2. H O L Y W A R : Peacekeepers

CHAPTER IV

After math class, D'kala and Kia both headed to the gym for PE. The teacher, Mr. Knox (or "Coach", as he told the students to call him), was a massive blue-haired man who sported a pair of antlers that looked like they could bring down the building if he rammed the wall with them.

"Welcome back to P.E., squirts!" Coach bellowed, scuffing the ground with his foot (and apparently forgetting he was in human form). "Today's first exercise is a 20-lap jog around the court! You go when I say 'go', so GO!"

The students took off quickly, knowing there would be a costly penalty if they lagged.

"Hey, Dad?" Autumn called as he went around the basketball court. "Can I do 10 laps instead? I'm still sore from the cramp I had last night..."

"You think we didn't have cramps back in my day?" Coach thundered at his son, his excited grin still on his face. "Back then, we'd do a hundred laps, barefoot, with torn hamstrings! So shake it off and run, run, RUN!"

"Yes, sir!" Autumn stumbled forward, his lanky body making him took extremely awkward as he staggered along.

"Your dad's the gym teacher?" Kia asked, shaking her head. "Sucks to be you, huh?"

"Not really," Autumn gasped, already winded (even though they were still on the first lap). "I'm just not athletic, so it's kinda embarrassing for him to see me lagging behind every day. If I was like Damian, everything would be way easier." He glanced over at the jackal, who was yawning as he floated around the track.

"HEY! What'd I say about levitating, Damian? Use your legs, kid!"

"Yes, sir, Coach!" Damian quickly dropped to the ground, growing a pair of solid legs and breaking into a sprint.

"I did not know he could do that," D'kala remarked.

"He's got a ton of hidden tricks," Addison stated as he caught up to the Felinian. "Most involve making people wet their pants."

"Betchya done that plenty a' times, huh, loser?" Rusty taunted as he jogged past Addison.

"Suck it, Ruben!" Addison shouted at the dog, his face turning red yet again.

"No, you!" Rusty shot back, cackling as he joined the front of the pack.

"Yeesh. Should've seen that one coming," Addison grumbled under his breath.

"Don't sweat it, A-Train," Zill huffed as he scampered past Addison and the Felinians. "We've got dodgeball today. I'll cut 'im down to size, just like I always do." He puffed out his chest and sang, "Here I come, to save the daaaaaay!"

D'kala, Kia, and Addison laughed as Zill charged forward.

-

After the laps, Coach ordered, "Alright—everyone drop and give me twenty."

"Push-ups, Coach?" Zill asked.

"Push-ups, sit-ups, and burpees," Coach clarified.

The entire class groaned.

"This is where you earn your abs, ladies!" Coach shouted. "Let's go, go, GO!"

-

Following the "warm-up", Coach blew his whistle and yelled, "Now everybody LIIIIIINE UP!"

The students lined up shoulder-to-shoulder, panting for breath.

"Remember your number!" Coach walked down the line, tapping each student on the head as he said, "One! Two! One! Two! One! Two!..."