The huge grey owl was perched easily on the patio table and regarded the teenager with great yellow eyes.
Hi. I'm Cameron. I'm a familiar.
The teen stared as he heard this greeting without ears, in his mind.
Do you even know what a familiar is? If you know anything about witchcraft and familiars, you might have thought of Pyewacket from Bell, Book, and Candle, or maybe Wizard Justyn's tatterdemalion black cat from Owlflight....
And of course, familiars can move in a variety of ways that aren't strictly commonplace....Prince Rupert's dog Boye, was a ferocious familiar; they were scared of him because he fought so bravely alongside Prince Rupert in many battles. They tried to shoot him with a silver bullet, but their aim was off. No surprise there, nothing but a great lot of ill bred revolutionaries and stumble bum republicans they were....
I think you understand that something eldritch is taking place here; and I also think that you're beginning to relax just a little, so I'm going to let you have more freedom of movement; but believe me when I tell you that you have to listen to what I'm about to tell you, and as I suspect you now know, you will listen. Why don't you go into the kitchen and get us some cold drinks. I'd like a root beer in a nice bowl, if you please....
[This story is just beginning, I've two chapters so far. I would love to have an editor if this strikes anyone's fancy.]