ToLaD: Chapter 16: Sheer Loss
Braedon strolled into the school, his backpack slung over one shoulder. No one else decided to even look at him, so...... so far, so good. He's been getting some more unwanted attention due to his 'gift' protecting him from the dangers of a paper ball.
Looking up ahead, he saw the rows of students move out to the edges of the hall. And it was coming towards him.
When the splitting finally reached Braedon, the black fox finally realised that it was Mr Shinryu. And from the looks of him, he means business.
"Braedon, can I have a quick word with you in my office now, please?" He asked, despite it not being a question.
Braedon nodded, but it wasn't seen by the white dragon, who seemed to be glowing golden in the hallway lights. He caught up to the dragon and soon got pretty much into step with the principal. By the time the bell for the first class sounded, they arrived at the principal's office.
Mr Shinryu took his seat, while Braedon took one of the seats on the other side of the desk.
"I am well aware of your little display of your..... particular talents during a class just a fortnight ago. I was just unable to get to you until now because of more pressing matters."
"B-But, sir, I-I-I cannot control it. It just did it by itself."
"And who's to say that 'it' won't harm anyone? The first time you displayed it, you almost punched another student with it."
"But I didn't hit him! The very sight of it caused the fight to stop. What are you going to do?"
Mr Shinryu sighed. "I am deeply sorry for this, Braedon. But, from now on, you would have to be placed in a room by yourself during the rest time between sets of classes. I'm sorry, but its for everyone's peace of mind."
Braedon was shocked. Placed in a room, by himself, most likely with no one else? His shock transformed into anger at the unfairness of the situation.
"Everyone's peace of mind?! And what about me?! I won't have any kind of peace in any part of mine!" The black fox shouted, his anger already burning out.
"Listen to me very carefully, young Mr Reischer. Thank Suna that I cannot harm you, but I cannot have any part of your power go rogue, harm a student, and the peace that Sagmus so kindly built into this place will disintegrate. I'm not doing this to purposely cause offence to you, but to keep you from accidentally or purposefully harming others. Do you understand?" Mr Shinryu explained.
Braedon's anger was snuffed out and replaced by something else entirely. His face became solemn once more and he nodded his understanding.
"Good." Mr Shinryu said, hitting his claws upon the desk's surface.
He began to write a note for Braedon's lateness while Braedon just sat there and pondered on the coming days, weeks and possible months of loneliness in a room during recess and lunch. Mr Shinryu finished and placed the note in front of Braedon, bringing the fox out of his musings. Braedon picked the note up and walked out of the office and towards his locker. When he got his books, he closed his locker and went to his first class, giving the note to the teacher and getting to his seat.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Amato sat alone against the group's unofficial gathering spot, his tail flicking at odd moments. He could feel the nip in the air, suggesting that winter is on its way.
He was thinking. Something must've happened between the last day of last week and today to get Braedon so down on himself.
Most of the rest of the group turned up. Those left were confused by this, as well. Leonardo and Amato knew that Braedon was at school, but why he wasn't with them was beyond them.
A Border Collie came running down. The look in her eyes told the rest that she heard about something.
"Have you guys heard? Braedon's unable to spend time here again!" She exclaimed, earning her looks of confusion.
She groaned. "He's stuck in a room for both recess and lunch times for the gods know how long."
Most of the group were silent in shock. Until one decided to snap.
"MR SHINRYU DID WHAT?!!"
____________________________________________________________________________________
Braedon sat at the one table there, just staring at the patterns in the wood. It was a ploy to try to calm his sorrow, but it wasn't working. He felt a tear leak from his eye, but the fur nearby soaked it up. But more and more started to flow, making the fur matted and the tears to finally drop onto the table surface.
He stood from the lone table and sat down onto the carpet in the corner, huddled up to make himself as small as possible. He hugged his knees close and placed his eyes onto his knees, soaking his trousers with tears.
'It's so unfair. Why?' He thought.
The last word kept repeating in his mind, so much so that he started to mutter it into the small gap between his chest and his legs.
He could hear the happiness happen outside, since the room was right next to the courtyards, but the room had no windows. No windows was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that nobody could see him weep, but a curse as to allow a separation to happen and make no one ever the wiser that he was here.
The outside is a place of happiness, but inside the room is a place of misery and sorrow.
____________________________________________________________________________________
The third period came and Amato was with Braedon for that class. But the black fox was running late.
Amato sat there, waiting for Braedon to walk through that door. When he finally did arrive was when the teacher just called out his name on the roll, and the black fox was in a pitiful state.
His eyes were bloodshot, the fur under them matted most likely from tears, and his breaths were extremely raspy. Even Brutus, as much of an idiot as he is, was smart enough to recognise that annoying Braedon would lead to something horrific and regrettable.
The teacher allowed Braedon the liberty to not work, more concerned about his wellbeing than the homework, but the black fox didn't care. He still worked, although his paw-writing was all over the shop. Even Amato, who could read the black fox's scribble well, wasn't able to determine the letters that were written down.
Braedon was not in good shape, but the one anthro that Amato never knew cared would do something.
"Sir, can I speak to Amato for a minute?" Brutus asked, standing from his chair at the back.
Amato and the teacher both looked up and at the Komodo Dragon, the lizard's face full of determination.
The teacher shifted his gaze to look at the red fox. "Is it alright by you, Amato?"
Amato nodded, and the teacher motioned towards the door to the classroom. Both Komodo and fox left the room, closing the door behind them.
"Are you here to beat me up, Brutus? It is all you mostly do." Amato asked.
"No, nonono, it's not that. It's about Braedon." Brutus blurted out, quickly reassuring the red fox.
Amato just looked at the idiotic lizard, just waiting for the scheme to come.
"I'm sure everyone realised that his mind isn't in the school game, a-a-at the moment. I-I want him to show us all up, but he can't."
"And what do you want me to do about it?"
"Call his parents, tell them about this and ask them to pick him up. You two have the Legends class for the last two periods, yeah?"
Amato nodded, now seeing Brutus in a different light. He isn't stupid, but he wants to see others to succeed in wherever they want to go.
"I'll see what I can do. But I don't want this to go behind Braedon's back, so I'll tell him." Amato agreed.
Brutus nodded, flashing a toothless smile. His parents always told him to not show his teeth when he smiles, as it means that they want to bite the one in front of them.
Both reentered the room, both going back to their places.
Amato nudged Braedon, gaining a bloodshot look.
"Do you want me to call your parents to take you home?" Amato asked, whispering.
Braedon nodded, taking a shaky breath. "Yeah, good idea." He whispered back.
"Thank Brutus for that."
Braedon smiled softly, and went back to his illegible scribble-writing.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Later:
Both Teagan and Azaz were standing outside Braedon's room, the door closed and sobs being heard on the other side. Both were mentally debating whether or not to go in there and comfort their eldest.
Azaz stepped towards the door, his head turning to Teagan. "It's gotta be done sooner or later." He said, shrugging his shoulders.
He softly knocked on the door, signifying his entrance, and opened the door. Braedon was on the bed, his back turned to the door. Once more, Azaz saw the kit Braedon once was instead of the vulpine he's become. Azaz allowed the door to fall back in place, the click alerting Braedon to look over his shoulder.
Once he did, he went back to sobbing. Azaz walked around and rested his paw on Braedon's highest shoulder. They just stayed that way until Braedon was calm enough to speak.
"It's so unfair." He mumbled, sniffling afterwards.
"Don't you worry, son. Mr Shinryu and I are going to be having a damn good chat after this." Azaz promised.
Braedon smiled softly. "Whatever you say, I just hope he deserves it."
"He will, Braedon. But remember who your ancestors were. Be tough through this, and don't let it show that it is getting to you."
Braedon took quite a few deep breaths, finally calm enough to stop sobbing or sniffling. He nodded, his face now emotionless.
Azaz patted his shoulder, smiling warmly. But his mind was haywire with contempt for the principal.