-CW- fluff

-TW- none?

~Fundy's PoV~

I feel Tommy's raccoon fur in my hands, and I smell the smell that is our new room. I blink away the sleep from my eyes and I sit up, looking around. (Even though I can't actually see my surroundings.) I hear Tommy yawn and stand up, then I slip off the side of the soft bed I now get to sleep on.

I walk slowly to the door and I open it, walking out into the hall. Tommy's paws making a soft pitter-patter sound as he follows behind me, like usual.

I strain my head and try to pick up any sound coming from downstairs, I hear the soft clinking of dishes, and hushed voices. Tommy pulls on my pant leg when I almost bump into a wall, and I slowly climb down the stairs to reach the voices.

I walk to where the kitchen is, Tommy at my feet to guide me. The smell of breakfast invades my nose—and Tommy's I bet—and I bet my dull looking eyes glisten. Well, I don't really know what my eyes look like, but I remember someone at the orphanage said they looked dull and gross. I usually try not to think about the gross part.

"Hey there!" Someone says happily, he walks closer and their sent of old paper comes with him. Wilbur. That was his name, wasn't it? He leads me to the kitchen counter and helps me sit down, I feel Tommy's fur brush against my dangling ankles and I smile softly to myself.

"Dad made pancakes, you want some?" A different voice asks. His scent is more like coffee, with a hint of blood—which is worrying. Techno, his name's Techno. I open my mouth to speak, but my throat only makes a weird squeak. I cough and clear my throat, and Tommy licks my ankle comfortingly.

"Yes please," I respond, kind of quietly, but that's fine. A different smell gets closer (Phil's forest smell) and a plate clinks softly in front of me, the freshly done pancakes smell amazing.

"After I sent you guys to bed for the night I did some quick shopping. I got you some clothes, Fundy. I'll move them to your room and you can change," Phil says, walking away. His shoes click against the wooden floors. My eyes widen slightly, I knew that he went out last night (Tommy and I heard the door) but I didn't know that he went out for me.

Wilbur, Techno, and I continue eating in comfortable silence, when I'm done eating Phil half shouts his goodbyes and reminders that we ('we' being Wilbur, Techno and I) have to leave soon so we can make it to school on time. Tommy leads me to the sink by walking beside me and I put my dish in the sink.

I walk back to my new room and Tommy chitters, "There's clothes on the bed." I feel around the bed and I pick them up, it feels like a t-shirt, some shorts similar to the ones I'm wearing, and a sweater. Plus socks. I go to a corner and I trust that Tommy will exit or distract himself while I change.

I hear his paws grow fainter as he leaves, and I slip on the clothes Phil got me, which are very comfy. I pull gently at the collar of my sweater and I exit the room, I use the walls to guide me back to the kitchen. Techno and Wilbur are chatting near there, and I hear Tommy chittering his own random remarks in raccoon. I smile and I enter the kitchen, reaching down for Tommy and picking him up.

"Do you think I could bring Tommy with me?" I ask when they stop talking. Wilbur hums in thought and Techno remains silent, Tommy squeaks in my arms but I ignore whatever he said.

"Probably," Techno says finally, "You could probably play him off as a service or emotional support animal." I nod and I hear footsteps walk towards where I think I remember the door is. Someone places a beanie on my head, and the door is opened. As a group we step out, Techno and Wilbur walk on either side of me, I assume they're leading me to my new school.

I squeeze Tommy a bit tighter and he warbles in concern, I fight back the urge to reassure him that I'm okay, and I continue walking close to Wilbur on our silent walk. Eventually Wilbur and Techno's footsteps stop, and I stop with them.

"Okay, we're here. Tech and I aren't far, and the office is practically right at the entrance. You should go there first, and then the principal or staff will tell you what your class is." Wilbur explains. After he pats my head and Techno squeezes my shoulder reassuringly, they walk off. And it's just me and Tommy. Standing alone in front of an unfamiliar building that I can't even see.

"Just walk forward," Tommy instructs, "I'll guide you, don't worry." I pat his head a few times and I walk forward like he told me to. The empty backpack Techno let me borrow felt strange, and I fix the strap—even though it didn't need fixing.

I walk forward, one hand slightly outstretched to tell if there are objects or people in front of me. I enter the schoolyard, and loud voices and other sounds greet me. I freeze there in place, the sound disorienting. Footsteps on dirt and concrete floor, kids shouting to their friends, teachers scolding some kids, girls shrieking unintelligible words, and other sounds.

Tommy bites my hand gently, bringing me back to the concrete ground. I take a deep breath and Tommy chitters a direction for me to go to avoid the kids. The office building should be close to the front, that's what Wilbur said.

I walk close to the gate, some kids whispering about Tommy as I pass, obviously too nervous to ask about him. Tommy tells me to stop and I do, I feel around for the handle and I quickly open the door.

I'm greeted by warm air and tiled floors, shoes clicking against them, and the clack of a keyboard. It smells like coffee and ink in here. I close the door behind me as I shuffle inside, patting Tommy's head in thanks.

"Oh, hi!" a female sounding voice greets me. I blink and I wave awkwardly, it's hard to tell where her voice came from, so I just keep my head slightly down. It probably looks like I'm staring at Tommy.

"I'm sorry, kid. Are you.. Fundy?" She asks. I nod, and Tommy chitters. She goes silent, probably just now noticing Tommy.

"Uh, and who is this?" She questions, her voice sweet but pinched. I look up, and I walk a bit forward, presenting Tommy for her.

"Theseus, he's my.." I trail off, what was the word Techno said was what I could call him? "Service animal." I finish, the lady making an 'oh' sound.

"Well, okay then. Here, I'll give you this form, give it to your parents or guardian, they need to fill it out so that Theseus can come. I'll let it slide today, since it's your first day, but you need it tomorrow. Your class is number 10, ask another student to help you there." The desk lady tells me.

She hands me two papers, afterwards pointing out which one to put in my backpack and which one to give to my teacher so that they know why I have Tommy.

I thank her quickly and I exit the office after only one failed attempt (I accidentally hit my head on the door). Tommy guides me through the courtyard of the school and makes me stop when he spots classroom ten. An annoying bell sounds just then and the kids' footsteps becomes more controlled as they file up towards their designated classrooms.

  Classroom ten seems to have less kids come to it.

  I hug Tommy tighter and a kid pokes me from behind. "Is that a raccoon?" He asks, he sounds a bit older than me. I turn around and stare behind me. I nod and hold Tommy slightly up.

  "Oh, he looks adorable! What's his name?" A girl exclaims, she also sounds a bit older than me. Tommy chitters a reply, but obviously they don't know raccoon—I'm sure he just did it to encourage me.

"His name's Theseus," I respond, then after some hesitation, "Do you want to pet him?" She pauses for a moment, then she makes an "oh!" sound before replying.

"Yes." I hold Tommy out a bit more, and I assume she pats him. Once she's done I hold Tommy close again.

"What's your name?" The boy from earlier asks.

"Fundy." Tommy bites my hand gently again and I sigh, "What about you?"

"I'm Niki," the girl says, "and he's Jack." I assume she's talking about the boy. I nod, and Tommy warns me that the kids are entering the classroom now.

I wait, then I put Tommy down. He stays by my ankles, and he helps guide me like that. I enter the classroom and the teacher guides me somewhere, probably the front of the classroom. Once we stop, Tommy sits on my feet.

"Class, this is Fundy. He'll be with us from now on, okay?" The teacher says sweetly. The class smells like paper, and sweaty kids. I don't like it. The kids reply in unison with a "Hello Fundy," which is kind of freaky.

The teacher asks a kid to help me to my desk, and I hand the teacher the paper the office lady gave me before I go.

The teacher starts the class, and the kid pulls on my arm to tell me where they are. I only hear their footsteps in front of me, though. The kid doesn't help me follow. Tommy guides me. He pushes against my ankles to help me follow the kid.

When I sit at a table Tommy lays down by my feet. The table smells like cleaning chemicals and crayons, the kids that share the table with me smell like breakfast foods and stale sweat.

My first day has just started, and I already hate school.

"Hey, Fundy. I can help explain what the teacher is showing and stuff if you need it," Jack—the boy who was with the girl, Niki—whispers to me. Apparently he sits next to me, he smells like jelly and flowers (The flower scent reminds me of Niki). Tommy stands and walks to where I assume Jack is sitting, he chitters a demanding yes, and I smile.

I nod, and I turn to where I heard his voice. "Yeah, that would be great." I whisper back.

Okay, maybe school isn't all bad.

First day! School, does Fundy hate it? Maybe.

Thanks for reading!

1828 words