Sakura waited outside the school. Lilly was inside studying, and things were very quiet. It gave her little to do but enjoy the sunshine. The cat yawned a little... but could sense... them.
The others, similar to her but not at all like her...
It was the guardians of the magic girls. Trident the human looking one was walking alongside the cat-girl Tetra, and of course the fairy known as 'princess' Vertex. They stood as a circle, surrounding Sakura, their expressions wary.
"Okay... just what are you," said Trident trying to sounds confident, in front of a house cat that might consider her a mouse to eat.
Sakura curled up to go rest on her side. If she understood what they were talking about, the cat didn't seem to be bothered.
"Let's try a different approach," said Tetra. "I speak cat." She said grinning. She tried a few mewling sounds to Sakura, to get her to talk back, but the cat still ignored her.
"What did you say?" Asked Trident.
"I'm not really sure. Cat's don't exactly have much to talk about."
"Well we need to work out what she is, and how this relates to Lilly's powers." said Tetra.
"It's not her power though. It's the stick.. its charged with some energy from one of the primal elements of existence." reminded Trident. "Don't forget she was nearly lost in the monster's dimension."
"Maybe she really is a magic girl?" Asked Princess Vertex. "Stranger things have happened."
"This is not a guardian though!" Said Tetra just a little annoyed at the whole idea that this strange animal could be anything like what they were.
"It doesn't seem like she belongs in the story," Agreed Tetra looking the black cat over.
Princess vertex fluttered to the cat's face, and plucked a whisker from it.
Sakura immediately jumped and hissed.
"...that got it's attention," said Princess Vertex.
The cat stared down at them.
Speak
The magic girl companions gasped. The voice... that voice, just existed inside their heads. It was creepy. Very creepy. What kind of a beast was this? They glanced at each other, wondering who should address it first. Eventually, Tetra decided to give it a shot. "Hi... well... we want to know just what you are..."
Sakura didn't respond, she just started to lick her paws.
"Hey! Tell us what you are!" said Trident piping in quickly.
I protect my contractor... Lilly Gordon.
"So... you are some kind of magic girl companion?" asked Trident carefully.
Sakura stared down at the small doll-like creatures. She gave me a different life... In return I give her, what she can not have... what she desired... and be what she desires me to be. We formed a contract and bond... closer then you could ever know. Closer... we are, then to your own charges...
"You used to be some kind of monster... didn't you," said Trident looking over the creature.
No... I was THE Monster. I could have ended time. I know all 'your' secrets...
The three animal companions tensed at that somewhat as they glanced at each other.
"So... you know?" asked Trident warily. "What... are you going to do?"
My purpose... is to serve Lilly Gordon until the end of time... That is all you need know. We all... keep our secrets...
"Look- I get that we may have got off on the wrong... paw," said Tetra. "But we can't have secrets when the universe is at stake. We need you to keep Lilly away when things get dangerous. When the numbers have to do their job."
Sakura growled a little at that, the voice akin to a tiger like sound from her small body. It was low and guttural, and made the bones vibrate, as if she could turn their insides to dust.
I serve.. my contractor. What she desires, I will try to do for her... and only her.
