Thayva watched the young dracon in his attempt at hiding his toy before dropping it oh so nonchalantly in the chest, the toy making a light [i]thunk[/i] as it landed among the other items inside.
	The corner of her mouth quirked up at Arjun's admittance. “I guessed [i]that[/i] much, love.” She uncrossed her arms and placed a gentle hand on Arjun’s shoulder. “As long as it doesn't interfere with your studies, it’ll be here when you return. Now go on.” She nodded to the door and patted him on the back. “You’ll be late for class.”

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	The small halfling child made his way to the hall that eventually led to the various classrooms. He paused near one of the corners, letting a large group of mostly older kids pass by, his height aiding him in remaining unnoticed. At least, so he thought.
	He felt the hairs on his back tingle with the sensation of being watched. He looked up and scanned the mass of bodies, trying to find a pair of eyes on him, but the feeling had already dissipated. A lingering glance his way, perhaps? For as long as the boy could remember—which, if he was honest, was not all that long—he could tell when someone looked at him with more than a quick glance. But, in a crowd of nearly one-hundred-fifty, it could have been anyone who saw him between the other bodies.
	Shaking off the thoughts, he stole out through the doorway behind the oblivious group, occasionally glancing over his shoulder and jumping at any sudden, loud sound that echoed through the area.

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	Nick stood soon after Laya and followed the girls toward the table.
	Not wanting to be left too far behind, Tor savagely finished tearing at the little bit remaining on her plate, and lumbered after, her sharp teeth still chewing at a chunk of ham. She took up the rear of the group, her thick, scaly light green tail swishing behind her.
	Kia’s face hardened when Aurelian started speaking. She slowed her pace, gesturing for the older girls to keep going, and fell back to be closer to the boys and better hear Nick’s answer.
	Nick glanced to Kia, then sighed. “Not unless you know magic.”
	“Actually,” Kia turned to face them. She took a couple slow steps backward, then stopped, her voice low as she continued. “Make sure Greentail’s closer to the center of the room come lunch. It’ll make things easier to give the lizard his just desserts. Well, at least I’d [i]think[/i] it would for Nick, wouldn’t it?” She looked to Nick with an overly innocent expression.
	Nick gave a snorted chuckle. “Yeah. The center would be best.”
	Kai grinned, winked at the two, then hurried to catch up with the other girls.
	Tor rolled her eyes from behind them. “Hurry up, you two. I swear, you’re slower than a wounded snail slithering through molasses.”