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“Imogennn?”
“Yeah?”
“Where are we going?”
“To visit my friend. They have something to show you.”
“What is it?”
Imogen just smiled. “It’s a surprise.”
“Oh how exciting! I love surprises.”
“I know,” said Imogen simply, and slipped her hand into Laudna’s.
The buildings thinned as they neared the edge of town.
“It’s here,” said Imogen.
“Are we going to the sheriff’s office, or the sweet shop that says ‘closed due to owlbears?’” asked Laudna, looking between the two buildings in front of them.
“Neither.”
Nestled between the two buildings was a gate. It was so overgrown that it resembled a hedge, except for a rectangle in the centre, where enough moss had been cleared to reveal a carved wooden sign. Animals and stuff, read the sign.
Imogen moved aside a piece of ivy, and opened the latch. The gate opened onto a narrow alley walled by the buildings on either side. They stepped through together, a smile spreading across Laudna’s face as she saw what was hidden behind the grey stone of the street. The space was wide and open, the grass long and filled with flowers. Knotted trees stood over a pond. Plants were being grown, and fences and walls divided off different areas. There was an approximate kind of path, which led to a barn built of logs, and that was where they headed.
It was more like stepping into a jungle than stepping inside. The large room was filled with tanks and cages and perches, plants everywhere, birds and animals making a cacophony of different noises. But that wasn’t what caught their attention. Lying on the floor was a person. Motionless, with a very large snake wrapped around their neck.
“Eddie!” Imogen cried, and started forwards.
Laudna stared in horror, readying an eldritch blast.
Then the figure stirred. “But the pancakes…” they mumbled.
“Eddie!”
“Wha-” They opened their eyes, pushing themselves up to sitting, blinking. “Oh, Imogen! Hi!”
“I-” began Imogen, and then changed her mind, laughing in a mix of relief and bewilderment. “It’s good to see you, Eddie.”
Eddie stood up, unwrapping the snake from around their neck, and yawned. “Sorry about that, just thought I’d take a nap while things were quiet.” They reached up to transfer the snake to a roof beam. “This must be Laudna.”
“It’s very nice to meet you Eddie,” said Laudna.
Eddie was a tiefling about Imogen’s age, with blue-green skin and a mess of white hair and little black horns that curled.
“Same here,” they said, grinning. “I’ve heard so much about you from Imogen.”
“I love the name of your shop!”
“Oh, thanks! It started off as a joke because I couldn’t think of a name, but then it kind of stuck. Welcome to Animals and Stuff!”
“This place is amazing!” said Imogen.
“I have the thing you wanted to show Laudna. It’s over here, when you’re ready.”
“Ooo,” said Laudna, “what is it?”
Imogen turned to Laudna, chewing her lip slightly. “So I know you love rats… And I thought that maybe you’d like a pet one. A friend for Pâté.”
“Imogen…” Laudna stopped when she saw what Eddie was leading them to. It was a large cage, filled with platforms and ladders and ropes, and rats.
Laudna looked at them with glittering eyes.
“I love them!” She turned to Imogen, nearly crying, and Imogen looked back at her, full of love.
“Do you want- do you want to choose one?”
Laudna turned back to the cage, putting her hands up against the bars.
Most of the rats were sleeping, some piled on top of each other in a little heap of multicoloured fur. One was nibbling at a piece of food held in tiny paws. Another rat was climbing up the bars of the cage. It was small, and brown, and fluffy. The rat fell off.
“I want that one,” said Laudna.
Eddie opened the cage and traced a sigil over the door. The air around it seemed to ripple and flicker. Reaching inside, they picked up the little rat and took it out. The rat climbed up their arm and onto their head, and started chewing one of their horns. Eddie scooped the rat out of their hair.
“Hey!” they said to the rat. “That’s rude.” Then, to Laudna, “do you want to stroke her?”
Laudna reached out cautiously and touched the rat’s head. In response, the rat reached her head up to sniff at Laudna’s hand, whiskers twitching. “Hellooo,” she cooed, gazing at her in adoration.
Eddie placed it gently into Laudna’s hands, and she brought it close to her face, stroking a finger along it’s back.
“What are you going to call her?” asked Imogen.
“She has to be a de Rolo!”
“Of course!”
“How about…” Laudna looked deep into the rat’s little face, studying her pink nose, her round ears, the shine of her eyes. “Polo! Polo de Rolo.”
Imogen smiled. “That’s perfect.”
“Here little Polo, meet Imogen, my amazing wonderful girlfriend who brought me to meet you.” She placed the little rat into Imogen’s hands, who held her carefully, trying not to drop her.
“Hello Polo,” she said softly, almost shyly.
“She likes you!” Laudna clapped her hands. “Oh, I must introduce Pâté!” She took the puppet from her belt, magical strings springing from her fingers. “Pâté, this is Polo. Polo, meet Pâté. I hope you’ll be the best of friends!”
“Lovely to meet ya, Polo,” said Pâté, giving a little bow.
Polo squeaked, and stretched her nose out towards Pâté.
They gave Polo a break from being held, and chose a cage, toys and food. Eddie made tea, and they all sat down to catch up on life and discuss caring for rats.
“Thank you so much, Imogen,” said Laudna, as they walked home hand in hand, carrying Polo in her new cage. The light was fading, and glowing orbs appeared above the streets, like fireflies, or fairy lights flickering to life.