“So it’s going to be an early morning session,” Lance sighing while in Tachibana’s study; “is it your plan to have this matter with Julie dealt with in a single day?”
“If need be,” Tachibana looking serious; “we will stay in session until Christmas eve if necessary.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that,” Lance looking shocked.
“It won’t,” Tachibana answers; “but don’t be surprised if you need to conduct company business over your phone in between session breaks. Your niece and Eric Anderson will need to be present. Eric mostly since he was the primary victim of Julie’s attacks. But Frieda will be needed to corroborate some of the evidence.”
“Should we not get back to your guests,” Lance referring to Far and Kai.
“Yes,” Tachibana grinning; “let’s go back to enjoying the sushi my chef prepared for lunch.”
As both the were-panther and were-vixen return to the dining area to rejoin Far Huojin and his grandson Kai Hǔ Wáng. Sitting back down, the two white where-tigers look at their hostess. Far Huojin being the first to speak.
“Is anything wrong?”
“Just elder council business,” Tachibana helping herself to the octopus; “I was conferring with Lance here as to our emergency session regarding a child making two attempts to violate the town’s Statue 1A* charter.”
“So nothing to do with Benton then,” Kia speaking up.
“Not directly,” Lance states while sampling the sea urchin; “but Frieda is involved in a witness capacity, in regards to the matter Tachibana and I just discussed.”
*****
Principal Andrews just sighs as Rachael Gaudet, the were-otter rep leaves; leaving Eric and Frieda to head to class.
“Wait you two,” the principal states; “I’ll give you excused absences; just go spend the rest of the school day in the library. This will allow you to evade the usual gossip the student body will undoubtedly churn.”
“Is it possible for Spencer Lawson to join us,” Eric asks; “while she was not directly involved in Julie’s altercation. The entire school knows that Spencer is on Julie’s list and will be asking her questions since they won’t be able to ask us.”
“Nope,” Principal Andrews states; “unless she gets one of those little scrolls you two have, Spencer stays in class.”
The bell rings, signaling the end of freshman lunch; Eric and Frieda sigh as they wait for the crowd to die down and head to the library.
“At least we will have a chance to talk about what to do in private,” Eric sighs
“It would be better if Spence was here as well,” Frieda putting her book bag on a table.
“Oh I already know what Spencer would do if Julie attacked her,” Eric states; “the same thing she did to Jeremy Bower Jr.”
“Spencer would kill the wer-mer,” Frieda looking shocked; “would she go that far?”
“If Julie pushed Spencer to that point, yes,” Eric answering; “and if Julie tried to attack you,” Eric placing a hand on the young were-panthress; “she’ll find out how savage I can be.”
“Not unless I react first,” Frieda purring at Eric’s comforting touch; “I’m no slouch with my claws and teeth.”
*****
Spencer was waiting in line with her food tray; sensing Eric and Frieda comforting together, Spencer knew that they found out about Julie’s lucky break with the legal system. After hearing about the revelation through a class mate that now has detention for looking at their phone and shouting the news for all to hear; Spencer was contemplating what she would do if Julie was stupid enough to engage in a direct confrontation. Seeing it is chicken burgers for lunch and not the three bean salad that everyone thought they were going to have; Spencer heads to her usual spot for lunch.
Being joined with a few acquaintances; those that Frieda was on friendly but reserved terms with, Spencer looks at her food and sighs.
“Something wrong?”
“Julie,” Spencer remarks; “that’s what’s wrong. How the hell can that little minnow get off on assaulting Eric and Frieda?”
“You should ask her lawyer that.”
Spencer looks up to see Sasha sitting down to join them. A were-panther like Eric and Frieda she just grins as she looks at Spencer.
“But that is not why I’m here,” Sasha grinning; “I saw yours and Eric’s induction ceremony last night at the Knight estate.”
“You were there,” Spencer looking dubious; “I never saw you around.”
“You never seen me in my fursona,” Sasha answers; “brown furred were-panthress with yellow eyes.”
“You just describes roughly a third of those attending last night,” Spencer answers; “did you approach Eric or myself last night?”
“I was going to,” Sasha answered; “but after witnessing you knock Liz Baker on her ass, I figured it was best to stay back.”
“I only did what I had to do,” Spencer looking serious; “because she did not heed Frieda or her father’s warning.”
“Not arguing that,” Sasha scraping the mayonnaise of her chicken burger; “but dam, I never knew Eric’s were-panther fursona was pure white.”
“He has a subtle hint of brown fur on his head,” Spencer taking a bite of her burger; “but you need to be up close to see it.”
Sasha, who is also fifteen like Spencer smiles; her long blond hair and bluish grey eyes, belie the fact that she is one of the few students along with Eric Anderson that are on the schools honor roll.
“Well hopefully I’ll bet a chance to meet him the next time,” Sasha chuckling.
“As long as you don’t try to offer yourself to him,” Spencer answers; “Eric, myself and Frieda are exclusive to each other only.”