As the fog began to clear, and the diffuser above the box went dry, Shanna watched in excited delight as the flamingo began to stir. Erik stretched out his wings and clapped his beak as he yawned. Groggy, shaky, he looked around and seemed to have an “oh shit” moment as he held out his pink wings to his line of vision and stared in shock.
He blinked several times as the fog inside the box cleared, and looked around in sudden remembrance. He checked the camel, the wolf, and the giraffe and smiled warmly at the edges of his beak as he saw his familiar animal friends. Then he looked over to the clear glass of the box and saw Shanna. He smiled just a little more and waved, motioning for her to open it.
She nodded excitedly and quietly unsealed the box to open the side. She put it down gently and grinned as Erik realized in blinking confusion that he was much bigger now as he stood. He carefully and quietly walked by his other comrades, watching them doze, and emerged from the box to face Shanna quizzically.
“Hi!” She whispered gently.
The flamingo bobbed his head and gave her a full eyes closed grin. With her beak it was hard to emote, but his warm inflection was clear.
“Hi!” He whispered back, voice bubbly and effeminate, gentle, naturally exuberant. “We, uh, seem to have gone through a bit of a growth spurt, huh?” He giggled and put a wingtip to her mouth excitedly, beaming. “I guess you’re a nice witch after all, huh sweetie?”
“Yep!” Shanna nodded gently, holding out her hand. Erik looked down at her palm, nodded gleefully, and stepped into her hand.
“Oh, look at me!” He said with a jovial chuckle as he carefully laid in Shanna’s hand. “I was really scared I’d have to, like, worry about being stepped on for the rest of my life.”
“No, way!” Shanna grinned, raising from the table and letting the others rest. She carried Erik in her hand and took him into the living room. “I told you I’d get you guys fixed up!”
“Oh, and my voice!” The flamingo swooned. “I can talk again! I’m just so relieved!”
“I bet!” Shanna giggled, cuddling the four inch bird against her soft chest and gently petting his back with one finger.
“Oh, that’s nice!” Erik sighed happily, craning his neck and curling his head down. He closed his eyes. “After all we’ve been through, that feels so good.”
“Yeah?” Shanna grinned. “And what did you go through?”
“Oh, let’s not talk about that right now, honey.” The flamingo winced. “Let’s just let you keep making me feel good and safe here in your hand.”
“All right, sir.” Shanna said agreeably. “What’s your name?”
“Erik.” The flamingo said softly. “Uh, your typical desk jockey and boy toy.” He opened his eyes sadly and hung his head. “Well, I used to be. Before I got changed into this little gay bird you’re holding.”
“I don’t judge.” Shanna shrugged. “I like everything. Even birds.” She chuckled.
“Sorry, honey.” Erik giggled again, spirits raising. “I don’t think we’d work out, you know?” He raised his head up to the human and shifted excitedly. “Hey! How big am I, anyway?”
“You’re four inches tall.” Shanna grinned, raising the pink bird to eye level and examining him carefully. “But that’s changing by the second.”
“Oh?” Erik gulped. “Am I going to get tiny again?”
“Oh no.” Shanna smiled, easing Erik’s nerves. “Definitely not.”
“Ooh!” Erik crooned. “So, uh, the opposite?”
“Yes, my pink feathery friend.” Shanna smiled. “You’re clever, too.”
“Oh, stop.” The flamingo chuckled, waving one wing dismissively. “Flattery will get you everywhere.” He paused and his eyes widened. “Wait, so, I’m... I’m growing?” He blinked and look over himself oddly. “Right now?”
“Yep! Into a full sized flamingo.”
“I don’t feel any different.” Erik shrugged.
“Very very slowly.” Shanna whispered. “So slowly you won’t even notice. It might take days. Or months.”
“Oh.” Erik nodded, trying to comprehend. “Okay, well, at least I’ll never be a little bug bird again.” He looked back up at the witch and his eyes fell. “Will... will I ever...”
“Be human?” Shanna whispered. The flamingo nodded sadly, too afraid to ask.
“No.” Shanna whispered. “I can’t undo a complete change of species.”
The flamingo seemed to gulp and dwindle nervously as he processed, fighting back tears. “Thank you, Shanna. I understand.”
“I can give you back a measure of humanity.” The witch stroked his neck with one finger and melted as he sought emotional comfort by rubbing his beak against her skin. “I can make you... human like.”
“Really?” Erik opened his eyes. “Like... uh... a hybrid flamingo?”
“Sort of.” Shanna nodded.
“Well, that’s delightfully weird and vague.” Erik laughed. “Wanna go wake the others? Are they the same as me now?”
“They are.” Shanna smiled, raising from the couch.
“Hey, uh... you wanna put me down?” Erik said in embarrassment. “I think I’m okay to walk this way.”
“Of course!” Shanna bent down and gently placed the feathery bird down on the floor. He looked around in awe and nodded.
“Hey, good!” The flamingo clapped his wings. “It’s not so scary now! And it’ll be less scary the bigger I get.”
Shanna stood up and looked down at the four inch bird. He gave her the cutest look of appreciation and nodded.
“Okay! Let’s get the others, buddy! I can’t wait to meet you all!”
“Oh, for sure! Me too! I don’t even know their names!” The flamingo pranced excitedly and clapped at Shanna’s foot.