Of Blood and Honor

Standing before the class of her new fellow students, eyes trained on her, Scarletta swore it was the most terrifying moment of her life. Ears flattened, eyes downcast and tail tucked between her hind legs, and her wings folded to her small body, Scarletta waited, unspeaking.

"Good morning fillies and colts!" Ms. Poppy said cheerfully, "Today we have a new student!" she said, gesturing to Scarletta, "Scarlet, would you like to introduce yourself to your classmates?"

Scarletta shook her head, and whispers began, and she heard one from a very distinct filly voice. "So that's the granddaughter of Commander Hurricane? She doesn't look like she could blow a leaf over! Might be the other way around with all the shaking she is doing." There were a few snickers, and some were downright laughter. But where Scarletta would have started crying, she would not let another slander her family name. She stopped, her eyes hardening, and with a snap of her wings, the little filly stiffleggedly stalked forward, her voice clear as she addressed the classroom. All voices stopped and all eye focused on her.

"I am Scarletta Von Sundrop, firstborn of Lady Sundrop and Commander Thunderstrike, granddaughter of Commander Hurricane and Private Pansy, and heir to the Sundrop fortune. " she said proudly, albeit, her voice high and almost on the squeaky side. With a flick of her tail, she had recited it, learned it word by word from her mother, and she even gave the intimidating glare her father taught her. It was a well known glare, and the fillies and colts cowered, all but one. She was a pinkish, violet filly, green eyes, and a mane that was silvery. She was glaring back.

The other Alpha... Was all Scarletta thought, even in her foal-mind, and she continued to glare. One look and Scarletta knew that this filly was a beast. She said something, the whole class laughed. Not out of how funny it was, but out of fear. Scarletta's lip curled. She would not stoop so low, but she would not bow to the whims of this filly.

"I am not here to have a contest. I am here to learn. Like we all are. Say what you wish, but my father has taught me well, and to excel at all that I do." She said firmly, eyes still trained on the filly.

"Oh yeah, like what? Boasting about how amazing you are? If that is the case, and you are SO much better than us, you obviously don't belong here." the filly said, narrowing her eyes as she made her point.

"You think because I had a proper upbringing I am going to show off? I am not that vain." she said, rolling her eyes, "But I am not that stupid either. Go on play your games. Leave me out of it." Scarletta casually looked away, now scanning the seats for her spot. The whispers had started again, and Scarletta heard a few of them, mostly about her, some questioning the filly.

"Y-yeah well I-" the filly was cut off by Ms. Poppy, "That will be enough Violet." She said firmly, much to the displeasure of the filly, Violet. Huffing, she sat back in her seat, and she gave Scarletta a stinkeye.

Sighing some, Ms. Poppy smiled at Scarletta, "Very good Scarlet. It's nice to see that you are mature for your age. Now why don't you take a seat by...." she paused to look around, "Vincent? He is over on the far side of the room, next to the window." she pointed where a young colt sat, gazing absently out of the window. He was dark brown, with a sandy colored mane, and his eyes were a gentle blue, like the summer sky. At the sound of his name, he looked around, his eyes fixing on Scarletta, and they stared at each other.

To Scarletta he was the cutest thing she had seen. But she swallowed, walking over nervously, eyes boring into his. She scrambled up into the seat, look around once again. Ms. Poppy smiled. "Now class. Since we are all settled, let us go over the basics..." Scarletta paid attention, and she could only blink in confusion as she tried to make sense of what her new teacher was saying.

The day wore on. Scarletta found herself getting increasingly frustrated by this new ability Ms. Poppy was trying to teach her. Writing. No matter how hard she tried, the pencil only made silly little squiggles, rather than the pretty and intricate flourishes of her mother. She spat the pencil out, scowling down at her worksheet. "Aw....I will never get it right!"

"Try taking your time." a male voice to her left cause Scarletta to jump, and she looked over at Vincent, who was studying her. She gazed back, a bit befuddled that he has spoken to her, her golden orbs wide in surprise.

He seemed to be a bit amused, chuckling as he reached over and patted her shoulder, "Just relax and take your time. Its not a contest. Not everything needs to be perfect to be acceptable."

"But I don't want it to be just acceptable." Scarletta replied, her brow furrowing, "I want it to be perfect. If it's not, then I am not doing something right." She looked down at the squiggly 'letters' she had made, and she poked out her bottom lip in a pout, scowling.

"Well, taking your time will ensure better practice. I mean, look at mine!" Vincent laughed, holding up his own worksheet. Scarletta blinked as she saw the near horrific scribbles, and she would barely make out the letters, "V-I-N-C-E-N-T." she called out each letter individually, "Wow. I mean, it's not bad. At least your name doesn't have a bunch of noodles in it." she teased, looking at her own name. She found it a bit long and fancy for her taste, and she would think, before picking up her pencil and erasing the last two letters of her name.

"What are you doing?" The colt asked, looking over at her sheet. "Scar....let? Why not Scarletta? I mean that is your full name." He gave her a confused look.

"But Scarlet is shorter and easier to right. And I don't like my fancy name. Scarlet sounds better." She said. Scarlet...I like it. She thought to herself, smiling at Vincent. The colt smiled back, and Scarlet would beam, only to be wrenched from her new friend by the feeling of paper against the back of her head. She turned, seeing the crumpled ball on her desk, and she blinked. Looking up, she would scan the room, but all seemed to be doing their work. But a closer scan would show that not all were focused.

Violet's gaze would flick to Scarlet, but only so briefly, it could have been mistaken. But it wasn't. Narrowing her eyes, she looked down at the ball, scooping it closer with a wing. "What are you doing?" Vincent asked, his sky blue gaze filled with curiosity. "What is that?"

"A letter. From Violet I think." she replied, whispering, casting a gaze to Ms. Poppy, who was busy tending to one of the students. Sucking in a breath, Scarlet quickly unfurled the paper, her little heart racing. Each crinkle of the paper sounded so loud in her ears, like it was screaming. She could almost hear her mother's voice, see her father's disappointment. It was almost enough to make her forget it. She finally opened it, reading the contents.

"I'm watching you. ~V~"

The penmanship was well practiced, and Scarlet would suck in a breath. She flicked her gaze to Violet, who was giving her a sharp, dangerous look. One filled with anger and domination. Scarlet shivered; she was a bit scared by this new adversary she had crossed, but she would snort, her own gaze hardening, her ears pinning back to her skull. Signs to say she wasn't afraid of her. Aggression.  Never show weakness to an enemy, as her father would say. Makes you an easier target.

And with another snort, Scarlet would pointedly turn back to Vince, who was back to his schoolwork, flicking his gaze out of the window every so often, but in general, avoiding Scarlet's gaze. Sighing, Scarlet went back to work, glancing at the sun, waiting for the day to be over with.