Ever since she was in my class --"

"Yeah, she told me about the whole grade thing. Deduction for penmanship."

“And grammar," he replied.

“She was given an opportunity to use the editors at the English Department's writing center and she didn't.

She said that she could do it on her own. So I graded her on what she turned in. She didn't like it so she took it to the department head who was so afraid of appearing to be biased against the handicapped that he gave her what she wanted."

Heda felt a little awkward. She completely understood why Madison had reacted the way she did, but what if she had been wrong, or at least a little bit premature in jumping down Reichert's throat. But Reichert, if he was telling the truth, had not done anything wrong either.

Reichert looked her hard in the eyes.

"I am not trying to drive a wedge between the two of you. I am not so insensitive as to think her life has not been exceedingly difficult or that she has not had to work twice as hard or more than others just to get by, but part of her isolation from the shifter community is her own doing."

"That's changing," Heda said defensively.

"I know. But sometimes being normal also means being accountable."

Heda got up, shook Reichert's hand, and then headed outside. Joanna was waiting in the lobby so that they could walk back together, keeping with the “always go in twos" mentality.

"So how'd it go?" Joanna asked.

"Good. Looks like we'll be able to get out of our housing contracts, but we should do it soon."

"Peter is SO on top of it," Joanna said.

"Still, you look kinda glum for someone who had to deal with her arch enemy."

“He's not . . . he's not my enemy, arch or otherwise. And I'm sorry for dissing your king."

“Heda?" Joanna said, prying one of the eagle-shifter's eyes wide open.

"Are you in there?! Hold on and we'll send help!"

Heda batted her friend's hand away with a fake snarl.

"I can completely kick your ass, you know that."

“Puh-lease. Like you thought you could out hunt me?"

"I had to go and save Madison's cute little butt, otherwise I would've won that!"

"Oh suuuuuuuuuure you would have."

"Hey, I'LL throw down right now."

Joanna grinned, but was trying to figure any graceful way she could out of this little challenge, since she was pretty sure Heda would indeed kick her behind eight ways from Sunday in a straight up fight.