Principal Tusks spent a moment to adjust the colorful sign at the front door of Little Paws Elementary School. “Welcome, New Students!” was printed across the sign, which hung above a table of pamphlets filled with maps and schedules and teacher profiles. The pamphlets were, naturally, for parents of the new students, but it was only fair to make a sign for the students themselves. The re-opening was some time away still but the staff had already started preparations. Their fervor for the school-term was anything but the real deal, especially after a hiatus caused by environmental damage and the opportunity for remodeling.

“Principal Tusks?” The Walrus turned around when addressed, turning to face the speaker; a short, lean, white dragon with lilac hair tied back in a long ponytail. She was dressed in respectable dress-casual; khaki slacks rolled up slightly at the bottoms with a short sleeve button-up shirt under an argyle vest. She had stopped for a moment to look around the lobby, smiling warmly at the sparse beginnings of welcoming decorations.

“Ah, yes, you must be Mrs. Heartstrom!” Principal Tusks responded with a large smile that wouldn’t have been out-of-place on Santa Claus himself. “Welcome, welcome! I’ve been eagerly awaiting your visit. Please, make yourself at home!” He added, waving his arm in greeting.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Mrs. Heartstrom replied with a short, formal curtsy. “I think making myself home is exactly why I’m here today.” She added with a friendly wink before following along behind Principal Tusks.

“I’m sure you heard it a dozen times already, but we’re very proud of our school, here.” Principal Tusks started explaining as they wandered slowly past classrooms. “We’re lucky to have teachers who put the children at absolute number 1 and children who respond strongly.” Each classroom typically had a teachers name, a room number, and a sign listing what grade the room belonged to. Some rooms had one or two of those missing, whether because of new teachers who hadn’t started setting up yet or new rooms that hadn’t had teachers assigned yet.

“Of course, children are children. They have their own troubles and the microcosms of their own lives, and often they don’t even know who they are, or who they could be. If they did, we wouldn’t be teachers!” The larger walrus chortled merrily while Mrs. Heartstroms eyes traced the walls, doors, and lockers with deliberate strokes, like she was trying to carve them into her soul. This didn't get past Principal Tusks, who took a silent moment to survey the Dragoness.

“I wouldn’t be here otherwise, you know. You’re not the only one retiring, Mr. Tusks, there’s a couple places I was thinking about.” The new charge commented, never diverting her eyes from the corridors and walls of the school they were slowly exploring. “But, I’ve seen what Little Paws has, and it’s a precious gem. Honor doesn’t begin to describe what I feel at the opportunity.”

Principal Tusks wiggled his tusks; left first, then right. “Honor’s funny like that, because it’s certainly a two way street. If you’re honored to be here, how do you think I feel, hm?” His eyes glistened briefly as he spoke, the pride in them shining through like stars. The one moment of raw sincerity ended as suddenly as it began, though, and he continued. “What else do you feel walking through these soon-to-be-bustling halls?”

“Anxiety. Yeah, definitely anxiety.” Mrs. Heartstrom nodded her head after thinking for a moment as the two peeked into the Nurses Office briefly. “I’m not the only one, at least. I’ve got companionship in the other new students here, too.” She added with a smile and a wink.

Principal Tusks couldn’t help but erupt into loud, happy laughter. “Other students! You certainly do know the talk, Mrs Heartstrom.” The Dragoness was taken aback slightly, mostly at the suddenness at the laughter. She raised a questioning eyebrow at the Principal, feeling indignant and almost upset, before he thankfully continued, “Though, I would do poorly saying it’s just talk; we’re all excited to have you here, I’m just happy to hear such things.” Principal Tusks gave her a firm slap on the shoulder, breaking her awkward stiffness at the situation.

“Do you think you can work with the place, then?” Principal Tusks asked as the pair made their way back into the lobby after a full circuit of the school. “It’s a little late to change things now, unfortunately, but I hope you’ll be comfortable.”

“I’m positive I can manage, sir.” She replies with a firm nod and a determined smile. “You shouldn’t have a doubt in your mind. You’ll be proud on every visit you’ll ever have and of every student who walks out those doors.”

Principal Tusks closes his eyes at the statement and lets out a long, deep sigh. “Thank you.” He states. It’s a simple, flat statement, and one that cannot be more honest. He offers his hand out to the incoming Dragoness, the two hands clasping firmly.

“Do me proud, Principal Elizabeth Heartstrom.” Mr. Tusks states, again flat and simply. His voice cannot help but break; the glisten in his eyes comes back in full force, “I know you can”, he adds quietly, almost under his breath as he turns towards the doors.

Principal Heartstrom felt herself straighten up, almost subconsciously, as her colleague walks out of the building. She takes a moment to wipe her eyes before walking back into the corridors of the school, making another circuit before finding the Principals Office. She puts her finger to the nameplate, “Mr. Tusks,” as she gently slides it off. She rubs a finger against the empty spot where the nameplate just rested, finding it entirely dust-free and unmarred. It was only natural: Principal Tusks nameplate had been there since the door was hung when the school was first built.

Pushing open the door to the Principals office, she silently looks around at the sparse bookcases and the oaken desk. On it is a small, hard-cover book with ‘Yearbook: 1997’ written on the cover. Principal Heartstrom picks up the book gently, like a precious tablet, and sits down behind the desk with it. She can’t help but slowly flip through the pages, before ending up at the end of the book where there’s a picture of the graduating 6th grade class standing in front of Principal Tusks, with the name "Elizabeth Heartstrom" listed under the picture alongside all of her classmates. A young Dragonness with big glasses and a toothy grin stood next to Mr. Tusks in the picture, beaming a smile that said 'Cheese!' to the photographer.

“Little Paws is proud of our graduating class, and we’ll always be waiting with open arms for their eventual return.” Liz Heartstrom reads out loud, slowly savoring each word slowly as they roll off her tongue. She lets her eyes close for a minute or two with the memory, the room eerily silent. She closes the book slowly before putting it back on the desk and picking up the only other thing on the desk: A folder with “Incoming students” written on the front in blue sharpie.