Can’t Do it Without You

“Hurry up!” I growled at Synna as I strode down the dirt road, my pack slung over one shoulder and my wizard staff in hand.

“Well, if you let me ride on your shoulder, I wouldn’t be slowing you down,” she mewled as she scampered after me, her small feline frame no match for my long human legs.

“I don’t want your claws anywhere near me,” I barked.

“I swear I didn’t do it, Master,” she simpered. “I slept through the whole night.”

“Then you must have clawed through my best robe and boots in your sleep!” I walked faster, incensed by memories of seeing my favorite leather boots and ruby red robe tattered and torn.

“But it’s not like you couldn’t fix it, which you did.” She pointed out, and then meowed under her breath, “With my help.”

I glanced down at myself; momentarily proud of the magic spell I had cast to repair the damage. Then I frowned remembering the extra time it had taken to cast said spell. “Maybe I should have left you at home!”

“Don’t say that, Master. You need me at your interview, they said so.” She leapt forward, almost catching up to me.

I sighed. “You’re right. I do need you. They won’t hire a teacher without a familiar.” I stopped and lowered my hand. “I’m sorry for being so mean. Things happen. How about a ride?”

She bounded up my arm and snuggled across my neck. “I’ll be better, Master, I promise.”

“I’m sure you will.” I scratched behind her ear as I continued down the path. I stopped at a crossroads. One sign pointed left and read Hirshfield. The other sign pointed right and read Magic Academy. I turned down the right path and increased my pace. I had to make up for lost time.

“You could cast a haste spell?” she purred.

“No,” I replied. “The instructions were clear. Any use of magic to transport directly to the destination will eliminate the applicant from consideration.”

“That’s stupid,” she hissed.

I shrugged, almost dislodging Synna from my shoulders. She dug her nails in and I winced in pain. Biting my tongue, I muttered, “Let’s not worry about it. Let’s just get there.”

Synna’s claws released my flesh as she mumbled, “Sorry.”

We walked for quite some ways in silence. I tried to appreciate the beauty around me. There was the fragrance from the flowering trees that lined the path. The birds were singing in said trees. Some swiftly moving clouds were above us, shielding us from the rising sun. I glanced up, not remembering there being any clouds in sight when we started down this path.

A deafening roar froze me in my tracks. Synna looked up and shrieked. A large dragon flew overhead, belching fire. I ducked as a line of flame scorched the trees to the side. Synna scrambled off my shoulder and stood in front of my crouched form.

As the dragon circled for another strike, Synna started to glow as she drew magic power to her from our surroundings. Not having any spells in my repertoire to battle such a foe, I gave my energy to Synna. I closed my eyes and focused on her. I felt heat rise in my chest and flow down my arms as I touched her back. Under my hand, I could feel her grow, not just in power, but size.

I opened my eyes to see her transform into a large feline with wings. She roared as she took off, the wind from her wings blowing me back. Dazed, I lay prone watching her battle the dragon in the air. Though the dragon was stronger with a fiery breath, Synna was agile and still had her deadly claws. She waited, timing her attack when it reared back to breath fire. She dodged the fire easily and struck its neck, raking scales and rending flesh. It cried in pain and fled after blasting at Synna one more time. Twisting in the air, most of the shot missed her, but one of her wings was singed.

She spiraled down, trying to control her descent. I drew energy from the ground below and sent a blast of air up to slow her descent. It worked, though she still crumpled on the path ahead. Scrambling to my feet, I ran to her side to tend her wounds. I laid my hands on her wing and cast a basic healing spell.

Her breathing steadied and she lifted her head. “Thank you, Master.”

Completing the spell, I gingerly touched her wing. When she didn’t flinch, I smiled at her. “You are welcome.” I looked up at the sky, realizing that the time for the appointment had passed. I sighed, all my dreams of becoming a teacher flying from me. I watched as she returned to her normal form.

She came over to me and rubbed against my leg, trying to give me hope. “Maybe if you explain what happened, they’ll be lenient.”

“No,” I said firmly. “No excuses. I didn’t make it because I didn’t give myself enough time to handle any situations that may have arisen.”

All of a sudden, thunder rolled and a crack of lighting struck the ground in front of us. When the dust cleared, the head master of the Magic Academy stood before us. He was smiling.

“Congratulations. You have passed the tests.” The head master strode forward. Numbly, I offered my hand. He shook it heartily.

“Come.” He slapped me on the back. “We have much to do before the term starts.”

“Wait a minute,” I interjected. “I got the job?”

“Yes, you did my boy!” He laughed. “You worked with your familiar to overcome the obstacles, even the one you thought she caused.”

Synna leapt with joy as she exclaimed, “I knew you could do it, Master.”

Grinning from ear to ear, I replied, “We did it Synna. I couldn’t have done it without you.”


(995 words)