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The autumn October months had arrived, along with classes and assignments to occupy the students' free time. Many were lamenting the lack of hanging out, and the extra effort they now had to put into schoolwork so they could get through another year at the academy. But for one fluffy little pup, he was starting to realize it wasn't just leisure activities that might have to be put on hold.

After his lessons with professor Malcom over the summer, Jove had realized it was not his skill that limited his current abilities, but his FEAR capacity. The wisp was among the smallest students at the school, and until he worked up the strength to hold a larger form for more than a half hour, he would remain small. So even once classes had resumed, Jove continued his rigourous practice schedule and simply shoved studying and school work on top of it.

This evening he was simultaneously working on both, standing over his desk and trying to memorize common symptoms of FEARinfections from bite wounds. He leaned over it, putting much of his weight on the desk, arms shaking as he glanced at the little timer sitting next to the book. He had passed the forty five minute mark in the largest form he could sustain, that of his 16 year old self.

The pup felt a swell of pride that almost made him dizzy. He had never managed this long without giving up or fainting, and he was even keeping the flyaway ectoplasmic wisps mostly under control! But trying to stand up straight and stroke his ego was too much work. He couldn't let himself get distracted now!

Jackdamnit.

He knew there was a reason he should have kept his door locked, the sudden intrusion broke his concentration and he whirled around to stare at Ren. Except he didn't quite get past the whirling part. It seemed like he suddenly found himself lying on the floor, his tired body giving out on him and reverting back to his usual childlike state.

Jackdamnit twice over.

Jove bared his teeth in a half-hearted snarl, and his hand clenched in frustration as he ignored his brother's exclamations. He could see the wisps of ghostly essence swirling off his skin, which meant he had pushed himself to the very limits of his strength. Why did Ren have to come in now and see him like this? Still so weak and small? He tried to get up, but his body wouldn't quite obey him. It was forgivable when he had practised by himself, but not when his brother was here to worry about him!

It wasn't until he sighed that Jove realized he had been panting. What a useless effort that was, only living things needed that sort of oxygen after exerting themselves. Even if it was only a lingering habit from his time spent alive, he would make a point to cut it out. It made him look weaker.

He turned his head slightly to better follow Ren's movements, his expression saying "Who did you expect, of course it's me." But when he spoke up, he simply said "Shifting." There was a reason he hadn't shown it to his brother yet, it was messy and difficult, not to mention impossible to do while wearing clothing. And he hadn't yet mastered the ability to take on a clothed form. So until he had mastered it, he planned on keeping it to himself. Maybe so nobody would have to see him struggling.

Trying to keep looking at Ren was tiring him out further, so he let his head gently thump back down onto the floor and stared at his hands. The ghostly tendrils that drifted from his skin made it look like he was dissolving into the air. This always happened when he pushed himself, the form he settled into was tenuous at best until he had some time to rest, and not solid enough to keep the stray ectoplasm from escaping.

Jove shrugged as best he could. From what he now understood, this was an ability he had all along, unexplored and unpractised. Had he begun to learn how to take different forms right from the start, he might have mastered it by now. And then he might have been able to look bigger and stronger in second year.

He watched Ren without lifting his head. What was that ghost of emotion that flickered across his brother's face? Maybe when little Baroque had grown up Jove would be able to understand that expression.

It was different when you were the older brother.

He weakly batted away Ren's hand, his own feeling a little too soft, and insubstantial. This was embarrassing. Thank goodness for fluffy tails...

Jove squirmed slightly, his mouth twisting into an expression particularly common to children who were trying to avoid giving a real answer. It was really embarrassing...

"Not good," he finally replied, a weak blush rising to his face. How was he supposed to make Ren understand, he hadn't said anything because he was still working on it? He was so self-conscious about this whole shape shifting process, with so many limitations he hadn't managed to break through yet, he didn't want anyone to wonder why he wasn't learning faster. He still couldn't form clothes, or hold his shape for very long, and he hadn't even found a way to make those bruises go away! How could he honestly show off his achievements before he achieved anything significant?

That was what made him bare his teeth, not Ren's sudden presence in his room. It was his near faint that did it, how he had to show that much ineptitude in front of his brother, when the gryphon's pride and approval meant so much to him.

He looked away sheepishly. He knew Ren would have tried to help, but it still made him feel awkward.

Jove sighed again, this time in a more content manner as the soft blanket settled around him. Maybe this is why he needed Ren's help, so he could at least stay comfortable after wearing himself ragged. By the next morning he would be just fine, ready to get up and head to classes, but this time spent just lying around was important for regaining his strength.

He finally nodded, letting his gaze fall to the pile of books stacked next to the desk where he fell over. Most of them were anatomy books. He wasn't very good at changing his form yet, and Malcom had said he would need lots of practice, even though he was on the right track. And he had been worried to let his brother see all the practice he was putting in.

The little ghost frowned a little, and glanced towards his bed. If Ren could only bring his pillow... He would be so much more comfy with that fluffy pillow under his head. And maybe his other pillow to snuggle with. If he had enough pillows, he would have been perfectly content to pile them around himself and dissolve into a little ghostly puddle on the floor for the evening.

Jove frowned. How inconsiderate, Ren flopping over on his comfy, cosy bed, while leaving the pup on the hard floor. He rolled onto his back and stared pointedly. The gryphon was just lying there with his face in Jove's favourite pillow, maybe even about to indulge in one of his typical naps?

But instead of staying there like a comatose slug, Ren turned to look at him again.

Jove's ears perked, and then he nodded. That would be really good, to have something he could wear while he was practising! But Ren's clothes were ridiculously giant. And Jove's older form was... not exactly that tall. He frowned. No, that wouldn't work...

He flopped back onto his stomach and pushed himself to his feet, blanket wrapped around his shoulders, only to collapse back onto the floor. And then sighed. Another thing that wasn't going to work. If he wanted to go lie down on his bed, he would have to think of another plan.

Then he held out his arms towards Ren, much the way a young child would say "Pick me up?"

The pup would have wagged his tail, had it not been thoroughly wrapped in blankets, and wrapped his arms around his brother's neck. Why didn't he think of older clothes? The stuff he wore when he first visited Ren's home were closer to fitting him than the gryphon, so it only made sense there would be other clothes that were too small. A contented look appeared on his face. Already he was looking forward to having new clothing to wear, stuff that smelled like his brother.

When he was gently tossed onto the bed, he wiggled up to put his head on the pillow next to the gryphon's.

He wasn't going to tell why he was trying all this now, it would take too many words to explain from the start. And there had been so many things going on at the time. Like the florestival, and then little Baroque. Besides, did he really want to tell Ren how desperately he wanted to be scarier?

He frowned. He had already answered the second question. "Not good," he repeated, the expression on his freckled face asking "Weren't you listening the first time?" It was easier, he didn't have to feel so awkward about what was clearly a work in progress. Had he mastered his new forms all on his own, Ren would have been surprised and proud, not just surprised.