Flying higher Than Ever Before

I do not own the characters of Tail-Spin only the characters that I made up.

Hey guys, sorry for the long wait, but here's the next chapter of my Tale-spin story. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Starting a New School: Part 1

Four days have passed since Kris, Baloo and Rebecca's encounter with the Soviet Soldier and life had been quiet for them ever since they got back to Higher for Hire. Kris had told Kit, Molly and Melody all about his adventure that he and the two adults had experienced during their delivery. To say the least the kids had been amazed and captivated by the story that Kris had told them and one question was asked by Melody.

"Whatever happened to the soldier?" she asked.

"I don't really know," answered Kris with a shrug of his shoulders. "He might have found his way back home or he could be traveling around the world to other places."

After telling the three kids his story, Kris went back to helping around Higher for Hire from time to time whenever he had time on his hands and today was just one of those days. Kris was helping Baloo and Wildcat with packing up some crates and moving them into the Sea Duck. The 14 year old was helping Wildcat in carrying a long and wide crate into the back cargo hold of the plane.

"Easy does it Wildcat," said Kris as he and the mechanic walked slowly up the ramp.

"Okie-dokie artichoke," said Wildcat with a nod of his head.

Kris let out a chuckle while he rolled his eyes at the mechanic. This guy was a real character that's for sure. The two continued to walk up the ramp until they were in the cargo hold.

"Alright," started Kris. "Let's place this down, slowly."

They started to lower the crate as gently as they could, but they were suddenly startled and nearly dropped the crate when they heard Rebecca shouting out Kris's name from the docks.

"Kris, could you come and see me in my office!?" called out the female bear.

Kris and Wildcat let out a sigh before the 14 year old answered Rebecca's question: "I'll be there is just a minute!"

"That was a close one," voiced Wildcat.

"Tell me about it," said Kris as he looked at the mechanic. "If we had dropped this thing by accident then Rebecca would have had our heads."

"What would she have our heads for?" asked Wildcat in confusion.

'Oh brother,' thought Kris as he rolled his eyes once again at the mechanic.

Once they had placed the crate down, Kris started to make his way over to Rebecca's office at a quick sprint.

'I wonder what the boss lady wants to see me for?' thought Kris as he sprinted across the dock before changing into a walk when he came to the door of Higher for Hire's office.

The 14 year old stopped in front of the door for a moment to catch his breath before he grabbed the doorknob and opened the door to walk inside. When Kris entered the office he saw Rebecca and Baloo standing in front of the desk with the pilot leaning against it with a frown on his face. Rebecca was glaring at the pilot with her arms crossed over her chest. Kris let out a quiet sigh for he knew that he was going to be brought into an argument.

'Well…as people always say 'Just get it over with,' here goes,' thought Kris.

"Hey Baloo, Rebecca," greeted Kris as he walked into the office. "What's going on here?"

"Oh, hello Kris," spoke Rebecca as she turned with a start when she was surprised to hear Kris's sudden entrance. "Please come in."

Kris closed the door behind him before walking towards the two adults before stopping right in front of them.

"So…what do you want to talk to me about?" asked Kris as he looked at Rebecca curiously.

"Well Kris, I've been thinking about you and Melody for some time now," started Rebecca as she began to rub her hands nervously together. "And um…I was wondering if you two would like to attend school this year?"

Kris stared at Rebecca in shocked surprise. Him and Melody, attend school this year? The 14 year old looked at the female bear in silence for a moment before he finally answered Rebecca's question.

"Um…thanks Mrs. Cunningham," spoke Kris as he started to scratch the back of his head. "But…I'm not so sure that that's such a good idea for me and my sister to attend a school this year."

"That's what I said to Becky here," stepped in Baloo. "I don't think you kids should go to school either."

"Don't be silly you two," said Rebecca as she placed her hands on her hips. "I'm sure that you and Melody will have a great time at school."

"It's not that I don't like going to school Mrs. Cunningham," defended Kris. "It's just that, well…Melody and I aren't exactly like you guys."

"What do you mean you're not exactly like us?" questioned Rebecca with a frown. "You two are just as educated as everyone else around here in Cape Suzette."

"Um…let me rephrase that last sentence," said Kris. "What I mean is that my sister and I aren't animals, we're two human kids that had suddenly appeared from out of nowhere from a storm out in the middle of the ocean and we have no idea on how we got here in the first place."

"So what the kid is trying to say here Becky is that he and his baby sister won't fit in at school," elaborated Baloo. "They're too different from us and putting them in a school might not be a good idea."

"Of course it's a good idea," said Rebecca stubbornly. "After all it'll be a great opportunity for Kris and Melody to meet other kids their own age."

"But Mrs. Cunningham-" started Kris as he tried to reason with the she-bear.

"No buts," interrupted Rebecca as she raised her hand up to stop any more of Kris's protests. "You and Melody are going to school and that's final."

Kris's mouth quickly shut tight as he frowned at the she-bear in anger before he turned and began to make his way out of the office. The two adults watched the 14 year old walk out of the room as the boy opened the door and walked out while closing the door behind him with a soft thud. Baloo let out a sigh of frustration before he turned to glance back at Rebecca.

"I still don't like this idea of yours Becky," started Baloo. "What if something happens?"

"Nothing will happen," said Rebecca with a frown. "Besides, Melody and Kris need to socialize with other kids that are their age instead of us adults."

Baloo let out a growl before he rolled his eyes at the she-bear before he walked out of the office: "Whatever."

Outside Higher for Hire

Outside, Kris was sitting on the edge of the dock as he looked down at the lapping water below him. The 14 year old stared down at his reflection with a frown as the eyes of his reflection looked back at him from the water's surface.

"Stubborn she-bear," muttered Kris to himself.

"You can say that again," spoke Baloo as he came to sit down beside the 14 year old.

"Rebecca is just so…irritating!" exclaimed Kris in frustration. "Whenever I try to talk to her about my problems of suggest something that could help with business here she just brushes it off as nothing. Enlisting Melody and I into a school is definitely not a good idea I mean…what if something goes wrong on our first day?"

"I've asked Becky that same question kid," muttered Baloo with a sigh. "She's firmly set and determined that nothing bad will is going to happen to you kids."

Kris let out a sigh as he looked down at the water lapping below his feet: "I guess there's no way on getting out of this mess, huh Baloo?"

"Not when Becky is involved," answered Baloo with a shake of his head "Unless you want to try running away from here."

Kris let out a chuckle as a small smile appeared on his face. Somehow Baloo was always able to cheer Kris up whenever the 14 year old felt down or depressed by something.

"Thanks Baloo, I needed a good laugh," said Kris quietly. "Well…if I'm going to school then I'll have to get some school supplies for me and Melody tomorrow. I'll probably have to go shopping with Mrs. Cunningham though."

"That's going to be a nightmare," Baloo joked as he scratched the side of his head.

Kris smirked at the pilot before giving him a gentle punch in the shoulder out of good humor.

2 weeks later

Kris sat in Rebecca's car as he looked out the side window at the building that passed by his range of vision while he held his new backpack within his lap. The 14 year old boy's backpack was a dark blue with black and white markings on it. Kris continued to look out the window for a while before he suddenly felt his sister tugging on the right sleeve of his shirt. Kris turned his head to look at his sister.

"Yeah Melody, what is it?" asked Kris.

Melody looked down at the black leather seat that she and her brother were both sitting on while she clung to her new pink and white backpack with her left arm. Melody didn't reply at first but when she did it was in a small voice.

"I-I'm scared," voice Melody timidly. "W-what if the other kids don't like me?"

"Don't be ridiculous," spoke Kris with a gentle smile, "Besides who wouldn't like a cute little girl like you?"

Melody smiled up at her brother while a small blush appeared on the small girl's face.

Melody was wearing a light blue short sleeved shirt and a short white skirt that went down to Melody's knees. Melody's hair was pulled back into a pony tail by a dark red/pink ribbon. Melody was also wearing white clip on shoes and white socks.

As for Kris, he was wearing a green short sleeve t-shirt with a blue jean vest over top, brown pants and black runners with silver patterns and soles.

Kris smiled back at his little sister before he turned his attention back towards the window as he continued to watch the scenery pass by his vision. Rebecca was the one who was driving Kris and Melody to school today, which was a little embarrassing for the 14 year old boy. Kit had already gone ahead of the group so that he could hang out with his friends before school started. It was a while before Rebecca's car slowly came to a stop when the school that Kris will be attending for the year came into view.

"Okay Kris, this is where I'll drop you off," said Rebecca as she turned to look at the 14 year old that said in the back seat of her car. "I'll be dropping your sister off at Kit's school that's just a three blocks from here."

"Okay, thanks," spoke Kris before he turned to look at his sister. "I'll see you later Melody, have a good day at school alright?"

"Alright, I'll try," replied Melody with a small smile on her face.

"That's my girl," said Kris as he gave his sister an affectionate pat on the head.

Kris grabbed his backpack before opening the side door of his backseat as he stepped out of Rebecca's car. Kris closed the door behind him before he turned to look at the school that he will be participating in.

The building was like any other school that Kris had attended to in many of his years. The school was a 2 story building that was made up of red bricks while the roof of the school building was a light metal grey color. There were many different animal teenagers walking towards and through the front doors of the school that were all of different ages.

Kris sucked in a deep breath before letting it out: "Well…here goes nothing."

With that said, Kris began to make his way towards the front doors of the school while hearing Rebecca's car driving away towards Melody's new school. Kris was almost nears the doors when he suddenly heard a scream coming from his left. The 14 year old quickly turned his head to see a blur coming his way before it slammed right into him. Kris let out a groan of pain as he lay on the ground with something heavy lying on top of him.

"Ow," groaned Kris as he opened his eyes to see was had crashed into him.

What he saw lying on top of him was a female humanoid golden retriever.

The golden retriever had dark golden-red fur with short red hair growing down to her neck. She was wearing a white short sleeved t-shirt with a red diamond pattern sitting horizontally on the middle of her shirt, and blue jeans that were held up by a brown leather belt.

The golden retriever let out a groan before she opened her eyes to reveal two dark blue orbs. Kris and the golden retriever stared at each other for a few seconds before the female quickly realized how close her face was to Kris's.

"S-sorry," stuttered the retriever as she quickly picked herself up off of Kris. "I didn't mean to run into you like that, I just lost control of my balance on my rollerblades when I hit that bump back there."

"That's alright," spoke Kris as he sat up with the retriever sitting in front of him. "I should have watched where I was going."

The golden retriever smiled before getting a good look at Kris.

"I've never seen you around here before," said the retriever as she raised a curious eyebrow at the 14 year old boy.

"You could say that I'm new around these parts," said Kris as he began to stand up. "So are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm okay," answered the female retriever as she began, with Kris now noticing, to take off two four wheeled open toed skates. "Luckily I had a soft landing, which comes to me asking you if you're okay."

"I'm fine," answered Kris with a shrug of his shoulders. "I might wind up with a few bruises later on thought."

The golden retriever let out a giggle before she took off her second skate from her left foot with her first skate sitting on the ground at her right side. Kris held his hand out towards the retriever once she had gathered up her skates.

"My name's Kris," the 14 year old introduced himself.

"I'm Daisy," spoke the golden retriever as she grabbed hold of Kris's hand before the human boy pulled her back up onto her paw/feet.

"Nice to meet you," said Kris as he gave Daisy a firm handshake before letting go.

"Likewise," said Daisy as she reached down and picked up her bright red backpack. "So…is this your first time here at my school?"

"Yeah," replied Kris with a nod after he picked up his own backpack. "I got assigned to this school against my will along with my little sister."

"You have a sister?" asked Daisy as she and Kris started making their way towards the front doors of the school.

"Yeah," answered Kris. "Her name is Melody and she's only 10 years old."

"Melody huh?" spoke Daisy with a smile "That's a cute name."

"What about you, do you have any siblings?" asked Kris out of curiosity.

"Unfortunately yes," replied Daisy in a dramatic voice. "I have two little twin brothers that torcher me every day when I get back from school. They drive me crazy sometimes, but I love them none the less."

"My sister can get on my nerves as well," Kris chuckled in amusement. "But I still love her all the same."

Daisy let out a chuckle before the two acquainted friends entered Kris's new school together.

In a different school

Melody was walking through the hallway as she clutched her backpack tightly against her chest. Melody had just been dropped off by Rebecca a few minutes ago and had just entered the school not long afterwards. She was now walking down the hallway while looking around at the different animal kids that are about her age or older. Melody bit her bottom lip nervously as she held her tighter against her.

'Okay Melody, get a grip,' thought the 10 year old. 'You just have to be yourself and not do anything embarrassing.'

After she had finished her thoughts Melody suddenly found herself bumping into someone while she had her eyes cast down towards the ground. Melody quickly stepped back in surprise as she stared at the person she had bumped into.

"Hey, watch it," said the being who revealed him-self to be a young male lion cub.

The lion looked to be around 11 years old. He had golden blonde fur and short brown unruly hair that grew down to the back of his neck. The lion had dark brown eyes that Melody couldn't help but stare into them. The lion cub was wearing a green short sleeve shirt and tan cargo pants.

Melody quickly lowered her gaze to the ground as a blush appeared on her cheeks: "I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to bump into you like that."

The lion cub looked at Melody curiously for he had never seen anyone like her in his school before.

"Um…are you new here?" asked the lion cub.

"Y-yes," replied Melody in a small voice. "I-I'm just starting here."

"I thought so," muttered the lion cub. "Because I know everyone in this school and I'm pretty sure that I haven't seen you before."

Melody gently bit her bottom lip again as she began to feel more uncomfortable by the second. What was she going to do now that she met this lion cub? Melody quickly shook off her nervousness and gathered up her courage before speaking to the lion cub again.

"M-my name is Melody Cloud," she said as she introduced herself. "And I'm looking for my class room: 101."

The lion cub looked at Melody in befuddlement for a moment before a smile appeared on his muzzle.

"It's nice to meet you Melody," said the lion cub. "My names Leo and I'm in the same class as you."

"Really?" asked Melody out of surprise.

"Yep," replied Leo with a nod of his head. "How about I help you find our class room?"

Melody smiled before nodding her head at the lion cub. Leo smiled back a Melody before he started leading her down the hall towards their class room.

So far Kris and Melody had winded up meeting two kids at their school and befriended them. Now they just have to face what was next up ahead of them as they experienced what both their new schools were all about.

To be continued

Sorry for the long wait guys I hope you enjoy this chapter and have a great Christmas this year.

White Hunter, howling out to you and the spirits!