A few months have passed since the night Angela began studying witchcraft. The ten year old red fox tried to study and apply the knowledge of her ancient book since then, but made little progress. The text was difficult for her to understand, the items and methods were beyond her knowledge, and the opportunities to study in secret were few and far between. But even with all the difficulties she faced, Angela was still determined to become a powerful witch that would bring the perfect husband for her mother.
The autumn leaves began to wither and blow away as the cold winds of January began to envelope their little town. With the change of weather and the busy holiday seasons past, Angela and her mother began to leave the house less. Her excitement to study began to grow as she finally had more time for her secret craft. After school she would spend hours pouring over the ancient texts, eager to make any progress at all.
She was in her room with her stuffed tiger, curled up snug on her bed and flipping through some of the earlier pages of the book. Ever since she failed the love potion on Halloween, she knew that she had to practice. In the few times she was able, she attempted other recipes to practice, but each attempt ended the same as the first. There was never an effect to her chanting or the signs of success described in the book when it came to her potions. She didn't understand what she was doing wrong, but her determination would only get stronger with each failure.
Angela pulled her stuffed tiger close as she reached the page of the failed shrinking potion she tried two weeks ago. She ran a finger down the instructions, reading each line carefully. "Do you know what I did wrong...?" She tried to ask her little familiar, giving the tiger a shake with her other paw. The stuffed animal fell on its side and she let out a long sigh.
Angela released her book and uncurled from her bed to lift up her stuffed tiger, her self-claimed familiar, and looked it over. She learned from her book that familiars were powerful creatures that were meant to guide and protect their witches as they practice. She summoned her own, just like the book said she could, yet it wasn't even trying to help.
"You're a lazy familiar..." Angela pouted her cheeks and released the stuffed tiger, letting it fall limp onto the bed. She looked back at the book and pawed through a few pages until she returned to the section over familiars. The page was covered in the sketches of devoted familiars. She placed her paw over a sketch of a witch with a friendly crow pouring a vial into a pot. "I want one of these..." She tapped the faded sketch with a finger, "Not a lazy old cat."
She began to read the passages over the magical creatures, just as she did on Halloween, to search for answers. She pulled the book into her lap and crossed her legs. She focused, nibbling at her thumb idly as her eyes scanned each word carefully. Even if the book was difficult for such a young kit like herself, she had been picking up a few words by using the pictures and other words to guide her study. The page poured forth everything it's author knew of familiars, from describing their vague origins to how they form oaths with their masters.
"Obtained from another..." She murmured as her paw wandered around the page. "Or bestowed upon me naturally... naturally?" She tried to flip through a a few pages, trying to find more information on the other two options of summoning a familiar, since the third of conjuring her own seems to have failed. The pages were vague as if the author hardly knew much about the odd creatures. It was strange considering the rigid instructions she finds in the other sections of the book. The only thing that would offer any advice on finding something 'naturally' was a section near the the beginning of the book that spoke of the importance of a witch attuning themselves to perform feats of magic.
Angela let out a soft whimper as she flipped through a few more pages, unable to find anything else that might be helpful. Eventually, she closed her ancient tome with another deep sigh and placed it aside to stand up. She knew that if she wanted to do anything, she needed a real familiar, one that would teach her how to truly enter the world of witchcraft.
The young fox stretched out her joints as she left the bed. The only thing she could think of the word 'naturally' was nature, so she knew what to do- or at least, she thought she did. A paw smoothed out the wrinkles of her long purple robe before placing her witches hat over her head, still wearing her witches costume anytime she went to study. Her eyes narrowed as she felt her determination rise and left her room to make way for the backyard, there the grass would be the nearest place of nature she could imagine.
The light was waning as the sun was beginning to set as Angela stepped outside. Her backyard was typical to see of your small town house, chain link fence bordering a plot of grassy land. The surrounding neighborhood could be seen through their backyard, showing several neighboring houses of simple people living peacefully. She stood on the flat cement porch from her home and looked out at the plot of dormant grass. It wasn't as alive as it would be in the summer, but to her this would be the nature she needed to summon her teacher.
Angela stepped out from her back porch into the darkening backyard. Her bare toes wiggled uncomfortably against the cool grass beneath her as she pressed her paws together. Her eyes narrowed with conviction and her thoughts were focusing on a creature coming to her, either conjured or naturally given. She needed to attune herself to call on the magic. The kit took a deep breath, thinking of all the words used in her book and began to string together a few words that might work.
She opened her maw and began a light chant, "Creatures of magic and might, come forth to aid me this night...". She faltered, thinking quickly as she struggled to continue with her plea. "...A...Alone I study in hopes of magic, but my efforts have been... tragic?" She forced her eyes shut and pressed her paws together tightly, raising them up to her forehead, "Ready and... I... Uh..." Angela squeezed her eyes tighter, unable to string together more words that might sound like her book. "Please help me". Was all she could say as her chant faded, hoping that anything might hear her. "I wanna be a witch".
Angela stayed in that hopeful stance for some time, waiting anxiously for anything to answer her. The chill of winter air flowed freely through her Halloween costume, making her shiver as she held her paws up. As she waited, the last few rays of sunlight disappeared and the stars were beginning to overtake the sky.
After a few more minutes she let out a soft whimper, "Please..."
But there was no response, save for the crickets that chirped idly in the night.
She opened her eyes and found the darkness staring back. Her paws fell to her side and she stood there with her lip quivering as she felt her heart drop. The cold was relentless and continued to move freely through her fur, forcing her away from the grass and she retreated back into her home. She entered silently, her muzzle drooping low.
She's did everything the book told her, yet there were still no results. Once back in her room she pulled off her hat as she leaned against her door, gripping the brim solemnly. "Maybe momma was right... That book is silly..." She stared down at her hat, thinking that all she wanted to do was help her mother.
Angela's brooding was interrupted by an audible thump, one that sounded like the front door closing. Her mother must have come home from work. Without looking up from her hat, she turned to the door and reached for the knob, wanting to greet her mother and perhaps hug away the disappointment.
But before she could turn the knob, a faint glow rose from the darkened room behind her.
The light wavered and fluctuated, drawing her away from the door. Her eyes widened as she saw the intruder.
A celestial creature was standing among the stuffed animals and scattered tools. A creature taller than she was, yet feral and standing on all fours. She gasped as her eyes shot up to meet it's gaze. Two bright white circles were focused onto her and between its eyes was a black mobius strip that looked like a ghostly ink was floating and fading upwards through it. It was a lion, just like her stuffed animal, but it's mane was a near-blindingly ethereal white. A majestic creature of pure energy. A faint vapor was produced off the creature's body, offering her a breathtaking view as it wisped away and disappeared in the air. It stared at her in silence, it's eyes leaving hers only to stare down at her purple garb, inspecting her.
"Are you...?" She spoke, now shivering from the terrifying presence.
It didn't respond. After a moment of staring at her garb the creature moved towards her, it's long tail snaking from behind, revealing the energy concentrating at the fluff of its tail as strongly as the mane. She scrunched away from the creature, her back once more against the door as it's gigantic muzzle moved in close to hers.
The eyes had her paralyzed, she could feel a strange tingling run across her face as the creature came close.
It finally spoke, a powerfully deep voice entered her mind, yet the creature's mouth never moved. It boomed and echoed inside her skull, stunning her further from it's might.
"You are the one I have been hearing about."
Angela gulped down some air, opening her mouth, but couldn't return an answer.
"A rare case indeed. One aching to become a part of a dying breed. Why?" It demanded, locking eyes with her again.
Angela quivered in place.
The mighty voice softened, but withheld its authority. "Speak."
"I.. I wanna become a witch." She choked out as she raised her silly witch hat into it's view. "I just... wanna help my momma." She answered, but the celestial lion continued to stare in silence. "If I can be a witch, I can give her the perfect boyfriend... Someone who won't leave us and take care of her." She found conviction again as she spoke, her eyes narrowing into focus and stared back into the eyes of the lion.
"An imaginative one. You're chasing a legend, I assume." It's eyes focused, the white pupils of its eyes shrunk down to reveal the pitch black sclera. "What legends have you heard... Perhaps legends of one named... Mother Shipton?"
She shook her head, "I heard stories about Baba Yaga and... A witch from Tennessee."
"Fables then... Interesting." Its eyes remained focused but it moved away, releiving her from the door and took a few steps back. "Then you are a mere child. Do you truly understand what a witch is?"
Angela could only shake her head, all she understood was that witches had the power to change others and do things that normal animals couldn't. From the stories she heard, she understood that witches were scary and sometimes hurt others, but she only wanted to use those fabled powers for good.
The lion continued its stare, "Yet you have attempted to perform witchcraft already. The others of my kind have peered into your efforts and spoke of your failures. However, those failures are more than what many have achieved. Who taught you?"
"Nobody... I've been reading my book." She pointed towards her bed and the lion looked over its shoulder.
She knew the introduction by heart after months of reading and recited the author's words. "To those that seek out my book, prepare thyself to study every nook. Within these pages lies my obsession, a lifetime dedicated to the profession. The path of witchcraft is wrought with strife, and on this path you may lose your life. Secrecy will be thy friend, as you practice witchcraft until the end. Hide away- study well, all inquiry you must repell. Now turn the page and prepare your senses, for a world full of magic and hexes."
"Within the book lies information of... familiars?" It asked as it turned its gaze to Angela, who nodded in response. "So, that is why you were chanting. Attempting to summon one of us?" Another nod came, "Your attempts before were noticeable... Make no mistake, young one, many have passed by out of... curiosity."
"Then why didn't one of you help me!?" She finally snapped out from her silence, stomping a paw into the rug beneath them.
The lion lowered it's head, the dark symbol on its forehead fumed and smoked idly as it stared at the ground. "I believe... your kind would call it, indulgence. Yes." It raised its head, finding that to be the only way it could describe what its kind felt. "The only reason we would have to act on your wishes would be indulgence- a feeling we rarely experience."
Angela brought a paw to her chest and took a step forward. "Is that why there aren't witches anymore? Aren't you sad about that?" Familiars were meant to guide witches, she couldn't understand why they wouldn't help her.
"Only the profession fades. The witches have had their glory. What already exists will remain forever."
"I don't care about becoming a legend, I only wanna to help my momma!" She asserted and closed the gap between her and the lion, bringing her nose close to it's.
The creature stared at her for a few moments, her long dark brown hair was becoming a mess. It was clear that the child had been relentlessly studying, her eyes looked tired, but it could still see the hope within them burning brightly. It looked over it's shoulder once more, now staring at the floor beside them where her 'tools' were. He could see the rings of filth within the odd glass cereal bowl, the mostly hidden ingredients that were almost shoved behind her dresser, and an old lighter that she used to attempt to heat up her liquids. It was a pitiful display.
"You wish to help your mother?" It extended its long arm to poke at the dirty bowl, "By potion?"
Angela nodded and pointed back over to her book, "Yes! I even have the recipe to do it, but I don't know what I'm doing wrong."
The creature's symbol began fuming again as it thought. It was only silent for a few moments before it spoke again. "Your tools are not adequate. I can tell with just a glance how you've neglected proper methods... Nor do you understand what purity is when it comes to a decepitvely complicated craft as herb-lore."
Her eyes lit up, even if she didn't understand how to solve those problems, at the very least she was receiving some guidance to months of study.
"It is certain that you've come across a page of simple ingredients... yet there are methods to observe... preparations to make." The lion watched as the kit stood up on her toes, no doubt feeling elated at what shreds of wisdom it could share. "What you desire to do is within reach..." It's words trailed off and once more the symbol began to idly fume.
"Can you teach me? I 'conjured' you, didn't I?" Angela reached forward and placed her paws onto it's cheeks, rubbing the great lion softly as if to invoke an answer.
"I came to see what creature wished to follow the footsteps of witchcraft. You did not summon me." It asserted with it's booming voice, before returning to it's softer tone. "I will not devote myself to you..." He spoke curtly, but before Angela could complain it continued, "But I will help you reach your goal. You do not have the resolve of a witch, but you can be taught what you seek."
Angela gasped and reached forward to kiss the celestial lion's nose in gratitude.
"A minor pact will be made between us." The lion upturned a paw towards her, "I promise to teach you what you wish to know. Then, once you are satisfied, you can return to a peaceful life with your mother."
"It's a deal! My name is Angela." She grabbed it's paw and shook it with a wide grin on her face.
The lion waited until the excited kit finished her shake and nodded, "You may address me as teacher or Lion." It emphasized teacher, so that the young kit wouldn't mistake it for becoming it's master. "Prepare yourself, young one. Your path will be short, but a tasking one. Now... show me this interesting little book of yours..." It turned towards her bed and Angela followed, eager to finally make some progress.
