Chapter nine:
Michael and Gavin make it back to the school and land in the courtyard. Michael quickly hops off then leans against Gavin while Gavin settles on the ground like a normal bird as they pant a little mostly from relief to have gotten away.
Michael turns to Gavin sitting on the ground with his back leaning against Gavin. "You okay? Like not the okay enough to keep going I mean okay okay." He asks now that they really are safe and Gavin nods. "That's good." He closes his eyes with a sigh of relief.
"Hey you two."
They turn and see Geoff and Jack.
"Something up? That didn't look like a normal victory fly." Jack points out as the two come over. "Or at least how you two normally return from one."
"That's because it wasn't." Michael admits giving a worried look making the other two frown in worry.
"What happened?" Geoff questions now rather worried.
"Some black stuff tried to grab Gavin and me! Mostly Gavin but that was probably because he was carrying me and a bigger target." Michael explains.
"That's unusual." Geoff says worriedly. "We should talk to the headmaster."
"It's not the first attack."
They turn as Geoff and Jack turn around to see Burnie and Joel walking up with Joel having spoken.
Geoff and Jack part to allow the two to join in.
"What do you mean?" Michael inquires in curiosity.
"Just earlier another student was attacked. Seemingly not too much longer before you two." Burnie explains. "Something tried to grab them just like what you said. They told us quiet a similar story. Though considering that it was Luna who informed me this most definitely isn't made up stories. None of you would lie about something like this."
"Do you have any idea who could be behind it?" Michael asks getting up and placing a hand on Gavin mostly to keep the other calm.
The two shake their heads.
"Couldn't tell you." Joel admits. "We've never heard of such a thing or of anyone who could have done this."
"Perhaps did anything stand out to you? Perhaps something that seemed off?" Burnie asks.
Michael pauses to think for a moment then snaps his fingers as he thinks of something. "There is one!" He says. "Just before we were attacked there was this geyser that shot out in front of us making us have to stop. At first I wondered if it was some kind of oil leak or something but it was suddenly solid. It then faded from existence. We were about to get out of there when we realized that something was wrong."
"And you ended up getting attacked." Joel finishes in which the other two nod. "Interesting." He brings a hand to his chin in thought.
"Joel..." Burnie slightly turns to the other.
"It seems like there is a chance that this person knows that you two are really fast." Joel begins and Michael blinks as he understands.
"So they used a distraction to slow us down so they can attack!" Michael realizes out louds finishing the explanation.
Joel nods. "Precisely." He confirms.
Gavin transforms back into a human as Michaels hand falls to his side. "Then it comes down as to why us."
"My best guess is that perhaps they want something from certain people." Joel offers as an idea. "But it's only theories." He shrugs then his arms flop back to his sides. "Just be careful but don't be obvious about it. Act causal for now while keeping your eyes open. We don't want to cause a panic just yet. There is a chance that a panic could be another reason for these attacks. We will be looking into it but for now we will need to try to keep a calm environment unless needed."
"Sounds good." Michael agrees and Gavin nods with a grunt of confirmation.
With that out of the way they go their separate ways with Michael and Gavin going one way while the rest go the other way.
Once the other two can't hear Geoff clears his throat. "Anything you didn't want to share with Michael and Gavin?" He asks to the other.
"We believe that it is a witch and or familiar. A probably powerful one at that too. We'll have to double check the radar but it didn't seem like we picked up signals of strange strong magic."
"What if it wasn't that powerful?" Jack inquires as they slow to a stop.
"It still should have been there. The only other reason it could be that it didn't show up other than being probably an undetected spell... Is that it was too far. However it usually covers the city quite well."
"Maybe a lower power yet powerful in appearance spell and distance had roles as to why we didn't notice." Geoff offers an idea.
"Maybe but we'll need to watch for suspicious behaviour and watch out for any signs of unknown magic."
Geoff nods in agreement.
...
Michael and Gavin have decided to take a rest in their rooms after what had happened.
Michael is laying on his back thinking slightly when he hears something at his window. He turns and sees Gavin as a falcon but normal sized. He sits up and uses his wand to open the window with magic flicking the wand up once his magic surrounds the window letting Gavin inside.
Gavin flies over to Michael who stops using magic and spreads his wings over the other in a hug.
With one arm holding Gavin Michael places his wand down before fully hugging his familiar.
They remain there for a few moments then pull away. Gavin lands on Michaels lap and Michael places his hands on the bed looking down at the other.
"You wanna sleep here?" Michael asks in which Gavin nods.
Gavin hops to beside Michael then transforms to human. He is now sitting on the bed beside Michael.
Michael places Gavin's hat on the nightstand where his own hat is placed for now.
The two lay down cuddling against each other feeling much better and they end up falling asleep.
Elsewhere...
Ryan shuts his book that he had to read a chapter from for homework and glances to his witch only to see that Ray had drifted off to sleep. He smiles putting his book down and takes Rays hat off putting it on Rays nightstand, they are in Ray's room. He picks the other carefully shifting the other into his arms. He gets up and places Ray on the bed managing to pull the covers out before pulling them over Ray. "Sleep well." He says gently then turns to grab his book to leave when he hears a slight groan. He looks to Ray who shifts in his sleep as if trying to find something. He chuckles then reaches towards the other letting Rays blindly searching hand come into contact with it.
In his sleep Ray gently grips his familiars hand as if a silent plead to stay.
Ryan takes off his hat putting it beside Rays then climbs carefully over Ray, their hands slipping apart, until he's on his other side. "You win." He gives in speaking a little quietly as he lies down behind Ray. He puts an arm around Ray to give him assurance that he is there.
Ray rolls over and Ryan lets him then Ray shifts closer so they are pressed against each other.
Ryan lays his head on the pillow. "Good night." He closes his eyes and drifts off into the most comfortable sleep he's ever had.