"Oooh. I wanna try that. But I think Ira would like the cats."

"If she wants to learn, I can teach her chakra and then summon the boss cat!"

-Ira's avatar is abruptly sitting next to them, although the tentacles are still busy stroking cats.

Hisame giggles. "Were you paying attention to me and Ant's chakra lesson?"

"Some. But perhaps cover the basics again."

She will! And, once Ira's up to speed: "Do you want to talk to boss cat now?"

"Yessss."

She flashes through the handsigns, and sways a teensy bit as she summons a cat approximately twice as tall as a horse at the shoulder. He's a sleek blue-grey with wide, luminous eyes and a sharp grin.

"Well, it's been a while, Hisame. What do we have here?" he rumbles.

"A friend! She wants to sign the contract!" says Hisame.

Ira makes a facial expression that is probably supposed to be a smile. "Hi," she greets, raising one hand.

He tilts his head, tail winding about his paws. "You're an odd one," he comments. "Still, you seem to have chakra, which is enough for the contract. Traditionally it's signed in blood, though - your own, not someone else's. And whatever you sign it in, you use as a medium to summon us."

"I'm not sure I bleed, but I assume ichor would work in the place of blood?"

"Probably."

"Then where do I sign?"

He takes a large scroll off his back - easily the size of Hisame - and unfurls it, tapping his paw on a blank box.

Ira plucks a...quill?? Out of one of her tentacles, already dripping with ichor.

"Oh my gods, Ira, seriously?! A quill? What is this? The- uh, I actually don't know what century quills were the major writing tool in..."

"Seemed appropriate."

And Ira signs with a flourish - although there's not, precisely, letters in her signature, and the ichor glows.

"Very appropriate!" the boss cat says, sketching a half bow. "And welcome to our new summoner."

"Thank you," Ira grins. "I am very happy with this contract."

He purrs. "We are pleased as well. May our alliance be fruitful, and enjoyable to all involved."

"Oh, I'm sure it will be."

That gets a laugh. "Good hunting! Be sure to summon us for the fun parts."

"Oh, I promise."

"She really will," Ant agrees.

He nods, smiling, and says he has business in the cat's mountain before dismissing himself. (Ira can, of course, practice summoning other cats).