Abby was relieved that the school day was almost over. She had overheard just as much remarks about her equine features as she could stand for one day. Once school was over, she could go to the Track and Field tryouts. She probably ought to practice, but considering she was part-horse now, she was unlikely to need it.
Abby was putting things in her locker when a voice said, "Um, excuse me, are you Abigail?" Abby turned and was a bit surprised to see who was talking to her. She was obviously a doe, though one that that been altered by the Animalia Virus and wearing human clothes. As uplifted animals went, she was a bit underdeveloped. She had a slender figure with modest hips and bust, but the Animalia Virus had a strong tendency to make female animals into amazons. She lacked distinguished hair on her head, so Abby presumed she was originally an ordinary deer before being changed. Then again, Abby might simply retain her old hair because it was a horse's mane now.
"Yes, I am," said Abby, "I didn't think there were any other animals coming here. I thought you'd be getting your education at the farm."
"Well...I kinda was learning a little too quickly there," said the doe, "I guess my brain got a bigger boost than the rest of me. So the agency thought they'd see how well I could do at a human school, mostly as an experiment."
"They could have told me about it," said Abby in an annoyed tone, "And how comes I didn't see you around before?"
"Well...I was a bit too...shy to go in during the start of the day, so they sent me in towards the end to see how I'd do," said the doe. She seemed to be blushing a bit under her fur. Apparently, her cervine timidity was still a factor in her personality.
"Well, you just stick with me and you'll be fine here," said Abby, "What's your name?"
"Laura," said the doe as she started walking with Abby.
Abby looked at Laura as she walked. Asides from her lack of shoes, she was dressed as normally as the other students. She was a bit surprised an uplifted animal would choose to wear clothes that easily. She noticed something white that was partially covered by the back of her shirt. "What's that there?" she asked.
Laura looked over her shoulder, trying to see what Abby was pointing at. When she saw where she was pointing at, she said, "Oh, that's just one of my spots."
"Spots? Wait a minute, you're still a fawn?" asked Abby in astonishment.
"Well, not for long. My spots were starting to fade before I got changed," said Laura.
"But shouldn't you have gotten older afterwards?" asked Abby.
"Well, I guess, but there weren't any bucks or..." said Laura before she trailed off, her blush almost visible through her facial fur. Abby was also feeling a bit bashful. She had forgotten that the virus only caused younger creatures to mature if they had gotten another dose from a grown specimen, like Abby had from Sam.
Abby quickly pushed the subject forward. "Don't be in too much of a hurry to mature," said Abby, "It may have made me bigger but bigger isn't always better." The doe just gave the mare a shy smile at that. Abby made a mental note to keep a watchful eye over Laura to make sure she didn't get into any trouble.