Project H

The Club

Riley was being carried out of the arena, injured by the surprising blow. The referee was announcing the end of the match and Arrow was declared the winner. The crowd was still quite hushed, obviously troubled by the turn of events whether it be shock or awe.

Alter sighed and shook her head. "Y'know, Arrow, we've got a reputation to maintain. Our whole goal now is to show that we can integrate with humans and compete on equal grounds. Scarin' them off like this certainly ain't gonna help."

Arrow took a deep breath. "I know, I know. Stop rubbing it in already. Besides, that "equal ground" nonsense is just a fallacy anyway."
At that moment, the coach approached them both he looked to be a Mane, looking somewhat frustrated; he wore a pink shirt and shorts with two white linings going down the sides his buff tone clearly visible, and his eyes were a fierce deep orange and he greatly towered over the houd; maybe being a whole foot or two taller or even more compared to the wolf.

He rubbed his eyes, "Arrow, Alter, I don't need to tell you that this is not what I meant by 'demonstrating your skills.' We're here to encourage humans to participate and learn from us, not to intimidate them to the point they won't even try now," the coach scolded, disappointment evident in his deep bellowing voice.

Arrow looked at the ground, understanding the situation. " sorry, Coach." Arrow muttered, with Alter following, sounding even more annoyed than before.

"Next time, I expect better judgment from both of you. Remember, we need to work together if we want this integration to be a success," the coach continued, trying to instill the importance of cooperation. He then walked off to address the entire crowd, "Alright, everyone, is there anybody else who would like to give it a try?" He said in an up-to-beat tone; The crowd was silent with only a few chatters many repeating the lines. " If that guy was a champion and lost that fast there's no way I'm going up there."

As the coach tried to rally the crowd Arrow and Alter stayed in the corner; the hound gave off a glare to the werewolf. "Ya got me in trouble and I didn't even do anything yet." The werewolf scoffed and crossed her arms, she turned her head to meet at Alter's Gaze. "You should really be thanking me, I only called "trouble" in advance for you." Their back and forth was cut short when the coach returned not giving off a look of defeat despite failing to rile up the crowd, instead he held his head high.

He approached them both and scratched his chin, "Listen, I need to make a new plan, I thought having a few of them come up and you showing off a few "cool" moves during the sparring would excite them...We should try offering workshops for anyone interested, and give the beginners a chance to learn before throwing them in the ring. The vets can still have their intense matches, but at least this way, newcomers won't feel like they're being thrown to the wolves."

Arrow's face twitched and her attitude immediately changed, taking notice, the coach encouraged her to speak her mind and to his surprise, it held slight anger in it.

"Coach, what are you suggesting? Babysitting humans and holding their hands? This club Thi-This school was meant to show the strength of our kind and the potential that we have, that's the whole reason why I joined! Now to make things worse humans are allowed to the club not to mention the school!" She stated passionately.

The coach signed then grunted and looked Arrow straight in the eyes.
"I hope you know what you just said was extremely inappropriate, I know a few beasts share you're opinions but the new year is just starting it's barely been two months, and the school what's to diversify certain clubs. Think of this as a chance to learn from each other, a different perspective."
Arrow was about to open her mouth but she knew better than to talk back to the coach.

Since no one was participating in the matches anymore most of the crowd had already left although some had stayed in hopes more people would enter the ring; Young and Bria were some of those people although, during the time of the dormancy, Bria had been nagging Young to stay because he was ready to leave but she brought up the excuse they could stay out of class longer and use the, "Partaking in diversity and inclusion classes." So they won't get in trouble, although Young was being thick skulled about it.

Arrow gritted her teeth and tensed up as she looked at the floor while Alter and the coach were talking, she lifted her head and shot a stern glare at the remaining crowd most of which were humans her gaze at the crowd looked to be filled with spite, the fur on her fire red tail started to stand which then started to spread to other parts of her body.
"Down girl!" Arrow shook her head and looked at the origin of the Voice, Alter, she was standing right beside her. "When did you get there, weren't you just talking to coach?"
Arrow looked around.
"Where is he?" Alter eyed up Arrow suspiciously; she then pulled out two pairs of matted boxing gloves and threw them on the floor next to Arrow's feet." Glove up, it's me and you." Arrow narrowed her eyes, "What, you can't be serious, where's coach!?"

"He approved, what's wrong ya scarred? It's only sparring." Alter said, a shit-eating grin plastered on her face, she then nodded her head to the stage, "Look, there he is."

On the stage, the coach had a microphone in hand and addressed the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen to show you the potential each and every one of you can bring out, and what you can achieve through training, it's been decided that two of our clubs best members will demonstrate the skills and tactics that they have learned in a one on one bout let me introduce you to, Arrow!"

Alter looked Arrow in the eyes. "Better go up there, don't wanna keep them waiting do you?" Arrow scoffed and confronted her, slamming her finger into her chest, "You damn hound, what did you pull?!" Alter brought her paw up to her face and scratched her cheek and a menacing smirk then formed on her face.
"It's been far, far too long since me and you went at it. Don't you agree?" The wolf flinched a little as her face showing slight trepidation; a growl emitted from her throat before she picked up the gloves and marched off to the stage.

"And in our other corner Alter!" Alter strode onto the stage giving a wave and smile to the crowd as she looked among them her eyes locked onto someone else's her proud and welcoming tone only for a moment to switch to a deathly glare.
"We have our combatants, on the count of ten, the match will start!" The coach got off the stage and sat on a chair not far from the ring and almost as if their names alone were magnets more people beasts and humans a lot older looking this time flooded into the room students poured in wanting to witness the fight that was about to take place.

"Oh yeah Arrow this isn't sparring," Alter said cockily; Arrow looked at the hound with a scowl flashing her sharp teeth in the process "Damn you hound." Arrow's voice was deep and unforgiving. The two made their way to opposite corners ready to fight and with the ring of the bell, the match was on.