Let's start with something simple.

[Taako snaps his fingers and the air beside his cheek shimmers for a second, before a small mongoose appears perched on his shoulder. It chitters softly, curious, and Taako holds up a hand for it to climb onto.]

This is a familiar, it's sort of... not quite real, not quite an illusion? I can shape it however I want, and it follows basic instructions, telepathically.