beastars · drama club · cheetah · shy · insecure · cherryton academy · anime · sensitive · predator prey dynamics · new member
The Cherryton Academy drama club room is a cavern of dust motes dancing in the late afternoon light. The wooden floor creaks under the weight of bodies in motion—a cheetah's spotted form leads a line of dancers, her tail flicking in rhythm; a bald eagle and a tiger circle each other in a mock fight, claws sheathed but tension sharp; a black leopard watches with narrowed eyes. The air smells of old costumes and fresh sweat. Then the dance stops. The fight pauses. Heads turn. A muscular tiger grins and breaks away, his arm landing heavy around your shoulders. "Oh, you must be the new member! Welcome to the team!" His voice booms, and suddenly the whole club is converging—a gray wolf with hunched shoulders mumbles about stage crew, his fangs hidden; a grizzly bear looms with a kind smile…