"Star, wait up!" Starzarus, a blue Zafara, turned to see her best friend, Anette454, bounding toward her. She was easy to distinguish from the rest of the crowd because of her vibrant rainbow coat. Starzarus waved and halted. Annette caught up and fell into step beside her. "Sorry I�m late," apologized Annette. "I�m just not awake yet." She yawned to show her sleepiness. Starzarus nodded in sympathy. "You have to expect that on a Monday. I�m tired, too. In fact, I�m on a hiatus, from the Battledome anyway." Annette made a face. "Lucky you. I�ve been working my tail off with all the fighting I�ve done lately. Which reminds me, I�ve got to go there after school today. My owner wants to test out the Circlet of the Air Faerie she just bought me."

As the two Neopets talked, they crested the top of a hill and came within sight of a large brick building. Freshly painted black letters read �Neopian Central High School� above the double door entrance. The bell hadn�t rung yet, and all the attending students hung out on the grassy lawn surrounding it, determined to cram the last few minutes of socializing in before first period. The two Zafaras ambled toward the large oak tree shading the left corner of the building, only to discover it already occupied. A white Grarrl and a tough-looking Moehog had cornered a young red Poogle. She had her back up against the trunk and was snarling at her captors. "I told you already!" she snapped, fur raised. "I don�t have any Neopoints with me!"

"I told you already!" she snapped, fur raised. "I don�t have any Neopoints with me!" "Oh really?" sneered the Grarrl. He nodded to the Moehog. "Search her bookbag," he ordered, indicating the parcel on the grass a short distance away. The Poogle emitted a cry of rage, but the Grarrl stepped forward menacingly and she fell silent. None of them had yet noticed the Zafaras. "Do you think we should help her?" asked Starzarus quietly. "Of course we should. I�ll handle it," assured Annette. "You�re on a hiatus, remember? You shouldn�t do any fighting." With that, she headed for the tree. "Hey!" she shouted at two bullies. They turned to her, surprised. "Yeah, you, ugly! You and your mutant friend there!"

The Moehog looked puzzled. "I�m not a mutant!" he protested, looking suddenly alarmed. He glanced hurriedly at his striped back to reassure himself that it had not changed suddenly. "Oh goodness, my mistake!" exclaimed Annette. She hopped up to the bullies and stood before them, swishing her tail audaciously under their noses. "You can�t tell from a distance," she said with a perfectly straight face. The Moehog opened his mouth, then shut it again, clearly astonished that another creature, especially one half his size, would dare insult him. The Grarrl was slightly quicker. He narrowed his eyes and squinted down his blunt nose at the Zafara. "You�re asking for a fight," he snapped coldly. "No one confronts me and gets away with it." He seemed about to challenge her, but instead he pushed her roughly aside and stomped off, calling over his shoulder, "Meet me in the Battledome at 3:00 NST today!" His sidekick scrambled to follow him.

"Ooh . . . is that a threat?" Annette taunted, puffing her cheeks out and swaggering around in comical imitation of the Grarrl. Starzarus came up, sneezing laughter as they watched the bullies depart. "You . . . you scared them off," said the Poogle in wonder. The Zafaras turned to her, grinning. Starzarus bent to pick up her bookbag and handed it to her. "You just have to stand up to them," she explained. "It�s simple, really." "But won�t they beat you up later?" she asked innocently to Annette, who laughed.

"Nah. I�m supposed to be at the Battledome anyway this afternoon, and if he shows up, he�ll get his tail kicked." She thumped the ground with her hind foot for emphasis. "If a Kacheek can beat a Grarrl, so can I." "Wow, you guys are real Battledome fighters!" The Poogle�s eyes widened. "Could you teach me how to fight? Please? I�ve always wanted to learn." At that moment, the shrill scream of the school bell sounded, and a flood of students descended toward the entrance. The three allowed themselves to be carried along with the flow, still talking. "We�ll teach you," promised Starzarus. "You�re new here, aren�t you? I haven�t seen you around before." The Poogle nodded. "I used to live at Terror Mountain, but then we moved here. My name is Sealink_2000."

The Zafaras introduced themselves, then halted off to one side of the hall. "Your grade is that way," pointed Annette. "Do you know where all your classes are?" Sealink nodded. "I can manage." "Good. Why don�t you sit with us at lunch today?" invited Starzarus. "I�d like that," nodded the Poogle, obviously relieved. "Thanks!" She trotted off toward the hallway Annette had indicated, tail wagging. Annette looked at Starzarus. "That was nice of you," she congratulated. "Let�s get to class. The tardy bell�s going to ring any second." Starzarus nodded her agreement and they headed for homeroom.

To be continued...