Autumn's Arrival, First CoMC Class!

[Jo Andrews]

Jo was waiting almost impatiently for her first class of the year to make their way to the lakeside where a tall log fence housed her managerie's newest edition and her new houseboat rocked ever so slightly in the rippling water not too far from the enclosure. Kion curled about her ankles and she could feel him purring as he blinked in the morning sun, the only one of her critters that had opted to join her for the morning.

"C'mon, c'mon, don't be hangin' back," she called to them, encouraging the stragglers. None of the students looked too thrilled to be taking her class so early in the morning, but that was to be expected. Jo hadn't always been a morning person either, especially not in her teenage years. "Kia ora tatou, good morning everyone," she greeted them all, translating the Maori phrase as she pulled open a gate in the fence that swung easily on balanced hinges regardless of the weight of the split tree trunks that made it up. "Got someone to introduce you to." A whining was beginning to sound from the other side of the fence and there was a distinct snuffling noise at the base of the fence. "Good girl... sit. Stay." The snuffling and whining stopped and Jo pulled the gate wider. "Don't be shy, she's harmless. Everyone, this is Laika."

The cerberus was clearly visible to all now, her heads a good fifteen feet above the ground now. Her front paws shuffled a bit and her three sets of shining eyes watched them all carefully as the students came closer, but she didn't move from her place. "Laika, down," Jo said more quietly as she came to stand by the dog's side. Laika settled to her belly obediently, though the nearest head took the opportunity to lick Jo's shoulder, nearly knocking her over and leaving a rather slimy wet streak over the dragonhide jacket she was wearing against the early morning chill. Jo grinned, scratching her ear. "Got her imported from Greece in July- she's just a puppy. Line up and come in pairs to stroke her. Let her smell you before you touch her- manners, you know. Once you've all introduced yourselves, we'll play with her a bit."

[Matsukinsei Twins]

All things considered, it had been a good summer. There had been no mishaps to speak of in the Matsukinsei home, and Seiichi-kun had remained ignorant of the family's mixed blood. It had been easy to entertain Seiichi-kun, too: Movies had turned out to be fascinating for him.

And it helped that Koujin spent most of his afternoons or nights out of the house.

Kiyoshi considered the summer a success, and that helped ease him back into the autumn semester. Not that he needed much help; he was always glad to return to Seirei. And Andrews-sensei's classes were always very informative.

"Oh, sweet!" Koujin said once Andrews-sensei opened the gate, breaking his twin's reverie. He pushed past everyone else to be the first to address the cerberus. "Hi Laika," he said brightly, holding out his hands for the giant dog to snuffle.