Entry Story for Iqena #27

[Katie_monkey]

Tomori Cudahy glanced around the main entrance to the school. the Angel Art Academy was one of the best art schools in America, and Tomori was elated when he was accepted. His first few weeks were great, it was everything he expected it to be and more. He had so much fun, he hated the end of every school day, but soon he started dreading it for another reason. Lately another boy was harassing him. He wasn't from the academy, so Tomori wasn't sure the school would help, and he didn't want to let his parents worry over him. Besides, he could probably take care it of himself.
So there he was, anxiously making sure the coast was clear. He had stayed behind after school and worked on his projects, so the front courtyard was empty of students, and, hopefully, his agitator. Content that he was safe, Tomori walked through the gate, only to be shoved to the ground. He barely looked up at the older boy before scrambling back towards the school.
He hoped the front doors would still be unlocked so that he could hide in the school, but he wasn't even halfway there before he tripped and hit the stone walkway. Tomori tried to get back up, but a sharp pain in his ankle brought him back down again. He looked back towards the jeering bully that was walking towards him. He knew what was coming and shielded his face, praying that it wouldn't hurt too much.
Then he heard a light clinking noise and briefly glanced up, then looked up again in shock. He couldn't believe his eyes, a creature roughly the size of a large dog was standing in-between him and the older boy. It looked like something straight from a fairy tale, with it's double set of wings, three horns, and what appeared to be gems dotting it's face and shoulders. The older boy was staring in shock at the creature before him, just as surprised as Tomori. For a few seconds, nothing moved, but then the creature rose on it's hind legs, swinging it's head, and brought down it's hooves down with a large clack, staring menacingly at the bully. A tense moment passed, then the older bot shouted and scrambled to get away.
As Tomori listened to the fading footsteps, he suddenly remembered something. "You're the angel aren't you?" The creature turned and looked at him. Before he knew what he was doing, Tomori Blurted out everything he heard from the older students. "There's a school legend that the academy got it's name because it's being guarded by an angel that protects the students and grounds. They call it the Sepia Angel, th-that's you right?" The angel stared at him for a while, then nodded and towards him, it's crystalline hooves tinkling musically on the cobblestone path. It stopped beside Tomori and lowered it's head, inviting him to use it's head as a crutch. Tomori smiled nervously and said "What, you don't have any magic healing powers?" He chuckled awkwardly to fill the following pause, and looped his arm around it's central horn, letting the angel lead him to the gate.
Tomori looked down the street and smiled, the older boy wouldn't be a problem anymore. "Thank you." He said as he turned back to the angel, but discovered it wasn't there. He looked around, but the courtyard was empty. He blinked in confusion, then smiled and leaned against the wall. As he started to limp home, he tried to go as fast as he could. There was something he needed to draw.