“Friends?”
Rum lifted his beak and sang a sweet, high-pitched song. The bushes and leaves rustled before dozens of small sparrows burst out of their hiding spots. The tiny avians swooped around us as quickly as the blink of an eye. A few landed on my head, and I couldn’t help but laugh as their tiny feet tickled my scalp. Others perched on my shoulders, and a few even clung to my sleeves.
Rum marched soldier-style across the branch with his wings tucked tightly against his sides. “Marc informed me that your foes last night were able to strike your magic. We’re here today to make sure you’re the only one doing the striking.” He tweeted out a few bars, and the birds scattered to every bush and branch near me. Rum used a wing to point at a bird bath. “Now summon your magic and lift the water out of the bowl, and send it to you. We’ll try to pop them, and you need to try to control them enough to avoid the popping. Do you understand?”
My face drooped. “I understand, I just don’t know if I can do it.”
“Not yet, but by the time I’ve finished with you, you’ll be able to run bubbles around anything. Now let’s begin.”
I sighed, but focused all my energy on the water. The surface jiggled, and bubbles popped out. They floated into the air and glided toward me.
Until Rum gave the call. Then all the birds leaped into the air and dove at my bubbles. Not a single one survived. Try as I might, I couldn’t control a single bubble.
Rum ruffled his feathers. “I see we have a long day ahead of us.”
“A very long one because I don’t know how to control anything other than to make them float up,” I pointed out.
“Don’t focus on a single one. Focus on them as a flock.” The advice came from Marc as he folded his arms over his chest. “The flock protects its own. You might sacrifice some of the bubbles so the majority manage to reach you.”
Rum bobbed his head. “Good advice. Try that.”
I straightened and nodded. “Alright, I’ll do that. Get ready, everyone.” The birds chirped in response.
I focused all my attention on the whole container, and not just the little quirks in the surface of the water. The bubbles floated up as before, but more clustered. The birds took off and dive-bombed the cluster. Their sharp beaks popped the outer shell, but the inner circle remained untouched.
But not for long. The birds were making quick work of my work. I summoned the bubbles to myself, and they sped through the crowd of beaks and over to me.
A little too quickly. The bubbles crashed into me, soaking me to the bone.
I sheepishly smile at my amused companions as the birds landed. “I guess that works. Mostly.”
“Enough to earn you a new set of clothes,” Marc mused as he looked me over. “Care for some-”
I held up my hand. “I can handle changing my clothes by myself.”
“Which is why I’m coming with you,” Ramaro insisted as he stood.
“Only if you can catch me,” I challenged him before I darted down the path.
Chapter 30
Ramaro darted after me and was soon at my side. “You shouldn’t warn an agama of a foot race with a human! We can’t be beat by you two-legged creatures!”
“Then race this!” I challenged him as we reached the rear door. I slipped inside and shut the door behind me.
A hard thud told me my plan had worked. I eased open the door a few inches and beheld the dazed lizard, swaying to and fro on his butt. His pitiful state forced a wave of guilt over me, and I opened the door wide.
That’s when he rolled onto his paws and dashed between my legs. “Ha!” he shouted over his shoulder. “Never trust a pirate, especially when they’re down!”
I closed the door and folded my arms over my chest. “Does the pirate know the door upstairs is also closed? Or has the pirate suddenly grown opposable thumbs?”
Ramaro slowed to a stop and plopped himself down with his back facing me. He waited a moment before he looked over his shoulder to glare at me. “Well? Are you coming, or not?”
“Coming,” I assured him as I sauntered down the hall.
Ramaro strolled out of sight, and I heard his footsteps pad up the steps. I had reached the threshold of the foyer when a strange scratching noise came from the front door. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, but I tiptoed over to the portal. The heavy wooden door didn’t allow me a look inside, so I reluctantly reached for the handle.
“What are you doing?” I jumped and spun around to find Ramaro standing at the bottom of the stairs. He strolled over to me with his tongue flicking out. “What’s taking you?”
