In a world where magical folk and non-magical folk coexist, peace was hard-won. After a great war forced both sides to unite against a common enemy, they learned to live in harmony. This delicate balance of the world is where we find Benjamin, a yo...
The doors of the Great Hall tower above Karen and Benjamin. The hallway is filled with a warm golden glow from the candles. Karen twirls, wagging her tail in delight and showing off her gown; an emerald green dress, decorated with gold, silver and sparkles along the bust. Benjamin is wearing black shorts with garters, long socks, a large coat with heeled shoes and a large collared shirt."Don't I kill thislook?" Karen smirks, hands on her hips."Yeah, you look really nice Karen". That causes her cheeks to glow a soft red, before nudging the smaller feline.He nods, pulling out the mask which Karen stares at whileholding her own. "Ooooh! A wolf mask huh? That's what you were hiding from me yesterday, keeping it a surprise, I see! Well look what I got", she beams, holding out her, orange furred mask with fox detailing. "I always thought I would look better as a sneaky fox. Let's put them on!" Benjamin raises his mask over his eyes. The glow appears and his body changes with an aura. Thick fur fluffs up out of his sleeves and as the light fades down, his body is revealed as a grey furred wolf, his body slightly taller, and also leaning more on the feminine side. Karen's glow also fades, revealing her orange fur, contrasting nicely with her green dress. "I hate to say it but you are soooo cute!""S-Shut up! Are we going in or not?" Karen laughs before the door opens, revealing the Great Hall filled with people, the table and chairs gone to provide space for the students of different species dancing all around, couples swaying together on the dance floor, the air is also filled with the laughter and distinguishable conversations of the couples together as well as the classical music that fills Benjamin's ears, an inviting warmth surrounds the pair. They walk into the energetic space, Benjamin's eyes scanning the many number of animals, before focusing on Kinn who is leaning on a wall near the buffet. Turning back to Karen he smiles. "Hey, I'll go get us some drinks okay?" As he walks away Karen reaches out to stop him but a bull suddenly steps in her way, offering her a dance. She smiles a little and nods, accepting the invitation, while the entire time her eyes keep locked on Benjamin.At the table Ben slowly looks at the food, inching closer to Kinn, who leans staring at the dancing crowd, his eyes searching for someone.Ben smiles nervously, cheeks red. He picks up a goblet of liquid,sniffing it. Taking a sip, the taste being different from what he expected, he spits it out, coughing, the noise catching Kinn's attention."Hey, are you alright? Are you choking or something kid?" Hecomes over, patting Benjamin's back. Feeling the larger wolf's paw on him makes Ben stand right up, turning to lock eyes with the wolf, Kinn's arm still on his back and Benjamin's cheeks glow slightly red.'I-I neverreally thought I could be wanting to stare into someone's eyes like this...is that weird? Of course it is!'"Oh-yeah, I'm totally fine, sorry, just went down the wrong hole,"he giggles, embarrassed."Uh-huh, well at least you aren't dead, that's the last thing we need tonight." Kinn sighs pulling his paw back, leaning back against the wall."Y-yeah, we wolves have to look out for each other right?" Kinn's ears flick a little. He looks over Benjamin's wolf form and notices he was a wolf."Wait, last time I recall there were no other wolf students here?""O-oh! Well of course there are haha!, we travel in packs don't we? And this is a big school. You must have never met me until now.Nice to meet you though, my name is Kinoshita." Kinn looks away, a little in disagreement that he could have been wrong and said something dumb."Yeah well, I don't do...packs, so maybe you should go find a new wolf friend since you seem to know all of them here. I've gotsomeone I need to keep an eye out for so I'll see ya 'round." He pullsaway and walks into the crowd. Benjamin nods and follows the wolf, pushing past the crowd of unfamiliar faces and masks.'Man I blew it didn't I? Why did I think just bumping into him would work? Such a cliché.'As he pushes through the crowd he suddenly runs face first into Yui. Falling over together, Benjamin's mask is knocked off his face. A glow fills Yui's eyes as she watches him change back and she lets out a surprised gasp."Benjamin?" He quickly grabs the mask putting it back on, changing into the wolf form again. Getting up he rushes after Kinn. Yuiwatches him leave curiously as someone helps her up.'Why is he...a wolf?' she thought to herself.Benjamin pushes past a few people and spots Kinn standing by the great fireplace. He approaches and sniffs the air."You don't really take a hint do you?" Kinn lets out an annoyed growl as Ben warms his paws in front of the fire."Maybe I just am cold and wanted to warm up! Besides, well, I was told by my friends to talk to you she said since-"'Well, there's the bait...will he bite?'Kinn sighs loudly and closes his eyes, rubbing his temple. He turns to Ben, eyes full of hate, as he glares down at the smaller wolf."For the last time, I am NOT interested in dating, I'm so tired of these girls thinking they can get to a guy to act all chummy with me just to find out if I have a girlfriend and use that to ask me out. I'm sickof it! Is that your goal? Do you want to get your friends some juicy information about my love life? Are you really so low to do the dirty work for your friends?" Kinn growls out, snapping his jaws at Ben his voice, filling the room, echoing off the walls. Thankfully the music was louder.'Crap...I'm really letting this kid have it, but I hate this' Kinn thinks as he takes a breath, letting out a tsk before glaring at the other wolf."I don't like girls, I have no interest in dating any like that, I prefer..I prefer you all to leave me be, I don't have to be here with someone do I?" Benjamin stares up, shocked. The fire roars next to them, the silence across the pair as the golden light illuminates their fur. Yui slowly walks into the room, standing at the doorway seeing the two in front of the fire, her ears catching his words."I didn't mean to-" Benjamin starts to apologize as he looks away."Just...leave it. I'd rather focus on studying than dating, so tell your female friends they can leave me alone...for once." He pushes past and walks towards another set of doors he slams shut behind him while Ben painfully watches himleave.'I pushed him too much...but it felt like he needed to get that off his chest...I feel bad though, should I go after him?'"Benjamin?" Yui's voice breaks his thought and his ears perk seeing her standing nearby holding out her arms. She smiles a little "I uhm followed to make sure you were okay, since you seemed weird and well, why are you wearing a wolf mask?" Benjamin looks back towards the door Kinn left through."You saw through the disguise earlier didn't you?" he replies, to which Yui walks up to him and runs her paw over his cheek, feelingthe fur."Did you want to experience what having thick fur was like maybe? Or was it something else...?" she asks, tilting her head her tail curls swaying side to side."I er, wanted to see what being a canine was like and I gotta say they aren't easy haha!" he jokes rubbing his head. She laughs softly and looks around him."Where is your date? Did she come with you? Is she wearing a mask too?""Oh you mean Karen? Well we aren't really going together." The words clearly piercing Yui as she stays calm, nose twitching and smiling behind her pain. In the Ballroom Karen is dancing with adragon. As she spins her eyes fall upon Benjamin talking with Yui.Her fur fluffs up. She breaks away from her partner headingtowards the doorway to the other room. "Ah! There she is".Says Benjamin as Yui turns around, seeing a large fox girl standing right behind her, closer than she would have liked. She smiles sweetly."Enjoying the night Karen?""Yes I am. I think your friends were calling for you Yui. I've got to talk to sweet Benjamin for a minute, okay?" Yui, feeling embarrassed, turns around to excuse herself but to their surprise Benjamin is suddenly gone."Huh! Where did he go?""You scared him off...I told you he had a date to the Ball, and I said to just forget about him!" Karen growls a little.'I don't think Benjamin knows this is a date...' Yui thinks before she sways her tail in front of Karen's face."Uh yeah totally, I can see you both are spending a lot of time together. Anyway, you said my friends were wanting me so I will leave you all alone and you can go have fun with...your friend." Sheflicks her tail in Karen's face slightly and walks off confidently,leaving Karen standing alone in front of the fireplace, the flames burning around her as she glares at Yui with the same fire.Benjamin walks down the hallway looking for Kinn, his shadow cast by the fake moonlight flooding through the windows.'Where is he? Man I messed up again, I came on too strong, right? I should have played it cool. Now he's gone and I made him admitsomething so personal...he'll never look at me again now that I know...I have to tell him, I have to, I must...I can't let him feel like this, just like...me.'Benjamin starts running, the scent of Kinn filling his nose. He stops running sniffing the air. The image of Kinn's scent trail forms in hismind as he opens his eyes, excited. "That's right! I forgot, wolves have great sense of smell and I can track him!"Inside the Great Hall the crowd murmurs as people dance. The music finishes with an applause as the Headmaster takes the stage near the back of the hall."Good evening students! Welcome to the annual witch's Ball, it has been such a wonderful night!" Karen is anxiously looking around trying to see if she can spot Benjamin. 'Where is he? That damn cat,what did she tell him. I want to dance with him at midnight, I want us to be a real thing...'Yui is in the bathroom. Rubbing her eyes, she gazes over herself in the mirror. She sniffs as her makeup is running down her face. She wipes her eyes, clearly having been crying, and pulls her wand out to cast a spell while twirling it. "Mdusso" Her makeup goes back to normal and she touches her cheeks, looking down at the reflection in the water.'Karen doesn't want me getting close to Benjamin,she wants him all to herself... I won't let that stop me, I won't let her use him for her own selfish reasons, lying to people that they are a couple? Keeping it hidden...no I won't take that...but why was Benjamin a wolf, is he not proud being a cat? Does he hate being seen assomething small and weak...there were plenty of mask options at that local store, even Karen was a fox,something different and strange butitsuits her personality...but Ben as a wolf...does he...?'Her mind flashes back to when she walked into the doorway seeing Benjamin and Kinn standing in the flames of the fireplace and her ears catching Kinn's words seeing Benjamin's face not be hurt or upset, but one of relief or happiness maybe.'Do you like Kinn...romantically?'Benjamin opens the metal door to the roof of the Great Hall. The pale moonlight filtered through the roots and rocks above in the cavern's roof, spotting areas with moonlight. Standing above the glass roof, kneeling down, was Kinn, staring down into the hall below, observing, as his ears twitch turning his head, seeing who had been following him. "You again? Have you come to interrogate me again for your friends? Get the hint already and leave me alone!""What do you mean? I don't-""Everyone is the same. Get information on a person then exploit them!" He sighs and glares down at the Headmaster who continues to address the crowd as teachers nod and smile. "Everyone...is the same"."Kinn, I promise not everyone is like that". Benjamin starts walking over the roof towards Kinn. "It's easier to just distance myself and keep low...not let anyone use me even more"."What do you mean even more?" Ben asks surprised, Kinn turns back looking away knowing he let too much information slip. Ben looks down at the crowd seeing Karen pushing through the crowd a little, looking around. "Isn't that Kar-Karina?""Karen? The fox down there? Is she...she's wearing a mask of course...that's why I couldn't find him." Kinn says, letting out an annoyed sigh."Oh? Who are you looking for, maybe I've seen them around the dance?""A kid named Benjamin. He's small, gray feline cat, but if he has a mask on down there I don't have much hope of seeing him." At those words Ben blushes more, tail wagging slightly.'God stupid canine tails! STOP!....He'slooking for me? Why am Iso special to him?'"Did he do something?" As he asks that, the larger wolf flicks his ears and looks back towards Ben."No, uh, I just wanted to make sure he's doing okay... I guess..." Kinn replies and glares at the Headmaster again."Awe that is so sweet of you. I take back what I said when I said you were scary, you are super sweet." Kinn pouts, knowing he wasn't really worried about Benjamin, just needing to keeping tabs on him. He lets out a hollow reply."Thanks..."Inside the Great Hall below the glass where Benjamin and Kinn watch from, the large panda keeps talking to everyone."Now as tradition, we will be having the midnight dance mark the new cycle and as legend goes, doing this with your partner will bond you as lovers, so partner up and make your way to the dance floor!"He bellows and offers a paw to Mrs Cackle, who takes it. Karen is frantically looking for Benjamin, checking near the back of the hall and rushing back to the fireplace, her face desperate.'Where is HE? This wasn't the plan, no no, no!!'Yui walks into the hall coming back from the bathroom. Karen is suddenly in her face, making her jump back a little, "WHERE IS HE?""Who? What are you talking about?" Yui asks, confused, as Karen holds her shoulders."Don't play dumb with me cat. Benjamin! I've been looking all over for him and ever since he talked to you he's been gone! What didyou tell him?"'Wait- he hasn't come back yet?' Yui thinks before giving a firm push to get Karen off her dress. "Let go off me! Have you checked the restroom?" At the words of hope Karen pushes Yui out of the way and rushes down the hall, dress in her paws. Yui brushes herself off unwrinkling her dress and gazes around, watching the students pair off to dance. Moving over to the wall she leans on it, watching contently.'Even if I don't get to dance with Benjamin I'll be happy that Karen won't be dancing with him either...but where did he run off to?'Ben is kneeling next to Kinn as Karen races out of the hall. Kinn lets out a huff before gazing up, letting the moonlight cover half his face. "It seems like his friend doesn't even know where he is...""I'm so dead, I couldn't even do this task, tonight of all nights."Benjamin stands up, brushing his shorts, getting the dust off. Seeing Kinn's face and hearing the music below he had an idea. Holding his paw out to the other wolf, "What? Do you want me to give yousomething?""No No! I uhm, wanted to ask you to maybe dance?" Benjamin asks shyly, his face red and tail wagging. Kinn stands up, taller. Looking down at Ben the music also catching his ears."Dance...with me?" Kinn says still not really taking the offerseriously as Benjamin nods, clearly flushed. Keeping his paw out, Kinn is still convinced it's a joke. "How about...if you dance with me, I'll be quiet about your secret...deal?" Benjamin says with a bit more firmness towards Kinn who thinks for a moment."My.. Secret?" he says unsure of what the other wolf had put together about his situation."Yes.. I feel we are in the same boat.." Ben says hopefully as Kinn, reluctantly takes Benjamin's paw in his own and pulls the smaller wolf to his chest."Fine but I'm leading...got it?" They both slowly sway in a waltz around the rooftop, Ben's eyes gazing up to the dark wolf. Kinn was obviously nervous and flushed and trying to keep cool, to keep his secret was the price."You know I didn't actually come to get information earlier...at the fireplace." Kinn cocks an eyebrow, doubtful."Oh really?" They both spin slowly, Benjamin holding the wolf's larger paw. Still blushing, he nods."I just wanted to talk and know about you a little so we couldbe...friends." Kinn realizing that he read the situation wrong earlier is now embarrassed and looks away, still focused on leading the dance. "But you don't need to worry Kinn, I wouldn't tell anyone anyway. I know how it feels to hold a secret like this from yourfriends and family." The last words seem to break through Kinn as his annoyed look fades and they both stare into each other's eyes. "I understand you Kinn, for who you are and I accept you." Those words make Kinn's eyes widen as he notices Benjamin's are filled with tears as they dance and his paws grip Kinn's tighter."You aren't weird, you aren't bad and you are just like anyone else, you are important and wanted!" Benjamin continues as tears roll down his cheeks. The words filling Kinn's ears are more personal than he has heard in years. He continues to dance with Ben beforethey slowly stop above the glass ceiling, the glow from the ballroom illuminating them from below.Kinn looks a little shocked after hearing the words of Benjamin as he looks up at him crying happily. Led by pure emotion that warmed his heart, finally feeling understood, Kinn instinctively closes his eyes, leaning down, Ben does the same, leaning closer until their lips connect into a soft kiss, a small taste of each other before drawing closer into another, deeper kiss. Kinn wraps his arms around the more feminine waist of Benjamin as he wraps his arms around Kinn's more broad chest. Not even the loud toll of the midnight bell stops them from sharing this moment.The bell rings loudly echoing throughout the academy, through the empty classrooms, hallways, and courtyards. Yui stands at the fireplace watching the fire crackle and split wood; the warmth adding a comfort to her as she smiles a little turning her head towards the ballroom, seeing the couples dancing and then glancing up at the glass ceiling to look at the moon, but instead noticing two figures standing on the glass. She stares at them with surprise for a few and smiles again imagining the beauty of the moment they share.The echoing of the bell can be heard outside the entrance of the mountain, twigs are snapping and the rustling of bushes interrupt the quiet of the forest, Karen stomps through the foliage, pushingpast trees until she arrives at the pond, her dress shows its been ripped by branches and her own claw marks, she sits on the edge of the water, her makeup ruined by the amount of tears she had shed while leaving the academy, the moonlight ripples across the water. Karen sniffs burying her face in her knees, crying some more still and trying to muffle her wailing through the fabric of her dress. Her tear drops spring little stems from the ground as she hears movement behind her, clenching her teeth in a mix of anger and annoyance, she stands up and turns around, pulling out her wand she glares towards the dark forest."WHOEVER IS THERE STOP FOLLOWING ME!" she screams into thedarkness, her voice breaking as she aims her wand tightly in her shaky paw. "Tonight is not the night to mess with me" the noisecontinues as it gets louder and louder and Karen braces herself, the foliage is parted and a creature emerges, a Gildridge, it was small but coated in golden scales, its glowing green eyes stare upon the small forest witch in the torn gown. Karen sighs and sniffs lowering her
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wand slowly. "It's just..you.." she mutters feeling even more embarrassed, she turns facing the pond, seeing the treehouse she created with Benjamin on the other side, feeling her rage swelling up inside, raising her wand she points it towards the large structure."Infrakku" she mumbles, the tip of her wand blooming as the tree shakes and she moves forward slowly pushing into the water."Infrakku.. infrakku.. INFRAKKU INFRAKKU" she starts yelling, screaming, crying out as she wades deeper and deeper into the water, the tree groans, cracking and shaking as it starts to snap and bend before it explodes, splinters flying over the water as branches fall into the pond.Karen stares up at the breaking tree, her body under the water, only her chest and shoulders really showing, glaring and panting while tears roll down her face. Someone slowly clapping can be heard from the shore, turning back she see's a dark tall figure."Now THAT right there was some REAL power... "
