Alina glanced at the clock.
It was almost time to officially start class.
She looked at the empty seats again.
Nine names in the register.
Only two students in the room.
Her smile faltered.
She took a deep breath, placing her hand on her heart.
"Alright, you've handled worse… just talk to them gently."
Turning to the two boys beside her, she crouched down and asked in the sweetest, softest tone:
"Hey, sweethearts… can you tell teacher where the other babies are hiding?"
Drake blinked up at her.
Vlad Jr. narrowed his eyes like a tiny mafia boss.
The two exchanged a knowing look. Like this was a game they'd played many times.
Then Vlad Jr. turned to her and said calmly, "Of course. Follow me."
Alina stood and followed his tiny footsteps, expecting to be led outside the classroom or perhaps to a secret passage or hallway.
Instead, Vlad marched straight to the corner of the classroom beside two tall shelves filled with books and blocks.
Nestled there, almost blending in with the gray and white rug, was a large, puffy gray beanbag couch.
Vlad stopped beside it and raised a finger to his lips.
"Shh."
Alina leaned over slightly… and her eyes widened.
A tiny wolf pup was curled up in the beanbag's corner.
So small.
So still.
Her fur was a thick, soft mix of silver-gray and white, with a snowy patch right over her forehead. Her ears were slightly tilted back, and her black snout rose and fell with every soft, sleepy breath.
Alina stared.
"She's... beautiful," she whispered.
Vlad Jr. leaned closer and whispered into her ear with a touch of sass:
"That's Luna.
She's mean."
Alina blinked and bit back a smile.
"You can't say that, sweetheart," she said gently, brushing Vlad's soft hair.
He didn't even look guilty. Just crossed his arms.
"Hmph. You'll see. When she wakes up, you'll believe me."
Drake nodded solemnly, whispering something into Vlad's ear.
Vlad Jr. gave a tiny dramatic nod back, like they were in a secret alliance against nap-time bullies.
Just then—
The pup stirred.
A soft twitch of the ear.
Then her golden-brown eyes snapped open.
Sharp. Wild. A bit sleepy. A bit annoyed.
She blinked once at the group standing near her.
"Grrrrrrr..."
She growled softly, baring her tiny teeth in warning.
Her cute little face scrunched in a scowl, fangs flashing but instead of looking dangerous, she looked like an angry marshmallow trying to pretend it was a tiger.
Alina covered her mouth to stop her laugh.
"She's just cranky from napping," she said gently.
Luna stood up slowly, shook her fur, and gave them a look that clearly said: "Why did you wake me up from my beauty sleep?"
She was grumpy.
She was fuzzy.
And she was adorable.
Alina leaned in carefully, crouching beside the beanbag where the tiny wolf pup lay curled.
"Hey sweetheart," she whispered gently, reaching out with slow fingers to pat her head, "It's time for class…"
Before her hand could land—
"Grrrrrr…"
The wolf pup growled low and sharp, her little black snout wrinkled, white baby fangs flashing in warning.
Alina's hand froze midair.
"Alright... alright, no touching," she said quickly, pulling back with both palms raised. "I hear you, Princess."
And then, with a soft fwoosh, the air shimmered.
A light gray glow surrounded the pup, swirling like smoke then suddenly, the shape shifted.
Standing in her place now was a little girl, around three years old, her arms crossed with full of offense.
Her face was small and delicate, perfectly sculpted like a porcelain doll with rosy pink cheeks, angry yellow-brown eyes, and long silver-gray hair that tumbled past her shoulders in elegant waves.
Her tiny lips were pursed in a royal pout.
"Why did you wake me?" she asked in a sharp, grumpy little voice, her words slightly muffled by sleep.
Alina blinked, stunned at the transformation, and tried to stay gentle.
"Sweetheart, it's time to start class. I didn't want you to miss—"
"Start then." Luna huffed, turning her head to the side. "You didn't need to wake me."
Behind Alina, soft snickers echoed.
She turned just in time to see Drake covering his mouth, his cute amber eyes sparkling with amusement.
Vlad Jr. stood proudly beside him, arms folded like a judge who'd just won a case.
"Told you she was mean," he whispered triumphantly.
"Definitely mean," Drake nodded with mock-seriousness.
Luna narrowed her sleepy eyes at them.
"Grrrr…"
A soft warning growl escaped her lips again as she glared over Alina's shoulder.
The boys went stiff for a second then giggled louder.
Alina stood slowly, trying not to laugh as she held her teacher smile in place.
"Six more to go…" she whispered under her breath.
As Luna huffed her way toward the back, she plopped down gracefully into a small seat with a nameplate that read: "Luna"—complete with little claw marks carved into the wood.
Alina blinked.
Vlad Jr. and Drake quietly followed.
Drake skipped to the desk beside Luna's and sat down, swinging his legs under the chair like an excited puppy.
Vlad Jr. walked with regal grace, taking his seat at the front-row desk...centered as if prepared to host a royal press conference.
Alina looked at the three of them, seated perfectly in their tiny chairs, and slowly turned back toward her own desk.
She placed a hand on her hip. "Alright, now there's three of you. But what about the rest?"
She turned to Vlad Jr. again.
"Sweetheart, do you know where the others are hiding?"
Before the little vampire could answer, Drake shot up from his seat, nearly tipping his chair. His amber eyes sparkled as he pointed at her desk with urgency.
"Teacher!! He's at your desk!!"
Alina blinked, startled.
"My... desk?"
She turned slowly, squinting.
Her desk looked normal—papers, a pen holder, a cup of water, and a smooth gray rock placed right at the center.
She looked under the desk.
No feet.
She looked behind it.
Nothing.
"There's no one here," she muttered in confusion.
Luna rolled her eyes from her seat. "Ugh… it's the quiet one again."