Wolf Heart

Chapter 16

Planet: Eteran

First Insurgency War

AVA

By the end of the day, Rayan hadn't come back from the principal's office. Rumours spread like wildfire in the small student body. Words, nothing more and nothing less, but her heart tore itself apart at the small failure of her lack of prevention as a part of the student council. Meryn, who lived a nightmare until she opened her eyes. Dad's words pushed her to act, but Rayan hadn't needed the prompting. Her nails dug into her palm while she sat with James and Meryn, with her twin brother holding his jaw with a wince.

"Are you alright? Both of you?" she asked.

"I've been hit harder in Starcross," James mumbled.

"I'm okay," Meryn whimpered.

Ava couldn't wait for an answer.

"Wait here with Meryn," she told James, who snapped his head up. "Wait for Mrs. Matthey and tell her everything. I'm going to the principal's office."

Though James called her back, she left him behind to rush into the main building and into the faculty offices. Ava rushed past the secretary, who she gave no chance to stop her as she pushed into Mr. Yokon's office. "It's not their fault!"

Everyone in the dome turned to her. Rayan and Jon sat in hover seats in front of the semi-circle desk their principal stood behind. Off to the side, Mrs. Falae, where stress creased her time-worn brow while she brushed her nose. Dread, surprise, and relief all mixed together at the sight of Dad, who stood beside Mrs. Falae with an expression of stone.

"Miss Ranier?" Mr. Yokon mused.

"Two boys were harassing Meryn," she explained with the time given to her at his question. "I was the one who threw the first punch." In the corner of her eye, Dad fiddled with the cigar which tucked itself at the corner of his lips. "Though, I'd argue they were the ones that started it. One punched James without provocation, so if you're going to punish Rayan and Jon for defending Meryn, then you have to punish me too."

Dad smirked.

Mr. Yokon sighed. "I understand , but you know the rules, Miss Ranier. Fighting of any type is strictly prohibited except under strict supervision with proper safety measures and equipment." He eyed Rayan, who lowered his gaze to his feet. "Besides, that's not how Mr. Falae here told it. He said he was the one who threw the first punch."

Ava slammed her hands on her desk, and caused her two classmates to jump. "Quite frankly I don't think it matters! Meryn was getting bullied."

Mrs. Falae released a huff. "I'm afraid I have to agree with Miss Ranier, Yokon," she said. "I will not tolerate harassment and bullying."

"And Rayan and Jon had nothing to do with it," Ava pleaded. "If you're going to punish them, punish everyone involved if that's the case."

Silence strangled her throat until Mr. Yokon nodded. "Jonothon, you can go. Your father is waiting for you outside." Jon ran out of his chair and out of the office, and Mr. Yokon continued, "Now, onto the matter of Mr. Falae."

Someone rapped on the door.

Ava shuffled out of the way when Mrs Matthey strode in and guided Meryn to the desk.

"Dr. Matthey," Mr. Yokon said. "I see you got my message."

"Yes." Her green gaze hardened. "Meryn, I want you to tell them what you told me."

Meryn kept close to his adoptive mother when Ava nodded at him to share. "I... those two have been pushing me around since term started," he admitted with a sigh of painful relief. "I don't know why, so don't ask me." He clutched his shoulder. "Ava wasn't the one who threw the first punch, nor Rayan. Both of them got involved when those two shoved me into the wall of that old shed." He trembled in desperation. "Don't get them in trouble because of that."