Mean Seasons 67 Hooter
Jamie was just getting home from school, when something feathery and cold flew into his head. The boy looked wide-eyed at the Snow Familiar, one of the owls from the Winter Palace, and giggled as he grabbed the bird and scratched him on the head fondly.
"Hooter? what are you doing here?"
"Where did that owl come from?" Carrie asked as her son walked in with the bird on his head.
"He followed me home mom... Can I keep him?"
"Jamie...that is a wild beast. You can't keep him."
"He isn't wild or a beast! He's Jack's owl captain of hunting and Snow!"
"He's what?"
"His Owl Captain of Hunting and SNow! See, Jack can't be everywhere so Hooter makes it snow in places Jack can't go right away. Hooter is also the Captain of the Hunters."
"Why did he follow you home?" she was curious now.
Jamie fingered his mark, and smiled
"I guess he got lonely."
His mother smiled but had some concerns.
"Would it be healthy for him to stay here? Could the neighbors see him?"
Jamie thought for a minute.
"He would look like just an owl to them if they could see him. And he's Jack's familliar, so as long as we keep him somewhere cold, it won't matter. Come on mom Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?"
"I'll have to talk to Jack about it first."
"Talk to me about what?" A familliar voice rang out from outside the open window
"Hooter followed Jamie home and now he wants to keep him."
Jack snorted, a smile on his face as he ruffled the boy's hair.
"Jamie is the Prince of Winter. Of course he can keep Hooter. After all, that owl has been pining for him since he came back home."
Carrie smiled. "So, since he is your familiar, I'm guessing he will need to be kept cold, will need food and water, and will leave snow droppings instead of pellets."
Jack and Jamie laughed, wehile the King of Winter nodded enthusiasticly.
"Pretty much, yes!"
Carrie sighed, a look of bemusement on her face.
"Very well, Jamie. You may keep him."
"YIPPIE!"