~~~~~ Kyle’s POV ~~~~~

Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Be*Click*

“I’m up already you stupid alarm!” I say to the devilish device that haunts me every single day. I move to the edge of the bed, tossing my legs over the side and letting out a big yawn as I stand up. I slowly make my way over to my bedroom door, in no hurry to start the day. I walk out of my room and down the hall to the bathroom.

‘Thank God, Sara’s already done. Now I don’t have to wait to go.’ I think to myself as I enter and turn the light on so I can see. After relieving my bladder I move to the sink to wash my paws. As I wash them I look at myself in the mirror. I see a male fox with dark red eyes, soft, triangular ears, and a black nosepad. Ink black fur covering most of my body. I have white fur on the tips of my ears and from the sides of my muzzle down my neck and torso, past my sheath and inner thighs, and across my rump to the base of my tails. I blush a bit thinking how the white fur on my rump is in the shape of a heart.

I also have my species' classic "socks" on my paws, which end at my mid-thigh and mid-forearm in what resembles dancing flames. I think it looks really cool myself. My paws also have classic pink pads and semi-sharp, retractable, black claw. I look to my muzzle to find the side markings typical of being a fox, though they are white and are unusually bent to look like thick lightning bolts. Another thing about me I think is cool. A smile plays across my muzzle as I think about the softness of my fur, so soft and delicate it puts silk to shame.

Despite these things I like about myself, my weak, thin, and undefined build is one thing I don't like so much. Though, I guess me being shy around others and somewhat uninterested in most sports doesn't really help that. However, no matter what I like or dislike about myself, the three white-tipped tails I see swaying behind me are something I feel proud to hold: a trait only a real kitsune has.

After admiring myself I begin the typical morning routine for any teenage male about to go to school: brush my teeth, spray myself with a pheromone suppressing deodorant (to avoid a lot of embarrassing and likely dangerous situations), brush my fur so it looks presentable. Once done I head back to my room and strip out of my boxers, the only thing I wear when I sleep. I walk over to my closet to grab my school clothes. I select a pair of blue jean shorts and a simple dark grey shirt with a cross on it. I also grab a new pair of boxers from my dresser and proceed to get dressed.

After I’m dressed I walk over to my desk to grab my backpack that’s hanging from the back of my chair and cram my textbooks and homework into it. I shoulder the bag and again walk out of my room and down the stairs. I walk into the kitchen and, seeing no one else around, simply grab an apple and my lunch off the counter and walk out the door. I stuff the apple into my muzzle briefly so I can lock the front door before I turn around and begin the twenty-or-so minute walk towards Redwall High.

As I walk I think about the new teacher I’m going to have for my World History class. Apparently my old teacher Mr. Dalron had won the lottery and almost immediately retired afterwards. That old, leonine bastard, not one student liked him. He was rude, impatient, mean, and gave us all so much class and homework. He never gave anyone a break except for his son, James, who just so happens to be in my class. He barely did anything school related in class, usually only sleeping and his father didn’t do anything to him. Lucky Bastard! ‘Whatever, I’ll find out later in fourth block who the new teacher is.’

I end my rambling thoughts as I walk onto the school grounds. I walk another few minutes to my locker, tossing the remains of my breakfast in a trash can that I passed, and opened it. As I am switching the textbooks that are in my bag now with the ones I’ll need for the first half of the day, I get violently shoved into the row of lockers and fall to the floor in pain.

“Move it FREAK! I don’t want to see your stupid ass near my locker.” a gruff and familiar voice snarls above and behind me. I freeze, dreading to turn but doing so anyways, to see the angry face of the same lion that I was thinking about earlier. James looks every much like his father: tall, muscular, and with a full brown mane.

I get up and run for my first class, Art III, which is on the other side of the campus. I zip past dozen of other student, all of which give me space so they don’t touch the “school freak”. I dash into the Science & the Arts building’s back door and make for room 713. I stop just outside it to catch my breath and walk in calmly so I don’t worry my teacher, Mrs. Frost.

Mrs. Frost, or Amy as only I and another pawful of other students are allowed to call her, is one of the few people in the school that actually like me and didn’t consider me a freak just because of my nature as a kitsune. She is an elderly mouse, though her looks and bright enthusiasm betray her age. She is extremely kind to all of her students and encourages them to do their best, and that’s what I love about her.

Just as I end that thought I see her walk into the classroom and head straight for her office, which is separated from the rest of the classroom. As she closes the door more students walk in and take their seats, but not before glaring at me which they couldn’t do while Amy was in the room without getting in trouble. I shrug them off, having grown to be unaffected since I get them virtually every day. I go through art and my second class, Trigonometry, on auto-pilot, since I do extremely well in both classes even if I’m not entirely there.

Ding...Ding

I get up as the bell for lunch goes off I get up slowly, so I don’t get trampled by the rush of students out the door. I never understood why everyone rushes to the cafeteria yet constantly complain about the quality of the food. Must have to deal with having friends, which I don’t. Unlike the others I head in the opposite direction, walking calmly to the library, while still avoiding the slower students.

Just like Amy, the vixen librarian, Mrs. Summers, is one of the few people on campus that are nice to me. She is a typical red fox with burnt-orange and white fur and a kind and quiet personality. I walk in and immediately head to her little cubicle-like office behind the check-out desk. I open the door and poke my head through and see her at her desk reading and eating a small lunch.

“Hey Mrs. Summers. How are you today?” I say in a quiet and friendly manner. She looks up at the door and sees me. A warm smile crosses her muzzle as she speaks to me.

“Hi Kyle! I’m doing just fine thank you. And what of yourself kit.” She says in what I guess is a trained librarian voice: soft and quiet, yet still able to be heard.

“I’m okay I guess. Do you mind if I eat at one of the tables while I do my Trig homework?” I reply, which gets a small chuckle from Mrs. Summers.

“Silly Kyle. Don’t you mean your ‘library work’ since you almost always do it here. Also, I told you already, you don’t have to ask me to eat here as long as it’s during lunch hours and you clean up after yourself.” She replies while still smiling at me.

“Thank you Mrs. Summers, I will. Now, if you will excuse me.” I say as I close the door and head for one of the open tables meant for students. I sit down and pull out my bagged lunch and my trig book. It takes all of fifteen minutes before all my work is done and about half my lunch is gone. I put away my textbook and get up to find another book I can read. Due to all the time I spend here, it’s really hard to find a book that I haven’t already read, even in this big library. I hear chuckling behind me and turn to see Mrs. Summers looking at me with a smile.

“Honestly kit, if you keep this up I might lose my job because I can’t entertain someone with something as simple as a book.” She says to me. I laugh myself knowing she is making light fun of my big habit of reading. I am an extremely fast reader and can remember almost every book I’ve read with great detail. As such, most of the books here are useless at entertain me.

“I’s sowwy, Mrs. Summers. I twy and be better for you” I say an a childish voice which makes both of us laugh.

Ding...Ding

“Well, it looks like my job is safe, at least for another day.” She says as I grab my bag and trash and head out to my next class. As I walk, my mind drifts back to the subject of my new teacher and ideas about what he or she is like. I went through dozens of traits I thought he or she may have. However, only two of them stood out: hoping the teacher was a he and praying he would at least not hate me just for my species.

I walk up to room 216 in the history building. Since the library is right next the history building I was the first student in the room. As I walk in I glance at the room and take a step back. The entire room had been changed! What the hell... just when did the sub find time to do all this? I look around to see that the desks were set up in normal rows, but they crisscrossed with each other. All of the posters that were up are gone and different ones were up. The teacher’s desk was different too, in was bigger and brand new, and looked like it was made from really expensive wood. While looking at the desk, something on the wall catches my eye. I look to find the regular dry erase board gone and in its place is a brand new smart board.

Despite the shock that all this brought, I also noticed that the teacher was not in the room but there was a sheet of paper hanging from his desk. I walk over to see it’s a sheet of paper with a list of the student’s names on it and next to the names are letters. At the top of the page it says: Find the desk with the letter that is next to your name. I will try to return no later than five minutes after the late bell.

I look and see that the teacher must have randomized the names cause there didn’t look to be any since of order. I find my name and see that the letter C is beside it. Looking at the desks again in find that the letter A desk is the closest and the order starts going to its right. I sit in the third desk from the teacher and wait for everyone else.

Everyone else did the same actions as I did, with the addition of glaring at me. Once the bell had rung, they all went about talking to each other about the gossip they had heard detailing the new teacher.

“Did you hear? Our new teacher is a snow leopard, and he’s so cute?”

“Yeah, I also heard he’s really young, not much older than us.”

I got bored listening and just stared at the front of the room, waiting for the teacher to return. Like the note said, almost five minutes on the dot, a snow leopard walked in and stopped in the front of the room and turned to face us. All I can say is that what I had overheard the others say was true. This guy looked really young compared to some of the other teachers here.

He had a slim, athletic build, which made me think he is or at least was a runner. His eye were pale green are showed enthusiasm and joy. He had soft, rounded ears, with the left one looking like it had a new Bluefang in it, which was the furry equivalent to the human's Bluetooth. His nose pad was unusually pink, which was odd since every other snow leopard I've seen have black ones. His fur is a smoky gray color over the outside and back of his body like his arms, back, legs, and the top of his tail.

He also had soft, white fur that I guess went from where I could see of his face to the underside of his tail. His forepaws had black pads and claws and are mostly gray like his arms with his fingers and palms being white. Like most furries, he didn't have shoes, so I could see his footpaws were also gray and his toes and soles were white. One unique thing about him was that his species classic black spots were all in the shape of sakura petals. His tail was thick, long, flexible, and bushy. It looked like it would make a great blanket or pillow.

Overall he was really cute in my eyes. Since I was gay and him so young, he was definite eye candy for me. However, I knew I had no change with him since, along with his regular teacher attire, he was wearing a collar, which meant he was already taken. As I thought that, I, along with some of the girls in the room, let out small sighs of disappointment.

Despite my disappointment, the collar looked incredible and I couldn't help but admire it. It was very attractive, looked light weight, and was covered with fine white gold and blue sapphires with a large moss agate centerpiece. Around the collar I could see thirteen small spikes evenly-spaced from the centerpiece. They were each a different color of the rainbow, with the two on the side of the agate stone being red and continuing back to meet with a single violet spike. Hanging below the agate is a small, pink heart that dangles off the front of the collar and falls just above the "V” in his collar bone.

Since I was in the front and have good eyesight, I could read the inscription on the front. It read "Kitty” in curves and swirls in a cute and stylized way. If he wore something as nice as that, his mate must have deep pockets.

“I’m really sorry about not being here students. Apparently the principal need a little bit more information from me on some things, but none of that matters right now.” He says in a soft, kind voice that just made my ears tingle in joy.

“Now then, I would like to start class by asking if you are all in your assigned seats and not just sitting close to your friends? And before you say anything, no, these will not be your new seats. It’s just to help me today with learning your names. So tomorrow you can sit wherever you want.” He says to the entire class. I turn and see a few people moving to their proper seats so as to get this over with and avoid trouble.

“Good. Now I think it would be best if we went about to day like it was the first day of school. This way I can learn about you guys and you all can learn about me. Plus, that means no lesson and that means now work.” He said the last part with confidence knowing how the class would react. And react they did, they all shouted in joy at hearing no work.

“Well, I guess that means we’ve got an agreement. Alright, I think it would be best to start in alphabetical order, so let’s see hear.” He said moving to his desk and grabbing the note he left for us on his desk and flipping it around. Looks like that note was done on the back of a copy of our list of names.

“Ok now, what I want each of you to do when I call your last name is to stand up, say your first name or whatever you want me to call you as long as it’s reasonable, and state three things about yourself.” With that he started calling on students one-by-one. I simply waited nervously for him to get to me, dreading my introduction and what the others might yell out to embarrass me.

“Justine.” The snow leopard said out loud. I shyly stood up and before I could even say my name someone yelled out “Freak”. I knew who it was and as I turned to look for the lion something zipped right past my head, followed immediately by a yelp of pain from James. I look to see he was rubbing one of his paws with the other.

“James Dalron, right? You’re the son of the teacher I’m replacing. Watch your mouth from now on when it comes to those different from yourself.” The snow leopard said in a very serious manner that made him seem like a totally different person. “Now then, please start Mr. Justine.”

To say the class was surprised would be an understatement, all of us were shocked. To see a teacher not only speak up for me, but even strike another student in my defense was unbelievable. I stood there for a minute just thinking everything over. It wasn’t until I heard the snow leopard speak again did I come out of my dazed.

“Mr. Justine, if you want you don’t have to introduce yourself in front of everyone seeing as some of them aren’t too friendly with you.” He said, putting emphasis on the word while looking directly at James, who was still rubbing his paw and mumbling something about it being numb. I nodded and sat back down, shyly adding a ‘sorry’ while blushing in embarrassment.

“There’s no reason for you to be sorry, kit. Now then, let’s continue shall we.” He said and went back to calling off names. It took about twenty minutes for the other students to finish.

And with that, we are done with your introductions. Now, I guess I should do my own. First off, my name is Cecil Rose, but please call me Cecil, cause Mr. makes me feel old and I’m only 23. Now then, unlike you guys, I won’t be saying just three things about myself. Instead, I will answer any reasonable question that you ask me cause, come on, you all probably have several things that you all want to know about me. So, raise your hand or paw and I will call on you. Add if you yell one out, you’ll get the same thing as James back there” he said, the last sentence making the lion hiss in frustration.

~~~~~ Cecil’s POV ~~~~~

I ignore the lion boy’s hiss and point to an otter in the middle with his paw raised. “Yes Justin, what would you like to know?”

“Well, no to sound rude or anything, but how can you be a teacher at such a young age, even as a substitute?” he says.

“First I’d like to say I’m actually not a sub, but an actual teacher. I’m only filling in because Mrs. Dalron left so quickly. Starting next year I will be teaching Economic down the hall, so those of you that pass might end up having me again. Now, as for graduating at my age, it’s due to actually studying and doing well in college. That, and having some help from friends.” I say, hoping with the last part to make them think about their work, but not holding my breath. I then point to a human girl near the back.

“Sweet, my turn, what’s your favorite color?” she said excitedly, holding an assortment of markers.

“Odd question, but I guess I’d have to say it would be violet.” Once I said that she went about right in a purple-colored marker. I guess that’s just her personality. I then proceed through several other questions before I see the lion in the back hold up his uninjured paw. “Yes, James, what is your question?”

“What the heck did you do to my paw? It’s still numb, and what did you throw anyways? I couldn’t find anything on the floor.” He said in a half angry, half sad voice.

“Well, if I don’t know if I should answer that question. I’d have to have a talk with a certain someone before I would be allowed to reveal our secrets.” I say in a somewhat sneaky voice that seems to piss him off. However, before he could do more than growl at me I quickly say “Do you want me to do it again?” that seems to quiet him down a bit and he slumps back in his seat. As I think about how easily I can outdo him I see a white-socked paw hesitantly raise in the air.

“Ah, Mr. Justine, or I guess I should go ahead and call you Kyle. What kind of question do you have for me?” I say in a kind and inviting voice that seems to make him blush. If I wasn’t skilled in looking for the smallest details, his black fur would easily cover it.

“Um... well... it has to do with... with your collar’s spikes... since they were a rainbow... um... does that mean you are gay?” he said in a rather shy and uncomfortable voice. The voice alone made me realize that either he’s a closeted gay or is one of the curious types. Once he finished I noticed that a lot of the other student were murmuring to one another about the topic. I let out a chuckle at this.

“Well, an interesting question kit. And the answer is yes, I am gay and very happily mated I might add. I’d also like to add that starting tomorrow, and every Friday after that I will be holding in this room the school’s new GSA club, or for those of you that don’t know the terminology; it means the Gay Straight Alliance. It’s where kids that are of any orientation, not just straight or gay, can get together and try to make a safe environment for non-straight kids. And since I know how girl gossip and news-spreading works in high school, I'd like you all to also spread that the meetings are completely anonymous. Only those within the club will know who attends them. I really want you all to spread this message well cause I know how cruel life can be for gay and bi kids.” I say with changing emotions, the last part being said in a sad tone as a tear forms in my right eye.

“What do you mean, you know how cruel life can be?” I hear someone as I close my eyes from the flashing memories. I straighten up and steel myself for what I’m about to show them. I lift my arms toward my collar and proceed to remove it. As I take it off my neck, I hear several of the students gasp out in horror.

“This is what I mean. This scar, which is also the cause of the slight rasp in my voice, is something I received from someone I barely even knew, all just because I liked my own gender. Tell me, kids, do you really think that something as trivial as who I choose to bed with really warrants something as drastic as murder. Because if it wasn’t for my mate, I might very well have died that night. It’s also because of him and what he has done that I have the confidence to stand before you all now and express myself without any shame or fear.” I say mostly in a somber tone that conveys my emotions rather well to most of the students. I see of few of them rub their throats, where my large pink scar is, thinking about being in such a situation.

I also see the black kit, Kyle, with a look of both shock and absolute terror on his face. I knew then that he was gay, and not just confused, and was afraid the same thing could happen to him.

“How?” I hear someone say, and focus in on Jason, a skunk with two green stripes down his back instead of the normal one white stripe.

“What do you mean?” I say in a half sad, half curious tone.

“Just how? How can you have such confidence in yourself and your mate like that?” he says in a shocked tone.

“Because, he made me into what I am today. But when I was in your position, I was shy and quiet around others, but most importantly I was afraid of the hatred others would throw at me if they found out I was gay. I still remember the words he told me, ‘Be true about yourself, hold nothing back. Because if you aren’t true with yourself, how do you expect others to be friends with you if they don’t know the real you? Go, and be true with the world, and even if the whole world hates you, know that I will always be here, no matter what.’ You’re probably wondering how can anyone believe such a fool-hardly declaration as that one, but if only you saw the resolve in his eye, you would know he meant every word. I couldn’t help myself but believe him and imagine him facing the entire world without fear. I’ll admit that thought sent both a strong wave of fear and one of total ecstasy through me. When you find someone like that is willing to go so far for you, don’t let them go, because if you do, you’ll likely never find such a person again.” I again say a speech in several different emotions.

I knew just from the looks of my students that they were all in complete awe; even that tough lion boy James in the back had his muzzle slightly a gap by the end of my speech. I could only hope that it would influence their future choices. I looked to the clock and notice there was still so time left in class.

“I guess that’s a good enough stopping point. You all can have the rest of class to yourselves; just don’t get too loud now.” I say to the class, and then turn to the black fox in the front row. “Kyle, would you come with me to my desk and give me a more proper introduction, please?”

~~~~~ Kyle’s POV ~~~~~

As the rest of the class goes about talking with one another, I stand up and move to in front of Mr. Rose’s desk. He sits down in his chair and looks over at me.

“Well, now that it’s just the two of us, maybe you can properly introduce yourself, hm?” he says with a kind and inviting tone that make me subconsciously relax.

“Well, sir...” I start, but he instantly cuts me off with a wave of his paw. “No sirs, no Mr. Rose, only Cecil; do you hear me?”

“Yes, my bad. Well then, Cecil, you already know my name, so I guess I’ll just go with the other things. Um... well... I like to read, I pride myself in having an bill of health, good grades, and perfect teeth” I say, flashing a somewhat nervous smile that still shows off all of my fangs, which are sparkling white.

“Good, very good even. It’s rare to those that are healthy in both mind and body, even if they are not physically fit.” He says, gesturing to my body. That comment makes me blush under my fur, ashamed at how true it is. “Now then, there is nothing for you to be ashamed about. Now, that’s two things, what is a third that you would like me to know about.”

I blush even harder, not knowing if I should tell him that I’m gay. I think it over and decide I should, seeing as he already said he was.

“Well... um... I guess my third thing is that I’m...” I freeze, too nervous and unconfident to say it. However, he sees this and leans forward with a smile on his muzzle as simply say “... gay.” to finish for me. I stare, in complete shock, unable to move as my fears flash before me.

“Hehe... Its fine Kyle, your secret is safe with me. But kit, and I say this from experience, don’t let other people’s opinions bother you, cause even if they don’t like you, there will always be someone who either likes or loves you for who you really are. Now, will you do me the honor of letting me be your first real friend?” he said with confidence and extended his paw out towards me.

Once again, this feline has left me speechless. Such utter confidence, if only I could have a quarter of that, I would be happy. Still in complete shock, my paw still managed to clasp his and shook it. He gave a smile at this, and I couldn’t help but give one of my own in return.

“There we go. Now, if you don’t mind me asking? Where exactly are you guys in the course? When I said Mr. Dalron left quickly, I wasn’t kidding around; he left no information on where his classes were. The only real useful thing I have is the current grades, and many of you aren’t doing so well. Do you think you could help me for a bit?” he said with worry for all of us and a little embarrassment at his position. I couldn’t help but chuckle at this despite myself.

“Well, Mr. Dalron wasn’t the nicest or easiest teacher here, to say the least.” We talked for a bit about the class, our grades and some other things. Before I know it class is almost over. Cecil starts up and notions me back to my seat as he begins to address the class.

“Now then students, thanks to Kyle here, I now know where you guys are in the course. As such, I thought it best to inform you ahead that tomorrow I will be playing a movie and you may bring a few snacks, but no drinks except for water. I got to keep to at least some of the school rules. Also, quick reminder, like I said before, I really do want you all to spread the word on the GSA club. Please, I really want to help you kids have a brighter future.”

He finished just as the bell rang. As everyone, myself included, grabbed their belonging, I heard several of the females behind me saying that they were definitely spreading the word. I smiled at that, knowing that female’s gossiping spreads really quick. I bid Cecil farewell and head to my next class. Before I knew it, I was already at home. I guess my happiness from making a new friend made lose track of time.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow!”