Taking one of the empty courts, Ed and Thomas stood on opposite sides of their field. The wind blew quietly, stirring blades of grass and oak branches in the distance. The sun hung high at noon as the clouds maintained a grey and dour mood despite the bright rays of light. One of the members of the Harnette team walked over, inspecting both boys as they assumed their positions. The older girl lingered her sight on Thomas before addressing both first years.

“You need a referee?” The girl asked. 

“We’d love it!” Ed replied.

“The name’s Glenda,” She said.

“No way! You’re like the second best player on the team.” Ed gushed before adding, “I mean-close second, obviously.” 

Glenda shook her head alongside a quick roll of her eyes. She raised an arm into the air and yelled, “Present forms!” 

Copying his movements from when the stray familiar attacked them, Ed called forth his familiar. The beast materialized into reality with a layer of stones crushing the ground as it let loose a deep growl. 

“What’s it supposed to be?” Emery asked out loud. 

“It’s a staccadoe.” Dane’s voice answered from the side as he sat down on the shared bench. “Magical creature with no gender and likes to dance.” 

“Hey pup, thought your free periods were still with the Doc.” Raven greeted with a punch on the arm. “Not that it isn’t nice to see you out and about.” 

“Dr. Isen said I’m well enough to not babysit anymore.” Dane explained with a smile. “He told me watching the Harnette team would be more useful since I’ve got my own familiar now.” 

“Staccadoe...” Emery repeated. “So, what, your familiar is just random?” 

“I wasn’t exactly thinking about dogs when that stray came at us.” Dane replied. “Thanks again, by the way.”

“Dane, you don’t have to keep thanking me.” Emery assured him. “Amaranths stick together, right?” 

Dane happily bumped fists with Emery before looking up at the match. “Hey, Thomas is bringing his familiar out.” 

With a snap of his fingers, Thomas willed a small wisp of blue onto the arena. The ball of light floated back and forth, eagerly searching for whatever purpose it had been called out for. The ball quickly shifted its form like water moving between differently shaped containers. 

“What is it?” Emery asked her fellow Amaranths. 

“I think it’s a shapeless.” Dane said as he squinted at the match. “Wow, I’ve never seen one outside of a textbook.” 

“Wait, isn’t a shapeless like a shapeshifter?” Emery responded. “How does anyone know what it’s supposed to look like?” 

“Technically, no one does.” Raven corrected. “This is what people see when it’s changing forms. It’s gotta be tough to keep it together like that.” 

“Classic rules apply.” Glenda clarified. “Fight until your familiar dissipates back into your aura and no aura transfer from your body’s natural defenses. Ready?” 

Both boys nodded as they readied their familiars against one another. Before the match could start, another player from the Harnette team ran over with a boombox in their arms. Setting the device down, the new player started loudly playing a harsh beat alongside a rap track and accompanying chorus.

Glenda swung her hand sown and hollered, “Match start!”

Communicating telepathically with their personal creatures, the familiars moved without warning towards each other. Ed’s staccadoe charged forward piling on stones along its antlers like a battering ram. Thomas, on the other hand, had his shapeless zig zag in random directions as it moved towards its opponent. Just as the two creatures were about to collide, the water shapeless broke right and formed into a ravenous bear looming tall over the field. Quick to respond, the staccadoe dug in its hooves and swung its now massive antlers at the creature. The clash of stone against water sent the shapeless splitting into puddles of water onto the grass. 

“It’s over already?” Emery complained. 

Dane pointed to the quivering puddles on the field accompanied by Thomas’ calm demeanor. “Pretty sure it isn’t.” 

The drops of water snapped up into the air above the staccadoe. The shapeless reformed instantly into a monkey as it dropped onto its opponent’s back. The staccadoe reared back and charged around the field as the shapeless hung onto antlers like handlebars, hollering all the while. 

“How does anyone win this game?” Emery asked her friends. 

“A mage’s familiar only has so much energy before it’s spent.” Raven explained. “Advantage can go to anyone who’s trained their familiar for more stamina, stronger attacks, or even what elements are in play.” 

“Right,” Dane agreed. “Air and earth are opposite energies. Fire and water are the same. Doubles can get really interesting with the synergy between teammates.” 

“Sounds simple enough.” Emery said, contemplating what her own primary element might be as she resumed watching the match. 

The staccadoe flipped onto its side and rolled through the dirt. Thomas’ shapeless leapt off its back and shifted into a phoenix, letting out a piercing screech. The staccadoe struggled to move amid the harsh vibrations. Ed’s familiar dug its antlers into the ground and heaved free a massive chunk of earth. The mass of dirt barreled at the shapeless, hugging its liquid form as it crashed back down to the ground.

“That’s a match!” Glenda announced as she walked over to Ed. She raised up his arm. “We’ve got our winner.” 

Ed beamed with pride as he trotted over to Thomas while his familiar dissipated into the ground. “I swear, I’ve never seen someone so technically skilled still suck at Harnette. I’d kill to move my familiar like you move yours.” 

“Yeah, well, a lot of good that did me.” Thomas said sarcastically. “You win again.”

“Hey, you’re a Frost, right?” Glenda said as she approached the two with Emery and other Amaranths coming down from the bleachers. “Eliana’s younger brother?” 

“That’s me...” Thomas said sheepishly. 

“Don’t take the loss so hard. You did good.” Glenda told him. “And uh... tell your sister I’m still free if she wants those lessons.”

“Thanks, I’ll mention it to her.” Thomas assured her. 

“So Emery, what did you think?” Ed asked.

“Pretty cool. Probably gonna stick to the card version until I have my own.” Emery confessed.

As her friends broke off into casual chatter, Emery’s gaze trailed back toward the orchard. At the edge of the brush, northwest of the school, a lone figure walked lazily along the stone path. Focusing her vision, Emery could make out Alice’s features from afar. 

“You feel it too?” Raven said, interrupting her observation. “I’ve been wondering if it’s an Amaranth thing but Dane hasn’t noticed anything since the stray.” 

“What? You mean the orchard?” Emery replied. 

“A-List makes this walk every day during her free period.” Raven stated. “I’ve been looking for an excuse to get down here myself... but I usually talk myself out of it.”

“Same, honestly.” Emery explained. “Don’t know what to make of the dreams though. You?” 

“Hm? No dreams on my end.” Raven said. “Try asking A-List. I’m still chalking it up to nerves.” 

“Maybe I will.” Emery said. 

As Alice marched back towards the school, Emery swore she saw a woman watching the Harnette fields. Tied up red hair atop piercing brown eyes bore through her. As soon as she blinked, the woman was gone and replaced with the sound of flapping wings.