Have you ever taken a serious, long look at the fashions designed with Elevated familiars in mind? Until that morning, I never had. Not really.

Oh, sure, I've seen both male and female (mostly female) familiars walking around in some pretty outlandish outfits. Leather bikinis with thigh-high boots. Bustier and panty sets that looked like they belonged in a fetish-gear catalog. That sort of thing, you know? Designed, in my opinion, to make them look…wild and exotic, to put it gently. And very rarely did one see a familiar wearing shoes unless it was raining. Even then, some preferred to go without.

But until that morning I had never looked at the variety in which these things come, nor had I given any though to why they were designed that way.

Athena...had fur.

Oh, not a lot (tail aside). Her fur was, as I've described, a short, light fuzz that was very pleasant to the touch. It turned out to be surprisingly good at keeping her warm. I don't know why that surprised me, considering the natural habitat of a snow leopard.

But it didn't cover all of her. As she was being measured for clothes, I was curious to discover that most of the front of her torso had no fur. And that while she had fur on her back and lower legs, it was thinner there than on her arms and the tops of her feet.

In fact, the fur on her legs and back was softer and more flexible than the fur on her arms (which was still delightfully soft). Which meant that it didn't provide as much protection against the elements.

The soles of her feet, I learned, were more like paws than the soles of a human's feet. They were tougher and more sensitive to the contours of the ground. And, by the gods, her toenails could still qualify as claws when she flexed those muscles and extended them.

She could, as I'd seen the previous day, do the same thing with her fingernails, which was incredibly cool.

Be that as it may, when the shopkeeper - a charming older woman in her late sixties or early seventies, who put me in mind of what I'd always thought a grandmother should be like - started showing us outfits, I was struck dumb. I immediately made a joking complaint that surely those clothes were designed by and meant to appeal to men.

The result was two responses that threw me completely off balance and made me reconsider my preconceived notions about fashions for familiars.

First, from the shopkeeper: "On the contrary, dear, I designed and made most of these myself, with catgirls in mind. You wouldn't believe the sorts of problems catgirls have if the fur on their back and legs isn't protected. And you have to make sure to leave room for their tails..."

Then, from Athena: "Actually, Mistress, I think it looks rather comfortable. Do you mind if I try it on?"

Artemis was, of course, entirely uninterested and spent the entire time sprawled on one of several fleece mats by the door.

What could I do? I was out of my element. And, I confess, I felt an urge to spoil my new familiars a little. So I let her try them on.

I can't - and won't - deny that they looked great on her.

She ended up choosing variants of a few basic and very attractive designs. The first was what the shopkeeper jokingly referred to as her 'bodyguard' design. It was a black leather bodysuit with a high neck and full back, but left her arms and shoulders bare. It zipped down the front, and had a type of ballistic and blade-resistant fiber material woven into it, with thin, flexible striking plates over her stomach, breasts, and spread out across her back.

The bodysuit was accompanied by a pair of thigh-high black leather leggings that reminded me of stockings, with lightly reinforced shin and thigh guards that were nearly invisible, and some extra padding for her knees. They came to stirrups at her feet, leaving them almost entirely bare. The whole thing was accented by a pair of matching fingerless gloves that came to her wrists.

I was shocked and embarrassed. I couldn't believe that any female would want to wear something like that in public. Athena was in love with it.

"Mistress," she said, "This is perfect for when we're traveling and I need to be able to guard you. And it's so comfortable...it'll keep me warm when it's cold out, and isn't so binding that it'll be uncomfortable when it's hot."

I sighed. Again, what could I do? She was right. It also made me consider the fact that this darling creature I had helped create would be by my side if I ever ended up in a fight. Which, as a Mage who intended to travel, wasn't as unlikely as it sounded. It wouldn't hurt to invest in some training for her while we were in London.

The second outfit was considerably more modest and meant to be worn in polite company. The basic outfit was identical to the first, but it included a calf-length skirt in forest green cotton that was slit all the way to the hip on one side. For mobility. Honest. And the bodysuit had belled sleeves of the same fabric.

Athena plucked at the sleeves a little with two fingers, then shrugged and nodded. "This is good too."

Black and white (naturally), forest green and a very rustic natural leather were the colors she preferred. I approved of her taste in color, at least. It matched my own.

Which, come to think of it, really shouldn't have surprised me at all.

At my insistence, she also picked out two pairs of shoes for days - and places - where going barefoot wouldn't be appropriate. She shied away from high heels, saying that she didn't want to wear anything that would limit her mobility, but found a pair of comfortable leather ankle boots and a cute pair of sandals that laced up to her knees.

I quietly sneaked a second pair of the sandals into the order for myself. I'd never seen another pair quite like them, so I wasn't sure if I'd find them anywhere else and they were amazingly comfortable. To be completely honest, I also ordered one of the lightly armored bodysuit outfits to wear under my own clothes, and two of the skirt-bearing outfits - slit only to mid-thigh instead of all the way to the hip - for active-wear. The shopkeeper was completely unsurprised, telling me that she also frequently served spellcasters who hadn't thought ahead to having protection for themselves.

I freely admit that I hadn't. And Athena was right...they were very comfortable.

In the end, I was able to talk her into picking up a couple of slightly more modest tunic and shorts outfits in cotton for very hot days, and some longer tunics to sleep in. Though she was honestly bewildered about sleeping clothes.

"But, why?" She asked, holding a light green silk tunic to her chest. "I'll be perfectly comfortable sleeping nude."

To my credit, I didn't blush. Blame the Tantric mages I studied with when I was eighteen. "It's just how it's done, pet."

She tipped her head, then shrugged. "Humans are strange. But I do like the silk." She nuzzled the fabric and purred.

I smiled. "Yes they are, pet."

There was one last detail before we left - I bought both of my new familiars nicer collars. Soft black leather with platinum fittings and tags. I used a simple spell to engrave my name on the back of each tag, with their name and my stylized A sigil on the front. They both approved.

As we walked lazily back towards Ellister's house carrying our bags, I did some thinking. Unlike most of the other Elevated familiars that I saw, I let Athena walk beside me. I liked it better that way, to be honest. She was an intelligent, thinking and reasoning being, and while she may have legally been my property she was also my friend. In fact, it surprised me how close I had grown to Athena and Artemis in such a short time - though I suppose it shouldn't have. They were, after all, a part of me in some rather profound ways.

Perhaps because of that, I didn't feel right having her walk behind me. She was my property in a very real way and was technically a servant (so to speak)...but she certainly wasn't a lesser being. Maybe that's my Druidic upbringing speaking; all creatures are equal and should be treated with respect. After some deep thought and a few curious looks from Athena, I finally decided not to let it worry me much, as long as it didn’t bother them.

Artemis loped along on the other side of me with the lazy, self-assured stride demonstrated by all prowling felines of every size. Between them, I felt quite safe.

I did a bit of window shopping, and I caught Athena admiring a display of swords and knives in a shop window. It reminded me that I had considered sending her for training and decided to bring the idea up.

"What do you think, pet? Would you like that?"

Athena considered the question seriously, glancing at the display of weapons again. "I know how to fight like a cat," she said thoughtfully, looking down at her hand and flexing her fingers to make her claws extend and retract. "But if we're going to be doing security and bodyguard work..."

"Which is likely at first," I admitted, though I still hoped that Wizard Ellister would hire us.

She nodded. "Then I should know how to fight like a human - with blades and guns." She smiled shyly at me, obviously seeking my approval. "I want to be able to protect you, Mistress."

I smiled and reached out to caress her cheek for a moment, making her purr gently. "You're a good girl. When we get back, I'll ask Ellister if he knows of any good places for training."

Artemis yawned, pointedly displaying her fangs. <>

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"I still have fangs," Athena replied defensively, lifting her upper lip to display her canines, which did indeed come to delicate little points. They looked very cute on her.

Artemis huffed. <>

Athena sighed. "True. I do feel very odd still."

I smiled. "It'll pass. You just need to get used to your new body. I imagine physical training will help. I might sit in on the classes myself, actually. Master Tremane always pushed good physical fitness."

We started walking again. "Do you think I'll ever get to meet Master Tremane?" Athena asked. "Or your mother?"

"Both, I hope," I said with a smile. "Mom will love you and Artemis both. She was so sure I'd have a big cat as a familiar."

Artemis purred. <>

"She's right." Athena smiled at me, but her eyes were serious. "And we know how much we owe you."

"Don't do that," I protested, feeling much more uncomfortable with their gratitude than I did with the (still mostly unearned, a guilty little voice in the back of my mind said) affection that fairly flowed off them towards me. "You don't owe me anything. I did what was right, and I've benefited tremendously from my good deed. You barely know me..."

"We know everything we need to know, Mistress," Athena said with surprising earnestness as she turned to face me directly. Her eyes, so nearly identical to my own, caught and held mine. "We're your familiars, Mistress. We don't know the textbook definition of what that means, but up here," she tapped the side of her head, "And in here," she tapped her chest over her heart, "We understand it. It means we know you better than anyone else ever will. We don't need to get to know you, because we're a part of you, and we love you for who you are in here," she reached out and touched my chest lightly.

Through Athena's little speech, Artemis sat and looked up at me serenely. When her sister finished, she added simply, <> A simple statement of fact, as if nothing more spectacular than the pieces of a puzzle fitting together had occurred.

For my part, I was blushing furiously by the time Athena finished, sure that I was going to explode from the swell of pride and love I felt for these two beautiful creatures. I had understood before, in a purely academic sense, what it meant to have a familiar. Now it was my familiars themselves who were teaching me what it really meant.

I had never had anyone other than my mother - and perhaps Master Tremane - who had loved me. Nobody other than my mother and Master Tremane had ever cared about what happened to me or given a thought to my emotional well-being. Now I was bound for life to two beautiful, loving beings who would put my needs before their own without a second thought and who cherished me as surely as the sun rose every morning. It was exhilarating, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Even if there was a tiny part of me that felt vaguely guilty about it, and wondered if it was being forced on them. Perhaps I needed to do some research on the subject when time permitted.

"Thank you, Athena, Artemis," I said softly, reaching out to touch Athena's arm and stroke Artemis's ears gently. "Bear with me...I'm still getting used to the idea."

<> Artemis said, nudging Athena's leg with her shoulder.

Athena laughed and moved forward to embrace me, startling me. For a moment, I just stood there...then slowly wrapped my arms around her in turn. "Thank you," I whispered. "I love you both."

Athena blushed and Artemis purred loudly. "Thank you, Mistress. We'll do our best for you."

I smiled and released Athena. "I know you will. Come on, let's head back."

"Well, well," Ellister said a little while later, looking Athena up and down. "Don't you look splendid."

Athena blushed deeply and Ellister laughed. "It's a fabulous store, isn't it? They made all of Elsie's clothes, and even some of mine."

I blinked. "Elsie...is she your familiar?"

"Indeed," Ellister said with a smile. "Elevated from a pet mouse I was especially fond of."

"Told you she moved like a mouse," Athena murmured to me.

"Yes, you did," I replied quietly, then addressed Ellister again. "I couldn't tell."

"I would have been very surprised if you had. I went to a great deal of trouble to make sure she looked as human as possible when I cast the spell," he explained. "She handles most of my household management and maintenance, so for the comfort of the people she deals with - and to aid her ability to give them orders as necessary - I went to that trouble."

"Incredible," I said, shaking my head in admiration. I hadn't even considered that such a thing might be possible.

"It's not a common thing and took a tremendous amount of power and preparation," he said, seeming to sense the direction of my thoughts. "But never mind. I'm guessing you bought a few outfits there yourself." He said the last shrewdly and with a teasing glint in his eyes.

I laughed. "I did."

"Never occurred to you that you might need mundane protection before today, hmm?" He smiled. "It's hard to think about such things before you start working on your own."

I shrugged. "It had honestly never occurred to me. But it was a good idea."

He nodded. "Indeed. So, you want to have Athena trained...yes, I know a few places that can teach her what she needs to know. Hand-to-hand combat, swords and knives, even firearms. I'm guessing you'd like to attend some of those classes yourself."

"Very much," I said with a nod.

"And you plan to study for the Wizard qualification exams, eh?"

I nodded again. "Yes, sir. Magic has fascinated me since I was very little, and I want to keep studying it in all its complexity."

He smiled. "The mark of a true candidate for Wizard. But...that will make finding a full-time job very difficult," he said, looking at me thoughtfully. Then he seemed to come to a conclusion. "But it would seem that you know what you want for yourself better than most young people your age. You have set your path and plan to walk it."

I nodded a third time.

"Good," he said with a firm nod in return. "Then if you are amenable, I will hire you myself. You will assist me in my experiments and research, run errands for me, and take care of a few odds and ends now and then that I may need handled. In return, you will receive room and board, educational opportunities, and a modest salary that should be sufficient to cover the cost of any classes for yourself and Athena while leaving you enough to put some away for later."

I blinked, opened my mouth to say something, realized I had no idea what to say, and closed my mouth again. It was the third or fourth time that day I'd been caught flat-footed, and I felt a bit of chagrin. Perhaps I wasn't as good at seeing the world around me as I'd thought. Or maybe I was less well-prepared for being out on my own than I'd thought.

He smiled kindly. "I'd planned to make the offer anyway, girl. Not only have you impressed me with your morals and skill, but Jonathan suggested it in that letter he gave you for me. It's not uncommon for a Mage intending to become a Wizard to take a work-study position with one of their master's colleagues when their time as an apprentice is over. It gives them the chance to see other ways of learning about magic, and an opportunity to begin using what they'd learned while still under a watchful eye." He arched an eyebrow. "Sometimes they've even learned enough to see the wisdom of such an arrangement."

I nodded. He wasn't kidding, it was a fantastic opportunity. "I agree," I said. "I gladly accept your offer."

"In that case," he said, rising, "I think you have some unpacking to do, yes?"

"Yes!" I said with a laugh, surprised by the relief I felt. I hadn't realized how tense I'd become without a clear path before me. "Thank you, Ellister."

"You're welcome, Alys. But I insist you call me Hollis. You may be my employee now, but I like my employees to be friends as well."

It was the first time he'd called me anything but 'girl.' I understood, and smiled. "All right, Hollis." It felt strange to say for some reason, then I smiled. "But if I start saying 'sir' without realizing it, I hope you won't hold it against me."

He laughed boomingly and delightedly. "No, indeed I won't! I hope you won't hold it against me if I accidentally call you 'girl' once in a while."

"I won't if you won't," I said with a smile.

"Good! Now, off with you! Unpack, make yourself at home. I expect you had a bite to eat on your way back? Good. Dinner is at six."

Five minutes later the three of us were back in the room I'd woken up in that morning. Athena was busily unpacking our purchases and sorting them out - although honestly, anything we'd purchased would fit either one of us, except that hers had a special hole for her tail. Artemis was sprawled lazily on the window seat by the large double windows that looked out on the street - in the sun, of course. It was a westerly facing, so she would get to enjoy the sun in the afternoons, and I wouldn't be blinded by sunrise if I left the blinds open.

I just sort of stood there, taking stock: A large four-poster bed big enough for all three of us to sleep on comfortably, even given the predilection of cats to spread out as much as possible. The afore-mentioned window seat; a walk-in closet with a bureau inside it, which together would be more than large enough for all of my clothes and Athena's put together; and an attached bathroom of modest size, once again large enough for our needs and some comfort.

There was a roll-top desk in the corner by the window. I walked over to it and rolled back the lid to discover it well stocked with pens, pencils, notebooks, loose paper and envelopes. Everything a young Mage getting started could want for taking notes and the occasional formal correspondence.

Which reminded me...

"Athena, come here for a minute," I said, gesturing for her to join me.

She looked up curiously, smiled and walked over. "Yes, Mistress?"

"Sit beside me here," I said, moving to sit on the window seat. Artemis made room for me, then grudgingly - I swear she actually grumbled a little, it was adorable - sat up and moved over to make room as Athena sat down on the other side of me. Once we were all settled - with Artemis comfortably half-draped across our laps - I murmured the words of the Sending spell and released the energy. Instantly, a spectral snow-leopard appeared standing before us.

That surprised me for a moment. I hadn't thought about any specific type of large cat - just a large cat. I'd often had my Sendings appear as lions, tigers and even cheetahs from time to time. Though I supposed now that I had two snow leopards bound to me, it shouldn't be a surprise.

I spoke to it directly, knowing it would record all of my words and our images to play them back as a projection of us for mom when it reached her. "Hi, Mom! Greetings from London!" I smiled and waved. "I made it here just fine, and I'm getting settled in. Things have been a bit crazy, but...well, meet Athena and Artemis, my new familiars."

Athena waved shyly. Artemis tipped her head curiously and meowed at her spectral cousin.

"I've taken a job with Wizard Hollis Ellister," I said, "The old friend Master Tremane sent me to. I guess it's not unusual for one Wizard to take on another's former apprentice as an employee to help them get started. So I'll be doing odd jobs for him and helping with his work while Athena gets some training under her belt, learns to read and write, that sort of thing. And he implied that he'd help me begin studying for the Wizard qualification exams as well.

"I had a really strange dream last night. I dreamed that I was standing in front of your house, and when I turned around I could see that the town was in ruins." I frowned slightly, trying to recall the details of my dream. "Then the High Druid said that it was my doing, but I couldn't see him anywhere. Then he said that it was..." I nibbled on my bottom lip for a moment, trying to remember the exact words. "He said it was as the prophecy foretold. Then I heard Druid Somerled's voice saying that the world was going to burn.

"Finally, I heard your voice," I went on, "And when I turned back to the house you were standing there. You said that nothing that came was my fault, and that things would play out the way they were supposed to, or something like that. Then your eyes changed to mine, and your features began to change, but Athena woke me up then. She said I'd cried out in my sleep." I took Athena's hand and squeezed it. "I'm glad she was there to wake me up."

"I'll Send you again in a few days and let you know how I'm doing," I went on. "Maybe in a few weeks I can get a couple of days off and come home to introduce the girls to you." I smiled. "Send me soon and let me know how you are. I love you."

I waved again, Athena mirroring my gesture, then closed the spell. The spectral snow leopard knew who to take the message to - that was part of the casting - so it immediately turned and leapt into the air, vanishing.

I sighed. "My first letter home," I said, slipping an arm around each of my familiars.

Artemis yawned and Athena leaned against me lightly, resting her head on my shoulder. "Are you lonely, Mistress?"

I smiled and squeezed her gently. "No, pet. I'll never be lonely again thanks to you and your sister. And I've spent more time away from my mom than with her over the last few years, so this is just more of the same." I turned my head and pressed a kiss between her ears. "Now, let's finish getting settled in, shall we? I think that desk has room for most of my equipment."

"Yes, Mistress."