Karyn and Jon got into first period just as the bell rang. They clapped each other's wings hi-five and took their 'seats'.
Actually, they were perches. Instead of seats, the whole class had padded metal rails for each student to perch on. Their desks were raised to the appropriate height.
"Wonder what Mr. Everett will look like as a bird?" Karyn whispered to Jon. He rummaged through his backpack and withdrew a biology book, which was difficult to hold in his wings. Eventually, he just held it between both arms and dropped it on the desk.
"Dunno. He's -rrawk- never on time, huh? You'd think being a high school biology teacher -skeaawk- would have no life and be on time."
Just then, the the door padded open. To accomodate the change in species, every regular door had become a french door, and the class was no exception.
A plump hummingbird pittered into the room.
"Sorry class, sorry I'm late!"
Jon and Karyn giggled, and the rest of the class glared at them through beady eyes. What was wrong with them!?
As a human, Mr. Everett had always been a little round. He was one big, balding middle-aged man who always came to class dressed like he were in for a jon interview.
As a bird, he was still pretty rounded. It was a wonder he could fly at all with his stunted hummingbird wings. The form fit him well, he was always pretty jittery.
"He's still wearing that -rrwk- geeky red bow tie!"
"Yeah, and instead of losing his hair, his feathers are turning gray!"
Mr. Everett instructed them to open their books and started writing notes on the board.
"I can't believe this!" Karyn twittered. She let her tray drop to the table with a flat clatter. "They're serving us nuts and berries for lunch!"
Jon pulled his beak into a smile. "Actually, the predatory birds -rrawk- got meat of some kind. Rats, I think. -rrrawwwwk- You can go back into the other line if you want one."
"Pass."
Karyn sat down and pecked a few seeds and raspberries down her beak. They weren't bad!
A few tables away, a crew of birds wearing football blazers were furiously clawing at each other with the talons on their feet while flapping their wings to stay airborne. An ostrich wearing a suit (the principal, Jon assumed) flagged them down and dragged them out of the cafeteria.
"I have English next period." Karyn gulped down a beakful of flower seeds, "Wonder how the old literature has changed now that we're birds?"
"-rrawwk!- Probably not much from when we were monkeys."
Fifth period was gym. Karyn didn't share this part of Jon's schedule, nor did any of his other friends. He had always considered it a pain in the tailfeathers, having to exercise right after lunch.
He stalked into the locker room to discover other male birds changing out of their regular clothes into nothing but gym shorts. Like his regular clothes, they had a special hole cut of for his tail. Jon found his locker and maneuvered the dial into the correct combination.
On the other side of the locker room, a muscular rooster was pecking a scrawny red-tailed hawk mercilessly.
After a few seconds, Jon recognized the chicken as Damien Walker, who had always been a manace to the school. He probably would have been held back a grade, were he not getting by on athletics. The parrot realized he hated people like that.
'Oh crap, I just made eye contact with that big cock!'
Sure enough, Damien strutted over to Jon, another of his favorite targets.
"So, how ya doin today, Jon?" he sneered, "I heard you were on the football field yesterday, getting a boner off watchin' us play."
Jon seethed. Just because he was a parrot and his feathers were rainbow patterened didn't mean he was gay! He hated how people always drew that conclusion!
How had he known that? He hadn't been a parrot for more than day!
"Rrawk! Go away, you dumb cock!"
Damien smashed the locker door against Jon's wings. He cried out in pain and the contents of his backpack spilled all over the floor.
Including the box containing the stone!
"Gettin' brave, eh?"
"Fuck off, I said!" Jon squawked, "-rrrrrawwwwk!- Before Coloniel Sanders has a field day with you!"
Damien's brow lowered. Of course he didin't get the joke, why would there be a KFC restaurant in a world populated by birds!?
"So, what's this?" Damien's sharp chicken talons snatched up the box and brough it closer. It popped open and the stone rolled out. Jon caught it in his beak and tossed it in his locker. If anyone got a hold of the stone, it'd be over!
"-rrrawk! It's a rock, not unlike your brain."
"DOn't get cocky with me!"
Damien body slammed Jon against the lockers and held him there.
There was nobody else in the locker room to help him! Where was the damned coach when he needed him!?
Jon reached for the stone, eventually wrapping his wings around it.
"Ya hear me!?"
"-rr...awk! Yeah, yeah... I..." Jon was gasping for air. He was crushing him beneath his weight! "Rock... -raawwkk- I wish..."
