K'estra and Bethany Go for a Walk
"Hi, Bethany! I'm home!"
Bethany came trotting up and said, "Welcome home! I'm so glad to see you. Did you have a good day? I missed you!"
Okay, so I heard her voice in my head and not my ears, but still, Bethany shouldn't be able to talk. I didn't cast a spell or anything. She couldn't talk when I got her as a puppy. Sure, she's my familiar, but I know lots of mages and none of their familiars can talk, or they aren't telling me that they can 'hear' them. She started talking in my head about two years ago. She's four as of April 6, and she became my familiar three years and two months ago on Mabon, the Autumnal Equinox.
Once she became familiar, she started helping me with my spells and my studies. She is my anchor and holds the parts of my spells until I can seal them into a whole. One day after I came home from my shift at the Burning Tower she welcomed me home. Needless to say, I was completely shocked. She's still a dog of course and acts like one. In some ways, it's more convenient. She can tell me when she isn't feeling well, and what she wants for dinner. I can reason with her...sort of. She is still like having a two-year-old. [I only know that from when I used to babysit.]
On the other hand, it worries me to no end. I don't know why she can talk and even after two years of research, I haven't been able to figure out why or find any other cases like hers. Working in the Burning Tower, I know I should probably tell someone, but I am really afraid they would take her away from me even though she is my familiar. I know they would want to research her to understand it and to find a way to recreate it.
For the first six months after it happened, we never went anywhere. I was afraid to take her out in public because I wasn't sure if she could only project to me, or if it was anyone and I didn't want to risk it. We would dash out at odd hours so that she could do her business and then retreat inside.
We would probably still be doing that if Kee hadn't dropped by one day. I thought he was a package delivery I was expecting so I opened the door. Bethany ran up to greet him and she was chatting up a storm. He either didn't hear a thing, or he was a phenomenal actor. She kept telling him about her day and how much she liked seeing him and he just kept acting as though ours was the only conversation. That was a huge weight off!
Since then we have just gone about our business as usual. Well, the new usual anyway. Bethany told me she wanted cute little outfits so we got some and dress her up for our outings. It's fun. We even coordinate sometimes. I know people think I'm one of those creepy dog parents, but she and I enjoy it so to heck with them anyway. I even post our cute pics online and let Bethany make up the text.
We are getting ready to go for a walk. Bethany wants to go to the dog park so she is only wearing a cute sweater. She doesn't like to get her fancy clothes dirty. We live in a complex owned by the Burning Tower Corporation. It's like a fancy dorm for magical students and employees of the Burning Tower. I am a little of both. My parents are normal and live outside of New Houston. I am a full-time student, studying transformation, and I am on the work-study program so I also work about twenty hours a week manning the arrivals desk for fliers. It's pretty boring most of the time. We get regular deliveries of course, but there aren't usually that many winged visitors in any given week. It helps to pay the bills and keep debt from racking up though, so it's a good thing.
We head out the door and to the city block that has been reserved as a park about two blocks away. In the southeast corner, there is this great dog park. It is split up into two sections by weight so that you don't have to worry about the larger dogs being attacked by the little giants like Bethany. They are both fenced in, and they are spelled to move the right dogs to the right area. They both have a water play area like you sometimes see for kids, as well as grassy areas and even places with sandy soil for them to dig in. There are benches too that are shaped like dog bones. All very upscale. I'm glad the administrators live in the building next to the park so that we have great funding!
Don't tell Bethany I said this but she is a mutt. She is obviously part terrier, but I'm not sure what else. I got her from a shelter as a puppy, and I can't afford to have her genetics tested or anything. She has the cutest mussed-up looking fluffy fur. It almost looks like she has had her tips done because her hair is darker near the skin and lighter at the tip. She also has big, dark eyes to pull the whole look together. We always draw attention at the park. She is friends with most of the other small dogs that are regulars.
We walk in, well, I walk, Bethany mostly saunters in since she knows she runs the show, and there's the usual crowd. Ben, with his Yorkie; Sam, short for Samantha, with her Chihuahua; Tick, and Doogle, a PomPom; and another pair I did not recognize. Bethany started playing with her friends, giving happy yips, and challenging them to races. The new dog fit right in. I looked for its owner. I found her sitting on one of the benches watching with a wide, friendly smile. I walked over.
"Hi! I'm K'estra," I said.
"Dresda," she replied.
"My pup is Bethany."
"Mine is Dennis."
"Have you been here before? I don't think I've seen you guys before."
"No, we just moved here from a small town near the border. I start at the Burning Tower next semester."
"Oh cool! I go to classes there too! I'm in my junior year studying transformation with a specialty in transforming into magical creatures. I hope to one day become a translator who helps with the work on the dictionary for magical creatures. What are you studying?"
"I'm a transfer from my local community college. I am going to be in the transportation program. My goal is to work to improve the ability for small, rural communities to get shipments or medical care when they need it."
"Wow, that's a great goal! It sounds like something that's really needed. Where are you staying?"
"We live in dorm building B."
"So do Bethany and me! We're on 6. 6F."
"It's a small world! I live in 6K. We're neighbors."
We continued to chat as we watched Bethany and Dennis play.
Eventually, Bethany came trotting up with Dennis right beside her.
"Hi! This is Dennis and his partner is Dresda." Bethany told me. "Dennis, this is my partner, K'estra."
"Hi, K'estra!" Dennis said, quite clearly. "Dresda, this is Bethany and K'estra," Dennis happily continued.
I tried to keep my face calm and not betray that Dennis had spoken to me, but I was shocked and I'm sure it showed on my face. Dresda gave me an odd look, and said, "Do y'all want to come to our place?"
"Uh. Okay, sure," I said. We rapidly packed up and headed back to the dorm building. We didn't speak a word as we entered the building and made our way to Dresda's place. My head was spinning with what I had heard, and concerned about what would happen now. I wasn't ready to let this secret out. Lately, I have had my faith shaken by the events in the Burning Tower. First, the tower was literally lit with magical fire, and then there was the rumor that someone had been making human sacrifices. That was a very quiet underground rumor. One I was afraid to repeat for fear I would lose my job. While I still felt it was a great place to study, I was no longer so sure I wanted to be involved with any of their projects. The problem was that in New Houston, and most other cities, Burning Tower Inc. was the place to work if you wanted to make anything of yourself. I wasn't sure I was ready to give up my future before I really got my career underway, but at the same time, if I found out that something was really going on, I had to follow my conscience.
My mind was going a million miles a minute as we reached 6K. Dresda touched her hand to the lock and it clicked open. She pushed the door open and welcome Bethany and me into her apartment. It was super cute. Sure, the layout was the same as mine, but she had really gone minimalist in her furnishings. She had two giant beanbags and a low table, and not much else for humans. Dennis had a couple of beds and lots of toys.
"C'mon, Bethany, let me show you around," Dennis said excitedly. He began a whirlwind tour of the beds and toys with Bethany on his heels.
"You can hear him, can't you?" Dresda asked.
"Uh, yes. And you can hear Bethany." I stated.
"Yes. As far as I know, no one has been able to hear Dennis before. It's the reason I felt safe transferring into New Houston. I have no idea how he can talk. At first, I thought maybe I had lost my mind, then I thought maybe I had miscast a spell. As far as I can tell, neither of those is the answer though."
"I know. I had all the same worries and doubts. I can't tell you how relieved I was that no one could hear her. Well, until now at least."
"Is it safe to assume that you won't share this with anyone?"
"Of course, I won't!" I said, a bit offended. "I would never betray Bethany or Dennis like that. I know what research and development would do and I will not let them have either of them."
"Great! Then can we work together to try to figure this thing out?"
"I'd love it, I said!" and I genuinely meant it. I would.
We talked more, exchanged contact info, and agreed to find time to brainstorm once a week. We tossed out a bunch of ideas. We looked at the food; completely different, and they didn't even prefer the same meats. We thought about parents; while each was a mutt, they were adopted so far apart that they couldn't be even partially related. That was also obvious as Daniel looked more like a sheltie than like a terrier. We compared notes on how their magic felt as familiars, but that was completely different too. Bethany felt like warm syrupy magic and Dresda said Dennis felt like a rock, strong and supportive. Color? Nope. Hair type? No. Gender, well obviously not. Before we knew it a few months had passed and we were no closer to having any kind of answer.
One evening while we were kicked back exchanging ideas and watching the pups play, I got really frustrated. I called Bethany over.
"Hey, Beth, Beth. How come you can talk?"
"Oh, that's easy! I know that one! I come from Fae-land! Did I do good? Do I get a treat?" After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I gave her one of her favorite treats. She happily went off to share her bone with Dennis.
"Did you hear that?" I asked turning to Dresda.
"I sure did. Hey, Dennis, you too?"
He looked up briefly, "yep."
Dresda and I exchanged looks.
"I guess we need to do some research on Fae dogs," I said.
"Guess so."
The next few times we met we scanned the internet and the library at school for references and resources on Fae animals. We found a few tales and stories but had no luck finding anything substantive about Fae animals. We found the general tales, of course, deer leading hunters into the Fae lands, Fae that can turn themselves into animals. There wasn't much else to be found really. There were some references to sentient Fae animals, but they were apparently rare and didn't often associate with adults, only children.
"Maybe we are going about this the wrong way. Maybe we need to stop thinking of them as animals and start actually talking to them," Dresda said with a laugh.
After smacking myself in the forehead, I agreed.
We called them together and just asked. It turns out that the veil is thinning in areas and they were bored so they thought they would come and play here. Yes, they usually pick children, but after getting thrown in the pound they opted for us since we were young adults. No, they were not changelings or Fae under a glamour. They were really Fae animals. They liked helping us with magic too. It felt like being home in the Faelands when we worked with the magic. This was the most fun they had in years and they were looking forward to hanging around on this side of the veil and watching the changes. When pressed for details about the Fae-lands they were quite circumspect. We didn't really get much from them other than that they were happy to be here with us and didn't want to go back. Bethany expressly stated how fun it was to wear her clothing and Dennis was interested in trying the agility trials he had seen on TV.
Odd as it feels, it seems that nothing has changed; except that Bethany and I now have new friends. Life's an adventure!
Bethany came trotting up and said, "Welcome home! I'm so glad to see you. Did you have a good day? I missed you!"
Okay, so I heard her voice in my head and not my ears, but still, Bethany shouldn't be able to talk. I didn't cast a spell or anything. She couldn't talk when I got her as a puppy. Sure, she's my familiar, but I know lots of mages and none of their familiars can talk, or they aren't telling me that they can 'hear' them. She started talking in my head about two years ago. She's four as of April 6, and she became my familiar three years and two months ago on Mabon, the Autumnal Equinox.
Once she became familiar, she started helping me with my spells and my studies. She is my anchor and holds the parts of my spells until I can seal them into a whole. One day after I came home from my shift at the Burning Tower she welcomed me home. Needless to say, I was completely shocked. She's still a dog of course and acts like one. In some ways, it's more convenient. She can tell me when she isn't feeling well, and what she wants for dinner. I can reason with her...sort of. She is still like having a two-year-old. [I only know that from when I used to babysit.]
On the other hand, it worries me to no end. I don't know why she can talk and even after two years of research, I haven't been able to figure out why or find any other cases like hers. Working in the Burning Tower, I know I should probably tell someone, but I am really afraid they would take her away from me even though she is my familiar. I know they would want to research her to understand it and to find a way to recreate it.
For the first six months after it happened, we never went anywhere. I was afraid to take her out in public because I wasn't sure if she could only project to me, or if it was anyone and I didn't want to risk it. We would dash out at odd hours so that she could do her business and then retreat inside.
We would probably still be doing that if Kee hadn't dropped by one day. I thought he was a package delivery I was expecting so I opened the door. Bethany ran up to greet him and she was chatting up a storm. He either didn't hear a thing, or he was a phenomenal actor. She kept telling him about her day and how much she liked seeing him and he just kept acting as though ours was the only conversation. That was a huge weight off!
Since then we have just gone about our business as usual. Well, the new usual anyway. Bethany told me she wanted cute little outfits so we got some and dress her up for our outings. It's fun. We even coordinate sometimes. I know people think I'm one of those creepy dog parents, but she and I enjoy it so to heck with them anyway. I even post our cute pics online and let Bethany make up the text.
We are getting ready to go for a walk. Bethany wants to go to the dog park so she is only wearing a cute sweater. She doesn't like to get her fancy clothes dirty. We live in a complex owned by the Burning Tower Corporation. It's like a fancy dorm for magical students and employees of the Burning Tower. I am a little of both. My parents are normal and live outside of New Houston. I am a full-time student, studying transformation, and I am on the work-study program so I also work about twenty hours a week manning the arrivals desk for fliers. It's pretty boring most of the time. We get regular deliveries of course, but there aren't usually that many winged visitors in any given week. It helps to pay the bills and keep debt from racking up though, so it's a good thing.
We head out the door and to the city block that has been reserved as a park about two blocks away. In the southeast corner, there is this great dog park. It is split up into two sections by weight so that you don't have to worry about the larger dogs being attacked by the little giants like Bethany. They are both fenced in, and they are spelled to move the right dogs to the right area. They both have a water play area like you sometimes see for kids, as well as grassy areas and even places with sandy soil for them to dig in. There are benches too that are shaped like dog bones. All very upscale. I'm glad the administrators live in the building next to the park so that we have great funding!
Don't tell Bethany I said this but she is a mutt. She is obviously part terrier, but I'm not sure what else. I got her from a shelter as a puppy, and I can't afford to have her genetics tested or anything. She has the cutest mussed-up looking fluffy fur. It almost looks like she has had her tips done because her hair is darker near the skin and lighter at the tip. She also has big, dark eyes to pull the whole look together. We always draw attention at the park. She is friends with most of the other small dogs that are regulars.
We walk in, well, I walk, Bethany mostly saunters in since she knows she runs the show, and there's the usual crowd. Ben, with his Yorkie; Sam, short for Samantha, with her Chihuahua; Tick, and Doogle, a PomPom; and another pair I did not recognize. Bethany started playing with her friends, giving happy yips, and challenging them to races. The new dog fit right in. I looked for its owner. I found her sitting on one of the benches watching with a wide, friendly smile. I walked over.
"Hi! I'm K'estra," I said.
"Dresda," she replied.
"My pup is Bethany."
"Mine is Dennis."
"Have you been here before? I don't think I've seen you guys before."
"No, we just moved here from a small town near the border. I start at the Burning Tower next semester."
"Oh cool! I go to classes there too! I'm in my junior year studying transformation with a specialty in transforming into magical creatures. I hope to one day become a translator who helps with the work on the dictionary for magical creatures. What are you studying?"
"I'm a transfer from my local community college. I am going to be in the transportation program. My goal is to work to improve the ability for small, rural communities to get shipments or medical care when they need it."
"Wow, that's a great goal! It sounds like something that's really needed. Where are you staying?"
"We live in dorm building B."
"So do Bethany and me! We're on 6. 6F."
"It's a small world! I live in 6K. We're neighbors."
We continued to chat as we watched Bethany and Dennis play.
Eventually, Bethany came trotting up with Dennis right beside her.
"Hi! This is Dennis and his partner is Dresda." Bethany told me. "Dennis, this is my partner, K'estra."
"Hi, K'estra!" Dennis said, quite clearly. "Dresda, this is Bethany and K'estra," Dennis happily continued.
I tried to keep my face calm and not betray that Dennis had spoken to me, but I was shocked and I'm sure it showed on my face. Dresda gave me an odd look, and said, "Do y'all want to come to our place?"
"Uh. Okay, sure," I said. We rapidly packed up and headed back to the dorm building. We didn't speak a word as we entered the building and made our way to Dresda's place. My head was spinning with what I had heard, and concerned about what would happen now. I wasn't ready to let this secret out. Lately, I have had my faith shaken by the events in the Burning Tower. First, the tower was literally lit with magical fire, and then there was the rumor that someone had been making human sacrifices. That was a very quiet underground rumor. One I was afraid to repeat for fear I would lose my job. While I still felt it was a great place to study, I was no longer so sure I wanted to be involved with any of their projects. The problem was that in New Houston, and most other cities, Burning Tower Inc. was the place to work if you wanted to make anything of yourself. I wasn't sure I was ready to give up my future before I really got my career underway, but at the same time, if I found out that something was really going on, I had to follow my conscience.
My mind was going a million miles a minute as we reached 6K. Dresda touched her hand to the lock and it clicked open. She pushed the door open and welcome Bethany and me into her apartment. It was super cute. Sure, the layout was the same as mine, but she had really gone minimalist in her furnishings. She had two giant beanbags and a low table, and not much else for humans. Dennis had a couple of beds and lots of toys.
"C'mon, Bethany, let me show you around," Dennis said excitedly. He began a whirlwind tour of the beds and toys with Bethany on his heels.
"You can hear him, can't you?" Dresda asked.
"Uh, yes. And you can hear Bethany." I stated.
"Yes. As far as I know, no one has been able to hear Dennis before. It's the reason I felt safe transferring into New Houston. I have no idea how he can talk. At first, I thought maybe I had lost my mind, then I thought maybe I had miscast a spell. As far as I can tell, neither of those is the answer though."
"I know. I had all the same worries and doubts. I can't tell you how relieved I was that no one could hear her. Well, until now at least."
"Is it safe to assume that you won't share this with anyone?"
"Of course, I won't!" I said, a bit offended. "I would never betray Bethany or Dennis like that. I know what research and development would do and I will not let them have either of them."
"Great! Then can we work together to try to figure this thing out?"
"I'd love it, I said!" and I genuinely meant it. I would.
We talked more, exchanged contact info, and agreed to find time to brainstorm once a week. We tossed out a bunch of ideas. We looked at the food; completely different, and they didn't even prefer the same meats. We thought about parents; while each was a mutt, they were adopted so far apart that they couldn't be even partially related. That was also obvious as Daniel looked more like a sheltie than like a terrier. We compared notes on how their magic felt as familiars, but that was completely different too. Bethany felt like warm syrupy magic and Dresda said Dennis felt like a rock, strong and supportive. Color? Nope. Hair type? No. Gender, well obviously not. Before we knew it a few months had passed and we were no closer to having any kind of answer.
One evening while we were kicked back exchanging ideas and watching the pups play, I got really frustrated. I called Bethany over.
"Hey, Beth, Beth. How come you can talk?"
"Oh, that's easy! I know that one! I come from Fae-land! Did I do good? Do I get a treat?" After I picked my jaw up off the floor, I gave her one of her favorite treats. She happily went off to share her bone with Dennis.
"Did you hear that?" I asked turning to Dresda.
"I sure did. Hey, Dennis, you too?"
He looked up briefly, "yep."
Dresda and I exchanged looks.
"I guess we need to do some research on Fae dogs," I said.
"Guess so."
The next few times we met we scanned the internet and the library at school for references and resources on Fae animals. We found a few tales and stories but had no luck finding anything substantive about Fae animals. We found the general tales, of course, deer leading hunters into the Fae lands, Fae that can turn themselves into animals. There wasn't much else to be found really. There were some references to sentient Fae animals, but they were apparently rare and didn't often associate with adults, only children.
"Maybe we are going about this the wrong way. Maybe we need to stop thinking of them as animals and start actually talking to them," Dresda said with a laugh.
After smacking myself in the forehead, I agreed.
We called them together and just asked. It turns out that the veil is thinning in areas and they were bored so they thought they would come and play here. Yes, they usually pick children, but after getting thrown in the pound they opted for us since we were young adults. No, they were not changelings or Fae under a glamour. They were really Fae animals. They liked helping us with magic too. It felt like being home in the Faelands when we worked with the magic. This was the most fun they had in years and they were looking forward to hanging around on this side of the veil and watching the changes. When pressed for details about the Fae-lands they were quite circumspect. We didn't really get much from them other than that they were happy to be here with us and didn't want to go back. Bethany expressly stated how fun it was to wear her clothing and Dennis was interested in trying the agility trials he had seen on TV.
Odd as it feels, it seems that nothing has changed; except that Bethany and I now have new friends. Life's an adventure!
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