It took a bit of time before Elizaveta Nozdrin was ready for school. Part of it was because her English needed a lot of work for her to have extended conversations with English speakers. A lot of it was because she had to get used to her rhinoceros body. She didn't feel an irrepressible urge to mate as some people have accused Animalians of being. (Though she did get a bit warm under the collar when she saw the male members of the Rhino Guard.) Mostly it was about controlling her bigger and stronger body. It wouldn't take a lot of effort on her part to crush or break something. Thus she needed to learn how to fine-tune her strength so she wouldn't break everything around her.
By the time she was ready to attend class, it was almost the end of the semester. At least Elly wouldn't have to worry about finals. Or at least not the same finals everyone else was taking. At most, Elly would be given some test papers from Russia to work on, but more likely was that she was exempt. The actual reason she was going to World School of Animalia was to help her start socializing.
"Ok, Elly, I won't be able to see you all day," said Abby as she walked Elly to the front doors, "But if you can't find me or any of the other ambassadors, you can always talk to a teacher if you're not sure what to do."
"Vill classrooms be big enough?" asked Elly.
"Oh, certainly," said Abby, "We have elephant Animalians attending class here so you shouldn't be hard to accommodate."
"So no vun vill make fun of me being rhinoceros?" asked Elly, "Not for having such big chest?"
"Of course not," said Abby, "If anything, they'll respect you for that." The Rhino Guards were held in such high esteem for the work they did that there was no chance of Elly being discriminated for her choice of species. Though Abby had to admit that Elly's large breasts did impress her. Abby was hardly minuscule of mammary herself, but Elly did outsize her considerably. But anyone who thought they were going to get handsy with a rhino Animalian deserves the black eye they're going to get.
"So nothing to vorry about?" asked Elly.
"Well, they might distrust you for being Russian," said Abby.
Elly gave a loud snort and said, "I vill not be blamed for my government. Is not my fault who runs things."
"Good," said Abby, "I don't think you'll have any trouble then."
==========
The day passed along peacefully for Elly. She spent as much time observing the students as she did paying attention to the teachers' lectures. Most of the students were talking about what they were going to do during the upcoming Christmas break. It was a little surreal for Elly to see human teens and Animalians interacting like they were normal. They've barely gave her a glance at all. Well, she got a lot of boys looking at her chest, but that was to be expected. But Elly didn't feel out of place at all.
During the lunch hour, Elly got a bit of a surprise. Sophie had come over to her and said, "Hey, Elly, I'd like you to meet someone who I think you might get along with."
"Wery vell," said Elly, looking up from her salad. It was a bit odd giving up meat, but good meat could be hard to find in Russia.
Elizaveta Nozdrin, this is Marcy White," said Sophie, indicating a female polar bear standing next to her. Her hair was short and blonde, much like Elly's, meaning she was another converted.
"It's nice to meet you," said Marcy.
"Privet," said Elly, "You vere girl like me?"
"Not much like you, at least physically," said Marcy, sitting across from Elly. As a polar bear, she was taller than Elly, but Elly still outranked her in the chest department. "I'm younger than I look," she said.
"So am I," said Elly, "Vhen you have big bosom, people assume you older than you may be."
"I didn't have anywhere close to what I have now before I converted," said Marcy, "I'm actually just 11 years old."
Elly looked at Marcy closely. Her adult figure certainly couldn't have belonged to a girl so young. "Then you must be...vhat is vord?" asked Elly.
"Double-dosed," said Sophie, "You and me, we only got one dose of the virus so we're still the same physical age as before. But people who get two doses becomes older or younger until they're in their prime."
"Honestly, I felt older than I actually was," said Marcy, "I was much smarter than the average 9-year old and even more mature. To me, it felt like my body finally matched my intellectual age. Having Chilly for a mate really helped too."
"I also felt older than really was," said Elly, "In Russia, vun has to grow up fast, da? But I didn't feel right vith body. New body feels better, but still strange to me."
"You'll get used to it," said Marcy, "At least you're not going to get any bigger...I think."
"She might," said Sophie, "She isn't fully grown yet."
"Neither are you," said Marcy.
"True, but I'm not in a rush," said Sophie.
"You think I could have boyfriend?" asked Elly.
"Oh, absolutely," said Marcy, "You'll have to keep them back with a stick."
"Vith stick?" asked Elly.
"Do you not have that expression in Russia?" asked Sophie.
"I think I get, but is vierd image to think of," said Elly.
"In your case, I guess it would be," said Marcy.