Imagine Lena gaining a familiar because she starts practicing magic 🥺 maybe a cat, or an owl, or a hawk, or a raven, or even a (tiny?) dragon!! Idk I just like the idea of Lena having a comforting and reliable presence in her life, outside of the superfriends. Someone that will, unprompted, lay on her chest to provide comfort.
I’m pretty partial to dragon tho, since I got into my head that Lena’s pretty freaked out when it comes to reptiles (it just squicks her out) and it’ll be funny to see her let out undignified squeals whenever she forgets that a tiny dragon has started following her around like a shadow. And it’ll bring a sweeter arc to see Lena slowly realize that the dragon’s there as her unflinching forever companion
(Obvs I haven’t forgotten about Chess The Dog. She will always be #1. Paladin, too, in a way. Just thought I’d think of something more… witchy I guess)
Okay but what about the "I am Number Four" idea where the familiar can shapeshift? Like. The dragon is the natural form of her familiar, but like Spike it can consciously shapeshift into other animals. So, like, one day Lena might have a cat curled up next to her as she studies the grimoire, and when she goes out in the field there's suddenly a raven keeping an eye on things. But it's not until Lex tries to attack Lena that the dragon reveals its true form and burns him to a crisp.
Nothing but thoughts here. Like, I'm not married to any singular animal so why not an option to have all of them?