After nearly having a heart attack because of Felix's little "substitute teacher show," Alina couldn't hold it in anymore. She laughed — really laughed — the kind that made her shoulders shake and her eyes squint shut.
Felix sat back in his seat like he hadn't done anything at all, flicking his tail with fake innocence. Meanwhile, Drake threw his hands in the air like he'd just witnessed the funniest thing ever. "Teacher's laughing!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, which made the rest of the class burst out giggling too. Boo floated a bit higher, clapping his hands. Luna let out a tiny huff of a laugh but quickly crossed her arms as if pretending she hadn't. Even serious Lucian cracked the tiniest smile, though he immediately turned away when Alina's eyes caught his.
"Alright… alright!" Alina finally said, catching her breath as she wiped her eyes. She looked around at all of them in their neat, bright red uniforms, and her heart just melted on the spot. Goodness, they look like tiny ducklings. She noticed how the sleeves on Sable's shirt were still a little too long, how Boo's tie was so crooked it almost slipped off his neck, and how Drake's tail kept flicking out from under his shirt, wagging happily like a puppy's.
She took attendance even though it was obvious everyone was present—she could have filled it in later. But really, it was just an excuse to call each of their names sweetly and watch them raise their tiny hands. Then, with a gentle clap, she drew all those bright eyes back to her.
"Alright, my sweethearts, first class today is arts," she said, voice light and warm. "But not just drawing — today, we're going to do paper craft! We'll make something special, and you can take it home."
She walked over to her desk, opened the lower cabinet, and pulled out a big, colorful pack of craft papers. The sound alone made the babies lean forward with curious eyes.
"Yay! I want blueeee!" Boo floated a little closer to peek.
"Wait, wait! We need space first," Alina laughed. She gestured for them to push their desks to the sides of the room.
Watching them do it was a whole show in itself. Drake practically bounced as he dragged his desk, his tail flicking so much it smacked into Felix's leg. Felix gave him a glare but said nothing. Rocky pushed his desk like a determined little boulder, his small arms straining adorably. Luna, with her messy gray pigtails bouncing behind her, pulled her chair with a huff, looking grumpy but secretly proud when Alina praised her for being strong.
Vlad Jr. moved his chair so gracefully, tie perfectly straight, hair brushed to perfection — he looked like a tiny vampire prince in a school uniform. Kelpie shyly followed along, carefully adjusting his tie which looked a bit big on his small frame. Sable, the smallest, looked so tiny standing beside the bigger kids — his uniform shirt looked like it might swallow him whole, and yet he still did his best to help Boo push a chair.
And Lucian — of course — moved his desk with his usual quiet seriousness, adjusting the corner so it lined up perfectly against the wall. His tie was so neat it looked like it had been measured.
When they finally formed a big open circle in the middle of the classroom, Alina looked around and bit her lip to stop herself from squealing out loud. They looked so unbelievably cute.
She knelt in the middle of the circle and spread the colorful paper sheets out like a treasure.
"Alright!" she said, clapping her hands once. "Let's make something round first. Teacher will help you. And maybe…" she lowered her voice playfully, "…if you do really well, there might be cookies later."
Every pair of eyes sparkled.
Drake bounced in place. Boo did a little spin mid-air. Luna crossed her arms and turned her head to hide her smile. And even Felix — cold, mischievous Felix lowered his ears slightly in interest.
Alina smiled so wide it made her cheeks ache.
I really, really love them, she thought as they all scooted closer, ready to make a happy, messy, paper-craft together.
Alina looked around their little circle, her heart already full just seeing how tiny they looked sitting cross-legged or on their knees, each baby in their bright red uniform like little berries. She made sure each one had enough space, moving a few paper sheets here. She gently pulled Sable a bit closer when she saw him sitting too far back, and helped Boo tuck his tie before he dropped it in the glitter box again.
"Is everyone comfortable?" she asked softly, her eyes sweeping across their sleepy morning faces.
A few nods, a shy "Yes!" from Kelpie, and a loud "Ready!" from Drake.
Alina smiled, her shoulders relaxing. She settled down in the middle of the circle herself.
"Alright, sweethearts… let's start with something easy today. We'll do a simple round flower craft, so everyone can do it together," she said, her voice gentle but cheerful.
She picked up a piece of pastel blue paper and showed them how to fold it carefully. Little gasps and whispers circled around her — it was always so funny how folding paper felt like magic to tiny hands.
"Teacher, is it like this?" Boo asked, already trying to copy but ending up with a triangle instead.
"Yes, Boo, almost! Good job!" Alina laughed softly and helped him refold it with her own hands guiding his little ones.
She glanced around at all their tiny heads bent in concentration — Drake's tail was tapping the floor excitedly as he fumbled with his green paper, Rocky's tongue peeked out as he squinted at the folds, Luna pretended she didn't care but was peeking sideways to make sure hers looked like Alina's.
Vlad Jr. folded his paper so neatly he looked like a tiny old man reading a royal scroll.
And Felix, well… he had already made his paper into something that did not look like a flower, but when Alina raised her eyebrow, he just sniffed and turned his head away, pretending it was exactly what he meant to do.
Alina giggled under her breath. So mischievous and yet so cold. Goodness, what am I going to do with him?
She clapped her hands lightly. "Alright, round flowers first! Then we'll make leaves — we'll make this classroom bloom, okay?"
Nine little heads bobbed up and down.