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Chapter Five

The rumble of thunder echoed across the sky, accompanying the pounding of the pouring rain in the gray morning. Fur scrambled in from their vehicles and buses as they arrived at the school, some carrying umbrellas, others using their folders for cover, and still a few others somehow enjoying the falling rains. Kaipo scampered in from one of the buses, ducking under the overhang of one of the school's doorways, his navy blue t-shirt and jean shorts thoroughly soaked from even the short run.

"Kaipo!"

The lion glanced around, his gaze finding a skunk as she nudged past a few furs, waving with a bright smile.

"Morning Hina." He replied as she paused next to him, "What's up?"

"Have you seen Ami since yesterday?" Hina glanced around, adjusting her raincoat a little "She and Lilly were supposed to come over to do homework with me last night, but they never showed up."

"Did you call them?"

"Yes" Hina gave a few nods as the assembled group of furs shuffled their way in through the doors into the hallways "I called her house and her Mom said she was gone, didn't tell her where either."

"Shoot..." Kaipo mumbled as they padded down the hallway, both pausing as they caught sight of the pink bunny girl giggling at her locker next to a panda girl.

"Ami!" Hina scowled, storming over to the pair and setting her hands on her hips, sharing glares for Lilly as well as Ami "Where were you two last night? I was worried sick something terrible had happened!"

Ami swallowed softly, tugging the collar of her white t-shirt and looking to the floor. Lilly interrupted her before she could speak however "I'm sorry Hina, it was my fault completely. I made Ami come and do some things with me last night, and we totally lost track of time."

Hina almost growled, crossing her arms a moment "Whatever!" With that the skunk girl adjusted her backpack on her shoulder before storming off down the hallway, leaving the girls standing uncomfortably silent along with Kaipo, a few seconds passing before the lion spoke up "It's okay you two, she was just worried is all. I'll talk to her."

"No, that's okay Kai." Ami spoke up, touching a slender paw to his shoulder "We can talk to her about it. It's our fault, after all, right?" The bunny girl managed a little smile, glancing over to Lilly to find her with a brow quirked "Our fault?" The panda spoke with a bit of inflection on 'our' "I do believe I said it was my fault, little miss bunny." A flush overtook Ami, faintly visible under her pink fur "Err...yes, that's right..." She quickly mumbled her response, drawing an odd look from Kaipo and a little giggle from Lilly.

"Alllright...I'll see you two in class then."

Gradually, the rains trickled off during the class day, leaving the school ground wet under the partially emerging sun as classes let out. Following several minutes after the most of the school let out, the furs of the track team made their way to the track, gathering out on the moist field of grass set within. The coaches followed the last furs out, gathering in front of the group as usual, Coach Parker starting off with another talk.

"Alright, I know I've heard some moans and complaints about holding practice today. Well, perhaps I did not make my position clear that we will practice rain or shine. The only thing that I'll stop practice for is lightning, and there has not been any all day. Therefore, we are having practice as normal. I don't want to hear any further complaints. Am I understood?" The assembled group replied with a "Yes Coach Parker..." Gaining a nod from the Doberman "Good. Everyone gather in your groups and let's begin."

Kaipo stretched out and down into the ready position at the starting line of the track, flexing his muscles idly as he awaited the call to start the race. Flicking his tail along behind him, he spared a quick glance to the four other furs gathered in the lanes behind him, perking up his ears as he glanced back to Coach Hill.

The tigress slowly looked among all five furs, standing nearly still, other than the back and forth swish of her tail. A few more seconds of gazing passed before she called out "Go!" Sending the group of five off in a sprint down the track. Kaipo took the lead to begin with, his gaze never leaving the track in front of him as he raced down it, rounding the curve and dropping just a little ground in the process. He spared a faint glance, no more than half a second over his shoulder to his competitors, making his one mistake. The lion's step landed him into a puddle of water, his momentary loss of attention leaving his ankle bending in an awkward fashion, his eyes snapping wide open, gritting his teeth firmly and tumbling down onto the track, rolling along several feet, coming to a halt clutching his ankle and groaning.

Each of the four other furs halted quickly in their run, gathering around the fallen lion only to be dispersed by the approaching Coach Hill "Every fur stand back, give him some room!" The tigress knelt down, setting a paw to Kaipo's should, her other removing his own paws from his ankle "Calm down Kaipo, let me see..." His ankle was already swelling, the skin beneath the amber fur starting faintly to discolor. Glancing up, Coach Hill motioned off two of the furs "Go and get Coach Parker." Both nodded, running off in the Doberman's direction while the feline continued her tending "You'll be alright Kaipo, just relax..."

The school's medical office was rather quiet; save for the hum of the air conditioner, the vent blowing cool air over the lion reclined on the room's 'bed'. Kaipo held his bottom lip between his teeth, a wince etched into his expression now. His ankle was propped up with a pillow, an air cast wrapped around it, holding down a few little bags of ices against his skin. As the clock tickled softly on the wall, the lion's gaze wandered through the room, waiting for the school nurse to return. His ears flicked as the door opened, the tigress dressed in a white t-shirt and white jeans stepped in, leading along a few furs whom the presence of brought a bright smile to the lion's face, his pain momentarily gone as he caught sight of the equine and the crystal-eyed husky "Rob! Matt!" Both were still dressed in their wrestling singlets, the outfits showing off their muscular structure along with a few more key portions of their forms, with Matt having a jacket settled on his shoulders. Both stopped beside the bed as the nurse checked on the lion's ankle "Hey Kai, how ya feelin'?" Rob spoke first, his warm smile absent to a look of concern.

"Well...it hurts...quite a bit...How'd you guys get here so fast?"

"Ah was out in tha hallwah n' saw yah get brought in. So Ah told Rob, n' we came down here."

"We were nearly finished with practice anyways." Rob managed a little smirk, patting the lion on his shoulder, his paw resting there as he looked to the tigress "So what happened?"

"I wasn't payin' attention, and, well...I tripped."

Matt reached a hand out, poking Kaipo softly in his chest "See, how often do Ah tell yah tah pah attention?"

Kaipo blinked a few times before replying slowly "Um...never?"

"Well, Ah've meant tah..." Matthew grinned widely, drawing a chuckle from Rob. The door opening caught the attention of the three furs while the nurse continued her check-up, finding a Doberman wearing the warm-up suit of the track team walking into the office, blinking a few times "Ah, afternoon Robert, Matthew. Nurse Jenkins, how is he?"

"It looks like just a sprain, though it's rather bad. He's going to need to take it easy for a few weeks." The tigress spoke as she continued her examination, her words drawing a little sigh and nod from Coach Parker "I see." Glancing to Kaipo, he gave him a little smirk "Mister Terrace...Can I expect to see you back at practice in a few weeks then?"

The words brought a little smirk to Kaipo's muzzle, nodding with his response "Sure thing Coach."

"Excellent." The Doberman gave a nod, turning and making his way back out of the room, leaving the three furs smirking at each other before Nurse Jenkins interrupted them "You're going to need to keep this cast on for the week, Kaipo." She curled the air cast back around his ankle, stepping into a back room of the office and carrying back out a pair of crutches "And you'll need these as well."

Kaipo lay quietly in his bed, the stars of night shimmering outside his window, his room lit partially by the lamp on his table. His cast was removed for the moment, his crutches set down on the floor beside his bed. The lion stared at the ceiling as he had for the past half-hour, simply alone with his thoughts. One finally occurred to him though, finding a bright smile spreading across his muzzle I can go and watch Rob in his practices... His tongue's tip slipped out, almost unconsciously wetting his lips with anticipation T.K.'s right...I gotta try something...hmm...But what... Letting out a little sigh, he clicked his light off, resting his head back onto his pillow "What to do..."