Magical Starsign.

[Frisk E. Coyote]

Unnoticed, Jester stood at one end of the row of newcomers while Horyomaru sat on his haunches at the opposite end, glad to have a few bodies between them.

Jester flexed his fingers eerily, itching to snap someone's neck, preferably furry and full of life and blood. Oh to feel the neck joints separating and shattering, the spinal chord being severed, the body going limp- Jester shuddered blissfully, holding himself back. Not this year. This year, he wanted to learn how to compensate for his muteness. And getting expelled was not going to make that easier. He had to start small, he had to start with self-control, with morals, with mercy.

"Good morning, Sensei." Horyomaru greeted the teachers, his voice a little gruff and course, but his tone respectful. He was somewhat excited around two-legs, watching them use those amazing opposable thumbs that they used for every day rituals like opening doors, writing or smithing. If he had the simple privilege of having thumbs, he'd be able to hold his weapons better, fighting would be so easy! And those lips and muzzles... they were so much more versatile than his. It was easy to learn words and phrases for his kind, but it was difficult to learn HOW to talk. They could open and close their mouths all they want and just make guttural gurgling or growling sounds. They had to train their vocal chords and throat every day to growl and whine and howl and cry so that it sounded remotely like words. Then they had to learn how to manipulate those sounds with their tongues, improving the muscle's dexterity, flexibility and strength. Then they had to learn how to control the volume, tone and pitch of the sounds they made. The result was a rather crude voice, oftentimes course, or gruff, or high-pitched, or naturally deep. Horyo's voice was somewhat course and gruff, but also velvety smooth and had somewhat of a rich, deep and soothing charm to it. He found it a little hard to concentrate on talking when in a battle, and he merely snarls, growls, howls or barks when he fights.