"As wolves of this pack, your duty is its protection, and you have done just that."
A teacher in the crowd nods sagely, another dabs at her brow with a handkerchief.
"You must not grieve," Halric continues, "but celebrate. Celebrate your lost peers, who shall forever be remembered as heroes."
Heidi chokes on a bitter laugh. Heroes? She can still hear the shrieks, the tearing of flesh, and see the rivers of blood that painted the labyrinth red. Heroes? Junie is somewhere alone and terrified… or dead, and they'll never know which. But sure, let's celebrate. Maybe bake a cake.
Her wolf snarls in her chest, claws raking at the inside of her ribs. "He lies. They want us docile. They want our deaths sweetened with words."
Like hell they do.
Halric's speech drones on, the words swelling with false pride. "Return to your dorms for now. Rest. Heal. Tomorrow, being a weekend, all students may go home to their families. You will return on Monday, refreshed and ready for the term."
