Danielle's grandma had been thrilled to see them and to learn she had three granddaughters now when they arrived last night. She was worried when she found out that Kat was cut off from her magic but was relieved to know that Emily would be doing her best to fix the mess Kat had gotten herself into. Danielle had been surprised to see all the unusual people that she hadn't noticed before. Oh she had noticed some odd behaviors from people but she hadn't really seen what the people looked like. Her mom and grandma explained that since she had been touched by magic she was able to see through the perception filter. Obviously her dad could see through it too since he had talked to some of his friends and referred to their altered forms. Once they were settled in her mom had taken Tanya to the hunting grounds while she and Kat helped her grandma prepare dinner.
Now Danielle sighed as she looked at her new school. She wasn't thrilled to learn she would have to wear a skirt as part of the school uniform. When she had complained that Tanya didn't have to wear the skirt her mom had told her that the school policy was that every student had to wear the uniform except for those whose bodies would require substantial alterations. Tanya's long stiff tail would mean altering the skirt to button in back leaving a hole for her tail. Her tail was small and flexible enough to allow for a minor alteration to the skirt by way of a small hole in the back like her other clothes. She didn't like it but her mom wouldn't let her wear pants or no bottoms at school.
The school itself looked like an old castle though it didn't look as big as one. Kat was looking at a map and said, "We have to go to the office for an orientation meeting. It's supposed to take most of the morning."
"Then let's go," Tanya said running up the steps.
Danielle shuddered a bit at how much Tanya reminded her of the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. Next to her Kat voiced what she was thinking, "I'm glad we didn't see her hunt last night. I think I'd have nightmares if we did."
Danielle nodded her agreement and they hurried to catch up with Tanya. As they walked down the corridors to the office she couldn't help but notice that they were lit with torches just like the dungeon Emily had taken them to. As they entered the office a lady that was an anthropomorphic black cat with glasses looked up and asked, "New students?"
"Yes," Kat said nodding. "I'm Kat and this is my twin sister Danielle and my younger sister Tanya."
"I'm Mrs. Katz," Mrs. Katz said peering over her glasses at them. "You may go on in," she said indicating a door off to the side. "There are two other new students in with Miss Plunkett now and they're waiting for you."
Once they had passed through the door Danielle gave a little gasp and said, "I didn't expect to see you here Emily."
"I told you that I expected to see you girls here today," Emily said with a slight smile. "And while in school you girls will address me as Miss Plunkett."
The other new students had turned around and Danielle was surprised to see that one was Colin. "What are you doing here Colin?"
"You already know each other?" Emily asked raising her eyebrows.
"We met at lunch yesterday," Kat said with a smile. "Colin is Danielle's boyfriend."
"He is not," Danielle said giving Kat a little shove. "We're too young to be boyfriend/girlfriend."
"Actually you're not," Emily said with a smile. "We believe that at thirteen you're old enough to understand and make responsible decisions about relationships. Now I believe you asked Colin why he was here. Go ahead and tell her Colin."
Colin looked a little uncomfortable but said, "I found out yesterday that I'm a witch when I accidentally transformed my older brother."
"I just wish you had transformed me into something else besides a mouse girl," the girl next to Colin said with her arms crossed. She looked to be about twelve and she was an anthropomorphic mouse. She had brown fur covering her body, large round ears on top of her head, a long thin tail sticking out of a hole in her skirt, black eyes, an almost flat chest, and thin fingers tipped with small claws. Her face was pushed out a bit looking like a cross between a mouse and human face. She looked at Tanya and asked, "Why isn't she wearing a skirt?"
"Tanya has a long rigid tail making it difficult to put a skirt on," Emily said placing a hand on the mouse girl's shoulder.
"Why don't you reverse the transformation on your brother?" Kat asked.
Colin looked down and Emily said, "The first transformation that a witch in Colin's family casts is usually permanent. He can't turn her back."
"I'm sorry Brian it was an accident," Colin said mumbling.
"I've forgiven you so stop beating yourself up over it," the mouse girl said, "and I've told you to call me Brianna now. I'm a girl so I should have a girl's name."
"You're taking this rather well," Danielle said.
Brianna shrugged and said, "You should have seen me yesterday, I was a wreck. I was throwing things and crying uncontrollably. After I had basically exhausted myself and our dad had told me what had happened I figured I should accept it as it can't be changed."
"Well now that we have that out of the way it's time for your orientation," Emily said with a smile.