"Just like I taught you," Aidanna said.

Alex wasn't exactly sure if he could. He had once been a nearly grown human, then plunged into this world of anthropomorphic creatures and regressed to the age of two. He'd barely even been there a few days before one day he woke up with his paw tingling...not just tingling, glowing. It was one of the most frightening things he'd experienced in his new life.

It was a good thing he'd been adopted by a witch...not just a witch, the archmage. This world had magic, and she was of a circle of mages dedicated to protecting its proper use.

and I'm supposed to be able to use it? Alex thought.

Still, he concentrated...like she taught him, thinking about gathering light into his paws. He closed his eyes, imagining the energy flowing through him, carving itself into a bright sphere, gentle, solid, glowing.

He heard Aidanna gasp, and Alex opened his eyes...

Resting in his paws, bright as a tiny moon, smooth as silk, was a ball of light. Alex broke into a smile. "I did it, mommy!"

Aidanna glowed with pride as she tousled her adopted cub's headfur. "That you did." It seemed like her pride was outshining the lightball.

Whatever event took Alex's species and the years of his life left him with his mind and memory and gave him a great and wonderful gift, and someone to teach him how to use it well.