Transferred and Transformed

New Beginnings

The soft bump from the plane landing was enough to awaken Lena and sitting up, she glanced around to her friends. Denali and Benny were still asleep, her head on Benny's shoulder and his laying against her soft hair. Ric was unbuckling his seatbelt and as he looked over at Lena, he couldn't help but to smile at the two sleepy heads. 

Before long they were up and moving, stepping into the warm air of Japan as they left the airport, laughing at a story Benny was obnoxiously playing out for them. Lena took a look around and marveled at the city of Musutafu and its citizens around her, the busy streets and fashion trends scratching a satisfying part of her brain. She loved it already and the thoughts of missing home seemed to have disappeared almost completely.

     "This place is so pretty! The city is huge, I mean look at the buildings! Wait, how do we get to the school?" Denali was a talkative little thing but Lena could only hear the bustling of the crowd and the birds chirping. Ric and Benny were laughing and teasing the cat girl as they loaded their suitcases into a white and grey transport van, the driver offering to help with the rest as they all got in.

     "I wonder what the people will be like? I hope they are friendly, I'm so excited to meet everyone! We get dorms too that's so awesome!" Denali chirped excitedly as they drove off to their new home for the next couple of years. The drive was maybe twenty minutes but Lena wasn't paying much attention as she stared out the window in awe of the city passing by. She had already noticed three boba cafes and one anime cafe that she was just dying to try out. Her excitement was starting to match Denali's and they happily squealed as they began making plans for their first day off from class while the boys just shook their heads at the girls' antics.

The driver pulled in front of the school and as the four stepped out, Lena took in the size of the place. The main building was huge and she couldn't help but feel slightly overwhelmed at the idea of getting lost on their first day. Anxiety was something she never liked to talk about or show but it was something she struggled with very much even after meeting her three besties. 

She loved their comfort and their personalities made her forget she even had anxiety sometimes but she still couldn't help but fidget a little standing in the middle of the walk way. A hand landing on her waist and the scent of pine and cinnamon was a small indication that Benny was next to her and she melted into his embrace. 

He pulled her close, whispering calming words into her fuzzy ears, "Everything okay, lovey? I know it can be stressful at first sight, this place is huge. We got you though, don't you worry. We're gonna experience this all together!" Benny's kind words soothed her worrying mind as she looked up at him, giving him a small but grateful smile. 

The driver gave them the okay to head inside explaining that their stuff would be delivered to their dorm rooms and to head on up to the second floor where the Headmaster's office was. They all let out a deep breath and held hands as they walked into the building, the breeze playing in their hair as each person's mind was enveloped in thoughts of so many possibilities. Arriving to the office, Ric peeked his head in with a soft hello and was met with a tiny white animal sitting at the desk, a prominent, pink scar over its right eye.

     "Come on in, you must be Ric? I'm Principal Nezu, where are your friends?" the short, stout man asked, peering to see around Ric. Denali poked her head into the office and Lena popped her's over Denali's with a small smile. The four toppled into the room laughing before sitting down and brushing themselves off and Principle Nezu couldn't help but to chuckle at the four goofballs. 

     "Here are your timetables, your summer and winter uniforms and the campus map. The dorms are only about a 5 minute walk, would you like for me to call one of the students to come gather you?" he asked, peeking out his large window. "They only had a short training today and so should be ready and awaiting your arrival." The four grabbed their stuff and Benny shook his head and stood up, smiling at the others.

     "Actually, we wanted to find our own way there. Best way to learn the map is to use it as much as possible right? Plus I know it would calm Lena's anxiety if we allowed her to make her way through and experience everything as much as she wants too, with your permission of course." Benny said as he pulled Lena into a side hug, her giggles resonating in the minimalistic room. 

Principle Nezu gave a small nod and smiled as the four gathered everything and headed out, their laughter spreading through the halls as they raced down the walk way leading to the dorms. They turned onto a stretch of stone pathway that lead up to the dorms in the short distance ahead and for a moment Lena could faintly make out figures standing in the window. 'Hmm, that must be the common area then.' she pondered, peering closer at the figures as they grew closer and closer to the dorms. 

     "Race ya? Last has to do our laundry for the first week!" Benny challenged, kneeling down into a ready stance. Ric smirked, his wings stretching out as he knelt down as well followed by Denali kneeling into a prowling stance. Lena laughed and shook her head at them before kneeling down, her tail puffed out behind her as she looked ahead at the dorm entry.

     "First one to the archway wins and loser does laundry. Ready, set-GO!"Lena shouted as all four took off sprinting. Ric took to the air careful to stay at head level to the rest and Benny took off laughing, his twists blowing in the wind as the girls were neck and neck. Their ears were flat against their heads as their animal instincts kicked in. The archway was coming closer and closer, faster and faster and just as Ric was reaching for it, Denali leapt up swiping his hand away and tapping the archway as she skidded to a stop a few feet past it.

Lena was second right behind her and Ric was third, leaving Benny last and bent over heaving for air as he leant against the stone. They all laughed at their friend as he fought to catch his breath and just as Lena turned to the door a stiff wind blew through the archway creating a wind tunnel that nearly knocked them off balance. 

     "Tell me how you challenged us and yet you're the one that lost?" Ric taunted, smiling as he caught his breath. Benny huffed and rolled his eyes, throwing a playful punch to the winged man's arm. Lena and Denali giggled and entered the building, a look of awe and curiosity filling them as they looked around and took in their lavish surroundings. Lena made her way to the far door on the right and opened it slowly.

Peering inside she was met with numerous sets of eyes and anxiety flooded her veins as she gulped, Denali urging her forward as the other three entered as well.

     "Well, looky here ya'll. Our new classmates!" Benny smiled brightly giving a two finger wave as the girls looked around at the students seated or standing in various spots in the room.

     "Hi, I'm Denali! These are my friends, Ric, Benny and Lena. It's nice to finally meet you all!" Denali gushed, slightly bouncing in her spot. Ric waved, grinning and Lena gave a shy smile, her tail wrapped around her waist as comfort. New place and now new people, let the games begin!

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