The falcon smiled slightly as they walked to the cafeteria oin silence. Sometimes the quiet was good for a person. Of course if you were claws you always enjoyed the peace and quiet. One thing that stuck him as a bit odd was the fact that he and the snake shared a few things in common. Most teacher were complexly different form the students that they taught. That was the reason that some students got in to so much trouble while they at school. The clashed with the teachers too much. Then there were always the teacher who were a bit too much like their students. But that was just how things worked he supposed. For now claws was just happy that he had found someone who shared at least a few of his interests with him.

As he expected the cafeteria was pretty sparse, but there was still plenty of food out and... ohh great. "Well this may or may not be awkward. See that guy there behind the serving counter, the one putting out fresh food? That naga's my cousin, sometimes he likes to joke around with me since we're so different. Still, can't argue that he makes really good food." Athos just hoped his cousin wouldn't jump to any stupid conclusions, he had a bad habit of not knowing when to keep his hissy mouth shut at times, especially when it came to rumors and gossip that were almost certainly lies. And yet Athan, the naga behind the counter, had no idea about the physics teacher's less than friendly past.

The falcon gave a slight smile as he saw that there were not many others in the cafeteria at the moment. Claws really hated large crowds and avoided them if he could. He kind of frowned when he the snake speak now. He was not sure what to say to others when they spoke about family members. As an orphan he had never had to deal with anyone in that since. However he did know that some situations could be awkward between family. He had never had to be around it though. “ ahh ……okay. ……Yeah……. Oh…… really ……hum ……..that …….is …….how ……..family ……..works ……..sometimes ……I …..guess. ……..Well ……that ……is …….good .” he said with a slight smile. That was really all that he could say on the subject. One good thing about claws was the fact that he did not judge anyone based on rumors that he heard. He figure that most roomers were not true. And really who cares if they were? Everyone was different and everyone had their faults . He knew that so he just accepted everyone for who they were on the inside. Good or evil claws would never judge them. Unless they went after him or something. Then claws would do everything inn his power to avoid ever getting near them again. That was simply the way that he functioned for the most part.

Of course Athos worried for nothing, his cousin gave a friendly smile and wave when he spotted them and didn't say a single negative thing. Instead he waited for the two to get their food and drinks, taking Athos' card and swiping it through the machine after entering in an employee discount, and smiling. It was slow and now he might have someone to talk to. "So who's your new friend Athos?" The naga saw nobody else around needing food, nothing left to put out from the kitchen, so he slithered around the counter and glanced about the room before following them over to a table. "You'll let me know if you want or need anything else right?"

Claws smiled slightly at the naga as he got his things. Claws could not help but feel slightly awkward now that he was around yet another new person. However he was going to try to push that feeling away just as he had done with athos. When he heard him as the snake his question he could not help but just kind of smile slightly. Claws really hated the fact that he was so very awkward around others. However he was one who just had to deal with things like that he supposed . For now he would let the snake talk. However that did not mean that he was being rude. It was just that claws rarely spoke unless he was spoken to first. He really just was a quiet sort. Quiet but not rude. He did however look the naga over for just a second as he followed them to the table. He was quiet large and kind of intimidating really. But that seemed to be the case with a lot of the creatures here. Something claws was slowly getting used to.

"We're fine thanks. And his name is Claws. Claws, my cousin Athan. Athan, Claws. now you've been introduced and now you don't have to hover around us." Athos said it with a smile, but he knew the falcon wouldn't be able to handle another stranger too well right away. Maybe if his friend wanted to know more about the naga Athos could tell him, give him some information so he'd feel a little more comfortable dealing with him, but for now the snake got the feeling an extra person around would only complicate things. "He's a bit shy Athan, give him some space and I'm sure you can catch up later. Or maybe a friendly gesture of some really nice dessert?"

Claws kind of smiled when the snake introduced him to the naga. He gave him a friendly smile to show that he was glad to meet him. “ uhh ……..it ……..is ……..nice ……..to …….meet…. you.” he said softly now. He did not want to seem rude by not saying anything at all to the naga. It just took him a few seconds to get the courage up to say anything to anyone unless they spoke first. And meeting two people in the same day was awkward. However he could make the best of it if he had to. Then he smiled as the snake seemed to since that he was nervous around others. Well really he could deal with others he just tended to be more quiet when more then one new person was around him at one time. He could be considered social phobic in some ways. It came form living alone with no one around him that wanted anything to do with him. He was a loner that was trying to get used to others here. That was why he had chosen to go to this school in the first place. The good thing was that he was getting better though. That sort thing just took time for him to get used to. Really though he did not like for others to have to make special arrangement just for his problems with people. It made him feel even more awkward then usual .however he knew that the snake was just trying to make him feel more comfortable. And he was thankful to have a friend like that.

"You know it definitely shows he's trying to be nice. Athan's usually really scared of any kind of bird, not entirely sure why but it's just something he grew up with probably. Some odd inherited trait, whatever the reason when he comes up to actually talk to one it's a huge show of trust. Maybe just because you're with me he figures you've got to be okay." That actually had Athos wondering how the naga managed to serve food to everyone in the school. There had to be at least a few avians around, and not just Claws. Probably a hundred or more, so what exactly did he do when those kids came through? Maybe the fact he was behind a counter was enough, or he was too focused on his job?

Claws kind of smiled at what the snake said. It was strange to think that just being near a certain person could make others think differently of you. Though claws could see why one would be afraid of certain breeds of creatures. Some breeds had bad reputations in some countries. Either way he was really not sure what to think about the snakes statement. It did kinda make hen feel honored in a way. “ oh …… really…… ? ……..I ……..see . ……..Wow…….. that’s …….odd…….. Hum ……..that……. could…… be…… the …….reason. “ claws said . He could see how it would make the nagas job hard being around what he fear part of the time. Though there were quiet a few who could ignore their fears enough where they could function normally part of the time.

Athos took a moment to let Claws have a chance to pick a topic to talk about, so he wouldn't completely monopolize the conversation or anything. He only liked to do that when he was teaching and needed students to start paying attention. He knew the falcon was shy and wouldn't normally lead a conversation or anything but he wanted to give him a chance anyway, and while he was giving his new friend an opening to chat the snake sipped his drink and took a few bites of the sandwich he got to go with it. The food in this whole area, Crimson's restaurant and the cafeteria, the sushi place, everything was so good. It was a wonder there weren't more overweight people, but maybe some of those dishes that were really popular were actually healthier than they looked.

Claws smiled slightly as he tried to think of something to talk about. He could not help the fact that he was not very good at talking to others. However he could get by if he really had to. That was why it seemed to him that he was too different form the rest of the kids. He did not do things that other kids did therefore could not really relate to them. He did try his best to understand them though. He smiled now as something crossed his mind. He could ask the snake about the area. Where good places to eat were all of that. Yeah that would be a good subject. At least he hoped that it would. Of course he would have to think of how to word his questions though “ uhh……. So …………..can …….you ……uhh …….tell …….me …..a ….. little……. About ……this…….. place. …..I …..have ……never …….been …..past …….the …….woods…….. and …….the …….school . ……So ……..I …….was ……wondering …..how……. the…… rest …..of…. the…. area …….was?” he asked. It could be quiet easy to tell that he was not all experienced in how to word his questions.

"Oh, well, there's one place in town that if you ever get into any kind of trouble the person there will happily bail you out. The Foxford Restaurant, owned by a nice dragon lady named Crimson. She's probably one of the best chefs in the world so everything you eat there's going to be wonderful. And she's pretty much the best person to ask about anything in town, it's a nice place. The whole town is except for one or two little areas, can get just about anything you'd possibly want up there. They finally put in a little strip mall too, but it's a bit crowded there. Better bet's to go to some of the older stores in town, they'll have what you need and less of a crowd but better service. Not sure if that exactly answers your question but hopefully at least gives you a good idea."

Claws nodded as he listened to what the snake said. He really did not plan to get in to trouble but it was always good to know that he had places he could go. He always tried to figure out as much as he could about a place before he left. Except of course for some of the places that he really did not care for. When it came to those places he just wanted to get away as soon as he could. Lucky so far this was not one of those places. He rather liked how quiet and peaceful this place was. “ ahh ……okay. ……Hum…… she ……..sounds ……like …….an …….interesting ………person……..Ahh ……..okay ………I ………see. ……..There ……..are …………places ……….like ………..that ………in ……every ………..town. ………Yeah ……….that ……….pretty ……….well …………answered ………my ……..question.” he said with a smile. He was one of those who did not have to have a huge explanation to answer his questions. He just wished that he was not so awkward at talking to others.

And now Athos figured he might as well bring up what was probably a somewhat touchy subject. "Is there anyone you might want me to introduce you to? Maybe the headmaster or the owner of that restaurant? I'm happy to help and I can always find free time for a friend." He knew if Claws was awkward he might not want to go up to and meet people even if they were interesting or nice. Sometimes people with his kind of nervousness just needed to be approached so you they could be pushed gently into a conversation or meeting, other times this totally backfired and they'd run off, which would make it that much harder for them to eventually talk to the person they wanted to. So at least Athos could give him that kind of option.

Claws kind of frowned when he heard what the snake said now. He was not sure about meeting new creatures just yet. However he knew that he would have to meet others sooner or latter. Might as well have a friend there to support him right? “well ……..it would ………..be ………nice ……..to…….. meet ……..them…….. one…….. day. ………You ……..would ……..do ……….that……….. for me………. sometime? ……..I ……..would …….like……… that” claws said with a smile on his beak. Claws was the type who let others come to him . He did not go out of his way to meet others unless he had to. However he was not so afraid of other that he would runaway from them. He would just let them speak first or something like that. He really did like the fact that the snake had offered to help him meet some new people. He would have to think of something to do for him in return.