Rising Shards

Kalei’s prodding to try pet food got stronger with more people at the table.

“I’m gonna guess Zeta’s is a cat,” Oka said, sliding one of the cat treat bags over to me. “Because when we got Feral Flu, she was kind of like a really cute cat.”

“I’m betting raccoon, what with the dark circles around her eyes.” Kalei said.

“I’ve always had those though, even before I got fangs.” I said.

“You’ve always been a Cani, Zates.” Kalei said. “Maybe they were just an early sign.”

“And they don’t make raccoon treats.” I said. “Do they?”

“Uhhh one sec,” Kalei said, scanning over the treats. She poked one that had a forest design on it a few times. “That right there. Wildlife Critter Treatz. Try that one first, let’s see!”

Kalei got her phone out and shoved its camera in my face.

“Oh my god.” A dreary voice said from behind Kalei. “Your framing is hideous.”

Kalei turned to see KJ approaching behind her, walking almost like a zombie.

“H-hi, KJ.” I said.

I hadn’t seen KJ since Fang Moon Web, but had heard she was taking things hard, especially losing her love trio leader. Unlike Amara, KJ had clearly wanted to show the change outwardly. She was wearing all black (even her forest green hat had been replaced with a black one), with lots of chains and spiky accessories. Her long, braided hair now had a deep blood-red dye at its tip, but there was also a weird blotch of neon green dye randomly in there. She definitely wasn’t wearing regulation uniform, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. Her raccoon tail looked like it had extra black on the black stripes, like she’d splotched them in paint or makeup or something. I couldn’t verify to be sure and staring at it a long time probably didn’t help.

“Are you talking to me?” Kalei asked.

“Yes, you vertical filming freak,” KJ said.

“Uh, excuse me, do you want a black eye to go with the whatever the hell you dipped yourself in—” Kalei cut herself off as a few soft gasps were heard among the table. None of us wanted to think about anything that remotely reminded us of the Elka we were all forced to have our own dip in. “Er. Sorry.”

“Shut up.” KJ said. “I’ll film this for you.”

KJ began setting up her new tripod. At least her camera setup was the same.

“You’d just…film this for me?” Kalei asked.

“You can use it for your simple-minded memetic upload,” KJ said. “But in return, it may be included in my upcoming documentary masterpiece.”

“What’s your documentary?” I asked.

“The working title is ‘The Forever Bleakness of Cani High School Life, or: A World Without Rain,’” KJ said. “I’m taking a close look at the steady decay of our lives, and the cavern of pain and misery we all find ourselves in.”

“Oh…that’s…neat.” I said.

I could feel her gaze on me before I turned my head; once I did, I confirmed that Lillia was looking at me sternly. A second later, a notification popped up on my phone.

“Zeta, I’d like you to add KJ to your list of students to aid in addition to Amara Allegro. Regards, Lillia Cadence.”

I gave a slight nod, hoping Lillia wouldn’t give me anyone else to watch over.

“Stop bothering them with your grimdark documentary,” Amara said, standing behind her with her hands on her hips.

“Once you stop following me around,” KJ said. “But I guess I’d rather you follow me around than the prefect today.”

Amara didn’t react to KJ’s words, instead she sat down at the table, grabbed a treat from the Wildlife Treatz bag, and ate it. She picked up the bag and continued eating them.

“Amara, are you in on the pet food challenge?” Kalei asked.

“Is that what this is?” Amara asked, finishing off the bag. “Do you have another one of those?”

“I…maybe.” Kalei said. She shuffled through the bags. “Wait…yes.”

As KJ continued to set up her camera and Amara quickly ate through another bag of Wildlife Treatz, the rest of us continued to look through the bags to find one decently appetizing enough to try.

“I’m scared I’ll find out I’m a ferret or something,” I said.

“What’s wrong with ferrets? Ferrets rule!” Kalei said.

“Don’t they smell?” I asked.

“Don’t you smell?” Kalei said.

“Zeta smells good, sooooo.” Oka said. “My bet’s still on cat.”

A tall, pale girl with long black hair sat down at our table with a huff. I didn’t recognize her.

“Hi?” I said.

“Do you have the right table?” Kalei asked.

“It’s me, ugh,” The girl said.

“I uh…” Then I recognized her. “Wait, Maia!?”

“Yes, it’s me, shut up and ignore me today, please.” Maia said.

“Why are you…all…” I started. “Not…fuzzy?”

Maia scratched her ears, which were still catlike and fuzzy. The rest of her was not.

“Kanibari can get an illness that’s similar to Feral Flu called a Shearing Infection,” Lillia answered for her. “But while some Cani with Feral Flu become more like Kanibari, with fur coats and the like, Kanibari with Shearing Infection become closer to the Echela side of the spectrum for the duration of their sickness.”

“But don’t Kanibari also get Feral Flu?” I asked.

“Yes, we can get Feral Flu too, but that more makes us go nuts.” Maia said.

“It’s scary, but also thrilling.” Amara said.

“Aren’t you worried about getting this shearing thing?” Kalei asked Amara. She kind of gestured to KJ as well, but KJ didn’t react.

“It’s bite transmitted, so no.” Amara said.

Silence followed as I wondered who Maia had been bitten by to get it. She looked downward, so I couldn’t see her expression to try and gleam anything from it. If she was blushing, something I’d be able to see without the fuzzy face, that could offer some clues.

“So what happens if we got Shearing Illness?” Oka asked.

“It’d be like a cold, maybe?” Lillia said.

Maia shrugged.

“What does Iris think of this?” I asked.

Maia shrugged again.

“Where is she, anyways?” I asked.

“Probably has Feral Flu again.” Oka said.

“Are you gonna be alright for the void thing today?” I asked.

“I’d use all…” Kalei swirled her hands in the general vicinity of Maia’s unfuzzed face. “…that for a day off.”

“Yeah, it’s whatever.” Maia said, shoving Kalei’s hands away. “They said we’re not doing a big fight thing today so I can handle it.”

“Is your tail…did it fall off, then?” I asked.

“No, it’s still there,” Maia said. "But it’s so freaking gross without fur so I tucked it into my skirt, and no you absolutely cannot see it." Kalei was definitely about to ask if she could see it, but Maia cut her off before she could get a word out. “Can we stop talking about this?” She asked. “Are you guys doing the pet food challenge?”

Maia volunteered to go first (well, first after Amara, who was on her third bag of Wildlife Treatz), and grabbed a cat treat that she took a bite of, then scooted back in her chair and held her arms out like it was a mic drop moment.

“Well, that was a gimme since you’re already a cat Kanibari.” Kalei said. “Oka, it’s put up or shut up time for your girlfriend.” She slid the bag over to me. “Let’s see if you bagged yourself a kitty cat in need of some warm milk.”

Oka made a face like she just tasted some of the pet food, like some of the worst, most bitter pet food. “Don’t…say it like that.” She said.

“Ever again, please.” I said.

“You weren’t filming that, were you KJ?” Kalei asked as it dawned on her how weird that came out.

“Every second.” KJ said.

I nervously grabbed a cat treat from the bag Maia ate from. I couldn’t decide if smelling it first would make it harder or not, and with all eyes on the table on me, I didn’t want to take too long. I threw the tiny treat in my mouth and chomped down. It was very salty, and almost had a clay-like conistency, or what I'd imagine clay to taste like. But then it was crunchy in the center.

“Oh no,” I said, covering my lips with my hands.

“What?” Oka asked. “That bad?”

I swallowed. “It actually does taste…” I buried my face in my sleeves. “Kinda alright…”

“Cat Zeta!” Oka yelled, pumping her arms in the air.

“Settle down.” Kalei said.

“Sorry it’s just…everything I dreamed of.” Oka said.

“Everything?” I asked, mainly just to say something to shove away the thought that I did actually really want more of the cat treats.

Oka rolled her eyes. “Fine, all the cat-you related dreams.”