A Witch’s Companion

9: Animal

A huge part of the witch community is the opportunity to have a pet to aid in your work. They say that having a pet heightens your senses. Another source had said that you start acting like that animal.

I’m excited for this new adventure. A companion that’ll love me and help me out with my magic! Who wouldn’t be excited for Reunited Day. I can overhear the other kids, “I’ve heard that your animal pairs with you because they are a reincarnation of someone you love.” If that’s true, I don’t know who had died in my family. Not even friends, my friends are so healthy now.

“Alright class!” Miss Fitz announced. “I know this is a huge day for you young apprentices. However, we must act on our best behavior! Some of the companions get shocked by loud noises, we don’t want to scare the new friends away.” Miss Fitz looked directly to the boys who’d constantly create a ruckus in class. I hope they don’t scare my companion. “Everyone, raise your wand in your left hand.”

The class pulled their wands out. Some had the luxury to have painted their wands and put jewels on them, though they were all wooden. Mine had a very special keychain hanging off the end, it was from my mom when I was a small kid. Other people had rare gems that I had never seen before. But, we all held our wands firmly. “Repeat after me.” Miss Fitz had said, “I swear.”

“I swear.” The kids echoed back.

“I will not.” Miss Fitz started again.

“I will not.”

“Scare or hurt.”

“Scare or hurt.”

“Any of the animals.”

“Any of the animals.”

“On Reunited Day.”

“On Reunited Day.” We all ended.

Miss Fitz let her wand down. “Alright, happy Reunited Day!” She opened the door to reveal animals outside of their cages. The caretakers gave a smile as the kids walked in.

Some people immediately got jumped by animals. The girl next to me had a huge wolf pant towards her and crash, immediately licking her face. She was startled but started hugging it. A boy found an owl, matched his personality perfectly. Though, the stranger one, had been one of the loud rambunctious boys and his companion the turtle. I’d suspect he’d have a loud animal, but who am I to tell! They seemed perfect together.

About a third of class had found their companions. Others had to walk around before finding out. I looked around too, seeing a huge number of scary animals to the cutest balls of fluff. One lady had been staring at an alligator who hasn’t come out of his cage yet. “Are you okay?” I asked, she seemed to be contemplating something.

“Mhmm.” She mumbled. “Watch this.” She took out her wand and conjured up an ice cube. The alligator looked up and snapped his jaw latching onto the ice cube. I was traumatized but the lady looked satisfied. “I think he’s my companion.” Part of me didn’t want to accept that, but I was nonetheless glad for her finding her partner.

One of the boys had a black bunny following him. He thought it was freaky at first, until seeing on its neck was a special pendant. The boy bent down and pulled out his necklace, a miracle fit. He cried upon hugging the bunny. I felt such an overwhelming power of emotion, it was heartwarming.

I still hadn’t found my animal yet. “10 more minutes, children!” Miss Fitz called out. How does this exercise work? You can’t get an animal to like you in a matter of minutes, what if you pick the wrong one? You can’t necessarily get a new one.

“You look a bit down.” I heard a cheerful feminine voice call out to me. I looked beside me to find Brigette my best friend since pre-academic years. She had wavy brown hair and a huge witch hat. She was always bubbly, contrasting my somewhat pessimistic attitude sometimes. “Have you found your companion?”

“No.” I sadly said. “I don’t think my companion is here. Maybe it’s in the woods.” I tried to see the happy side of this adventure. “What about you?”

She looked at me with a huge smile. “Meet, Cheese.” She looked down and a ferret squeezed between her. He looked up at me and recoiled behind Brigette. “He’s a little shy. Opposite attract?” Brigette broke of a bit of her cheese string stick and Cheese went up to sniff and eat it. He rubbed his face on Brigette’s hand. “He sure is a cutie!”

She was right, he was adorable! “I hope I get my companion soon.” I wished again.

“I bet you will!” Brigette cheered me up. “Here let me help you find one.” Brigette grabbed my hand and walked forward, Cheese followed her as well. “Let’s see, you are more of a reserved and stubborn person.” She stated. I couldn’t lie, that was true. I liked being independent from the other students. If I’m by myself, I get more done. “A cat!” She rushed my hand to a section of the cage maze of cats.

I loved cats, but they always had a superstition about them. The ferret climbed up Brigette’s leg and Brigette got the message. “I think I’ll go outside, Cheese looks like he wants some fresh air.” She picked up the ferret and left. Here I am at the cat cages.

I looked around, no cat caught my eye. Some cats meowed incredibly loudly while others meowed constantly. No cat had gotten attention.

Then, there was this one cat. She was particularly lazy and poised, prestigious compared to the other cats. She had a pure black coat with a crescent shaped moon on her forehead and back. The back symbol looked like a sigil that we practice with, a dot on the top and bottom of the crescent moon for protection. I investigated the cage she hid in and she looked at me. “Hello.” I calmly said. “My name’s Aria. Would you like to be my companion?”

The cat got up and stretched before going to the cage’s gate. “You have some gut to be talking to a closed cage.” The cat spoke. I froze, she spoke English. “You aren’t like the other auras.”

I didn’t know what to do, the other cage gates were opened. However, why was this one closed? Reinforced even. “I’m sorry, did you talk?”

“Oh, the aura is fading.” She sighed. I blinked and opened to the cat missing from inside the cage. I started panicking a little more. “Startled?” The cat’s voice stunned the air as I saw it on top of the cage. I opened my hand to her. “Excuse me?”

“Isn’t this what you usually do to companions? Have them warm up to you?”

She looked at me quizzically. “You think I’m your companion?” She said with a dignified smile. “I don’t need an owner.”

“I’m not your owner, I’m your friend.” I answered. “I’m a new witch, I just need a companion like you to help me.”

The cat gave a judgmental look at me. “Alright.” She agreed. “My name’s Lun-AH!” She gave a shriek as I swiftly went in for a hug. “LET GO!”

“Thank you so much!” I happily let go, seeing Luna shocked at the sudden embrace. She shook her head of the experience.

I found my companion! I cooed. Luna and Aria! Aria and Luna! The duo that’ll never fail!

She’s my companion. Although… she acts a little strange.

Start time: 10:24 PM 1/9/19

End time: 11:14 PM 1/9/19