Several hours later

Pan woke some hours later. The sun had nearly set, painting the sky with a sultry red glow. She sat up and looked around; Kethaeros was nowhere to be found. She was still at the trunk of the wisteria tree, but the essence of life that had saturated it earlier had ebbed away with the dying light. Pan's silks were placed in a neat little pile beside her, as well as something new.

Curled up on Pan's garments was a fox. A real fox, by the looks of it. It was sound asleep, with its tail tucked under its chin. Pan smiled softly at it and attempted to rouse it with a gentle pet.

"Come on little one, it's time to wake up," she cooed. "I'm sure you're comfy, but I need those."

The fox opened its eyes and turned to her. It was not unusual for animals to approach witches, nor were they likely to spook upon being approached by one. However this fox appeared a bit too comfortable, as it stared at Pan through heavily lidded eyes.

It's about time you woke up.

Pan blinked. Animals could talk, she knew this. But they could not talk telepathically. Telepathy required inherent magic, which mundane animals did not have. Perhaps she was still worn out from the Binding, or perhaps she was still asleep?

A cute thought, but no. You are not dreaming.

"Then what is this?" Pan demanded. "How is this possible?"

Come on, you're clever. You'll get it eventually.

Pan frowned. What a sassy thing. The only creatures she knew that could reach into one's mind were spirits and demons, and despite his foul attitude this thing was no demon. The thought crossed her mind that Kethaeros was having a laugh at her, folding himself into the form of a fox proper. Surely he could do something like that?

I'm flattered, but no. Guess again.

"Will you get out of my head?" Pan snapped. "I can't think straight with you chattering at me like this."

Please, you can't think straight regardless. It's absolutely filthy in here.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Exactly what it sounds like.

Pan rolled her eyes. Foxes had a way of dragging things on, talking in circles and avoiding making any point directly, but Pan had never met one so sarcastic. And as the sky began darken, Pan was losing her patience.

"I don't even care anymore," she huffed. "Get off my clothes and I'll be on my way."

I'm afraid you'll have to try harder than that to get rid of me.

"Why would-" Pan stopped short as it clicked in her mind. A small, telepathic animal. A familiar.

Took you long enough.

“Wait, you're... but how did you get here? Isn't there some kind of ritual I have to do, or something?" She asked. Everything about the Binding was kept secret and only discussed amongst those who had already undergone it, but still Pan had assumed that attaining a familiar would be at least a little more involved.

You already completed the ritual. My being here is Kethaeros' end of the bargain.

"What do you mean his 'end of the bargain'? We didn't discuss anything like that."

The fox blinked at her slowly. Typically, when a pact is formed, it is meant to be mutually beneficial. Through this ritual that your kind call a 'Binding', Greater Spirits gain an agent in the material world, among other things. In exchange, said agent gets a variety of boons, such as magical power and a minor spirit to act as a protector or guide.

"I... suppose that makes sense," she mumbled. "But you don't have to be a dick about it. It's not like anyone told me any of this stuff."

Really? Well that might have been helpful. You should tell them so.

Pan tugged at some grass, avoiding his gaze. It was strange, she thought. Something to ask Mollina about, certainly. The thought reminded her that it was, in fact, getting dark and she best be getting on her way. She stood then, wincing at the soreness between her legs and the feel of Kethaeros' cum dribbling down her thigh. Good things came at a price, she supposed.

"We should get back to the village," she said. "Can I have my clothes back now?"

The fox heaved a long-suffering sigh before getting up off her silks. Pan washed up and dressed quickly, noting the symbol between her breasts was smeared beyond recognition. She could not remember how that happened. Once she was finished, she turned back to the fox and placed her hands on her hips.

"You never did tell me your name," she said.

I don't have one.

"What do you mean you don't have one?" She asked. "You're a spirit aren't you? All spirits have names."

Greater Spirits have names. I haven't been around long enough to have one.

Pan crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her hip to one side as she looked at the fox. Red? No, too simple. Sassy? No, too on the nose. Alphonse? No, too... just no. Pan wracked her brain. If she was going to be the one to give him a name, it had to be a good one.

"What about Tasmin? I'll call you Tas for short," she said finally.

Tasmin... what is a 'Tasmin'?

"It's a 'you', if you like it. If not I can think of something else."

...No. I think I like it. I will be Tasmin then.

Pan smiled. Now they were getting somewhere. She scooped up the little fox and held him to her bosom, despite his grumbling. As the stars were just beginning to show in the sky, Pan and Tasmin made their way back to the village.