Birds and Brooding

 

After their first day’s dismissal, Akira snooped around the school for more than an hour, course schedule and campus map in hand. “I think I’m going to like Integrated History of the Unknown World.”

“Hmm.”

“Not because of the topic, of course.” Akira turned into a long, empty hallway. “I mean, even if you add in the Amaranthine parts, history is still just going to be history. Long lectures. Hand cramps from note taking. Memorizing facts. But I really liked Sedge-sensei.”

“Hmm.”

Akira tried a door and found it locked. Pressing his nose to the window, he squinted into the dim room beyond. “This hall must be for club rooms. I see shogi boards. Or maybe they’re for go? I can’t tell, the way they’re stacked.”

Moving along, Akira found evidence of a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities. Clubs were supposed to begin rallying for members next week. He’d like to join one, but only if Suuzu was interested, too. His best friend trailed after him, not complaining—not that he ever did—but extra solemn in a way that Akira had decided was Suuzu’s version of sulking. Change was hard for him, on a very basic level. But that’s exactly why they needed to hurry up and familiarize themselves with their new home.

“Do you think I could be like him?”

Suuzu’s head came up and angled sharply. “Who?”

“Sedge-sensei.” Akira waved a hand. “He’s short like me, but he holds his head high. And everyone treats him with so much respect.”

His best friend absently rearranged Akira’s hair. “You lack his dignity. And his posture is a practical necessity.”

Sedge Daphollow was a member of one of the deer clans, as evidenced by the graceful set of antlers crowning his head. Akira supposed they did contribute to his bearing. They were probably heavy.

Suuzu’s narrow gaze hadn’t wavered. “I was not aware you craved respect.”

Akira blinked. “I don’t.”

“What do you want?”

“Usually, I want to be taller.”

His best friend’s expression faltered into bafflement. “Then why would you aspire to be like the shortest teacher on campus?”

He wasn’t sure how to explain. “If I can’t be tall, I can still be … well, I dunno. Since you say dignity is out.”

Suuzu’s soft trill was apologetic. Pulling Akira backward into his chest, the phoenix said, “Greater height will not win a greater portion of my regard.”

“Hey, no one said I was trying to impress you.”

“Impression was accomplished nearly four years ago, at a time when you were several inches shorter.” Suuzu drooped against him. “Please, Akira. I want to go home.”

 “Dorms next, then. Maybe we can hang out with Kimi some more.”

The phoenix’s grip tightened.

Akira remained still, letting Suuzu have his way. “Just us and Kimi for now. But you’ll see. Pretty soon, we’ll be friends with the whole class.”

“Hmm.”

Gently pulling free, Akira grabbed his friend’s hand and hauled him toward the closest stairwell. Because his nestmate needed him and home—two things that Akira had already learned were nearly synonymous.
 

Akira backtracked more slowly along the double-row of mailboxes, reading the neat labels. “Her name’s not here.”

“She may have found other, more private accommodations,” Suuzu said.

“Isla’s name’s not here, either.”

The phoenix patiently pointed out, “Isla is a child. She is undoubtedly quartered with her mentor.”

“I wanted to talk more with Kimi.”

“We are not allowed in the female section of the dormitory, nor they in ours.”

“Yeah, I know.” Akira shuffled out of the narrow mail room and into the building’s spacious student center. “But there’s plenty of places to meet down here.”

“Hmm.”

Akira knew full well that Suuzu would have preferred ‘other, more private accommodations.’ They could have afforded a large, quiet apartment nearby, but Akira had insisted that the dorm would be more convenient. And more fun. If he let Suuzu take him off campus every night, they’d miss out on mingling with their classmates after school. Or meeting students in the grades below theirs.

His phone warbled, and he pulled it from his jacket pocket. He’d sent out New Year’s greetings in the form of text messages, and he’d been getting replies all day. “Timur this time,” he said, holding the phone for Suuzu to see.

Timur was Isla’s older brother. The photo he’d sent showed the young man—sixteen now—striking a pose on a snowy mountaintop.

“Where is he?” asked the phoenix.

“He can’t tell us. I’m pretty sure it’s some kind of family secret.” The young battler had been away since the previous summer, training with relatives from his mother’s side of the family. “But based on that hat, I’m guessing Russia.”

“There is an excess of fur.” Suuzu had always shown a marked preference for feathers.

They cut across the student center, aiming for the elevators, but Akira’s steps slowed. “This is so unreal.”

No expense had been spared on the housing for this brand new educational facility. The central lounge that served as a student center wasn’t unnecessarily lavish, but Akira figured the extras had been pricey. Like the classrooms, every effort had been made to combine human expectations with Amaranthine requirements.

Elaborate skylights let in daylight, which bounced from polished metal disks and silvered mirrors into quiet corners and alcoves. A central fire pit crackled under a ventilation shaft, and tables and lampstands held fat candles or oil lamps. Natural materials dominated—rough stone, polished wood, woven mats—and sturdy couches and chairs clustered here and there throughout the space.

Most eye-catching were the living elements. Trees grew in tubs, and vines swung from planters along three levels of balconies. Akira could hear the steady trickle of water coming from one corner, and birds twittered. He even spotted a couple of really weird winged lizard thingies that had to be Ephemera.

“Wow. Is that an eagle?” he asked, pointing to a large bird whose perch looked to be cut from a good-sized cedar.

“Hawk,” Suuzu replied, lifting a hand in greeting. “She is one of the dormitory’s Kith guardians. Her partner is there.”

Akira spun and located the second vantage point. A lofty platform had been set up, and he could see enough protruding sticks to recognize its purpose. “A nest?”

“Naturally.” A shrilling call pierced the air, and the phoenix acknowledged the greeting with a dip of his head and demure trill. “The clans did not send their student representatives alone. We will see to the comfort of the Kith even as they see to our safety.”

Kith were another kind of Amaranthine, sentient animals that lived and worked in cooperation with their clans or sometimes with a reaver partner. Akira knew one personally since a large black feline lived at Stately House. Minx was partnered to Isla’s battler mom.

“Hard to miss the ones at the entrances.” Akira peered toward the east-facing door, which was flanked by deep alcoves. Today, the posts were filled by a pair of wire-haired wolfhounds the size of horses.

“Hmm.” Suuzu’s whole attitude begged for retreat.

Akira took the hint and headed for the elevator on the boys’ side of the dormitory. A push of the button, and the doors glided open with a soft whoosh of air and a barely discernible ding. Suuzu crept into the corner and sagged against the railing. Akira jabbed the button for the top floor, but before the doors could slide all the way shut, a hand cut in and the doors parted. 

Another passenger stepped in, looming in the close space and eyeing them narrowly. Utter silence reigned as the doors whispered shut, and then Akira shook free of his shock. Suuzu reacted at almost the same time as they threw themselves at the newcomer.

“Juuyu!” Akira’s nose mashed against silk-draped strength as he was pulled firmly against their visitor’s side. “I thought you were in Europe or something!”

His best friend was tucked under Juuyu’s other arm, his cheek pressed against the lapel of a dark wool suit, his hair gently rearranged by a clawed hand.

An undercurrent of joy suffused Suuzu’s greeting. “Brother.”