A kick to my back awoke me from my deep slumber, my father's uninviting gaze greeting mine. "The address of where you need to go is on this paper. Don't ever let me see you near my family when you graduate runt." I caught the paper that fluttered down in a tight grasp as my father stomped back into his home without giving me as much as a second glance.

What a way to start a day~

Huh? I looked at my clawed paws, it seems I shifted yesterday to keep warm. I wonder if I almost died in my sleep...

I sat the folded paper down gently and waddled to my clothing, shifting behind multiple trees. I sighed putting on the only pair of winter uniform I owned. The second garment I own is a lighter version of my wintery one only meant for the summers when it's not that warm nor not that cold.

"Clarence Novell street 1290," I mumbled aloud wiping off the snow that gathered on my backpack before leaving the driveway and looking at the street sign. I cupped my bitter cold hands upon my mouth fanning them with warm breath while taking a right down the street, when I got pretty far I finally spotted a house. Since it's the countryside, houses are separated by great distances and rarely close by, so this is the first neighbor.

I chuffed a smokey breath as I looked at the rising sunset of today's morning, I somehow slept the whole day yesterday. It's pretty though, even with the countryside being much quieter. Even if I say I hate the new smells and changes to the scenery because I'm not used to it, my instinctual side is leaping with joy, wanting to jump into freezing rivers and eat fish raw! I was so absorbed in my fantasy I almost let my bear out, oops...

"HEY!"

I almost tripped on my shoes as I looked up in shock, a little girl on the roof of her house waved at me while yelling greetings. When I got closer to the home she jumped down running to me with breathy laughs causing me to feel nervous.

"My name is Zel! Are you Burr!? YOU'RE SO SMALL! My brother says your the new student going to his school! There are only five people living there including the headmaster so there are only four students, well five including you! They can't wait for you! Are you a shifter? What's your shift? Mines a lioness queen hehe! OH- what's your favorite color! And-"

The little lion girl jumped around tugging my arm while being a chatterbox. It was really frightening! She's so jumpy and chirpy and speaks 100 words per minute. With her chatter, I found out how many students live in the boarding school and that there's only one teacher (the headmaster) Along with her favorite color is pink, she plays in the woods but said not to tell her mom...

"ZEL YOU LITTLE KIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO THE POOR BOY!??" A woman hissed through the third-floor window of the home causing me to almost buckle in fright. The little girl whined as she latched onto my arm yelling at her mother who jumped out the window and zoomed to the little girl.

"I'm so so so sorry," the mother of the girl apologized in tears while holding her six year old little girl by the scruff ignoring her struggles.

"I-its okay!" Shocked by this outcome I scratched my head somewhat confused.

"She can be such an old recorder when she starts talking, she'd be at it for hours if I hadn't come and rescued you." The woman sighed fiery red hair bouncing as she lovingly tickled Zel making her giggle and squirm.

"But mommy he's my new friend!"

"I'm sure sweetheart, go back inside or the boogie snowman will get you! Grr," the mother cooed as she faked monster gestures watching her child squeal in a pit of laughs running inside. Watching the interaction made me smile at the happy scene, their lovely people even if it somehow hurt my heart to see the happiness radiating off them. Why am I so selfish, I bit my tongue.

"Haha she can be such a goofball, anyway nice to meet you I'm Sammy, call me aunty Sam, everyone around here does." I shook her offered hand giving her a small smile, "I'm Burr on my way to the boarding school institution although I'm a little lost..."

"Oh, hun why aren't your parents taking you its almost an hour away from here! Oh my goodness look at you, you're so cold!" She gasped clenching my hand in hers making me feel uncomfortable. "It's alright I wanted to see the scenery, my shift likes the cold, can you by any chance give me a map?"

"Is that so? *sigh* That's a relief I almost considered beating your family's asses if they somehow made you walk. Yeah, I got a map, I'll get it real quick.." Her warm hand left mine as she scurried into her home, her fleeting warmth almost made me miss it. I looked at my hand with a frown, I wonder if my hands will ever be as warm as hers. Aunty Sam popped out a few seconds after with a cigarette between her teeth giving it small puffs, handing me the map she showed me the locations of where I need to go to get to the institute. Before I left she grabbed my arm with slight concern swimming in her orange eyes.

"I sent my son to the boarding school because of his anger issues and reckless behavior. The other boys have similar situations, every boy there is there for a reason and I can tell your just an average kid finishing school. Word of advice, don't get wrapped up in their claws they like to bite onto cute things. I wouldn't want you tainted by the mountain folk baddies."

Those words played out in my head as my feet left imprints in the snowy field. She called me cute! I rubbed my face with my hands trying to get the blush from leaving my cheeks. Her other concerns didn't really scare me, it was like that at my original boarding school too, most didn't go willingly. Everyone had a reason for being there whether it was rich parents sending their kids for better schooling, or parents that didn't have time for their kids. Everyone had reasons. So a bunch of mountain fold outcasts didn't bother me although make me a little scared of meeting them.

I frowned when it started to snow thinking it was best to hurry my steps, I almost missed my turn because of the snow covering the roads, luckily I made it to a bumpy path assumingly made of rocks that were supposed to lead to the boarding school. I could probably see the building if not for this blizzard that made me use the map as a shield to block my eyes from the frosty flakes. As I got closer I made out a big gate at the front and pushed forward.

Finally! With a relieved sigh I patted my shoes down at the porch of the big building. Shaking the white flakes that had gathered upon my hair out, while rubbing my red watery nose and blossomed cheeks to get some more warmth like a hamster. I took one last sniff before gathering the courage to knock on the big oak door

The gentle knocks could barely be made out to my own ears but my courage faltered and I couldn't bring myself to knock again. Somehow someone heard it because the door opened, I took a sharp intake of breath staying still.

"Eh? I could have sworn I heard something..."

"Hehe, I told you your hearing things!"

I held my breath as a guy with lush green hair, dark green eyes, and sharp ears, looked lazily in front of himself, he reminded me of the forest, probably an Elf. Behind him, another boy stood he had fiery red hair and yellow eyes reminding me of aunty Sam, could this be her son? Too absorbed in studying the guys in front of me I almost missed the door closing in front of me! Panicked I blocked it with my foot effectively making my presence known. Suprised sounds left the two as they hurriedly opened the door looking down at me with curiosity, avoiding eye contact I tried thinking of what to say in a way I won't mess things up.

"Um I'm the new student," I sniffed awkwardly rubbing my nose.

"He's so cute, how old is he again?" The notion of the redhead made me bite back an 'IM NOT CUTE' why is everyone calling me that so suddenly?

"Zadoc said he was a senior so he's 18..." A long pause followed after. Are they gonna let me in or are they going to continue staring? I shifted uncomfortably under their gaze.

"Dumbass let the guy in!" The redhead pulled the greenhead out of the way opening the door wider inviting me in. I cautiously stepped into the building feeling relief wash over me from feeling warmth. I took off my shoes when my feet hit the carpet...ugh my socks are soiled with snow, having to take off my wet socks I carefully stuffed them in my boots and set them by the door.

"Geez, you look frozen to death! How long have you been in the snow? Did you walk here or something?" The green head crouched down and felt my forehead before grabbing my clothes which stuck to my body wet with melted snow. "I didn't know there would be a blizzard," I nodded stiffly. Both boys frowned before looking at each other.

"We'll take you to headmaster Zadoc, do you have a change of clothing you'll get sick wearing those." I nodded again as the two guided me to a bathroom close by so I could change. The wet shirt stuck to my skin making it a pain to pull off, somehow I got stuck and spent a large amount of time trying to get it unstuck and ended up falling down hitting my head on the door making a frustrated whine leave my lips.

"You okay in there?"

I flinched as my heart sped up crazily, I'm so weak! I couldn't even get my clothes off properly! And now I have to ask for help, I almost cried about how embarrassing this situation is.

"I-I um need h-help." Biting my lip I heard the door creak open and two chuckles along with it but couldn't see them because my shirt was in front of my face. My arms that were in a confining position were easily removed and the wet shirt that I struggled in for minutes was finally pulled off, the icky coldness finally off my skin.

"Thank you," I mumbled to both the boys in front of me before quickly putting on my summer uniform, changing my underwear and pants when they left along with going to the bathroom since I really needed to pee! Washing my hands I fixed my messy hair and could only simply frown by how red my nose and cheeks are at the moment.

"You ready?" The redhead asked smiling gingerly when I nodded shyly and following them up some stairs, but I was so tired it was a chore to walk, I hadn't eaten in a long time and my body was taking a tole, not to mention the one hour walk here. Somehow someway I ended up being carried by the green haired guy without warning! I didn't struggle much because it physically hurt to walk but could only simply gave a frown to his action of choice.

Another door assumingly the headmaster's office where I could hear some talking inside, was knocked on by the redhead. A man with broad shoulders, platinum blonde hair, and purple eyes opened the door when we made eye contact he smiled sweetly as I realized I was still being held. I gulped before struggling loose and slipping onto the floor even if my legs hurt.

"Hello I'm the headmaster of this small school, you can call me Zadoc, you must be Burr?" The two behind me gasped as they realized they hadn't introduced themselves and rushingly did so. The green head was named Olive while the redhead's name was Joel. I gave them a small introduction before Mr. Zadoc guided me into his office where another two boys looked up in curiosity from a sofa, they looked exactly alike, twins I suppose. Both had black hair, dark skin, one boy had a set of blue eyes, the other had a set of pink eyes.

I wonder why everyone here is so handsome!?

"That's Nasir and Iker," Joel pointed out the blue eyed one as Nasir and the pink eyed one as Iker. I slightly nodded towards their gaze while Mr. Zadoc pulled a chair out for me to sit in which I gladly did so.

"I just want to check if your information was received right, you boys leave the room for a second," Mr. Zadoc pulled out a stack of papers as the rest gradually left although I could feel lingering gazes on me making me slightly uneasy.

"Don't worry their just curious about you, we never expected any transfer students so this is a surprise. As you've met, those four boys will be accompanying your stay for the time being I hope you can get along." Mr. Zadoc smiled warmly as my tension relaxed a bit. "Y-yes Mr. Zadoc" I spoke in a quiet voice while nodding my head in understanding which only seemed to make him smile more graciously.

"Alright, your old school paperwork says your average grades are Bs and you do exceptionally well in the arts, will you be going that route in the future? Maybe college?"

"...Actually, I wanted to own- or um work at a bakery. And no college."

"Hm okay, do you by chance have a family number? Your parent didn't provide one so I cant get in contact with them, the only time we talked was during the transfer of your paperwork." I nervously tugged at my collar at the question, I didn't even have a phone, much less know my parent's numbers so I just shook my head no.

"Then I'll figure that out later, let's start with the basics, your names Burr Berrys yes?"

"Yes sir"

"Originally from Peach High?"

"Yes sir"

"Grizzly Bear shifter?"

"Y-yes sir"

"Born March 17th ####?"

"Yes sir"

"It seems you haven't gotten your fitness and health checked in a while, we can do that tomorrow. Classes start Monday, and here's your room key, I'll let one of the boys show you arou- Oh I'm sorry I almost forgot, is it okay if you show me your shift? It's for legal reasons I had to do the same for everyone here."

Reluctantly I nodded remembering some places did the same before getting a job, but I was afraid once I shifted I wouldn't shift back. I'm usually the most comfortable in my bear form so when I'm anxious or hurt my bear will force me to stay in the state with more simple emotion and a cub-like mind. In conclusion, a safe space to make me feel less hurt and anxious. Like when my bear features come out, they come out during times of extreme anxiety or in rare accusations when I feel the safest and secure which makes my brain transit to my more primal characteristics which are that of a baby bear cub.

I swallowed nervously before shifting in the chair.

My clothing toppled over me as I blinked a couple of times not fully comprehending why it got so dark. I let out a cry and in response, the world turned bright again but to my surprise hands wrapped around my body sending another cry from my lips and purple eyes sparkling down at me. He chuckled holding me to his chest while trying to get a good visual of my form.

"you could have warned me you were a cub! I almost had a heart attack thinking a massive grizzly would break a chair. Although I should've expected this with you being so small." Zadoc patted my head with a grin. His arms were so comfy I stuffed my chin into his armpit curling around his arm before giving a content sigh and sleeping...while my tummy growled for food.