Serval and Sheep Prologue: SIDE SERVAL
I hope you enjoyed the second part to the prologue. Hafsa is a fun character to write because I get to be both bubbly and cynical! Here's a fun fact: her name is Arabic, and means "little lioness". Although she's a serval, I thought it sounded perfect.
I don't really have much to say, so I suppose I'll see you next time with the final part of the prologue. Take it easy and stay safe!
The end of another match. Me and the other girls finish our victory flourish, shaking our green pom-poms excitedly in the air, the ruffling of the streamers mimicking the elation of the crowd. As the fighters help each other up and shake hands, tensions finally begin to melt away into the intoxicating mood you can only experience after a good sporting event. Not that I care for ram fighting.
We move to the locker rooms to change out of our uniforms. As we begin to cool down and pack up, the usual idle chatter begins. Marisol, an American flamingo, bumps my head with a dripping cold water bottle.
"That was a crazy match, huh?"
I have no idea. Ram fighting is as boring as it is indelicate. The thought of a bunch of sweaty goats groping each other and stabbing themselves with their horns appealed to me less than a cold bath. The bright side is I never get distracted from my routine, so usually my performance is killer.
"Oh, was it? I think I just don't get ram fighting. They just stand there grabbing and pushing at each other for so long without moving!" I reply, smiling.
Poppy, a freshman Rex rabbit, hops in the conversation.
"I guess it's really only popular with herbies. Really only the bovids. But that Desmond guy is really popular, especially with the ladies."
"Yeah, he's in my year. He's a little intense, though. Can you believe we've never actually had a conversation before?"
Intentionally, of course. 'Intense' is putting it nicely. His reputation of being a total brick wall makes chumming it up with him a waste of time, effort, and resources. Even if he is the captain of the ram fighting team, I've had much more success infiltrating the bovid social spheres with other members of the ram fighting club and their fangirls.
Marisol shrugs. "I guess you'll get to know him better in student council."
I turn around to face her.
"What, he's running? For what?"
"Oh my god, you don't know? He's running for vice president! All the girls in my class are gonna vote for him." Poppy chirps.
That's weird. He doesn't seem like the type who would want to get involved with anything outside of hornplay, let alone student politics. But still, even if he's herbie eye-candy I don't think he'll win vice being as uncharismatic as he is. I grin and wave it off.
"Ha ha, I guess I was too focused on the candidates for president. "
Marisol looks at me sympathetically and hugs me from behind. It's funny how her neck tends to curl around mine when she hugs.
"You have no reason to be worried, Hafsa! You're totally gonna win student council president! You're like the idol of Noah's Arc Academy!"
Poppy joins in, embracing me from the side, though her head barely reaches my waist.
"Yeah! I'd offer to give you my foot for good luck, but everyone knows you're gonna win tomorrow easy!"
I gingerly reach each girl with either arm and squeeze them back. "Awww, that's so sweet of you! But the other candidates are such wonderful people, and I'm really not that popular, ha ha ha!"
But, that's a lie. This election is as good as mine. After all, I wouldn't have gone through with my campaign if I couldn't assure my victory. But I should probably introduce myself.
My name is Hafsa. I'm a sophomore at Noah's Arc Academy, a boarding school for carnivore and herbivore alike. And tomorrow, I finally get to reap the fruits of my labor and become Noah's Arc Academy's student council president. How am I so sure I'll win? Well, my victory is merely the result of a year-long plan I have set in motion. No, even before that... this plan took a lifetime to come to fruition! You see... I was put into this world with one burning wish... And that wish is...
To become the most popular girl ever! I want to be adored by everyone so much they'll build statues of me! I want everyone's heads to turn and hearts to melt whenever I walk into a room! I want females to cry in frustration over how adorable I am and males to propose to me daily!
Ahem. Anyway. To some, this dream might be fairly easy to achieve. But I was born with nature's worst handicap.
After all... I was born a carnivore. A meat-eater.
Carnies are not popular as public figures, especially for politics. If I were a normal carnie my dreams would've been crushed from the get-go. But... But...! I'm no ordinary carnie! My scientific name is Leptailurus serval, but I'm more commonly known as simply a serval. With my adorably round face, large ears and modest size, I can easily adopt the docile charm of a herbivore! And yet, I also possess the best characteristics of any carnie! My long slender legs and exotic fur pattern further boost my charisma, especially in the male demographic. By properly exploiting these traits to my advantage, I have become far more popular than any carnivore or herbivore ever dared!
I'm truly glad to have been born a serval!
My life is one of tireless effort! For over 10 years, I have been slowly molding my mind, body, behaviors, and reputation into that of unparalleled splendor. During freshman year alone, I managed to make my high school debut in this school as a straight A honor student, captain of the cheerleading squad, outgoing participant in every school event / volunteer opportunity imaginable, and a complete social butterfly with carnies and herbies alike... I maintain the perfect balance between docile and helpful.
I worked hard for this life, but it's one I can proudly call my own!
In the auditorium, the air sparks with anticipation as students and faculty mutter amongst themselves. Although the building is formidably large, it's packed to the brim with animals of all sizes. On the left side of the stage, illuminated with bright spotlights, stands Principal House, a white Emdem Goose, his neck proudly arched into an "S" shape. He adjusts his thin-framed glasses perched on his bill and begins his speech.
"I hope everyone has enjoyed the first week of the new academic year. As is custom in Noah's Arc Academy, a new year brings with it new leadership, ensuring a refreshing new take on our way of life. After the thrilling campaign period and election, you students must certainly have in mind the new leaders you wish will guide us into a brighter future. And now, it is finally time to announce the winners."
Here we go.
He continues, "I suppose it's only fair to announce the most contended role first."
I've waited so long for this.
"This year's student council president is...."
This is...
"Serval Hafsa!"
The life I was destined for!