The gong’s last vibrations faded, leaving the Sanctuary of Symmetry perfectly still. Smudge took a deep breath, shuffled to the front of the temple and stood at his desk.

Atop it lay Smudge’s most important teaching treasures: his chalk, a box of geometry tools and a thick leather-bound book.

He admired the swirling patterns on the book’s cover for a moment, then slowly opened it. Inside, written in neat columns, were the names of every animal in the rainforest—his brand-new class list. He tapped the wrong end of his pen against the page and frowned. Now… where are they all?

Smudge’s eyes darted around the temple and landed on a woven basket tucked in the corner. His face brightened as he realised that one student was indeed already present.

That student was Biscuit—Smudge’s faithful dog. Biscuit was always here—or there—with Smudge.

Smudge cleared his throat and put on his most official teacher voice.

“Biscuit?”

Biscuit sat bolt upright and thrust a paw into the air, as if he had been waiting seven dog years for this very moment. Then, with perfect timing, he gave a single sharp bark that echoed around the chamber.

Smudge chuckled, ticked Biscuit’s name in the register and nodded with satisfaction.

“Right then,” he said proudly. “Present and correct, Biscuit. Present and correct.”