It was a dark, but warm night, a soft breeze rustling the leaves of the forest. A million stars were shining overhead, and somewhere, an owl hooted.

“Damn those roots,” Meredith swore as she stumbled for the twelfth time. “I’m too old for this - Aava, dear, pass the lantern, your eyes are better than mine anyway.”

“No swearing,” Corvus croaked in gentle tones; as Meredith’s familiar, he had always valued proper form. Even though he possessed the form of a raven, he walked with them tonight - it was just too dark to fly.

Aava handed the lantern to her teacher, glad there was no one else out here to hear Meredith’s unchangingly foul mouth. She smiled at Corvus, who, understandingly, winked at her.

Tonight was the night Aava herself would summon a familiar to accompany and guide her through her life as a witch.

It was an important date for any young witch, and she was accordingly excited - she was looking forward to meeting her companion, a friend who would be with her for the rest of her life. Unless, of course, she didn’t manage to summon one. But she was optimistic. She would be a great witch one day, she just knew.

After a few more stumbles and swears they reached the small clearing Meredith had selected. A fairy ring of mushrooms stood in it - always a good spot to perform some summoning.

At the edge of the clearing, Meredith put her hands on Aava’s shoulders. “So, dear, this is it. Do you think you have everything you need? Do you feel ready?”

Aava nodded fiercely, lost for words. After a moment’s hesitation, she hugged her teacher. She was far from being a full witch, but this was an important step along the way, and Meredith had already taught her so much. “Thank you.”

“Of course, Aava,” Meredith replied gently, patting her head, and handing her the lantern back.

Aava turned towards the fairy ring, nodded encouragingly to herself, and stepped forward. Corvus fluttered up to Meredith’s shoulder as both watched the girl approach the mushrooms. She set down the lantern on the outside of the ring, and lit the sprig of rosemary she had brought on fire on its flame.

Then she stepped into the ring, put the smoldering rosemary down at its center, took her knife and cut into her palm, dripping a few drops of blood across the rosemary. “Fereleus maculatum gamut,” she muttered. “Arabithalus mandraflix…” She sure hoped she had remembered the entire spell correctly - that had always been one of her biggest weaknesses. When she was finally done, she returned to the lantern, and looked into the center of the fairy ring with bated breath.

For a while, nothing happened. Familiar spirits, after being summoned to this plane of existence, needed the body of an animal present at the summoning, so Aava started to look around anxiously for an animal that had been charmed to come.

Finally, a tiny mouse entered the fairy ring, looking left and right nervously, but scurrying towards the burnt rosemary. A broad smile spread across Aava’s face - surely that could only mean one thing… ?

The next moment, there was a sudden flash of light, a terrified squeak, and the mouse ran for the hills as fast as its little legs would carry it.

Aava stared. In the center of the ring sat a creature that had certainly not been there before. It somewhat resembled a weasel with a fox-orange coat, and it looked just as confused as Aava felt.

She looked over her shoulder, but Meredith was already by her side. Much to Aava’s alarm, she gaped at the creature with just as much confusion and disbelief as Aava herself.

The creature opened its mouth, revealing small needly teeth, and spoke. “What the-?!”

“Are… you my familiar?” Aava asked, suddenly uncertain.

The creature eyed her keenly. “Pish posh!”