Orika glanced at her reflection in the hallway mirror. Her long, afro texture hair had once again refused to be tamed into the required beret. Her mother had made her hair into a high ponytail, gel to get it together and neat, curled the ends to make it appear shorter, though the volume still made the effort feel slightly defeated.
"I'm not cutting it, mummy," she said, holding her mother's eyes in the mirror.
"I didn't ask you to," her mother said, smiling. "Now eat. You need strength to face your new school."
In the warm, bustling kitchen of the Obanise household, the scent of catfish pepper soup with lots of veggies lingered and rice as the side dish from the packed lunch strewn over the kitchen counter, while a hearty breakfast of pap and moi moi steamed gently on the table. Both parents, civil servants with a practiced morning routine, moved with purpose, helping their children prepare while multitasking for their own workday.
Kenari, their five-year-old cousin with brown skin, electric teal hair, and deep ocean blue eyes, toddled into the kitchen clutching his large school bag. The bag almost reached the back of his knees, stuffed full to feed his enormous appetite.
"I packed plenty of fish, Kenari," their mother said.
"Yay! Fishes!" Kenari clapped and twirled, nearly knocking over a chair.
Ayira, caramel-skinned with icy lavender hair and transparent violet eyes, tugged at her socks in frustration. "My socks are too tight, Mummy!"
"You're just nervous," Orika teased, flashing a grin showing her subtle but obvious fangs. Her skin glowed dark and smooth, her white glossy eyes glinting in the morning light. "You'll be fine. Remember, you're not alone."
"Alright kids! Get to the table for your breakfast before it gets cold" Their mother said from the hallway and joining them after.
After finishing breakfast Their father went outside to prepare the car and wait for them while carrying their lunch bags and his office bag to the car. Much later their father entered, adjusting his wristwatch. "We're almost five minutes late!" he called out while their mom was struggling to wipe off kenari's stained mouth and face.
He kissed his wife quickly on the lips as she handed him his files.
"Ewwww!" Kenari wrinkled his nose dramatically. "You two always do kissing!"
"Get used to it," their father chuckled.
All three children and both parents filed out of the house and boarded the family vehicle. Their father dropped them off at the gate of their new school, then continued the route, dropping their mother off before heading to his own office.
At school, the air buzzed with voices and shuffled shoes. Orika was led into the classroom by the receptionist at the principal's office.
"Class, we have a new student. Please introduce yourself to the class".
"Good morning everyone, I'm Orika obanise," orika said and a few murmured
"welcome her and you will be sitting beside alma and alma please raise your hands," the teacher said
Alma, a tall girl with braids and a confident look, raised her hands and made room for orika on getting there.
"Hi, I'm Alma," she whispered as Orika sat. "Don't worry, I'll show you around."
Orika gave her a nod and a small smile. Alma's scent was a mix of lavender oil and early morning dew—a curious combination that Orika's sharpened senses instantly caught.
During lunch break, the smell of hot meals filled the air. Orika had just opened her bag when she heard a familiar voice.
"Orikaaaaa!"
She turned sharply, arms flying open in reflex. Ayira ran toward her.
"I hate my class! Everyone is weird and loud and my chair is too hard!"
Orika hugged her sister tightly. "You're just overwhelmed. Let your nose and ears adjust. You'll be fine by tomorrow."
Their bond was deepened by instincts that went beyond blood—ancient instincts, wolf-like senses that picked up every emotion, every rustle, every heartbeat.
From a corner, Kenari waved, his cheeks puffed with food, waving his fork like a flag. He had somehow convinced a teacher to microwave his pepper soup.
The rest of the day would unfold, but for now, the siblings were together.
And that was all that mattered.