The Lion and The Stag: Part 1

by Jason Buckland

news spreading around the school fast. “That was out of order from Mr Barry he shouldn’t make you do that” Connor rants as we walk down the hall to our next class. Symbolology. “it’s okay I’m used to the staring at this stage Connor just let it go” I almost plead with him not wanting him to get into more trouble for me and with a humph he drops the topic and the conversation and we walk to the next class not saying a word “Now who can tell me what their zodiac stands for” miss Tobin addresses the class And everyone bows their heads not wanting to be asked. She raises her gaze and peers down to the back of the class. Her beady eyes looking for an unfortunate victim. “Lucy would you be so kind as to tell us what you zodiac is and what it symbolises” she says sternly and the small and shy lily raises to her feet. “My zodiac is the rabbit. The rabbit symbolise kindness and shyness” she says quietly seeming almost embarrassed. “Very good lily know who’s next” miss Tobin says enjoying this little game and begins the draw again. “Thomas would you do us the honour” she says and he raises to his feet slowly and looks around the room “now what is your zodiac and what does it stand for” she almost challenges him “My zodiac is the stag and it stands for gentleness, grace and vigilance” I say timidly “Now you all know that everyone’s zodiac is different and has a different meaning but what do they show about the strengths and weaknesses of people” she poses the question to the room and no one try’s to answer. “Connor I forgot to ask you what your zodiac was earlier so you can chose anyone in the room and tell me what their strengths and weaknesses are” and straight away he looks at me “The stags strengths are it’s…it’s….” Connor stammers not sure what to say “Someone bail him out please” Mrs Tobin says and straight away Lucy steps in “The stag’s strengths are its agility, courage and its vigilance. Its weakness is its gentle nature” she says looking at me rather than at the teacher her blue eyes amazingly bright. “That’s correct Lucy who’s next….” She moves on asking more and more people and I tune out looking at Lucy wondering how on earth she knows so much about my zodiac. The rest of the class fly’s as I ponder how and the bell soon rings signalling lunch for most people but for me and Connor it means things are about to get interesting. Walking down the hall Connor and I say nothing holding our heads high as we emerge out into the back of the school next to the soccer field hidden from view by the stand that got built last year. Sure enough there is a huge group there gathered round to see the fight Luke and his gang are there laughing obviously not expecting us to show. “Look who it is I was starting to think that you wouldn’t show” Luke laughs not frightened in the slightest. Connor says nothing ready to fight for me but I’m not going to let him get hurt for me. Taking a deep breath I step forward in front of Connor and say “Fight me instead” I say and they start to laugh at me but I don’t move “Really you want to fight me? Horse boy might have had a chance but you?” he laughs “Thomas what are you doing you don’t have a chance he will pulverise you” Connor says worried

  “I don’t care I’m not going to let him hurt you not for me” I reply and he reluctantly steps back. The crowd forms a circle around us chanting and I a sudden realisation of what I’ve just done hits home Luke changes and stood there as his zodiac I’m overcome with fear he stands there just a sheer beast his eyes a blood red fixed on me horns coming out the side of head pointing menacing at me. Digging at the ground about to charge I change as well and I’ve only just changed as he charges at me. Quickly skipping to one side I manage to get out the way. As he brings himself to a halt I lash out with the hooves on my front legs hitting him in the side of head. Hard. Tossing his head he hits me in the side with his horn and I’m sent tumbling from the force As I pull myself off the floor he charges again and I don’t have time to get out the way and he hits me full force sending me flying across the floor. I whine in pain as I lay there on the floor feeling like every bone in my body is broken. Luke walks over slowly confident that he has won and places a foot on my body slowly pushing down and its agony. Ignoring the pain I lash out with my back legs and hit him in the side of the head again forcing him to pull back shaking his head. Climbing to my feet shakily I rise onto my hind legs and lash out with my other legs and Luke backs away causing me to miss. I keep following and doing the same thing forcing him back to the wall of the stand. When he finds his back to the wall he changes back raising his hands the sign he gives up. I stop and change back as well. “Okay you win I’ll leave you alone” he whimpers crying. I say nothing just turn around and start walking back to when I left my friend. Everyone looks at me in shock have assumed I was defenceless but today they learned I’m not. “Why didn’t you do that before? Why take all that rubbish for so long?” Connor asks as we walk away heading back to get something to eat and although my body kills I feel a pride I’ve never felt before “Because I didn’t want to fight but I wasn’t going to let him hurt you instead” I say honestly and as we go into the canteen The rest of the day flies past in a blur and soon it’s time to head home. My mind is still buzzing from earlier but my pain faded remarkably quickly. Walking out to the front of the school I look around for his brother and sister and finds them stood a short distance away “You want to come down to my place “Connor asks hopefully “Yer sure I’ll have to clear it with my dad first” I reply excitedly the two of us split up and go in search of our parents. When I get to his dads car and finds the other two already in the car “Dad can I go over to Connors for the evening?” Thomas asks quickly “Has Connor cleared it with his parents yet?” dad asks and Connor appears in the distance Thomas gives him a thumbs up and Connor follows suit. Turning to face dad I tell him it’s okay and asks him to get him around seven. After a quick goodbye he speeds off into the distance leaving me to go with Connor. “Hey Chris how are you?” I ask as I climb into the back of the car “I’m fine Thomas thanks how are you?” “I’m good my dad’s going to get me around seven if that’s okay” “That’s no problem Thomas” The conversation soo
n picks up and the three of are laughing and singing along to the radio but as I look out the window something strange is going on. People in strange blue uniform knocking on doors and stopping cars getting people to fill in forms even getting some people to show them there zodiacs in front of them.

  “They call themselves enforcers. They say that they are looking for carnivores that have gotten over the wall and for anyone born a carnivore” Chris says the resent obvious in his voice. Their vans dot the sides of the roads and they have set up a checkpoint at the edge of the road forcing everyone to stop as they get close. Getting this close I get a closer look at their uniform and its like that an old train conductor would wear but in a strange light blue colour with golden buttons and a pair of black boots getting to the checkpoint one of the enforcers raises his hand signalling to stop. As we come to a halt he walks over and gestures for us to roll down our