Hadrian isnât sure, but it seems like Athena has something to say before theyâre interrupted by the sound of quick footsteps, a child running up to greet the little cat that theyâre talking to. Hadrian is enjoying this, strangely. This case, and working with Athena, somehow feeling safe despite the shaky nature of their existence these days. Theyâve felt at odds with themself, so scared it hurts, but being here with Athena and working a case that puts them face to face with delightful talking animals makes them feel a little brighter, a little better, a little more excited to see what the day will hold for them.
The little girl that runs up, Verity, seems excited by everything as well. Clearly adoring of Mittens. And its clear that the cat enjoys her company as well. She seems like a bright girl, sweet, so full of energy that she might shake out of her own skin, and she clearly loves animals. She sits on the ground, not too far away from Hadrian, but much closer than they had gotten to the cat. Mittens seems to enjoy the attention, the careful way that Verity scratches under his chin. It reminds him of Marie, the way that she moves into their touch sometimes, content and happy with the attention they have decided to shower on top of her.Â
Hadrian glances up and rises back to their feet, when the woman that must be Verityâs mother arrives on the scene. They give her a smile, something warm and less fragile than the one theyâve been able to manage before. They feel soothed by this, by this town and these people and the case that they have to solve while theyâre here. Their smile widens even more, when the woman expresses her confusion, and they huff out a breath that could almost be a laugh.
âIâm afraid Mittens here is a special case, along with a few others in this town.â They explain, patiently. This is clearly someone new to magic, and if Hadrian had to guess, Verity was a wix who had just come in to her powers, leaving her family a little lost in the wake of all this new information, all of these new things they had to learn. âThough I believe the world would be a better place if it were true. We believe something must have happened recently that caused them to start speaking. It is our job to figure out what that is.âÂ
âIt wasnât me, I promise!â The little girl chimes in, bright. âPinky swear. I didnât do a thing.âÂ
âI really wish I could back her up on that, but she does have an interesting track record with animals.â The woman says, slightly wary, and shaking her head. Hadrian smiles at her rather more brightly still, and feels a growing fondness for the family, for this town in general.Â
âDonât worry,â They say, âWe donât believe it was your daughter, or anyone else her age. And no one is in trouble over it regardless. It is just important that these animals donât slip away from town, and risk exposing magic to those unsuited to know about it.â
âHmm,â Mittens says, still contentedly letting Verity scratch at him. âI am quite happy here. No adventures planned on my part. If youâd like me to watch Verity while you go inside Maria, I am able. My claws are very sharp and I can protect her.âÂ
The mother, Maria, smiles a little at that, clearly still baffled by everything going on here. Verity looks up at the woman with wide eyes, already begging. âPlease, mommy? Can I stay with Mittens and the aurors?â
Athena watches the exchange, amused, happy to sit back and listen to all of it, to listen to Hadrian and to the back and forth between Mittens and Verity as they seem to gang up on Maria to convince her to let Verity stay outside while she goes into the store, though it doesnât seem like itâs a terribly difficult feat, because itâs only a moment before Maria finally gives in.
    âFine, but stay right here, Verity, okay? No wandering off, no talking to strangersâexcept, I suppose these two aurors, if they have any questions for you,â she adds, glancing between Athena and Hadrian, and for a moment Athenaâs glad itâs them and not someone like Marleigh or Nomi here who, wonderful as they both are, might be more likely to raise a parentâs worried instincts. Because there are a few questions sheâd like to ask the young girl, who seems to have quite a fondness for animals, and is likely to know more about everything else thatâs going on around town, even if sheâs new.Â
Verity makes a happy little noise as she focuses her attention back on Mittens, pulling a cat treat out of the pocket of her jacket and passing it to the cat before going back to scratching behind his ears, while Maria gives the two of them a little Iâm sorry look, half a grimace, before slipping through the door and into the store.Â
   âSo, Verity,â she starts, from her seat on the bench, looking down at the little girl who seems thoroughly absorbed in the task of lavishing Mittens with attention, a situation the cat very clearly couldnât be happier about. âIs Mittens the only animal you have met in town who can talk? Or have you come across anyone else?â
    âOh, only Mittens so far!â Verity answers, without looking up, and then continues to chatter on happily. âThereâs a very nice dog who lives next door to us but I donât think he can talk because otherwise he wouldnât bark every time somebody walked by the yard, heâd just say hello and theyâd all have a better time understanding that just because heâs big doesnât mean heâs scary. And I tried to say hello to a raccoon the other night, but he didnât say anything back, just ran away, so unless he was just too scared to talk I donât think he can do it either. Cooper said that next time he comes to visit heâs going to bring me a fish so that I have an animal friend inside instead of just having animal friends outside, but I donât know if fish could talk even if they could talk, because theyâre underwater and so theyâd probably sound all slow and bubbly, right?âÂ