Dragon's Tail

Chapter 3: Looming and Booming

Standing at the gates, I finally grasp how big this place is. There are 2 massive buildings on each side of the main encampment. The side buildings were almost identical, aside from a crest on each respectfully. A claw to the right and what looked like a fern to the left.

The entire ground was surrounded by a brick wall, just over my hight, and I am standing tall at six feet three inches. there is a squirrel on the wall, a nut in hand. I have the urge to grab it. I have always loved animals but holding a wild creature is just thrilling, and so many people are too good for living breathing beings, it's sad. Pushing that thought aside, I hold the paper that is my lifeblood and walk through the menacing gate with only a backpack full of necessities, hopefully, to start anew.

Looking around in the main... lobby? I spot a couple parents waiting anxiously for their child to compete getting everything sorted out, like the room number, maps, and keys. I heard on my way in that this school is so fancy, there are no keys, jut keyCARDS! That's amazing because I can't do shit with a normal key. I sit down on the edge of the row of surprisingly comfy chairs and wait my turn.

"Dragon Flake?" An annoyed voice interrupts my slumber. I shake my head, both to clear it and remember where I am. I can sleep anywhere, even on the hood of a cold car outside in a field. I look up at the receptionist and get up quickly dusting myself off. I grab my backpack and... the paper... the acceptance paper was on my backpack... I put it there... where is it?! I start to panic than realize something. I turn slowly to the front desk. "How did you know my name?" I ask the lady in plaid behind the desk. She waves my letter in front of her.

"I saw you clutch it for dear life coming in, so I saved it from the custodian when it dropped on the floor. Now, before you accuse me of snooping, our letters have a stamp on them, so I saw without looking. Make sense?" I nod slowly and walk over to her. She is wearing a plaid shirt with over sized glasses that sit on the edge of her nose, reading glasses probably, and a matching shirt. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun and as she stared me down I stared back. Normally I'm not too assertive, people merely stay out of my way. At my last school, I beat up someone bigger than me and won my dominance. This woman was trying to intimidate me, and no way was I letting that happen. "Do you have any allergies to fur or feathers of anything animal related?" she finally asks, looking down at her screen. I was stunned for a second, why would you ask that?

"No," I reply, confused. They had something similar before, but I had thought it was for food purposes If they would need to set aside more peanut free meals or such. They had a SNACK BAR! Food is the god of all, do not disrespect. "Mhm. Well, congratulations!" She swung her hands open as if she was going to give a hug to the air. "You are just in time! We actually only have a few left, so we had to renovate some not-so-dorm-rooms to dorm rooms." She gives me a crooked smile, and presently asks "Do you want one at the top or bottom?" I was confused, but seeing my face, she continued. "the towers or the basement"

"Basement, please."

She nods, and types something into the computer for a moment.

"Dragon? I have your room" She barked, bringing me to my feet and walking one again to her desk. "The number is 118, Here is the key-card," She said not looking up from her screen. She glanced up at me, smiled, and winked. Not unkindly, But I feel a chill go up my spine. I nodded once more, took a map, and looked where I was going. To the house with a claw.