I had to fight to turn my gaze from the show before me as I looked over at Alice who sat up — my little kitten’s eyes growing wide at the scene.
"Shit!"she swore and I turned back just as the light faded, revealing a huge bald eagle.
My jaw hung open at the large bird.
I was mesmerized by his color alone, his feathers a mixture of white and various shades of purple. His beak was gold and his eyes were mismatched, the left gold and the right a plum purple. He stretched out his wings over Kage whose eyes were now gold.
I took a quick scan of the field and saw everyone was frozen in place.
Even Mr. Huffling looked stunned where he stood, staring at Koa like he was a rare breed he'd never witnessed before.
Kage lowered his hand and sighed.
"You're so damn dramatic. Always trying to make an entrance." His voice was deeper and bolder, compared to his usual quiet soft-spoken tone.
"Kiku,” Koa replied and Kage looked annoyed.
"It wastes a lot more mana when you're doing your 'let me take my sweet time to impress the girl' move," Kage pointed out.
I slowly looked at Alice who was still familiar-struck, her mouth hanging open while her paw was half up.
Alice, did you break down? Alice?
I reached out and picked her up.
"I think Koa's entrance broke Alice," I mumbled, shaking my familiar gently .
Braxton chuckled.
"It's happened before."
"Yup. See, Koa? Dramatic entrances don't do anyone favors. Since you're here, say ‘hi’ to Jinn," Kage encouraged.
I looked up at Koa who eyed me quietly. It took him thirty seconds, and then he bowed his head at me.
"Wow. I'm impressed. Is he lecturing you?" Braxton asked Kage.
He shook his head.
"Surprisingly not. Guess he respects you," Kage commented.
Koa flew off his hand and landed on Braxton's lap.
"Ugh. Koa, you’re fucking heavy," Braxton complained but Koa looked more interested in Alice than anything.
"Alice? Maybe there's a restart spell for familiars?" I suggested, lifting Alice who was still in her frozen state.
"Kiku," Koa leaned his head forward, looking like he wanted me to bring Alice closer to him. I moved her up to him and he rubbed his head against her fuzzy cheek.
"Kiku?"
"MEOW!" Alice unfroze, wiggling in my grasp."I THOUGHT I DIED."
"More like you were so shocked that Koa was a lot better than you even expected and forgot to function," I countered out loud.
Alice stilled for a moment before she scratched my hand.
"Fuck! ALICE! Don't go scratching me. Just accept the tru—OW!" I cursed when she bit me.