The beginning of September, the end of all lessons.

Pink stayed to rehearse with the band. Cobalt here, because he didn’t want to go home. He will hang around at school until sunset until they kick him out. August had to fill out forms, sign papers, and do homework. Shanel is here because August and Pink are left. Matilde sat at the last desk. Soon she will go to the Sages.

Pink's sudden question cut through the silent swarming:

“Btw, did anyone warn the new gurl about the psychotic tigress?”

“I’m not,” Cobalt’s cold answer.

“Oh, no, it completely slipped my mind,” August twitched his ears excitedly, exchanging glances with the whole class.

Matilde was silent for a while, staring at the phone. She was distracted by noticing sidelong glances.

“What? I didn't know we had a new girl.”

“A tattered tail, where is Demetra!” With a creak, Shanel pushed the desk aside instead of a chair.

There was only her class at school now. The malicious, mocking laughter of the Kapkan Dobermans ominously swept along the empty corridor. Shanel suddenly changed her mind about being a hero. Saving Demetra from Taigra is fine, but she’s not ready to go through an entire quest around the school, bypassing the sisters.

For some reason, August too, although he was the only one who got along with them. His inaction was beginning to irritate Cobalt.

***

Demetra, fortunately, did not encounter either Kapkan or Taigra today. Did Taigra run into the sisters?