The familiar scent of blood teased at her nose, and Juniper stilled, watching Cam with the unnatural attention of a wary cat. The blood, a black liquid in the firelight, glimmered as it dripped from his palm onto the cool dirt and there was a moment of breathless anticipation before the magic took hold.
On a scale of one to ten of magic, from a cursed sooty explosion to the splendor of watching someone trap lighting in a bottle, this ranked up there for Juniper The flames took on a life of their own, the wood crackling as it turned into a pillar of light that reached for the stars. Juniper leaned back on the little pile of logs, watching the tongues of flame shoot above the treetops. She hoped that wouldn't draw any attention, but she had no more time to think about it as the light engulfed the circle.
Pupils pinning, she held up a hand to shield her eyes, but otherwise didn't move. She was glad to be outside the ritual circle, as always, but it didn't frighten her like it used to. Living with a wizard had been a good dose of exposure therapy. Now, she just looked out for Cam's form within the glow, wondering tensely if the ritual had gone as he intended or if she'd sadly just find a smear on the ground when it ended.
On a scale of one to ten of magic, from a cursed sooty explosion to the splendor of watching someone trap lighting in a bottle, this ranked up there for Juniper The flames took on a life of their own, the wood crackling as it turned into a pillar of light that reached for the stars. Juniper leaned back on the little pile of logs, watching the tongues of flame shoot above the treetops. She hoped that wouldn't draw any attention, but she had no more time to think about it as the light engulfed the circle.
Pupils pinning, she held up a hand to shield her eyes, but otherwise didn't move. She was glad to be outside the ritual circle, as always, but it didn't frighten her like it used to. Living with a wizard had been a good dose of exposure therapy. Now, she just looked out for Cam's form within the glow, wondering tensely if the ritual had gone as he intended or if she'd sadly just find a smear on the ground when it ended.