The Big Five are Zoo Phoenix Academy's most well-known and well-loved clique. Everyone knows Zill's witty, easy-going attitude, Kayla's sweet, selfless disposition; and Jack's awkward-but-lovable luckless quirk. And just like everyone knows the Zill...
Muffled music belted from the interior of Zoo Phoenix Academy as the student body and staff kicked off the new school year by celebrating an event called "The Rising". However, not every member of the student body was present—or, at least, inside the building.
Aspiring singer-songwriter Spam sat on a short wall along one of the paths on the schoolgrounds as he penned yet another song in his seemingly-endless notepad, humming the tune to himself and bobbing his head. After a moment, he let out a giggle and put down his pen, holding the notepad in the air and giving it a satisfied lick. "Wonderful!" he declared to himself.
Then, almost immediately, he returned to writing, starting on an entirely new song.
"Hey."
Spam looked up in surprise as his train of thought was interrupted. The interruption was welcome, however, for standing a few metres away was one of his best friends, a purple cat named Vanexa Pierce. "Howdy, Vanex!" Spam greeted his fellow Big 5 member in his pleasant British accent (despite his Irish origins). "Beautiful evening, eh?"
"Hrmph. It's alright." Vanexa sat down on the wall next to Spam and reopened the book she'd been reading, practically burying her nose in it. "Writing songs again?" she asked in her usual muttering tone.
"Yup!" Spam confirmed proudly. "I'm making an album!"
Vanexa grunted.
Spam took that to mean she was impressed and confidently continued to write in his notepad, tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth.
After a few seconds of silence, Spam stopped and turned to his friend. "Hey, Vanexa?"
Vanexa glanced at him. "Yeah?"
"What are you doing out here?" Spam asked, tilting his head curiously.
Vanexa shrugged. "Looking for some peace and quiet. It's way too loud in there."
"Ha! Just like me!" Spam threw an arm around Vanexa's shoulders gave her a very annoying shake. "Great minds think alike, eh?"
Vanexa let out a warning growl.
Spam obediently let her go and went back to writing, undaunted. He looked up as the music coming from Z.P.A. grew softer, his paw still flying across the paper as he penned his new song. "Ah, wow," he breathed, eyes filled with the lights of the school. "That's incredible. Isn't it, Vanex?" He elbowed the cat eagerly.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Vanexa looked up, rolled her eyes, and went back to her book.
Spam set down his notebook, placed his hands on the wall, and relaxed, letting out a sigh of contentment. "I love this place," he said with a smile.
"Me, too," Vanexa said without looking up, her sarcastic tone decidedly less sarcastic than usual.
Spam looked up at the sky, his smile growing as he spotted the Fish of Peace floating around. "I hope things never change," he murmured.
