Mia and Ann now studied their friends as they gathered in the woods. Trying to find somewhere to practice had been harder than the two had thought. They wanted privacy yet realized after what had happened if things were too quiet they would find themselves on edge. Therefore the group compromised, settling on a hiking trail relatively close to Ann's home with some insurances.
"Do you really think Rexie is going to intimidate anyone," Fae asked. Mia now looked over at her familiar, the small tabby cat staring into the woods. "Just watch," she smirked.
With a flick of her wrist the others now watched as Rexie began to grow, her body shifting, becoming more muscular. In only a few seconds a rather large black panther with glowing red eyes gazed off into the woods. The others simply gawked at Mia. None of them had ever seen her transform her familiar.
"I stand corrected."
"So whats the plan," Drake asked. Now it was Ann's turn to step forward. Taking a deep breath she now looked over her friends. "Look whether you believe it or not we're probably the best when it comes to magic," she said. "Yeah some of the others can do magic too. Some of them may even have been born with it. But, we've been training for a long time now. We can handle ourselves better than the others."
The group now began to murmur as they looked between one another. While anthros didn't have magical abilities that didn't mean others didn't. Mummies, Dragons, Tanuki, Nekomata, even the Fae had access to magic. What made them so special?
"While I appreciate the pep talk Ann I'm not quite sure," Winery stated. "Zack and I are both Lycans and our magic is minimal at best. And their are students that are quite formidable when it comes to magic?"
"But they don't have our experience," Ann countered. "Just look at Zack and Mia and what they had to go through." Both Mia and Zack winced, they both hated being reminded of their time on the run.
"I'm sorry you two but its true," Ann apologized. "You two have been in life or death situations. You survived and you became stronger for it. I doubt anyone at school has that kind of experience."
"Hopefully they never have too," Mia sighed. "But what else besides experience makes us better?" Ann now held up her hand, showing off the two rings she wore.
"We also have these," she said. "Items that are incredibly powerful. We have access to almost anything in the Magic Shop. Plus I've been teaching Gloria and Jackie magic for years, you guys have seen the kind of spells they can produce."
The others were still not convinced giving one another sideways glances. As they were about to answer they could hear the sound of Rexie growling, the dander on the panther familiar rising in alarm. Startled the group watched as two teens rounded the path.
"Terumi what are you and Rini doing here," Fae asked.
Terumi and her Nekomata friend now shifted in place nervously as they lowered their gaze to the ground. "Mom said you were hanging out with your friends," Terumi said softly. "I figured you guys were probably planning something so I wanted to help."
The group now raised an eyebrow, Terumi usually wanted nothing to do with her sister in public. The fairies older sister ran with a much different crowd than them.
"Stacy was my next door neighbor," Rini said quietly. "She was...really nice, even though she didn't have to be. She didn't deserve that. We want to help."
Mia and Ann turned, giving eacjother a knowing look before beckoning the two older teens to join them. "Well I guess I should say welcome to the club," Zack stated.
"Ugh don't make this weirder than it has to be," Terumi sighed.
"Okay so what are we doing," Rini asked, trying to remain focused.
"I was just trying to explain to everyone how we are better equipped to deal with this kind of thing than anyone else at school." Rini scoffed, rolling her eyes as she studied the waifish blond teen in front of her. Sure her parents were some all powerful wizards and her grandparents were near God's. It didn't mean Ann was like that. Who cared if she had two old rings on her hand.
"No offense Ann," Rini grumbled. "But it ain't your folks the One Humanity is after. Besides what can two old rings do?"
Ann narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the Nekomata teen. Without warning Rini seemed to vanish, the others gasping in surprise as the teens empty clothing stood suspended in the air for a moment before fluttering to the earthy floor. As the clothes settled, the group beheld a small lump that appeared to be moving. The groups eyes growing wide in astonishment as an infant Nekomata emerged from the clothing.
Rini now gazed up at the others, the anthro cats tan fur looking baby soft while her large amber eyes seemed to fill with wonder. Fae couldn't help but think of a stuffed animal as she gazed at the baby fur in front of her.
"My rings can do that."
The others now stared in stunned silence as Terumi picked her friend off the forest floor, the baby Nekomata mewing like a kitten as she batted the tanuki teens necklace.
"We're going to have to work together," Mia stated. "Help eachother out and keep an eye out for everyone else. We already have abilities. What Ann and I are proposing is strengthening those abilities and sharing what we do know with the others."
"Just as soon as I change Rini back."
The group nodded as Terumi gathered up Rinis clothing. They were going to have to work together to keep everyone they knew safe.