Fox 5

"So what do I write?" I questioned once again while balancing the pen in between my fingertips as it hovered over the slip of paper.

Levi looked up from his seat on the couch for a second or two before looking back down at the phone in his hands. Well I see he was going to be no help. Looking over to where Alistair was standing, leaning against the wall by the opening to the living room that we weren't supposed to be in at all I knew that he wouldn't help me either.

"Alistair." I whined. "Help me."

"With what?" He questioned as the small book holding his spells floated from his hand and disappeared right before our eyes.

"With this note to my parents." I hissed, annoyed with the fact that none of them were paying attention to what I was telling them.

We were already packed and ready to go with all of my things at their place but I had to write a note to my parents that Alistair could charm so that they wouldn't worry so much. When he said that I laughed knowing that my parents barely even knew I was here and when they did realize it they spent most their time criticizing me.

"Just write whatever sounds good. You know them and you should know what to write." He sighed as he pushed away from the wall and walked over to where I was sitting.

"Fine." I groaned as I began scribbling out something about getting accepted into the Academy and how I'll come visit as soon as I can. Then I rambled on about how I made sure to bring everything I need and how I don't need anything else from them and how I love them....blah, blah, blah. They'd probably only skim it for key words that would let them know that they didn't have to worry about me anymore.

"Well I guess I'm done now." I replied after reading over it once more.

"Alright let's charm this baby so we can get moving." Levi cheered as he threw his legs over the side of the couch and jumped up.

"You sure you're done? Once I do this I can't change anything." Alistair warned as I held out the paper to him.

"Yeah I'm done. What's on that paper is all my parents will care about. I know that deep down in their hearts they love me but I don't think they love me enough to look into the academy to see if it's real or not. I'm pretty sure they're tired of having to deal with me so let's get this over with and get out of here." I answered as I let the paper slip through my fingertips as he took it.

"Alright." He replied before muttering some words in what sounded like Latin. The paper glowed a soft purple which I guess was the color our magic gave off. "It's done now let's get going we don't want to be late."

"Late for what?" I questioned as Levi finally bounced toward the front door now eager to leave.

"We're going on a tour of Rhyeal Academy today." He chirped happily. It was so hard to tell that he was older than us when he acted like this.

"Why am I not surprised that I am the last to know about this?" I grumbled.

"You're only the last to know because Levi has been receiving messages for me for a while now so he's the only one that they contact. They don't know you so you get nothing on my behalf yet." Alistair explained.

"Trust me you'll appreciate your lack of knowledge once they start bombarding your mind with messages. At first it was amazing that they could do it and I looked forward to them sending messages but after a while it lost it's appeal." Levi replied with a roll of his eyes.

"We'll explain everything later and we need to get going now." Alistair replied reaching down and grabbing my hand. Levi bounced over and grabbed Alistair's other hand with a bright smile on his face. There was no way to be anything other than happy around him.

"Tae, just take a deep breath and don't panic. I'm going to transport us straight to Rhyeal." Alistair explained to me and I nodded my head in understanding although it was quite obvious I had not idea what I was agreeing to.

His eyes closed as did Levi's and I followed suit as I listened to his words flow through the air beautifully. It was as if in that moment it was evident that he was a magical being and I couldn't help but wonder once again what my life was going to be like.

My thoughts were cut short as the air around me seemed to get thicker. It felt like I was trying to breathe through a straw and my chest was tight and although I promised not to panic that was the first thing I did. I began tugging on Alistair's hand desperate to get away and back to the home I knew, where I could actually breathe.

"Tae relax." Levi tried to soothe me.

"Air...I need air." I panted.

"Just take a deep breath and calm down. The more you panic the worse it becomes." Alistair told me. "I specifically told you not to panic by the way."

"Clearly I ignored you." I replied after a few deep breaths.

"How rude!" He mock gasped.

"You can open your eyes now. We're here." Levi laughed as Alistair let go of my hand.

As soon as my eyes opened my breath left my body once again but this time in utter shock. Before me stood the most gorgeous castle blanketed in a couple inches of snow. It reminded me of something out of a Disney movie. We were standing inside a courtyard surrounded by a huge brick wall that kept us in.

There were only a few students wondering around in the type of uniforms that make you want to conform. One or two of the students that had been straggling behind looked at us trying to find out who we were but other than that it seemed as if they were late for class.

"Mr. Zakar?" Turning around I caught sight of a woman which I could only describe as a sexy librarian speaking to us. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a bun on the top of her head, her blue glasses rested on the the bridge of her nose and one of her perfectly arched eyebrows were cocked up waiting for an answer.

"That's me." Alistair answered raising his hand in the air.

"The Headmaster has sent me to retrieve you and your guests. Are these your familiar?" She questioned raising her hand and tipping down the bridge of her glasses with her index finger to look at us before she pushed them back up,

"Yes, this is Levi and Tae, my familiars." He answered introducing us.

"Nice to meet you all. If you could follow me." She replied spinning around before we could say anything else. When she turned around something caught my eye that I hadn't seen before. She was a familiar like us and she had four tails. They were a deep red and swished lightly behind her as she walked. I found myself entranced by them and more than once Alistair had to chide me for staring.

As we followed behind her she took us into the large castle and my eyes darted back and forth as I took in everything before me. There was a grand staircase that was in the center of the room as we walked inside. There were large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and I oohed and awed at everything. It was obvious that Alistair had been here before but Levi was practically bouncing with energy as his eyes flickered from one thing to the next.

"I wonder what's over there?" He questioned before his head swiveled to the side and he pointed at another hallway. "What's that?"

"How old are you Alistair?" The woman questioned.

"I'm seventeen." He answered softly.

"Hmm, I would have thought you were only fourteen." She mused thoughtfully. Alistair clearly didn't like that answer and his cheeks burned at the comment. Levi reached over instantly and began rubbing small soothing circles on his back.

"Well, I'm not." He replied heatedly.

"How old are your familiars?" She questioned ignoring his obvious frustration.

"I'm seventeen as well." I answered.

"I'm nineteen." Levi replied.

"Interesting." She mused. "We're here"

We stopped in front of a large wooden door that had a gold placard on it that read Headmaster. She reached out, turned the knob and pushed the door open. She motioned for us to follow her in which we did. We entered a large room that was filled to the brim with eclectic things that the Headmaster must have collected over the years.

There were two chairs sitting in front of a large desk with a man sitting on the other side of the desk waiting for us. He had brilliant blue eyes and short peppered black and gray hair that gave him that distinguished look.

"Why hello gentlemen. I'm Headmaster Stefan Leadbrooks but everyone just calls me Headmaster." He greeted the three of us standing up and walking around the desk as we approached. Stopping in front of us he reached out his hand and Alistair quickly shook it with Levi and I following after. He motioned for us to take a seat and we glanced over at the two chairs before it seemed to click in his mind. He looked up at the lady who had escorted us here.

"I'm so sorry, let me conjure up another one Headmaster." The lady spoke up.

"No need." Levi waved off her offer as he grabbed Alistair's hand and pulled him to one of the chairs. He blushed profusely as he was pulled into the older man's lap while I took the other free seat. Alistair wiggled and squirmed in Levi's lap before pouting and crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well, um, alright. Shall we get started?" The Headmaster questioned.

"Of course." Levi answered.

"So I hear that you would like to be admitted into this fine academy. I've also heard that one of your familiars has two tails and this is the first time he's shifted." The Headmaster spoke up.

"That would be me. I'm Tae and I have two tails and if you know anything about that please tell me so that I can stop freaking out. Thanks." I waved my hand catching his attention.

"Well currently I am unable to give you an answer as to why you have two tails but with time I'm sure that we can figure out what exactly causes you to be slightly different than other kitsunes your age." He explains.

"So does that mean we'll be staying here?" Alistair questions.

"Yes, you'll most definitely be staying here." He smiled as the three of us.

"What about me? I'm not the same age as either of them and I've already graduated from high school." Levi pointed out.

"Well the magical classes you will be required to take but any regular classes that Alistair or Tae are enrolled in you can skip." The Headmaster told him and that seemed to work for him as he agreed quickly.

"So how exactly does this work?" I questioned.

"Well you three will be enrolled into this fine academy and given a schedule for the day to day activities. The weekends belong to you and you're free to do as you please including heading back to your home realm. The forest surrounding the Academy is off limits for first years like you three. So please avoid going out there.

There are three main meals a day and the kitchen is open until eleven o' clock at night so you can grab some snacks throughout the day. Since you're coming in after the school year started you'll need to catch up quickly. Your living arrangements have already been taken care of and you three will be rooming with each other in the Mages wing of the Academy. We don't condone discrimination but the mages tend to experiment a lot with their magic and it causes a lot of problems." He explained.

"What other people go to school here?" I questioned curious to the type of people that I would be surrounded by.

"Everything magical and all the fairy tales you've ever been told all originated from the different realms that coexist side by side. Royals, mages, vampires, shape-shifters, fairies, ogres, and whatever else you can come up with we probably have here. There will be an introductory class for you three so that you become more acquainted with the different species that you will encounter here."

"Should we be afraid?" I questioned.

"Afraid of what?" The Headmaster questioned me.

"Ogres? Shapeshifters? I'm pretty sure some of those things can kill me." I replied.

"Of course not. We wouldn't admit a student if we thought that there was even a remote chance that they might harm another." He frowned. "If any one of our students violates the rules there stay here will immediately be terminated."

"What are these rules?" Alistair questioned.

"All of that will be covered in your manual, which is in your room, and also in your introductory class." The female kitsune spoke up.

"Is that all the questions that you have?" The Headmaster asked.

"Well for now it is." Alistair replied after a moment's hesitation.

"Good, Well then Ms. Abell will lead you to your room and you can get settled in today and tomorrow I expect you all to be in the Dining Hall at seven in the morning for breakfast. Be on your best behaviour and I hope you enjoy your time here at Rhyeal Academy." He stood up prompting the three of us to stand as well.

Alistair jumped off of Levi's lap happy to be free from his clutches. He straightened out his clothing and fixed his hair before turning around towards the door where Ms. Abell was waiting for us. Her tails lazily swished behind her as she stood besides the open door.

"Oh! If you have any problems or any new developments with your familiar don't hesitate to come and see me." The Headmaster called out as we made our way out the door.

"No worries!" I shouted as I made my way through the door.

We followed the Headmaster's familiar through the halls of the beautiful academy. Now that we were  outside the Headmaster's office the sound of bustling students surrounded us and Levi began his hyper active child like self again.

"Look at all the pretty uniforms!" He cheered. "Do we get uniforms too?"

"Yes, of course you do. There will be several uniforms for each of you in the room. I assume that you have left all of your things at home and if you need to you will be able to go get them tomorrow after your classes. It is too late in the day to transport now as the barrier around the Academy will be activating soon." She informed us.

"Barrier?" Alistair questioned.

"Yes, the Headmaster puts up a magical barrier every night so that the students cannot leave unattended at nights. There's always one up that will keep other people without permission from getting in that is constantly up but during the day the one that keeps the students in is down." She explained as the sea of students in front of us parted as we walked through.

My nerves spiked as the students took notice of us. What if they didn't like me here either? Was I doomed to remain a social pariah the rest of my life? I just wanted to fit in and have a normal life but considering where I was I don't think that would happen.

It was strange being surrounded around beings which could technically be considered as strange as me and yet here I was wondering if they'd accept me or not. My life had been so screwed up living in that small minded town that I can't even seem to relax in the one place that I could genuinely be myself.

Girls giggled, guys stared and everyone was talking about the new students. Levi was soaking it up as he waved and winked at everyone we passed.and I could tell that Alistair was blushing simply by the way that he kept his head down. Clearly all this attention was not something that he wanted.

"We have four elevators all located right here and we already walked past the main stairwell. Your room is on the fifth floor and it is room five sixty-two. Please excuse me as I have many other things to get done today." She spoke up bowing a bit before she spun around on her heels and walked away.

Without further hesitation we walked into the elevator and Levi hit the button to take us to our new home. My heart was pumping faster than before as the elevator climbed from one floor to the next. This was definitely going to be a new start for me.

"Calm down Tae." Levi whispered as he wrapped two arms around my waist and rested his head on my shoulder.

"I'm just so nervous. I can't help it." I sighed.

"You have nothing to be nervous about as long as we're here with you. We won't let anything happen to you. I won't let anything happen to you." Alistair stressed as he turned to look at me. "You're my familiar and my responsibility and I take care of my own."

"Thanks guys. I don't think I remember the last time I felt so cared for." I replied but the confused look on Alistair's face caused me to continue. "Every since my change I tried to keep to myself and my new appearance and detached personality had people assuming the worse of me. Friends that U used to have I didn't have anymore and my parents never really paid much attention to me to begin with. So....Yeah."

The doors to the elevator opened, my story was cut short and we stepped out into the hallway. We noticed the number on the first door and turned left heading down the hall branching away from the elevator. Within minutes we found our room and were left confused on how to open it when we were given no key.

"Um...How do we get this thing open?" Alistair questioned and with his question there was a soft click that sounded from the door and we all looked at it. Levi reached forward and turned the door knob and pushed, opening the door.

"That was freaking cool." I whispered.

"Agreed." Levi laughed as we walked into the room. It was like we walked into a small apartment. There was a living room with a couch and a flat screen television set, there was a mini-kitchen with a fridge and a stove. Off to the side was a hall that we excitedly walked down, eager to see what else we would find. There were three rooms, one bathroom and a little hidey hole with a washer and dryer. I was siked as all hell to be living in such an amazing space.

"This is all ours?" I questioned in awe.

"I guess so." Alistair replied as him and I walked in and out of each of the spacious rooms.

"Look at this." Levi shouted as he ran into the room we were standing in. In each of his hands were navy blue blazers with gold trim and an emblem on the breast pocket hanging from hangers. He was so excited that he was seconds from bouncing away. "I've been out of school long enough to never want to go back but this is making me want to go back to school."

"Calm down Levi." Alistair laughed as we watched him run back out the room.

'There's hiding spaces for our foxes!' His voice echoed in my mind and before I could respond he sprinted back into the room and bounced around my feet. He urged me to shift with him and go look at the hiding spaces that he had found. Alistair smiled and nodded his head and in seconds I was in my kitsune form and it hadn't hurt as much as last time.

As soon as I had stretched out my legs Levi nipped at one of my tails and I yipped at him. He bounced around before trying to bite at my tail again. I relaxed when I realized that we were apparently playing. Alistair dropped down onto the bed in the room and Levi took off to show me what he found.

True to his word there was a complete maze tunnels and small doorways that led in between the room. There was even a little plush cushion where we could relax in front of the T.V. in our kitsune forms. We ran around and played for just a little bit longer, nipping at each other and making a lot of noise before we ran back into the room Alistair was laid out in and relaxed on the bed with him.

My two black tails curled around my small form as nestled into Alistair's side. Levi climbed on top of a sleeping Alistair and rose and fell as Alistair's chest rose and fell with each breath. It was certainly a Kodak moment and for the first time since the change I felt like I was truly myself.

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A/N

So it's definitely been a long time since I updated but I'm trying to finish off some of the stories that I started. I've fallen in love with this story all over again and I will keep on trying to write new chapters. I hope you love it, comment and vote because the more you do the more I'll try to write.