*Tobias: Talk of the School*

Tobias walked into Evergrand Penitatas School with Martha, Bruno, and Luna by his side. The morning air buzzed with energy as students gathered in the courtyard, their voices rising in excited chatter. It didn’t take long for Tobias to realize the subject of the day: the **Ironsides Mall Incident**.

“There he is!” someone shouted, pointing at Tobias. A wave of whispers followed as heads turned, and students began crowding around him.

“Did you really take down two robbers?” a young fox asked, her eyes wide with admiration.

“I heard you clawed one of them like a feral cat!” added a green-scaled dragon from another class.

Martha rolled her eyes, stepping in before Tobias could respond. “Relax, everyone. It wasn’t *that* dramatic. He just tackled one of them, and we helped.”

“That’s not what the news said,” a human boy countered, holding up his communicator. “They called him the **Hero of Ironsides Mall**!”

Tobias’s ears twitched, and his cheeks flushed as more students joined the crowd. “I mean, we all helped,” he said, glancing at Martha, Bruno, and Luna. “It wasn’t just me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Martha said, smirking. “But you’re the one who got the nickname.”

---

*The Classroom Buzz*

By the time they entered Mrs. Langford’s classroom, the chatter had reached a fever pitch. Tobias barely made it to his seat before another wave of questions hit him.

“Did you see the jewels?” a small bird asked from the next desk. “Were they huge?”

“Were you scared?” a rabbit with floppy ears added, her voice tinged with awe.

“Why didn’t you wait for the police?” another student chimed in.

Martha, sitting beside Tobias, leaned over and whispered, “Enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame, Rowe. It’s not going to last.”

Bruno chuckled from his seat. “Yeah, because once Langford finds out, you’ll probably get a lecture.”

“Don’t remind me,” Tobias muttered, his tail flicking nervously. He was still feeling the sting from his mother’s discipline the night before and didn’t want another round.

---

*Mrs. Langford’s Response*

The chatter died down as Mrs. Langford entered the room, her sharp gaze immediately silencing the students. She placed her bag on her desk and turned to face the class.

“I understand there’s been quite a bit of talk about the Ironsides Mall Incident,” she began, her tone neutral. “And while I commend the bravery shown by certain individuals, I must remind all of you that such actions are dangerous and should only be undertaken by trained professionals.”

Tobias sank slightly in his seat, his ears flattening. He could feel her gaze linger on him for a moment before she continued.

“Now, let’s refocus on today’s lesson,” Mrs. Langford said, moving to the board.

---

*Lunchroom Spotlight*

By lunchtime, the buzz about Tobias hadn’t died down. The cafeteria was alive with speculation, and Tobias found himself surrounded again as he tried to eat.

“Are you going to be in the news again?” one student asked.

“Do you think they’ll give you an award?” another added.

Tobias sighed, glancing at Luna. “A little help here?”

Luna, ever calm, gave the crowd a cool look. “Let him eat. He’s not signing autographs.”

The students reluctantly dispersed, leaving Tobias and his friends some peace.

---

*Connor’s Comeback*

Not everyone was impressed by Tobias’s newfound fame. Across the cafeteria, Connor Green—still sore from his recent punishment—watched the scene with a sneer.

“Big hero, huh?” Connor muttered to his friends. “Bet he’s just trying to make up for all the scams he pulled before.”

Martha’s ears twitched as she overheard. “Ignore him,” she said to Tobias. “He’s just bitter.”

“Yeah,” Bruno added, smirking. “Maybe he’s jealous he’s not the one everyone’s talking about.”

Tobias shrugged, trying to focus on his food. “Let him say what he wants. I’m not going to let him ruin this.”

---

*Virt’s Observations*

Unbeknownst to Tobias, Virt watched from a distance, her red eyes glinting with interest as she observed the day unfold. Perched on a tree branch outside the school, she smirked as she listened to the chatter filtering out from the cafeteria.

“So, the fraudster basks in his glory,” she murmured, her tail swishing. “Let’s see how long it lasts before he slips up.”

With a soft chuckle, she leapt silently to the ground, disappearing into the shadows as she began planning her next move.

---

*Looking Ahead*

As the day wound down, Tobias walked home with his friends, still feeling the weight of his classmates’ attention.

“You handled today pretty well,” Luna remarked. “I thought you’d let it go to your head.”

“Give him time,” Martha teased. “He’s probably still practicing his acceptance speech.”

Tobias rolled his eyes but smiled. “I’m just glad it’s over. Being the ‘Hero of Ironsides Mall’ is more exhausting than I thought.”

The group laughed as they walked into the sunset, unaware of the trials Virt had in store for them in the days to come.