It was the second scrimmage of the year. JM was facing one of their biggest in-conference rivals, the Bishop-Mason Falcons. Everyone was really nervous. The team had to travel out to Bishop-Mason, which had fans almost as devoted as their own. Of course the "Victory Caravan" of cheering cars followed the bus, but it gave them little comfort.
They reached the arena and proceeded out. Morrigan and Allora, just as always, changed by themselves. They rejoined the team on the ice. Coach Ryder had decided to forego the typical pep talk. He said, "If you're not ready now, you won't be after the pep talk."
Coach sometimes did that before big games. It didn't matter anyway. The team pumped themselves up without the speech. Allora and Morrigan skated their warm-ups, trying to loosen up.
"Oh no!" Allora groaned as she saw number nineteen on Bishop-Mason skate over.
Morrigan giggled. "It's your boyfriend."
"Shut up!" Allora said impatiently.
Number 19 stopped in front of both. "Hi Allora. Just wanted to wish you luck."
"Thanks, Guy. You, too."
As Guy skated away, Allora mumbled, "You're going to need it.".
Allora especially hated playing the Falcons because their center, Guy, had a crush on Allora since they played together in junior hockey. It made things very uncomfortable.
The ref moved to the center of the rink. Guy and Allora joined him. The ref dropped the puck, and Allora controlled the face off, but before she could pass it away Guy checked her onto the ice and grabbed the puck away. Though, he liked her, he didn't let that get in the way of the game. To make matters worse, Guy broke away and scored. After only fifteen seconds, JM was already down one. Allora rammed her stick into the ice. She would get her revenge quickly, though. This time she kept control of the face off, and passed it over to Trey on her left. Finally, the announcer's voice pierced into the team's consciousness.
"Calisto gets the puck and proceeds to move up the Falcons end. He passes it back to the center Colleen. Colleen moves up to the goal, she shoots, she scores! JM ties it up, just like that."
Allora was surrounded by her teammates as they celebrated the tying goal. The first period wore on with little activity. Both teams seemed to cancel each other out after the early spurts. When the buzzer blared, everyone trudged off the ice. The second period wore on in much the same way. The game didn't seem to live up to the hype. That was, until the third period. The announcer had become rather lackadaisical during the second period, but his demeanor changed greatly at the start of the third.
"Grey controls the puck, passing it quickly to Maffeo who rams through the Bishop-Mason forwards. He taps it up to Colleen who passes it quickly to Calisto. Calisto stops suddenly and passes it to a charging Grey. Grey gets his stick on it and hits a bomb into the goal! JM leads two to one!"
Everyone crowded around Drake in celebration. For almost the remainder of the game, JM let their defense take over. When the final buzzer rang, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone shook hands begrudgingly. The Ice Demons skated to their respective locker rooms triumphantly.
"Good game," Morrigan said, getting her pads off.
"Thanks," Allora replied.
"Tough team, aren't they?"
"Sure are."
"Yeah, I was talking to Drake and he says Trey really wants to go out with you," Morrigan said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"So?"
"Maybe you should think about it."
"I already know that he likes me. I, however, don't like him in that way."
"You sure?"
"I think I would know."
"Oh, I see."
"You see what?"
"You're holding out for Guy."
Allora blushed. "No. I'm not holding out for anyone. I didn't know not having a boyfriend was such a big deal," Allora got up and grabbed her bag and left.
Morrigan looked at the door in surprise. "I didn't mean it like that."
*****
"I've called you here to speak about the Faerie that came to us the other day," Morrigan began.
She looked over all her friends who were standing in the clearing in the woods, which had become a sort of official meeting place for their supernatural talks.
"We saw a Faerie. I think that is the extent I want to go with this conversation," Brystol said.
"Let her speak, preppy!" Drake roared.
Brystol gave Drake a malevolent glare, mumbling to herself.
"There is more to it," Morrigan gritted. "First off, after all of you left, I went to the creek near here and conjured a Faerie. It appeared to me, but it ended up being evil. Lydia saved me. She took me home and comforted me. She is good. She is here to help."
Johnny shook his head. "That's all well and good, but how can we be sure that wasn't just to gain our trust so she can betray us?"
Morrigan bit her lip. "I can't be sure. But seriously guys, don't you want her help? We're not exactly experts on demons and these new powers. I may be a Wiccan, but only casually. Besides, this is way out of even the most hardcore Wiccan to understand. And she did give us things that really could come in handy in a battle."
Allora seemed deep in thought. "Truman, you've been rather quiet. What do you think of all this?"
Truman looked up at her. "I think Morrigan is right," he replied uncertainly.
"I don't," Trey piped up.
"Why not?" Morrigan asked.
"I agree with Johnny. I think it's a trick."
No one spoke for what seemed like an eternity. "Let's take it to a vote, then," Allora suggested.
"Alright, those in favor of giving Lydia a chance, raise their hand."
Drake, Truman, Allora, and Morrigan all raised their hands immediately. Brystol raised hers reluctantly.
"Alright then, it's five to two. I win."
Johnny kicked the ground in anger. Trey, however, seemed very worried.
"Okay. I'll see you all tomorrow at school," Morrigan said.
They all went their separate ways except Trey. He sat on a tree stump for some time, thinking. He finally got up and left, still uncertain about this Lydia.
*****
"They don't believe me," Lydia explained, thinking back to when she saved Morrigan.
She was standing in a large room, clouds all around her. Her mother, the Queen, sat before her in a large, cushy, purple throne.
She smiled at Lydia. "Get one of them to believe your intentions are good, and the rest will follow."
"I don't know if I can do that," Lydia sighed.
"Who is the most likely to trust you?"
Lydia thought for a second. "Well, there is the one. She has tried to conjure a Faerie before. She may be the most learned in our ways. I may be able to speak frankly with her."
"Than the problem is solved," the Queen declared jovially.
"Well, I don't know how to go about it."
"Maybe you should talk to your sister Isabelle. She says her group has taken to her quite nicely."
Lydia rolled her eyes. "I'll take care of it myself," she said, flying away.
*****
Allora picked up the phone in excitement. She dialed Morrigan's number.
"Hello?" Morrigan answered.
"Hey,"
"Oh, I thought you were mad at me."
"Oh, that. I'm over it."
"That's cool,"
"Anyway, my mom finally gave in. She said yes!" Allora beamed excitedly.
"Said yes to what?"
"About the macaw!"
"Oh," Morrigan sighed. She was happy for Allora, but birds sort of creeped her out.
"You know how long I've been wanting one?" Allora sound giddy, very un-Allora like.
"Who knows? But why did she finally give in?"
"I'm going back to karate. Plus I've gotten 4.0 GPA's for like forever. I guess she figured I deserved it."
"Well that's good."
"Yep. So, you want to go to the pet shop with me?"
Morrigan frowned. "I guess."
"Okay. I'll be over in a few."
Morrigan hung up the phone. "I guess you have to go Drake."
Drake looked away from the television. "Why?"
"I have to do something with Allora."
Drake rolled his eyes. "Don't you always?"
Morrigan gave Drake an exasperated look. "She is my best friend. Now leave."
"Alright already," Drake said, getting up and leaving.
A few minutes later Allora arrived, smiling.
"Let's get this over with," Morrigan growled, grabbing her coat.
They walked to the pet store, which wasn't very far. Allora seemed to almost skip.
"How much do these things cost anyway?" Morrigan asked.
"My mom gave me four-thousand dollars. For the bird, the cage, food, and stuff like that."
Morrigan stopped. "You're spending four-thousand dollars on some creepy bird?"
"They're not creepy, they're beautiful."
They reached the pet store and walked in. A tall man came up to them. "Can I help you with anything?"
Allora smiled. "Yep. I'm looking for a macaw."
The man smiled back. "Ah, a macaw. I'll show you our selection. You must know that we breed all of our own animals and we're known nation-wide for our quality."
The man led them to the back of the store. The wall was full of large cages of macaws and other exotic birds. Morrigan shuddered as she looked at all the birds.
"Is there a particular species you're looking for?" the man asked.
Allora looked at the different kinds of macaws that the store had in stock on a marker board above one of the cages. "Yeah, I think I want a Catalina."
"Ah, a very rare hybrid, but we have two," the man said, leading them to the corner.
Allora looked at a baby one standing alone in the back of the cage. "Awww, look at that one!"
The man looked at her in surprise. "Are you sure? That one is sort of a loner. Doesn't like humans much."
"A loner? How cool! We'll get along great," Allora looked at the macaw with teary eyes. "That's the one. I'll take the cage too."
The man smiled. "I'll ring those up for you."
"And give me a bag of your best food," Allora called.
The man nodded.
"I love it!" Allora said with excitement.
Morrigan was now looking at a litter of black kittens in a cage nearby. "Can't you get a black cat? They're so much cooler."
Allora gave Morrigan an impatient look. "I'm getting a macaw."
"Then I'll get this black kitten with the white tipped tail," Morrigan said, satisfied.
Allora looked at her. "Really?"
Morrigan nodded.
The man returned. "That'll be $3750.78, miss."
Allora handed the man the check.
As the man walked away, Morrigan called. "I want this black kitten with the white-tipped tail."
"Okay, miss. That's thirty dollars."
Morrigan smiled. "Here," she said, handing him thirty-one dollar bills, then pulled back her money. "Uh I also need some food and that box they shit in with the sand."
The man looked at Morrigan slightly cockeyed, then returned with the other things she had asked for. "That'll be sixty-three dollars and seventy-four cents."
Morrigan nodded and reluctantly added another thirty-three to the pile then smiled to Allora. "Even with all this junk, my kitty is still less than your damn bird."
Allora shrugged and the two girls walked out the pet store, both had pets by their side. Then a thought shot through Allora's head. "Morrigan, we walked here, didn't we?"
"Yeah so?" Then the thought hit her, too. "Oh, shit. How are we supposed to get home?"
"We might as well call Brystol," Allora suggested.
"Alright," Morrigan agreed, grabbing the pay phone off the receiver.
"Hello?" Brystol answered.
"Hey Brys. Can you pick us up? We're kind of stranded," Morrigan explained.
"Sure. Where are you?"
"The pet store."
"What?" Brystol blurted.
"The pet store on Fifth," Morrigan said meekly.
"You didn't buy any pets, did you?"
"Yeah. Allora bought a macaw and I bought a cat."
"Ewww. Doubtful you'll ever get a ride off me with animals."
"Come on. We're stranded!"
"You made the choice to buy icky animals, now you have to deal with its ramifications."
"Alright," Morrigan replied, scared.
"You can call Johnny I suppose. He wouldn't mind mangy animals in his car."
"They're not mangy!" Morrigan defended.
"I'm sure. I'll talk to you later," she said, hanging up.
"Ugh. That bitch," Morrigan vented.
Allora bit her lip. "I guess it's Johnny then."
Morrigan picked up the phone again and inserted two quarters.
"Hello?"
"Hey Johnny. Can you pick us up at the pet store? We're kind of stranded here with Allora's new bird and my cat."
"Sure. I don't really like cats, though. You'll have to sit in the back of the truck."
Morrigan was about to burst. "Just come already," she screamed through gritted teeth.
Johnny hung up and Morrigan did as well.
"He'll be here in a second," Morrigan informed, stroking her cat.
"What are you going to name it?" Allora asked.
Morrigan took the cat's face and shoved it near her own. The cat's body dangled before her. "Hmm…you look like a… a…Lola. Yeah, that'll do."
"Lola. That's a pretty name."
"For a pretty kitty," Morrigan said rubbing her nose in Lola's face.
Allora's macaw squawked loudly in its cage. "And what are you going to name that?"
"I dunno," Allora answered.
Johnny arrived just then in his big black pickup truck. When he saw the bird he jumped back a bit. "You didn't say it was tropical," he said, looking nervously at the bird.
"Macaws are generally tropical," Allora looked puzzled.
"Is it poisonous?" Johnny asked.
"No silly." Allora's face suddenly lit up. "Hey. That's a good name. Poison."
"It's fitting," Morrigan agreed, climbing into the back of the pickup truck with Lola and all the supplies.
Allora got into the passenger's side with Poison trying desperately to escape.
"He seems to like you a lot," Johnny said sarcastically.
Johnny dropped them both off at Morrigan's. They both thanked him.
"Hey, if you guys want to come, Truman and Brystol and I are going bowling tonight."
"Nah," Morrigan answered. "I want to get more acquainted with Lola."
"Su—" Allora began, but stopped at the look Morrigan gave her. "Thanks anyway. Maybe some other time."
"Okay," he said, driving away.