A warming spring day was waiting as the tall gray rabbit morph stepped out of the building. He was glad to be done with Integral Calculus and had four hours before Canine Biology. Unfortunately, he had some worksheets to catch up on before then that would require some serious reading. He started across the field towards his dorm, but stopped in the middle. A few other morphs had camped out with their books to enjoy the sun and he decided to join them. Finding a clear space far enough from anyone else that he wouldn't be distracted, he sat down and pulled out his book. With a sigh of satisfaction and resignation, he lay back in the grass and began to read.
As his brain began to reject the steady stream of input, he decided it was time to try the worksheets. He grabbed his bag and pulled them out, then rolled over on his belly in the grass. With everything fresh, the answers came quickly. He didn't even need to go back to the book for many. With just a few answers left, something smacked into his tail and he jumped over his book, scrambling to his feet and looking around.
He saw a group of assorted canine morphs laughing at him and a papillon morph picking up a football, “Hey, long ear, I've been calling you, are you deaf? Clear the field.”
He smirked and brushed off his front, “Look who's talking.”
She stuffed the round ball under her arm and pointed a finger at him, “Hey, don't you make fun of my ears or I'll have to kick your little furry tail right off your fat ass.”
“Why don't you drop the ball and I'll show you some real kicking.”
This resulted in some jeers from her pack.
“Fine!” the small dog threw the ball down between them and readied herself to fight.
The rabbit quickly snagged the ball and toed it into the air, bouncing it on one knee, then the other, off his head and his tail, then a kick behind him sent the ball over his head and he caught it on his ankle, “So, who's on my team?”
The pack laughed, jeered and cheered as a tall gray wolf stepped forward to offer a paw, “Looks like we've got a new player. I'm Grant.”
The rabbit took the paw, “I'm Don.”
“The hypersensitive fuzz is Brizitt.”
“Hey!” She glared at the wolf.
“The black puff is Chai; the smart blonde here is Evan; that not-a-wolf over there is Sven, but we call him Switch, you'll find out why soon enough; and the mountain in the back is Rook.”
Don nodded to each: the Chow, Labrador, Husky and Mastiff; then gave Brizitt a smile.
“So, I'll take Don and Chai. Hey Switch, go set up the field.”
The husky grabbed a stack of small cones from Chai and took off.
“Now our teams are uneven,” the 145cm papillon stepped up to the 180cm wolf.
“You know they're not. Three on three is more even than we had.”
“But what about …” she trailed off as she looked across the field and saw the husky leaning over a sand colored cat that was trying to read a book. “Oh. Right. Fine.”
Grant smirked and called across the field, “Switch! Now the other goal!”
The surprised husky fell over on the feline, resulting in a screaming hiss as he scrambled to get up and run to the other end of the field. Unfortunately, he had to run back to get the cones he dropped and got hit with the book that she threw. He politely picked it up and handed it back to her, but received an angry hiss instead of a thank you.
The pack laughed at the scene and gathered to begin their game. Time passed quickly as they played and soon Don's alarm let him know it was time for class. He grabbed his books and waved goodbye.
The wolf jogged up to the rabbit, “Hold on, we'll go with you. We can swing by the caf for drinks. You're really good. Rook's got his extra reach and Evan's always a thought ahead of me, but you breezed by both of them.”
“When your family is big enough to be a team, you get plenty of practice.”
Brizitt appeared beside him, “Yeah, why aren't you hanging out with the other rabbits?”
“Sometimes I just need to get away from all the same.”
“I thought rabbits were all about making a world of just rabbits.”
Don snorted, “Those stupid rules. I'd be happy with just fewer assholes, rabbits included.”
The wolf laughed, “Guess you're out, Briz.”
“You want I should punch you in your balls again?”
“No, thank you. Once was enough.”
“Don! Don!” A white rabbit came running up, fast.
Briz stepped protectively in front of her new rabbit friend.
“Its okay, this is my brother, Ed.”
The papillon stepped back, but kept an eye on the new rabbit.
“Don! I got it! I'm going to Sydney!” he waved his phone.
“Congratulations! Did you tell mum, yet?”
“Not yet, I just got the call.”
“You better hurry, before somebody else does.”
“Right. Are you sure you don't want to come with me?”
“I'd rather finish my degree first.”
“I don't know why you want to limit yourself to just animals. We could do so much more if we worked together.”
“I don't want to limit myself to just helping morphs.”
“We'd be studying human anatomy, too. You'd be able to help anybody.”
“But still only the people that want me to.”
“That doesn't make any sense.”
“I've got a plan.”
“But...” Ed started to object.
Brizitt stepped up and put a paw on his chest, “You heard him, he's got a plan, and it involves not being late for class, so brother or not, move your tail, bun.” She was nearly a head shorter than the white rabbit, but she glared at him like she was ten times his size.
Don checked the time and hopped, “She's right and now I've got to run. Congrats, bro. See you back at the room. Call mum!” He ran down the path and the little dog followed quick, leaving the boys in a sudden silence. Switch ran after them for a bit, but noticed the others didn't follow, so he went back to find out why.
“Um, so, I'm Ed, Don's brother.” He held out a paw to the dogs.
Grant smirked, “Yeah, congrats on your … whatever. See ya later.” He turned and walked towards the cafeteria.
Evan shook the rabbit's paw, “Congratulations, you'll like Sydney,” then followed the wolf.
Rook nodded, “Congrats,” and walked away.
Switch watched the others, then grabbed Ed's paw and shook it vigorously, “Congratulations! Sydney's great! I'm Sven. You're Don's brother? He's a good player. Do you…” He looked over his shoulder and noticed his friends turning around the corner of the building. “Bye.” He dropped the rabbit's paw and took off quickly.
Ed stood stunned for a moment. His twin was always better at making friends with other species. He just couldn't understand how he did it. His phone buzzed and he checked it.
CallaLilly [Congratulations! Have you told mum, yet?]
He groaned. If his sister knew already, he had no time to waste. He dialed his mother to tell her the news.
As Don neared his classroom and slowed down, somebody grabbed his arm and yanked him to a halt. He turned around and the little papillon grabbed his shirt.
“Hey! You're not getting away that easy.” She shoved her paw in his pocket and pulled out his phone. She tapped at it while other students rushed past them and into the classroom. Her phone started playing music from her pocket and she smiled, then shoved his phone back in his pocket and gave it a pat. Without an explanation, she pulled out her phone and walked away, “Later, long ear!”
“Mr Lem. Are you coming to class today? Close the door behind you and take a seat.”
The gray rabbit pulled himself together and went to class.
