Wild Magic by Carpenter Thomas K

Author:Carpenter, Thomas K.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Moon Books
Published: 2020-10-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

The Invictus Menagerie and Cryptozoo was closed on Mondays. The school used that day to work with the animals, so the grounds were filled with scattered students, some working with individual animals, others in groups, like Pax and fellow first years with Professor Didi.

The professor led them along the concrete pathways on the gray November day. Clouds covered the tip of the Spire, which made it look like it was a pillar holding up the sky. But the gloom could not detract from Pax's mood. Her heart burst with excitement at finally getting to enter the zoo. The professors had lectured them constantly that they had to master the basic work before they would be allowed around the animals on a regular basis. Pax understood the precaution—her experience with the unicorns had been quite instructive—but that didn't make it any less exciting to finally have the reins loosened.

"Those are the ur-bears," said Pax, bouncing on her heels as she pointed into an enclosure where bear-sized creatures with wide front facing eyes and glistening black beaks roamed.

"Whoa, freaky," said Liam. "They look like giant owls with fur rather than feathers. Bet they'd rip your face off if they could."

"Probably not," said Pax. "Most of the animals in this zoo aren't really that dangerous. That's why it's so open and easy to move around. The Portland zoo uses domes and enchanted glass and all kinds of wards to keep the animals and the patrons safe, but that requires a lot more money and security."

"You'd think Animalians would have that," said Janelle.

"This poor-ass hall? I'm not sure about the women's bathrooms, but half the sinks in ours are cracked or the hot water doesn't work," said Liam.

"I mean, does it really matter that much?" said Pax spritely.

Her friends shared a glance.

"You're practically jumping out of your shoes," said Janelle.

"Floating above the concrete is more like it," said Liam.

Professor Didi stopped them at the charo cages. She kept her hands clasped before her upper torso, and her thick glasses made her eyes larger than normal.

"Today we are going to learn the art of scraping. This is the practice of borrowing certain abilities from animals for a short time, but there are many restrictions to this practice. The first is that you cannot use an ability that you do not physically have," said Professor Didi.

The pace of her diction implied a pause between every word, giving the flow of her explanation a meandering feel.

"If you do not have gills, scraping from a fish will fill your lungs with water. If you cannot breathe fire, scraping from a dragon will only give you a sore throat.

"Instead, using scraping you might borrow the dexterity necessary to climb into a tree during your studies. Assuming you have the upper body strength to accomplish such a task. Be careful not to stretch yourself too far, or you might pull a muscle or damage yourself in other ways."

From the right side of the group, Jackson raised his hand. He had russet brown skin and a constellation of freckles across his nose.

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