fandomhigh | [Creatures of Nature - 5th Period

D had sent out a ~~handwavy~~ notice to his students, directing them to meet at a clearing within the preserve a short way behind the school.

Waiting until everyone had gathered, D bowed to the class. "I am your teacher for this class; you may address me as D. If you are curious as to my qualifications, then I will say that I have been running my family's pet shop for many years and have had many patrons, ranging from children to businessmen to the current president of the United States in my world."

He pulled a scroll from his sleeve and unfurled it as he spoke. "Firstly, I would ask that you sign this contract. It will allow you to remain in this class and, if you adhere to the rules it states, you will come to no harm from the creatures you will meet. Should you break the rules at any time, I will not be held responsible for what happens to you - and bear in mind, what might happen could very well be unpleasant in the extreme depending on the creature involved."

Smiling serenely, D produced a pen (also from his sleeve) and brought the scroll to the closest student to sign and pass around. When he received it from the last student, he nodded. "Now, secondly, shall we all introduce ourselves? I would like to know your name and what, if any, experience you have had with creatures of your own world."

After they had all gone around (and D had undoubtedly taken note of whom to watch out for), he clapped his hands together, plainly rather excited to be getting to the meat of things, as it were. "Now then, on to what you all are probably here for."

D looked to the trees at one side of the clearing and beckoned. A unicorn emerged slowly, glancing warily at the gathering of students as it walked over to stand at D's side, standing as large as a medium-sized horse. Its horn gleamed slightly in the dappled sunlight coming through the trees and D smiled, lifting a hand to stroke the creature's back soothingly. It knickered softly at his touch and calmed, turning its head to look curiously at the class.

"This is a unicorn," D said. "They are animals of legend on earth, and rarely seen in modern times. Many times they have been mistaken for other animals - antelopes, rhinoceros, or even horses, though you can see here that the differences are quite plain when viewed at a close distance. The horn is his most obvious characteristic and is purported to neutralize poison.

"You can also see their hooves - cloven, like a goat's hooves - and the tail, which resembles that of a lion."

D stepped away from the unicorn, tucking his hands into his sleeves. "When men wanted to hunt a unicorn, they knew that it was a solitary creature and very fierce. The only way to subdue such an animal was to have a maiden - a virgin woman - wait within a clearing for the unicorn to approach, whereupon it would lay its head in her lap and fall asleep." He shrugged. "Slightly exaggerated though the claims were, he will still only allow you to approach if you are pure of body, and he will more easily accept women than men. Those of you that are male and virgin can still attempt to come close and speak to him, but if he stamps his foot, I advise you to retreat."

Leaving the unicorn to stand at one side, D moved to the other side of the clearing. Another creature came through the trees at his signal, this one like the unicorn, but somewhat more exotic, its shoulder only coming up to D's waist. It made no sound as it walked and the grass didn't seem to move around its hooves.

"This is a Qilin," D said. "From China, the country of my ancestors, it is a creature of great nobility and power. The Qilin is very peaceful and does not like to even trample the grass when it walks. Of course, if angered, they are known for their ferocity in exacting revenge for any wrongdoing."

The Qilin inclined its head to the group, seeming less wary than the unicorn had been. "You may approach and ask questions of the Qilin with no questions made of your purity, but it demands greater respect, being so noble," D said. "I will be on hand if there are other questions or problems."

[OOC: ~~Wait for~~ OCD is up! Classes after this will probably not be quite so long, I hope. If anyone has problems ICly with the contract D wants them to sign, they can talk to D privately in his thread.

ETA: Going to bed for now, but will reply to you guys in a few hours! *runs from comment avalanche* Okay, now I'm headed home from work, but I'll continue replying when I get home. *determined!*]

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"Right," he said, nodding. "Perhaps another time. With workshops beginning, I really couldn't have gone anyway."

"Yeah, workshops and other things." Isabel hesitated for a moment and then finally blurted out, "Have you talked to him at all? I mean really talked? Not just superficial stuff?"

He frowned but quickly shook it away. "I've talked to him," he said. "I don't know what you mean by really talked though."

"Just...I don't know. I guess I could have been one of the new students for all the he actually seemed to care," she admitted. "Which hurt."

"I can imagine," he said, frowning again. "I don't know why, Isabel. I can't seem to hold a conversation with him at all. Or, we talk, and then we're done talking."

"Exactly," Isabel said. "I just don't under why. I mean he said he came back now specifically because it's before I have to go. But the only time I've seen him is when I went looking for him. And I don't want to push, because he didn't push when I got back." Toeing her shoe into the ground, she sighed, "It's just frustrating."

"Yes," he said, scrunching his shoulders up slightly. "I'm sorry he's not talking to you. And I'm sorry I don't know why."

Isabel gently bumped against Cedric's shoulder. "It's okay. He's back and he's safe. We'll deal with the rest as it comes. And worse comes to worse? We find him next week and beat him until he comes to his senses."

"Perhaps," he said, half smiling. "He might not take too well being beaten just so he has to talk."

"Then he should get his head out of his ass," she smirked. "And it wouldn't be an issue."

"It's only been a few days," Cedric said, tucking his hands in his pockets. "He's been gone a long time. Things are the same but they're new for him. Readjustment can take some time."

"Cedric trust me, I know that well," Isabel sighed. "Been there, done, that, have the cheap t-shirt. It's the only reason I'm not pushing the issue."

"Right," Cedric said, wincing. "I'm sorry. I'm just thinking out loud. He seems to be fine besides the not talking."

"It's okay," she said, brushing her hand over his shoulder. "And you're right. He's probably just being stubborn for some reason. We just have to be more stubborn."

"Of course," he said. "I'm sure he'll come around."

He wasn't sure but he didn't want to admit that.

"Of course he will," Isabel agreed, not particularly certain of that herself.

"So what sort of questions do you ask a qilin?" Yes, an abrupt topic change was called for now.

"I have no idea," Cedric replied. "How are you, maybe?"

"That's about what I'm going to go with," she nodded. "Because somehow how's the wife and kids just doesn't seem appropriate."

"Best not make assumptions about unknown animals," Cedric teased.

Isabel thought about it for a moment and then facepalmed and started to laugh. "Yeah. Probably not a good idea."

Slipping an arm around his waist, she leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled at him. "You know I love you right?"