"Excuse me."

Adrian yawned, blinking before glancing down at the voice that had spoken a moment ago. His nostrils flared in an attempt to identify the creature before him, relaxing when he realized the man was a herbivore.

A large one, seeing how the man's instincts weren't flaring up in the presence of so many predators, nor did his smile waver as he looked up to where Adrian was perched.

"Good evening." The man smiled warmly, eyes squinting against the low sunlight before snorting softly. "Can you understand me?"

It made the boy pause slightly, looking curiously at the man as none of the people so far had even attempted communication.

Adrian had a very vague memory of his parents speaking when he and his siblings were mere months old. Fumbling around on too long legs, trying to maintain balance and follow their parents around.

They only stayed until they were capable of feeding themselves. And then one morning, Adrian woke from his dreamless slumber to find himself surrounded by his nest mates.... But no adults.

It wasn't something he liked to think about. The initial panic and fear that surged through his veins, how Adrian and his nest mates had tried to search for any signs...

Tilting his head, Adrian blinked twice before nodding hesitantly, eyes fixed on the man. His response seemed to brighten up the man's face as he grinned, showing off larger than average, slightly blunted canines.

But... he's a herbivore... Adrian blinked, confused as to why the slightly chubby man, whom clearly was no danger to him still felt...lethal.

"Great, that makes things so much easier! I'm Jacob, a teacher here at the Feral compound." The man said with a wave behind him, indicating the buildings and the slight crowd.

Adrian swallowed, licking his lips a few times before he nodded. He didn't know if the man was hoping on a verbal response but Adrian doubted that he'd be able to produce anything beyond his animalistic sounds.

If Jacob was expecting the lad to speak, he didn't seem frustrated with his continued silence.

"Anyways, there's a rather severe storm approaching, expecting to hit the compound in about," the man paused to look at his watch, "Three hours."

That made Adrian perk up, tilting his face to the sky before taking a whiff of the air. He had noticed the sudden chill in the wind and had felt the instinctual need to find a den and hide.

But, his species didn't make dens. They sat out the storm and bided their time. Bearing the onslaught of nature and shake it off before going back to their daily lives.

Snorting, Adrian stretched out, baring his teeth when the wounds on his side pulled painfully with the motion.

Shouldn't they be healed by now...

"Now, my colleagues and I didn't see quite eye to eye about what to do with you. Willem wanted to trap you in a transportation box so we could get you out of harm's way but I figured that wouldn't help with trying to build a mutual bond of trust and respect."

No kidding.

Adrian scowled, eyes flitting up and towards the Polar bear in the distance. As if he knew their topic included him, the man's cool eyes easily slid and held Adrian's gaze.

There's a promise if I've ever seen one...

"So," Jacob snapped Adrian out of his stare down with Willem, "We'd like to guide you inside under your own free will, providing you with shelter, food and clothing... if you manage to keep a hold on your animal and don't attack anyone."

The man's jolly mood seemed to disappear and Adrian stiffened, feeling the hairs in his neck bristle and partially shift in response.

Clenching his fists, Adrian felt the tell-tale pricks of claws in the palm of his hand and took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

Jacob was still looking at him with sternness, eyes easily pinned on Adrian even though a herbivore should shy away from confronting a predator.

But Adrian had a feeling that Jacob's shift could kill just as easily as a predator could. It just didn't make any sense how the portly male with oversized canines could give off such a lethal aura...

Adrian sighed, averting his gaze from the teacher before rolling off the platform, landing in an effortless crouch before he pushed himself up.

The man blinked before smiling, shredding any trace of his previous intimidating aura. "Great! I'll show you around campus so you know how to find your way around."

The metal gates squeaked as Jacob opened them before he motioned Adrian through. He felt more than hesitant to brush so close to the man and it must've been obvious on his face.

"Strong instincts you got there." Jacob spoke, a playful tone in his voice as he went through the gates himself, taking a few steps back to give Adrian some space.

"Just, be sure that they don't lead you to trouble."

Adrian grumbled, brushing his fingers through his hair as they set out towards the entrance gates. A lot of people huddled near the doorways, eyes settled on their approach.

His sensitive ears easily picked up on the panicked little breaths of a few of the prey shifters, a few scared gulps resounding through the air before the stench of fear reached him.

Adrian's eyes pinned the rabbit shifter before she could bolt, making her tremble on the spot before he barely glanced over her shoulder at the teacher there.

As if on que, the teacher headed towards the terrified girl and guided her trembling form away of the agitated crowd. If Adrian hadn't made eye contact with the girl, she would've bolted, perhaps even shifted.

And triggered a lot of the predator's hunting drive on the spot.

...been a while since I had rabbit...

He huffed, tongue flicking over his teeth as he followed Jacob to the front gate whilst ignoring the threatening glances of the multitude of predators.

Unintentionally he was gaining the ire of the predators simply due to the fact that Adrian wasn't the least bit threatened by them. His instincts had been what kept him alive during the past years he had spent in the wilds.

They had kept him safe, preventing him from falling to the jaws of hungry animals and the pending betrayal of his sibling.

A few teen predators with squashed egos were nothing more than mosquitoes ; annoying bugs he'd swat as soon as they dared settle on his skin.

Adrian quickly proved his point when one of the male lions ventured closer, growls rumbling through his chest as the teen postured, more for the sake of the rest of the pride not too far behind him.

The lion growled deeply while Jacob paused in between them, no doubt planning on scolding the teen and urging him on his way.

He didn't need to. All Adrian had to do was yawn, allowing his teeth to shift mid-yawn to flash his powerful canines that were fully capable of shredding any flesh they came in contact with.

And they weren't even his biggest weapon. No, he'd keep that hidden from these people.

The lion paused at the intimidating display, enough to make Adrian scoff and walk ahead of the teacher, knowing he had already won this little bout.

If a mere flash of teeth was enough to make the lion back up, he didn't stand a chance if Adrian challenged him seriously.

A low rumble in the very distance made him pause, turning to gaze at the sky. A few of the prey shifters followed his example and Adrian could see a literal herd of people congregating towards the entrance under nervous chatter and agitated glances towards the seemingly cloudless sky.

Taking a whiff of the air, Adrian let out a soft hiss of dismay when he could already detect the rain and the oddly tingling sensation that ran over the back of his neck and prickled his skin.

A thunderstorm.

He sneered in disgust before pausing when Jacob smiled in understanding, showing no agitation like the other prey animals.

In fact, the man seemed nearly... giddy. The man snorted slightly, a deep, almost chuckling rumbling sound in his chest before he shook himself. Shuffling his weight from one leg to the other with a sense of... happiness?

It was a sound Adrian hadn't heard before and he eyed the man warily, trusting his instincts when they told him that despite him being a herbivore, Jacob was dangerous.

Lethal.

DANGER! FLEE! HIDE!

Adrian stomped down his instincts as best he could and followed Jacob, feeling the hairs on his neck prickle when they neared Willem.

The bear bared his sharp canines in a mocking smirk before waving Adrian ahead of him. The poor boy felt more than just wary as he inched around the bear, grumbling to show his distaste at being herded ahead of the two men.

But he was also eager to get inside. The muscles in his neck were starting to tense up, along with that peculiar drifty sensation he always felt before the thunderstorms hit.

Adrian knew it would last till the storm passed. It had happened in the woods before as well, where he'd think he slept wrong or moved his head in a bad way and pulled a muscle.

Instead, it was his body responding to the altering air pressure and changing charge of the air. His eyes flitted to the side as he saw several other students heading indoors as well.

A few of the prey animals even ignored their instincts to stay away from him and moved around, instincts driving them to seek shelter from the storm and hide out the worst of Mother Nature's anger.

Zebras braying at one another as their entire herd moved through the gates as one, forcing the other teens to move to the side or get trampled.

Adrian blinked before realizing that the predators and prey were guided to separate buildings. It made sense to keep them apart, especially when instincts were running high.

And yet, the second Adrian was inside, his own instincts flared. He wasn't used to be cooped up inside, to be forced within small confinements, unable to run and stretch his legs.

He was used to run free, to dodge and weave between the trees, jump over fallen logs and hunt his prey to his heart's content.

Besides the short time he spent with his siblings, Adrian never had to second guess his actions and include someone else in them. And now he was stuck with both predators and prey surrounding him on all sides.

As soon as he stepped inside, Adrian was slapped with a strong concoction of scents and body odor. Pheromones and building warmth had filled the hallways and made Adrian lightheaded as the boy shook his head, nostrils flaring in an attempt to catch some fresh air.

Instead, they only supplied his brain with an overwhelming amount of information. Predators, prey, fear, anger, young children, lingering sickness, females approaching their heat cycle-

His thoughts were shut down by Jacob, who gave him a pat on the shoulder and steered him towards a hallway closest to the exit.

"We have a few single rooms free here and no roommates until we know for certain just what kind of species you are." Jacob reassured Adrian as he pushed open a door and motioned the boy in.

Adrian was hesitant, nostrils flaring and muscles tensing, unwilling to enter the room. All that met his nose was the stale air of a room with only one entrance, besides the small window neither Adrian or his shift could fit through.

TRAP!

He was about to back up when a firm chest pressed against his back, seconds before a massive palm slammed between his shoulder blades and forced him in the room.

A snarl exploded from Adrian's lips as he spun around mid-air, landing on his knees and skidding to a halt facing the door. Jacob stood there glaring at Willem as the bear slowly pulled back his hand from where he had slammed against Adrian and crossed his arms once more.

"How many times do I have to tell you this Willem? Patience! Let the boy explore and enter the room on his own time." Jacob urged, making the bear snort animalistically.

"The brat took too long." He huffed, leaning in the doorway and blocking Adrian inside the room. A power move and show of dominance.

Guess I pissed him off more than I thought I would.

Though, it didn't really surprise Adrian; He made the bear lose face in front of the many students that had been observing him. Even if the human wasn't all that angered, the animal would've killed him on the spot for such disobedience.

Slowly, Adrian stood up and relaxed, understanding he was let of easily. A polar bear, a wild one, would've made sure that Adrian's body was shredded to pieces for trying to stake claim on its turf.

Hell, Adrian had seen it happen before his very eyes, when his sibling had challenged an adult Grizzly for its turn and lost horribly.

Willem's reaction might've been over the top, especially for a teacher, but for a polar bear it was remarkably docile and held back.

Adrian didn't hold it against the man, but his volatile reaction did leave him shaken. Hissing and growling lowly as he pressed himself closer against the farthest wall.

Pain jolting through his system as his gums split apart to allow more teeth through, clawed fingers flexing as if anticipating an attack.

Jacob was still shaking his head in distaste at the polar bear but even he seemed to withhold any argument and instead shot a warm smile towards Adrian before urging Willem out of the room.

The polar bear shot the shivering Adrian one lasting look before he reached in the room to grab the doorknob, wood and metal protesting mildly before the door was slammed shut.

As his heart pulsed in his chest rapidly, Adrian slowly managed to relax his tense muscles enough to get back up on his feet and look around.

He might as well get comfortable within his newly acquired den.

A.N. So many people have guessed ^-^ It's funny to see the guesses being made, how far off or how close some people are getting :D

Some of you are guessing in the right direction ^-^ I'm trying to come up with hints that won't instantly reveal what he is xD

Here's a little fun fact ; you all noticed he was quite capable of jumping, yes? Adrian is capable of leaping up to 21 ft. (6 m.)

At first I wanted to give his size or weight but that might be too much of a spoiler, no? :p