Authors note:

Warning: from here on I will be using Celtic words. I will give the meanings at the end of each chapter.

** means witch craft

{} Lyra to companions

~ ~ cat to Lyra and bird

Bird to cat and Lyra

Subject: Lyra Symol

Status: confidential

Notes: subject is not afraid to display **. She has high mastery of her powers.

Subject: Lyra Symol

Status: confidential

Message: refer to the subject as an item, emotional bonds cannot be permitted.

When Lyra got home, she was not suprised that her mother was fit to be tied.

She had been gone for two hours, and she was only supposed to be gone for one.

"Lyra, what are we going to do with you?"

"Get me ready to receive my companions?"

Companions were a cat and a bird, one of which had to be with you at all times. When you turn 13 you are eligible to receive companions, but she had turned 13 on the way here, so she had to wait until now to get her companions.

"Fine." Responded her mother. "But while you get ready you are going to tell me why you are late."

So, while they got Lyra into ceremonial robes (pure silver. Black is for nighttime only. Sort of like eveningwear.) She told her mother all about the beach and which spells she had used.

"Also I need more copernicus oil, and sandwood grain. I need to make more aging powder."

"Okay, honey." Said her mom, fiddling with her hair. Martha (that is what we are calling Lyra's mother from now on.) was using citrus oil to make it curl just right.

Finally everything was done.

Smiling, Lyra picked up her kit and pulling out her broom quickly chanted the charm.

Giving Martha a kiss on the cheek, she got on the broom sidesaddle (at Martha's insistence) and took off for a near by grove of trees.

Landing gracefully, she got off her broom again and said

"Gather wind, fire, water, earth,

Light and time hear my plea

Create the spell, create the chains

Make this broom dormant again!"

And placed her broom in her pocket. 5 other girls were present.

Demetra, Kallera, Rashel and Jasara.

Kallera and Rashel were twins. Brown hair and sea green eyes. They were Lyra's two best friends, and lived one town over. Kallera is sweet, kind and shy. She is always willing to learn, and prefers books to adventures. Rashel is the complete opposite. I think that the name Rashel was just a way for her parents to label her rash. She is out going, and quick to temper with anyone but Kallera.

Demetra had brown hair and baby blue eyes. She lived in the same town as the twins, and did everything Jasara told her to.

Jasara. Jasara had Blond hair blue eyes and a horrid attitude. She felt that she was the most important being in the world and no one else mattered. She lived in the same town as Lyra, and was Lyra's mortal enemy.

Lyra walked strait over to the twins without a second thought.

"How are you guys?"

"Excited." Said Rashel while at the same time Kallera said "nervous."

Lyra opened her mouth to say something when 3 women in white robes walked in.

One had red hair and grey-hazel eyes.

Another had gold-flecked brown hair and red flecked brown eyes.

The third had strawberry-blond hair and blue hazel eyes.

All of them carried baskets. Upon seeing them all of us lined up, and much to my annoyance I found myself next to Jasara. Jasara looked about as happy.

"Okay, girls." Said the first women. "Each of you are going to come up and pick one basket from each pile. You will get 1 cat and 1 bird. Through your witch powers you will be able to talk to them. They are all a different breed. No matter how you feel about them you must always take care of them."

Even though she knew this, Lyra listened closely.

"Kallera."

Kallera walked forward, nervously and picked up a basket from each and returned to the line. You couldn't look at your companions until everyone had there's.

"Rashel."

Rashel walked forward confidently, and picked up her baskets.

"Demetra."

She couldn't tell Demetra's emotions as she walked forward.

"Lyra."

She herself was nervous, but she didn't show it. Her mother being the council leader, she had learned to keep her emotions from showing.

The baskets were ** made. She knew that immediately. She was sure that the one in her right hand was the bird because it was lighter.

"Jasara."

Jasara walked forward confidently and picked up her baskets.

Then the 3 women touched there foreheads with they're middle finger.

All of us put one basket down and returned the gesture, it meant goodbye, except Jasara who just smirked,

/That brat./

We broke the line and back into 2 groups.

The twins and I walked over to the other side of the clearing and sat down, not worrying about our cloths- they were stain proof.

We took turns opening a basket. Kallera went first.

She opened 1 of her baskets and found a beautiful white kitten- almost a cat. That's how old all of the cats had to be. Then it was Rashel's turn.

She opened a basket and found a snowy owl, a hybrid for witches that came out during both the night and the day. Rashel looked happy.

I opened my heavier basket and found a traditional black cat except he had a white-silver star on his forehead.

{What's your name?} She asked telepathically, like they had been taught.

~ It's Duile, mistress.~

{The name suits you and call me Lyra.}

It was Kallera's turn again. Boldened by her success with the kitten, she opened her basket without hesitation. When she opened it there was a beautiful peregrine falcon.

Next came Rashel. She opened her next basket excitedly. Out came a tiger striped cat, and Rashel promptly put her in her lap. This hole time none of us spoke. It would be disrespectful.

She opened her next basket and had to work not to gasp. She was a beautiful Cooper hawk. Cooper hawks were very rare, because of there wisdom.

{Hi. What's your name?}

Her voice was as beautiful as she was.

{Lyra, please. It's nice to meet you.}

With that, the ceremony was over. Unless, they decided to go ahead and get a magical companion as well next year. She stood up, Duile at her ankles and Bua on her shoulder. They all touched their middle fingers to their foreheads and went to separate parts of the clearing.

Pulling out my broomstick I chanted the spell and put Bua on the front while setting Duile on the basket. I sat sidesaddle on the broom until we were out of sight, when I changed to regular in midair, causing Duile to read me a long lecture on broom safety. I knew this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Authors note:

Duile: elements. May include earth, water, stone, salt, sun, rain, clouds, wind, and stars. I chose it because of 'stars'

Bua: victory, triumph, success, skill, talent, and destiny.