*Tobias: Returning to School*

The morning sunlight streamed through the kitchen window as Tobias sat at the table, nervously stirring his cereal. Today marked his return to school after his ordeal with the Vice Principal. He had avoided the halls of Evergrand Penitatas School for days, but now it was time to face them again.

Mrs. Rowe stood across from him, her arms crossed as she watched him. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” she asked, her voice gentle but firm.

Tobias nodded, though his ears drooped slightly. “Yeah. I need to. I can’t hide forever.”

Mrs. Rowe reached out and placed a comforting paw on his hand. “Remember, if anything feels like too much, you can always call me or your dad. We’re here for you.”

Tobias managed a small smile. “Thanks, Mom.”

---

*The Broken Vase Incident*

As Tobias grabbed his bag and headed toward the door, his tail swished with nervous energy. It flicked too sharply and bumped a small side table in the hallway. A delicate porcelain vase sitting on top wobbled dangerously before tumbling to the floor and shattering into pieces.

“Uh-oh,” Tobias muttered, freezing in place.

Mrs. Rowe came around the corner, her eyes narrowing as she took in the mess. She sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Tobias Rowe, do you have any idea how old that vase was?”

Tobias’s ears flattened. “I didn’t mean to! It was an accident!”

“Accident or not,” Mrs. Rowe said sternly, “you need to learn to control your movements and be more aware of your surroundings. We’ll discuss this when you get home.”

Tobias groaned but nodded, carefully stepping over the shards as he hurried out the door.

---

*Facing the Hallways*

The walk to school felt heavier than usual. Every step closer to the gates echoed in Tobias’s mind. His paws gripped his backpack straps tightly, and his ears twitched at every passing sound.

“Hey, Tobias!”

He turned to see Martha, Bruno, and Luna catching up to him. Martha smirked, her floppy ears bouncing as she jogged over. “Look who finally decided to rejoin the world,” she teased lightly.

“Welcome back,” Luna said, her calm voice carrying warmth.

Bruno clapped him on the back. “We missed you, Rowe. Ready to face the chaos?”

“Not really,” Tobias admitted, managing a small smile. “But I guess that’s never stopped me before.”

---

*The Vase on His Mind*

Throughout the day, Tobias couldn’t shake the image of the shattered vase. It had been a family heirloom, and his mother’s stern tone echoed in his mind. Even as he navigated the stares and whispers of his classmates, he found himself replaying the moment over and over.

During math class, Martha leaned over and whispered, “You look like someone ran over your tail. What’s wrong?”

“I broke something at home,” Tobias muttered, keeping his voice low. “Mom wasn’t happy.”

“Oof,” Martha replied, wincing. “Good luck with that.”

“Thanks,” Tobias said dryly.

---

*At Home: Facing the Consequences*

When Tobias walked through the front door after school, Mrs. Rowe was waiting for him in the living room. Her expression was calm but firm, and a hairbrush rested on the coffee table. Beside it, the **Disciplinary Stool** stood ready.

“Hi, Mom,” Tobias said cautiously, setting his backpack down.

“Don’t ‘hi’ me,” Mrs. Rowe replied, motioning for him to come closer. “Let’s talk about the vase.”

Tobias’s ears drooped. “It was an accident, I swear.”

“I believe you,” Mrs. Rowe said. “But accidents like that happen when you’re not paying attention. That vase was important to this family, and you need to learn to be more careful.”

Tobias swallowed hard, his tail curling around his legs. “I’ll be more careful, I promise.”

Mrs. Rowe picked up the hairbrush. “Promises are good, but actions speak louder than words. Over the arm of the couch, Tobias.”

Tobias groaned, but he knew better than to argue. He lowered his pants and leaned over the arm of the couch, his tail flicking nervously.

---

*The Bristle Side*

Mrs. Rowe flipped the hairbrush to the bristle side, the stiff bristles catching the light. The first swat landed with a sharp *sting*, and Tobias yelped. The bristles pricked uncomfortably against his skin, each swat leaving a sharp, tingling sensation.

“Accidents or not, you need to think about your actions,” Mrs. Rowe scolded, delivering another swat with the bristled side. Tobias squirmed, his claws gripping the couch tightly.

The bristles left his backside prickling with discomfort, and Tobias whimpered softly as the punishment continued.

---

*The Smooth Side*

After several swats with the bristle side, Mrs. Rowe flipped the hairbrush to the smooth wooden side. The first crack of the wood against his already tender skin made Tobias yelp loudly.

“This is a reminder to pay attention to your surroundings,” Mrs. Rowe said firmly, delivering a steady rhythm of sharp, stinging swats. Tobias squirmed and sniffled, tears pricking his eyes as the smooth side of the brush landed over and over.

By the time Mrs. Rowe finished, Tobias’s backside was bright red, and he was softly sniffling.

---

*Corner and Stool Time*

Mrs. Rowe helped Tobias stand and pointed to the **Disciplinary Stool** in the corner. “Sit here,” she instructed. “With your pants still down. You’ll spend twenty minutes thinking about how you can be more careful.”

Tobias winced but obeyed, shuffling to the stool and lowering himself gingerly onto the hard wooden seat. The sting on his bare, reddened backside made him squirm uncomfortably, but he knew better than to complain.

The stool was unforgiving, a constant reminder of his actions as he stared at the wall. By the time the timer went off, Tobias’s resolve to be more mindful had solidified.

---

*Reflecting on the Day*

Later that evening, Tobias sat gingerly on his bed, clutching his plushie as he thought about everything that had happened. Returning to school had been exhausting, but he was proud of himself for making it through. The vase incident—and the sharp lesson that followed—was a painful reminder to be more careful.

As he stared out the window, a familiar figure caught his eye. Virt, with her red eyes glowing faintly, watched from the shadows of a nearby tree.

“Still watching me, huh?” Tobias murmured. This time, her presence didn’t unsettle him as much. Instead, it reminded him that someone believed in him.

Virt smirked, her tail flicking as she disappeared into the night. Whatever came next, Tobias was determined to be ready.