"It's a real pity," clucked one of the dawn market regulars, tucking away her purchase of fresh bread into her already bulging basket.
"What's that?" yawned the sleepy baker. He turned when she pointed, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes when he saw whom she was gesturing towards. Miss Beverly was a nice enough sort, all things considered, but she was a shameless gossip and carried more opinions than she ought to. Effie Destra was a common sight around these parts; she was only about ten, at his best guess, but already turning out to be quite the looker. She was tall for her age with a willowy build and sharp, angular features that would not have been out of place in one of Earth's finest fashion magazines. She had a penchant for fashion and an eye for color, always appearing well dressed with her glossy black curls expertly coiffured. It helped that her beauty had not yet gone to her head; her unusual eyes, bright blue but for a sliver of green in the left, were always gleaming with bright, genuine interest, and she'd made many friends among the shopkeepers - himself included. This past winter she'd even taken it upon herself to sew a soft, snuggly onesie for his youngest, just because "she'd had the extra fabric anyways".
"That Effie child," Miss Beverly tsked, ignoring the way the baker's lips pressed together with annoyance. "She's already such a beauty, and so talented to boot. But she hangs around all day with those disgusting creatures. It's such a shame. If I were her mother, I tell you, I'd get rid of the lot of them faster'n she could turn around. Can you imagine? What sort of family would allow their son to marry-"
"You're just mad she's too young to set up with that good-for-nothing son of yours, Beverly. Don't think you've got anyone fooled."
"Miss Mabel!" the baker said, a genuine smile creasing on his face. The eccentric older woman was dressed to the nines, as usual; even at ninety-nine, Miss Mabel wouldn't have been caught dead in anything but the best. "What can I do for you?"
"The usual, if you would," Mabel replied politely, leaning casually up against the front of his stall and pointedly ignoring Miss Beverly's stinging glare of disapproval. Knowing she'd not get away with any more negative talk as long as Mabel was around, she snatched up her basket and strode away. Mabel watched her go with a smirk, raising her voice to call out to the girl they'd been discussing while the baker set about getting her purchases together. "How're you and yours, Effie darling?"
"Quite well, thank you, Miss Mabel! And yourself?" the girl replied politely, an eager grin on her face. Several rats lined the table before her, each nibbling happily away at a bit of her the bun she'd carefully shredded for just that purpose.
"Very good," Miss Mabel paid her bill and ambled over to join the girl at her table. Effie shifted on the bench, making room for the older woman to sit down.
"Good morn, Miss Mabel," squeaked the brown and white female nearest to her hand. Sephy, as the rat was called, was remarkable bright - smarter than almost any fairy Mabel had ever had the pleasure of talking with in all her life.
"Tu es toujours aussi belle!" added the dwarf rat - Enzo - on Sephy's right. He winked flirtatiously at the older woman before he sneezed softly, his fur going from light gray to pastel purple.
"Nice to see you well, Sephy. And you, my shameless flirt, flatter me more than I deserve," Miss Mabel replied in English, patting Enzo's head.
"Ça n'existe pas! Une belle femme devrait entendre qu'elle est belle avec la plus grande régularité!"
Shaking her head at Enzo, Mabel studied the table with curiosity. The others, she recalled, were Munch, who was capable of growing black wings and spines; Emmy, whom sported fashionably pink wool at the moment - last time she'd seen her her fur had been pale green, so Effie must have shorn her not long ago; Shimmer, whose belly glowed faintly from some recent light he'd absorbed; and the as-yet unnamed dumbo rex rat whom was Effie's familiar.
"No Lola today?" Miss Mabel asked, scanning the tabletop for the familiar cinnamon form of Effie's vampiric rat.
"She's in my pack. You know how she gets when she thinks it'll be a sunny day," Effie said with amusement. Something small and fluffy shivered next to Effie's hand, drawing Mabel's gaze.
"Ah, have you found another new companion?"
"Indeed! I was hoping I'd get a chance to show you today!" Effie nudged the little creature before her. It was small, younger than the rest by the looks of it, with pink curly fur, adorably tiny tusks, and a trunk not unlike Mabel's beloved tapir familiar. Effie leaned down. "Don't be frightened, now, Miss Mabel's our friend!"
"Have you decided on a name yet?"
"Not yet," Effie admitted. "She's not been very helpful picking one, either."
"Well perhaps some of your other friends can help you come up with one?"
"Mmm, maybe," Effie's non-committal tone and the way she dropped her unusual gaze made Mabel sigh.
"Still having trouble in that department, eh?"
Effie nodded with a sigh. "I've got family, though, and these guys. Plus I've even made some friends with the wild rats. So, really, I'll be okay."
Miss Mabel patted her shoulder, thanking the girl when Effie popped to her feet to help her back up. "You know, I saw two young things around your age in the market before I stopped here. Why don't you go greet them?"
"Erm, well, I don't know..."
"Trust me, darling. You'll never get anything done if you refuse to try."
"Yes, Miss Mabel."
After some debate - and a quick conference with her collection of divinity-infused rats - Effie set off in the direction Mabel had suggested. It didn't take her long to find the girls she'd mentioned. They looked similar, but not identical. Twins, then, like her aunt and uncle. Effie cleared her throat, shifting on her toes anxiously. The rats, all eight of them, peered eagerly out at the girls from the large pack hanging diagonally across her willowy frame.
"Um, hello. I was wondering if you'd like one of these?" she held out her final remaining bun, still warm to the touch.
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