David was sprawled out in the remains of what used to be a chair - its parts and pieces scattered all over Rylan’s living room.

“What happened?” Thomas asked, turning to Rylan, who was laughing hysterically.

“David - he j-jumped...up onto the chair and it just broke-” Rylan wheezed as tears of laughter streamed from his eyes. Meanwhile, David slowly stood up, dusting off his trousers.

“Are you okay?” Lylith asked loudly, trying to get heard over the sound of Rylan’s kettle-like laughter.

David just nodded, looking around at the carnage he had accidentally caused.

Luckily, while he didn’t seem hurt, he was no doubt surprised - dusting off his clothes.

“We should...probably clean this up,” Lylith said as she began to pick up the parts scattered all over the floor.

Thomas and Javqua began helping, and after a moment of hesitation, so did Valus.

----------------------------------------

He...jumped onto the chair, and it just...broke? Valus thought horrified.

How could humans be so...compact? For a species so small, their bodies seemed impossibly dense and heavy.

He immediately began thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Rylan shaking someone's hand a bit too enthusiastically and breaking their wrist - or Lylith accidentally stepping on a Xeno's foot and crushing it. What have I gotten myself into…

Valus’ antennae drooped. What had he been thinking? Involving himself with a bunch of hellworlders -

Distracted, he bumped heads with someone as they both absentmindedly reached for the same loose bolt.

Valus yelped as he clutched his now squished antennae, grimacing. The nerve-dense sensory organs were highly sensitive, and they hurt from the impact.

“Oh, shit! Sorry about that.” Valus looked up to see Rylan with a flustered expression.

“What is that hard shit? That’s fuckin’ solid.” Rylan asked as he rubbed the flesh underneath his messy brown hair.

“It’s chitin,” Valus replied. “Damn - I really should have guessed that to be honest,” Rylan replied, feeling stupid. “You're that guy from the road, right?” He asked a few moments later, squinting, and Valus nodded.

“Well, then it’s good to see you again!” Rylan flashed his seemingly trademark smile, and Valus looked away, a bit flustered.

He wasn’t used to having people treat him so nicely or enthusiastically. But how would the New American react when he learned that he had been...well, a spy?

Valus began to worry yet again as he rubbed what felt like a hairline crack on his forehead. Hopefully, his head was still intact.

----------------------------------------

David looked around at his fellow humans, his unimpressed look hidden by the void that was his mask. He truly wasn't sure if he was either going to love or hate this living arrangement.

Sighing quietly, David continued cleaning up his mess. Hopefully, they would be able to get some hardier furniture. To be fair, while he had jumped onto the chair, he didn’t expect it to just...shatter underneath him!

Picking up the last few pieces around him, he stretched. He didn’t know what he thought of Thomas yet - after all, they had only met each other an hour ago. As for Lylith...turning to the New Canadian girl, David paused.

Lylith was quiet and polite, but that was just all New Canadians, right? However, as he noticed, it seemed that even New Canadians had a breaking point to their patience. After all of Rylan’s shenanigans, the girl looked a bit tired.

And as for Rylan - well, he never changed. Always smiling, laughing and talking. David didn’t know how someone could be that happy.

As he put the final pieces of chair debris on the pile the group had made in the middle of the room, David turned to Thomas, who was clearing his throat loudly.

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Thomas decided that he was the one to start explaining the situation to his new human counterparts, regretting his choice already. To be fair, they didn’t know Javqua, and Valus definitely wasn’t the social type.

Breathing in through his nose and out with his mouth, he began. “Soooo… first things first, this is Valus.” Thomas stated, gesturing towards the male.

He watched as the insectoid became more and more uncomfortable as everyone turned to look at him.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Thomas chose his words carefully as he carried on. “When me and Javqua first met Valus, we were - sorry, let me rephrase that. When we first realized Valus was following us, we thought that he was a stalker, or something nefarious.”

At that, he saw Valus attempt to make himself as small as possible, as the other’s expressions went from friendly and neutral to… well, less friendly and neutral. Even Rylan looked serious now.

Before his words affected the other's opinions of Valus too much, Thomas continued talking as fast as he could.

“Wait! Hold on a minute. I said we thought he was stalking us - and while he technically was, it was because he was being told to by the headmaster,” Thomas explained hurriedly.

There was a pause as his words sank in, the others looking at each other, confused.

“So...you’re saying...the headmaster...got this guy to stalk you?” Lylith asked incredulously, her face contorted into a confused scowl. “The same guy who showed us around the school?” Rylan added.

“Yeah. As it turns out, the guy’s a massive racist - speciest - xenophobe, whatever you wanna call it. He got Valus to monitor me and Javqua. Javqua, because she’s a carnivore - and apparently, he doesn’t like us omnivores either.” Thomas said grimly.

There was an uneasy silence as his words sank in, the new students glancing at each other.

“That’s a...serious allegation. Do you have...proof?” Rylan asked, and Thomas turned to Valus.

Taking his camera out from his bag, Valus scrolled through its gallery, clicking some buttons.

Moments later, the five others received the many photos he had taken of the carniphobic (and omniphobic) things on the headmaster's floor. Posters, papers, mocking illustrations - the works.

“Why did I think aliens wouldn’t be like this?” Lylith said in a cynical tone, clearly disturbed.

“Well, to be fair, their fear is a bit justified-” Rylan stopped talking as Javqua glared at him, and he winced.

“No, I didn’t mean it like that! You know - like, it’s in their genes and stuff. Instincts. But that definitely doesn’t excuse shitty behaviour!” Rylan said firmly, and Javqua relaxed.

“Why don’t we just report him?” Lylith asked.

“If he were a teacher, I bet it’d be easy to get him fired with that kinda stuff. But, he’s the headmaster. So, I’m guessing it’s going to be a little harder than that…” Thomas trailed off.

“Besides, the way Valus got the images is…” Javqua shook her head. “He did sneak into a student-restricted area. I bet that’d put him in serious trouble.”

“So what do we do?” A deep voice said, and everyone turned to the source.

It was David. Whether his voice really was that deep, or it was from his mask, was anyone's guess.

“You can talk?” Rylan asked excitedly. “I genuinely thought you were a mute.”

David shrugged. “I didn’t feel like talking.” He said simply.

There was a stunned pause before everyone began thinking again.

“What if we still just reported him? The news would spread, and surely people wouldn’t want someone like the headmaster to remain in power.” Lylith said, but Javqua shook her head.

“People...wouldn’t really care. Since you’re new here, you probably don’t know yet, but...us ‘predator’ species aren’t well-liked or supported in the slightest.” The krakovak sighed, and Thomas reached up to put a hand on her shoulder.

There was another long pause as the six tried to think of something.

“Well, this wasn’t how I thought my new school year was going to start.” Rylan chuckled. “Finding out that my new principal is a massive racist, who hires stalkers.” He momentarily glanced at Valus, who lowered his head dejectedly.

There was yet another long pause until it was finally broken by Lylith.

“Tell you what. Since we can’t do anything right now, why don’t we just...keep this in mind? Me, Rylan and David need to get stuff set up and organized anyways. We can all keep an eye out for any of the headmaster’s antics.” She said softly, and there were sounds of agreement.

“Well, then - we’ll...see you guys around?” Lylith said, and Javqua, Thomas and Valus took that as a cue to leave, the three of them feeling confused and frustrated.

Thomas and Javqua stopped at their door as Valus continued walking to his floor.

“Hey, Valus!” Javqua called suddenly, and the insectoid turned.

“Thanks for telling us.” She said, and the insectoid timidly nodded before continuing.

The moment the door was closed behind them, Javqua collapsed on the couch.

“That sleazy feathery- I knew something was up with him! I should’ve figured it out sooner-” Javqua stopped as Thomas sat down next to her, rubbing her scaley back comfortingly.

“It’s okay-” Thomas said, and Javqua was stunned when she turned to look at him - his eyes steely and determined.

“We're going to get that bastard.”

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Valus tiredly walked to his room.

He still remembered the fateful day a few weeks ago - getting called to the headmaster’s office.

“Vinsal - your kind is very stealthy, correct?” The headmaster had asked him.

“Uhh - yes sir. Y- yes I am. I mean, yes we ar-”

“So -” Squinting, the headmaster had interrupted him as he looked down at his device. “Valus. I have a...request for you. Are you still a part of the photography club?”

Valus remembered himself nodding, wondering what all this was about.

“That’s great. Because I was just wondering if you could monitor these two students for me.” Thomas and Javqua’s student photos were thrown onto the table with a look of disgust.

“I mean...I- I could? But why?” Valus had asked.

“Don’t ask questions. Will you do it or not?” The headmaster had snapped.

Valus had wanted to say no. To say no and just walk out - or curse the headmaster out for asking him to do such a strange thing.

Instead, he had realized how powerless he was at the moment. This was the headmaster of the school he was attending. Surely it wasn't a good idea to get on his bad side?

But if Valus had to be honest, there was also a sense of curiosity. Valus wanted to know why the headmaster wanted him to monitor these two random students - especially the new human.

“I...yes, I can do it.” Valus had answered.

He still remembered the headmaster’s pleased expression as he smoothed his feathers - as if it had been burnt into his mind - and most of all, he still remembered the man's response.

“Good.”

Valus snapped out of his thoughts, realizing that he had walked past his room. Backtracking, he entered his dwelling, determined. He and his new companions were going to put an end to the headmaster.