three martens in a long coat (Nall)

after some training,

and first of all:

you might look like a cat,

but you can be anything;

a crow, a rat, a wolf,

somewhere in between,

whatever your witch needs,

whatever you feel most like.

for now, we'll be the same,

which means wings,

For riding, carrying stuff, etc.

No experience required.

You don't even need to be a dragon yet, because we have this rather powerful artefact that will fix that for you.

I guess technically it's cursed, but I mean.

a swishy curly tail

and warm fluffy fur,

mm, could be a puppy,

but then what kind,

tall ears, bright eyes,

changing like that,

with a cosy collar,

words starting to go,

just puppy sounds--

yeah, that's right,

with a big snuggly tail. ✨

Swish and sway, bob and bounce,

soft, fuzzy, tag on tail

played with, given a cute voice

meeting other toys, aww hi there

kneaded back into shape after owner sleeps on plushie, oops

in a pillowcase in the wash round and round

few stitches, bit of stuffing, all good

when I actually transformed,

small slinky chirpy, webbed paws,

I was convinced you'd done magic,

but you were as surprised as me.

and it worked every time;

I'd be a crow, a fox, a dragon

just from your words.

it's still a mystery,

but after the beak slips out and the feathers sprout and arms change into wings and

c-caw cawcaw caw caw

snow leopard.

look around,

look at screen,

mash keys with paws.

It's like a magic trick, over your head it goes- but you just kinda vanish into it. Huh. Where'd you go?

snout and stripes, claws and paws, smaller, fluffier...

and when the witch returns, you explain what happened-

wait- not still asleep, are you? no. feeling good. looking different-

bouncescamperskitter over to mirror. creature shape. you.

And that's what bonds familiars to their witches, that certain patterns go together well.

So ours were so well matched that we bonded, even though you weren't a familiar. It's really rare! It's pretty cool.

you know you've just transformed but you don't remember anything. things you think might be words just come out as mows.

paws, legs, tail. fur. stuff around you that might be clues if you knew what any of it meant.

ohh wait I meant like a plush furry tail on a belt

until, suddenly, scruffed:

carried by the giant binturong,

thoughts, worries go quiet,

gently changing; eyes,

fur, paws, long tail,

whiskery nose.

until, hi there,

set on a branch

not far from mine;

we can chat, cuddle,

but

we'd still be friends if I was a whole bunch of crows, wouldn't we?

let's say hypothetically

like a hundred or so

speaking in stereo at least

literally all over the place

yeah?

okay that's good

haha so um not entirely unrelated

If it was real, anyone going in would materialise as, say, a squirrel

But of course, it's a false positive, as the squirrels there keep telling me