Chapter 1

The new colt had just claimed his assigned seat at the far end of Toby's row.

Toby found it hard to believe that this gangly youth with a look of naive eagerness was going to last. The campus grapevine had been whispering about him—said he was only sixteen. Thomas Fairfax. A prodigy. So what if he had tested out of a few high school chemistry courses and landed a scholarship to NPU? This was the real, adult world.

But here he was, already infringing on Toby’s territory.

Professor Petunia got up from her desk and clapped her hooves as she stepped to the center of the room. “Welcome to Principles of Biology! Now, before we dive in, let’s review a few course expectations…”

Toby tuned out the course overview. He’d grown up hearing all about chemistry and anatomy and physiology over family dinner. None of this was new to him, which made it all the more galling that two years in, he was still clearing a prerequisite he should have knocked out as a freshman. One word from his father in the right ear and he'd be out of it… but no shortcuts, Toby had pledged to himself. He was just another student.

The new colt sat straight and at attention, scribbling furiously in a pristine notebook, nodding along with the professor.

“Let’s try a thought experiment,” said Professor Petunia, changing gears. “If a bacterium finds itself in one corner of this classroom, how could it possibly reach the opposite side without wings, legs, or cilia to propel itself?”

It was a tricky question, but Toby knew it. No one else would. He’d blow the class away, set the tone for the rest of the semester. He leisurely raised his hoof… only to see that the new colt already had. He must have done it before the question was even out of the professor’s mouth.

Professor Petunia smiled. “Yes, Mr. Fairfax?”

“Sliding motility,” he answered with confidence.

“Exactly right! That’s the first time I’ve ever heard a freshman answer correctly.” The professor beamed.

“Seriously?” Toby muttered under his breath.

Fairfax apparently heard. He looked down the row at Toby and smirked while straightening his papers.

“When a bacterial colony grows,” Professor Petunia continued, “the cells produce surfactants, making it easier for the cells to spread out…”

Toby narrowed his eyes. It didn’t matter—one question, one answer. But the way Fairfax was smiling to himself, like he’d already won something, made Toby’s skin prickle. This wasn’t over.

After class, Toby lingered by the door. The new colt was packing up his notes and book with quick, efficient movements.

"That was impressive," Toby said, extending a hoof. "The sliding motility answer. It’s beyond freshman level."

The thought keep your friends close and your enemies closer ran through his head, but he shoved it aside. No, this was just the civil thing to do.

Fairfax shook the offered hoof briefly. "Thanks."

"What's your major?"

"Pre-veterinary."

Toby fought back an eye roll. Vet med—he wasn't even going after real medicine. What a chump. "Right. Well, see you around."

"See you." Fairfax’s eyes narrowed, just a hint, as he shouldered his bag and walked out the door.

Toby watched him go. Vet med. Hardly a threat—they’d be on separate trajectories soon enough. But something about the colt grated on him all the same.