Shawn and Mimi are pushing me toward the end of the corridor.

"No... But my beautiful strawberry pie !" griefs Mimi
"I promise you you'll have an other."
"Thanks, my Shawn pet !"

She takes his arm while hopping.

"Diane, you'll always be safe with us. It's a promise."

She comes closer to me and whispers :

"But Shawn... he's mine, okay ?"
"Shawn does what he wants to !" I reply
"You're jealous ? Hihihihihihi ! You are prettier than me but you are the one who's jealous ? You're so cute, my Didi !"
"Mina ! Don't call me Didi !"
"But Didi and Mimi, this would be cute, right ?"
"You don't need to be my friend, or anything."
"But Diane... I like you so much ! I mean : I want it truly."

She stares at me with her violet sloes and I see a huge sincerity. Mina is a frank and honest girl. I'm not that kind. I'm not that and I feel a bit guilty.

"We'll wait here," announces Shawn. "The diplomas are given inside this room. You have to go alone."
"With Shawn pet, we won't move from here. Courage my Didi !"

She quickly makes the kiss on my cheek before I could protest and I enter.

It's an antechamber. They will make me wait and certainly for a long time. It annoys me. I'm not really patient. But okay... If it's for announcing me the famous new that I'm not suppose to know, I better prepare myself.

The room is dark. To avoid the sun that hits the windows, they pulled thick read curtains and my eyes accustom to the darkness. I don't feel good : a dark and powerful aura close ?

Oh no !

She's back !

Montage by @lulub2001

"Hello, Diane !

I tighten my fists. It is not the time to break.

"Hello, Mrs the Principal."

In a black suit, that most cost a lot, the tall woman with emaciated face turns toward me, cross arms.

"You're already back ?" I ask
" 'Already ?' I'm home, I come back when I judge it good. It seems like my son has the same habit. Buy you must know it since he has been host at your place last night. "

Of course, she know everything.

"So my son decided to be first hunter."
"Congratulations."
"Congratulations to you, Diane. You manipulate him well."
"Shawn isn't manipulable !"
"Of course he is ! He's a sheep : he follows the shepherd. The problem is that he chose the wrong shepherd."

She gives me a black look while whistling these words between her teeth. Her aura of viper seems huge around her. I don't have anything against snakes. I understand them, I like their cold and untied side but her... she hates me.

"What did I tell you when we revealed you you're totem animal, do you remember Diane ?"
"That the Fox is a solitary animal."
"And that he can't frequents sheeps ! For their good. But you don't listen to me and it's unfortunate."
"You can't decide our friendships. You're the school's principal but that's it."
"You're provoking me ?"

The principal

I step back when she comes closer to me in an absolute silence.

"My beautiful Diane, you are not good for my son. You don't like the village and you think you're smarter than us... But you're just a kid and you don't know a thing. Nothing ! Don't think that you are more crafty than we are. We saw more rebels kids than you think and we control what we are doing."
"If you say so..."
"Excuse-me ? Irony ?"
"No, I wouldn't allow myself to !"

Staring duel in a western way. We hate each other so much that the wolves pass for choirboys in our silence fight.

"Shawn asks to be your hunter."
"I know."
"I refuse."
"I can imagine."
"You miserably failed the test. Running when you can't, answer impudently to the jury members, evoking Red and hoping to go everywhere ! It's ludicrous."
"No dream is contemptible. It's breaking the dream of others that is ridiculous."

She eyes scornfully me.

"Diane, I don't know what you did to have the huge privilege that we will accord you but I'm not for it. Claiming you apprentice Granny at your age is ridiculous. You don't have any experience or knowledge. If that is known, you'll become a target for the renegade and also for the most hostile Wolves of power of the Villages. Do you realize it ?"
"Granny ? I don't even know what they do !"
"That's what is shocking, Diane. You don't deserve this honour. However, I can't oppose to it. Shawn won't be able to protect you for a long time. HUNTER for a Granny is a too risky job. He doesn't have the experience for that. If you don't want him to die for nothing, tell him that you refuse his help."

I...

A voice suddenly resounds :

"Diane Fox ! Come in !"
"They're calling you. Make the good choice, Diane. Do the only possible choice : say that you refuse."
"They'll banish me if I refuse."
"But Shawn will stay alive."

She's crazy. What is she so afraid of ? I walk toward the door and enter...