by Taki Drake
The mood of the Persian familiar had not improved. She seemed sad and resigned as if there was nothing she could do. Carefully, Dascha tried to check on her state of mind, but TT knew what she was doing and answered forthrightly.
<>
Dascha replied, <>
<
Their slightly contemplative mood was rudely interrupted by a dramatic show from a strange black wolf bitch. Charging up to them, she crowded both the cats and snarled, <
TT drew back with a hiss, but Dascha stood her ground. Drawing herself up, the black familiar responded, <>
<
Dascha had had enough. Standing up, she walked straight up to the wolf and stuck her nose in the wolf’s face, and projected firmly, <
The female wolf was shocked. This was not going the way she had planned it to go. Instead, the wolf expected the small cat to be intimidated. Apparently, Dascha was supposed to be apologetic or conciliatory. The very last thing that the larger wolf expected was for the small familiar to get in her face.
Incensed and infuriated, the wolf pulled her lips back from her teeth into a snarl and looked ready to attack Dascha. Before she could make any move, Jack was there. His massive form towered over the female and his snarling display caused her to take a skittering step backward.
His voice rumbled with anger as he asked, <
The black wolf fled. Routed completely and embarrassed tremendously in front of the very audience that she wished to impress, the wolf bitch retreated in shame. Kevin’s voice sounded from right by Dascha’s left elbow. He said, <
There was no arguing with that sentiment, so no one commented. Lines had been drawn, and sides had been taken. This type of trouble would only grow.
Kevin said, <
Dascha couldn’t agree more.
Chapter 19 – Results and Reactions
It was somehow appropriate that they were meeting once more in the same area in which they had started. The symmetry of entry through the gate and the intro meeting with the exit meeting and departure through the same gate appealed to Dascha’s sense of balance. The Siberian tiger was at the rock outcropping for the final words before they went home. Once again, he stood in a magnificent pose, waiting until they had all quieted.
After he was sure that he had their attention, he began to speak, << We have had a successful and interesting Familiar Trial gathering. Many of the familiars have participated in the various trials to measure their advancement and skills and ranking.
<< Those traveling the unranked route have exercised, learned, and tried to improve. The unranked achievements have been noted in the colors on the participants’ medallions already. But those that have chosen to travel the ranked route are announced individually as we award their achievements. We will start with the highest ranked advancements and end with the lower ranking changes. For those whose ranking has changed from master to adept, we have no advancements as of this trial.>>
From the murmurs in the crowd, Dascha and her friends could tell that this was not unusual. Apparently, advancements in the higher ranks were few and far between. Dascha thought to herself, if what I went through is the low ranked, I can see why higher ranking is not very often!
The tiger continued, <
The large form of a massive bear made his way to the front of the room. Moving with surprising grace through the crowded floor, the bear stood on all fours waiting for the hawk. Apparently, they were old friends because when the hawk came down in a power dive and landed on the back of the bear, the large ursine didn’t even twitch.
The tiger continued, <
The Siberian turned to his left and called out, <
The catog that had been present during one of the fledgling trials walked up to the bear and hawk. Reaching a huge paw out to the medallion around the bear’s neck, the catog touched it with a single claw. A flash of light was visible to everyone, and a rustling sound ran through the spectators in response. When the after-effects of the flash had disappeared, the change in the medallion was apparent. Where before a single set of wings with a single tail image had been in the circle of the bear’s medallion, built on the base of the fledgling lines, now there were two of each.
The bear huffed in pleasure and lowered himself to lie flat on the ground so that the catog could reach the hawk on his back. Reaching out his paw again, the catog touched the bird’s medallion with a single claw and again a flash of light occurred. The same change in emblem happened to a harsh cry of joy from the hawk.
A cacophony of sounds indicated the spectators’ pleasure in the ranking change. After a few quiet words between the judges and the newly promoted familiars, the newly promoted duo walked back into the crowd. It was now the turn for the tiger to announce the next ranking change.
<
In a dry voice, Whett called a series of 12 names. As he called each name, that particular familiar came to the front of the area. The familiars so named covered a wide variety of species and animal types. Ranging from snakes and mammals to birds, these familiars all shared an emblem of a single tracing of a wing pair base against a background circle.
Once Dralor had finished his transformation spell, the candidates returned to their seat proudly displaying an emblem with one set of wings with a tail that sat on the baseline of their fledgling foundation. Again, the celebration was vocal and overwhelmingly happy.
Dascha, Jack, and Trey all were tense. It was now time for the juveniles to see if anyone had been advanced to fledgling.
They were on tenterhooks waiting to hear if their names would be called. Luckily, each was called. With pleased smiles, they moved toward the front. Kevin had already figured out that he hadn’t done well enough
in the trials to be called, but he was philosophical about it. He had no real expectations of passing on the first trial, and so he wasn’t disappointed.
They joined three others in front of the tiger. Dascha was extremely pleased to see the otter from the adaptability round and her two new friends from the wisdom trial. The iguana looked stunned, his color shading from green to red, while the rust-colored bird was also in shock. The tiny flyer fluttered over to Dascha and landed on her head. She could feel him shaking and purred to calm him down.
Differing slightly from the pattern of other announcements, the Siberian stared down at the five of them, and said, <
<
<
<
The catog walked over to each of them and touched their medallion. The flash of light and the spark that accompanied it, set Dascha’s senses tingling and re-energized her body. She felt like she had spent two days resting and being cosseted. Energized and appreciative, she smiled through weepy eyes at the catog. There was a gentle wash of amusement that touched her mind and passed on.
Dascha was very happy.
Chapter 20 - Farewells
When Dascha had decided to come to the trials, it had seemed like she would be gone a long time. Being apart from her witch that long had been a scary thought. She had worried about being gone for the three days, and now she was finding it hard to say goodbye. Everyone in her circle of friends seemed to feel the same sadness.
There were many protestations of things that they wish they would have done, efforts to explain where they and their magic user lived and how to communicate with them. Unfortunately, until they got to be higher ranking, their abilities were not at a level to allow them to keep in close communication. Dascha was carrying home a scrap of perforated paper that Trey had given each of them with his witch’s cell phone number and email address. The black cat was unsure what she was supposed to do with this, but hoped her witch would know.
The best they could do as a group was to promise to come back to the next trial. Dascha knew that Zhanna would not forbid her to return. Most of the others agreed that they would have no problems returning. Only the white Persian cat was unsure. Looking down at her paws in shame, TT confessed that she was not sure if her witch would keep her. When this was explained to the rest of the group, their indignation appeared to be soothing to the sad little feline.
Leaving TT to be comforted by the rest of their friends, Dascha set off in a determined search for either Glenfrey or another senior familiar. The first one she spied was the half-blind wolf that had taught the first lesson on adaptability.
<
The Wolf turned toward her examining her intently. He asked, <
Gulping a little nervously, Dascha pulled her courage together and blurted out a question, <
The old wolf became motionless. Dascha had a horrifying moment where she thought she had somehow made a grave error before the tiger was suddenly next to her. He glanced at Dascha but addressed his question to the old wolf, <
The wolf responded, <
The tiger looked at Dascha and motioned her to explain. Dascha explained once more what the core problem was and posed her query on whether TT would be allowed to come back to the Familiar Trials.
Once again, the senior familiar froze. Rumbling in a dangerous tone, the tiger responded, <
Feeling slightly confused, Dascha agreed to let them know. She asked if Glenfrey had a way of contacting the tiger directly. When she was told yes, she promised to let Glenfrey know and he, in turn, would relay that information to the tiger.
Before she could make any more embarrassing fumbles, Dascha fled back to her friends. Kevin looked at her in query, and she mouthed “Later” at him. She wasn’t too sure what had just happened, but she knew it had been significant. Something was going on, and it wasn’t really her problem, but somehow TT would be affected by it.
There was a fanfare of horns and a loud announcement from George, the raven. He was perched up on top of the tallest spire in the trial grounds. <
There was a flurry of last-minute comments, affectionate nose licks and chin rubs. Dascha obediently went back to the circle that she thought was correct, relaxing when she saw Glenfrey was waiting for her. Stinky’s clever paws had helped get her harness back situated properly, and she felt like she was ready to go.
A reverberating gong tone sounded, and in each of the circles, half of an arch made of stone appeared. A deep breath and another gong tone sounded. The matching arch of fire that Dascha remembered from her first experience with the gate appeared to join that of the earth. The third gong tone seemed to go on and on. As the sound cleared from the air, a wash of water came through the arch and created a pathway for paws and feet. The thirsty ground soaked up the water, but the shimmer of the pathway remained.
The final gong sounded, somehow balancing out the other three into a strong harmonic cord. Air wafted through the now open archway, bringing her smells of home. Led by the senior familiars, each group started to move through its gateway. Excitedly bouncing along beside an unknown wolf from her area, Dascha moved forward with the group.
The transition from the trial grounds to the circle near home was mildly disorienting. It combined all of the feelings of dropping through the air and being washed by a flood. The feeling of great distance was unmistakable.
Calling out goodbyes, Glenfrey only gave Dascha a few seconds warning before he swooped down and grabbed the back of her harness. Winging his way powerfully up into the sky, the steppe eagle was soon talking to Dascha.
<
<
<
Having said all that he wanted to say, the massive eagle focused on getting her home. They had a long way to go before this extraordinary day was ended.
<<<>>>
The sun was setting, and the golden orange glow of the sunlight was fading as Glenfrey swooped down into the garden by Zhanna’s home.
Dascha had been in a fury of impatience for the last half hour. Recognizing more of the landmarks and looking forward to being home. Home with her witch, home with the familiar comforts and challenges of her everyday life.
She had apologized to Glenfrey for making him take such a long journey. The eagle had told her that it was not an imposition. He added that he frequently took long trips and that this was shorter than most. When she tried to apologize again, he cut her off, telling her not to be silly.
Even though Dascha thought he was overly kind, she knew enough to leave the subject alone.
But now she could see home.
The dusky evening was deepening in its darkness, and the fireflies were starting to fire up their little sparkles of moving starlight. Glenfrey swooped down and gently dropped Dascha onto the soft grass in front of Zhanna’s house.
Shaking her body to try to get rid of the stiffness, Dascha had not taken more than two steps before a flying bundle of arms, legs, and dark hair came flying through the door of the house and tumbled down the stairs. The beloved voice of her witch rang out “Dascha! Dascha! You are home. I’ve missed you so.”
The next moment, Dascha was swept up in a tight hug. Clutched to the young woman’s chest, the black cat listened to the witch’s heartbeat and realized that her own was settling to the same rhythm. She smelled the familiar scent of Zhanna’s shampoo and the odors of Baba’s cooking. Something that had been tensed and tight at the core of her body and soul loosened and relaxed.