.

Phandrin was used to this, Kwareds tail usually wagging instead of the smile.

"Hi Icarius!" Phandrin smiled widely when he saw the boy, Kwared scoffing, keeping his head turned towareds Phandrin, not looking at the hyena.

"Hii Phandrin, I was talking to Kwared- well, kinda.." Icarius paused as Phandrin nodded.

"He isn't too open," Phandrin hummed pinching Kwareds side making him jump. Kwared growled rubbing his side.

"Ow- what the fuck-" Kwared hissed as Phandrin rolled his eyes.

"I'm sowwy-" he said in a baby tone as Icarius snickered. Kwared only glared before looking at Icarius.

"Why are you here, were you waiting for Phandrin?" He asked as Phandrins hand subtly but soothingly ran over the spot he'd pinched, a silent 'apology'.

"No I just wanted to talk to you, sorry," Icarius shrugged as Kwared faltered.

"Don't lie to my face," Kwared hissed as Phandrin glanced at his expression, Kwareds muscles tense under his hand.

"I'm not- I genuinely did, I just thought you looked upset.. I don't know," Icarius explained, rubbing his neck as Kwared paused.

Phandrin watched his expression falter slightly, Icarius picking at his nails slightly.

"Well.. I'm fine, you don't have to check up on me, especially," Kwared mocked, Phandrin sighing quietly.

He moved away from Kwared to Icarius turning him so that Kwared didn't see. Kwared just scoffed, sitting down on the bench.

"I'm sorry about him.. he doesn't really have friends- he thinks since a majority of people treat him like.. well a disease- that everyone will," Phandrin muttered quietly as Icarius nodded quickly

"I know! I wanted to see if we could be friends! I brought him something," Icarius wagging his tail turning to Kwared again.

"I'm sorry if you don't believe me, but I did bring you something," Icarius smiled as Phandrin eyed his bandaged wings.

"-here!" He handed Kwared something.

Kwared glanced at Phandrin before opening his palm, his nails extended just in case.

Icarius dropped a small pin in his hand, Kwared furrowing his eyebrows.

"I saw it the other day, and I wanted to talk to you before but I didn't know how, and I saw it and I was like 'hey maybe he'd like that', so I got it, sorry if you don't like it though," Icarius grinned as Kwared stayed quiet, eyeing the pin.

He retracted his nails eyeing the small jumping fox, cartoonish eyes and a conniving grin.

He glanced between the pin and Icarius for a second as he swallowed.

"..thank-you Icarius," he said quietly, pocketing it.

"I'll keep it," he said as Icariuss smile grew.

"I'm glad you like it!" Icarius was obviously very happy as Kwared was unaware of what to say.

Phandrin was about to speak before Azvameth stepped up resting a hand on Icariuss shoulder, eyeing Kwared.

"Are you alright?" He asked as Icarius nodded.

"I was talking to Kwared, I'm fine," Icarius nodded before waving to Kwared happily.

"I'll talk to you later," he smiled as Kwared waved smally, his tail wagging slightly on the bench beside him.

Phandrin watched the interaction with a smile as he turned to Kwared.

He pulled the boy up excitedly, his hands wrapping around Kwareds wrists.

"That was amazing love! You guys could be friends, and Icarius is very nice and fun to talk to I promise," Phandrin smiled as Kwared swallowed nervously.

"That took so much power," he exhaled as Phandrins laughed under his breath.

"You did so well, I'm so happy," Phandrin grinned as Kwareds chest tightened.

"I guess I did ok... Let's get ready to go," Kwared nodded to himself, not minding the crowd now.