⊲ Found, Lost & Found Again ⊳

“There you are lil’ Milly~ I thought the rascals got you.” A soft chuckle left Marley Moore’s lips as she turned her bespectacled eye to the eleven-year-old girl, tiptoeing swiftly down the stairs. Her blue hues gleamed, sitting on the stool beside her godmother.

“They wanted to hear a bedtime story.” Kicking her legs back and forth, young Miluna Pagan leaned closer in an attempt to see if Marley was done with her newest creation.

The middle-aged woman raised her brow while the corners of her mouth lifted, she playfully pinched Miluna’s nose to prevent her from peeking. “You didn’t read ‘A Christmas Carol’ did you?”

“No, but I wanted to- I told them the story of ‘the Nutcracker & the Mouse King’.”

Humming under her breath, Marley plucked a thin paintbrush with her left hand. “The original or the Mother Marley version?’

“The Mother Marley version~” Miluna grinned from ear to ear with her head tilted.

“The better version hehe.” Leaning back and admiring her handiwork, Marley ushered her goddaughter closer. Miluna’s eyes widened as she stared at the now completed wooden doll of a dashing cat boy dressed in charming attire. The ends of his pants ripped from his ankles and stopped just past his knees, his white wing-tipped collared dress shirt had its sleeves rolled up to his elbows with a u-neck four buttoned vest on top. The doll’s hair was the hue of boysenberries and his irises dark chocolate. Marley handed the newly made doll to Miluna who brushed her thumbs along the detailing of his clothes and the minuscule rapier blade attached to the miniature belt.

Ruffling Miluna’s head of black hair, Marley grinned with her eye closed. “Now you have your own wooden guardian like Marie did.”

“He looks so cool!” Miluna immediately wrapped her arms around the woman, gazing up at her. “Thank you so much, Mother Marley. But- will my sister and brother get one too?”

Laughing under her breath, Marley returned Miluna’s embrace with her head nuzzling her goddaughter’s. “I am glad you like him, and they’ll get one when they’re a little older.” A hum left the woman as she patted the young girl’s head. “Now, before we give him his own soul. Do you know what we need to do first?”

Nibbling on her bottom lip as she tilted her head up in thought.” “Mn- Oh! Oh! We need to give him a name!”

Winking her only eye, Marley nodded while brushing back the doll’s cat ears tenderly. “Well then, you can come up with his first name and I’ll do his last name okay?”

“Okay!”

Soaring through the streets of the bustling city with a light fall of snow following in their wake, Palesun turned their eye to the store windows as they extended an arm. Their touch swiftly brushed the glass, the frost overcoming it. Resting her chin in the palm of her hand whilst observing with wandering eyes around her godmother’s store she spent most of her childhood in - Found, Lost & Found Again, surrounded by a variety of trinkets, music boxes and toys sitting. It seemed so much smaller now. She turned her eye to the grandfather clock that stood in the corner nearest the door under the stairs. A hum slipped through her lips, staring up at the ceiling. It must’ve been at least an hour and a half since the last customer came in, which was normal when it drew closer to the evening hours. Even on Christmas Eve.

“Daydreaming again, lil’ Milly?”

Miluna flinched, looking to the stairs as Marley descended them with a box of newly made wooden dolls and figurines.

“I am not so little anymore.” Straightening in posture as she chuckled, Miluna stepped over to Marley and took the box off her hands. “Just a lot on my mind I guess.”

“You’re still little to me~” The corners of Marley’s lips lifted into a courtly smile, following Miluna as she placed the box onto the counter. The older woman put a hand on her goddaughter’s shoulder. “I know you’re nervous about introducing him to your Dad.”

“Nervous? Not really-” Miluna shook her head, delicately taking each doll and figurine out of the box and onto their seat amongst the shelves. She glanced over her shoulder at Marley who raised her brow at the young woman. Allowing her sigh to escape her, Miluna paused. “Okay, maybe a little. I mean, you know how Dad is like-”

“Well, he is a resilient lad. I am sure he’ll do fine.” Bending down under the counter, Marley pulled out two elegantly wrapped rectangular boxes that were thirty centimetres in length. “After all, he’ll do anything in his power to impress the father of the woman he loves.”

Readjusting her thin, round-rimmed glasses, Miluna coughed under her breath whilst the crimson hue reigned over her cheeks with her hands placed on top of the two gifts for her siblings. “I-I mean-” Stopping mid-sentence at the sound of the chiming bell, Miluna turned her gaze about to greet the customer but found herself gaping.

“Wow~ Did we just miss the Xmas rush?” Waving her hand at Miluna, Zoe Eva Greenwood snorted with a wink and a Cheshire cat’s grin upon her face.

Following alongside her with his extensive claret red head of hair, Crein Skieya chuckled with his hand hovering over his mouth. The jewels he adorned chimed with each graceful movement. “Oh my, what marvellous creations.”

“Why thank you, crafted them all by these hands of mine~” Marley shot a close-eyed grin, striding over to the young couple with her hand out to Crein who gladly shook it. “Nice to finally meet you both, Miluna has said a lot of good things about you both.”

“Oh, I bet she has~! After all, I am just amazing~” Zoe winked once again before embracing her close friend who laughed in turn.

“You really are.” Miluna pulled back as she raised a brow. “Now, you didn’t just come here to flex your greatness.”

“Oh no no, of course not.” Another snort left Zoe, handing Miluna a small square box. “Sorry~ I didn’t get to wrap it all nice and that cause~ I want you to open it now~!” The vehement woman shook Miluna’s shoulders as she tried to open the box.

“Okay okay, I am opening it now-” The bell chimed once more with Jacqueline Shawn and Vastres Thaserion entering the store, the orange-haired young woman holding a gift in her hands.

Clicking his fork tongue, Vastres narrowed his eyes as his gaze landed on Crein. “Tch didn’t think you’d beat us here. Considering your pampering routine.”

“Always dressing to impress, of course. Unlike a certain someone.” A scoff slipped from Crein, placing a hand on his hip as he inclined his head.

The trio of young women glanced at one another knowingly; Jacqueline rolling her eyes while Zoe and Miluna snickered under their breath, leaning against each other.

Observing the arguing young men, Marley coughed under her breath. “Testosterone.” Both gazed at Marley with dumbstruck eyes while the ladies tittered amongst themselves.

“Mummy please- Give him back-” Stuttering with her eyes darting from her feet to her mother’s grip on Nica Miatri, Miluna’s wooden cat boy guardian who attempted to escape.

“Yes quite! Do let me go- How would you like it if someone man-handled you?”

“Such a foul little thing- I can’t believe your godmother gave you something like this-” Miluna’s mother sneered at the sentient doll before peering down at her daughter. “I will not allow you to keep such a thing-”

“H-He is not a thing- He is my friend-” Withholding her sobs, Miluna looked to Nica who managed a reassuring smile.

“Do not worry Miss Miluna, it will be okay-” Interrupted mid-sentence, Nica’s eyes widened as he was suddenly let go. The crashing waves echoed through the young girl’s hearing like a repeating record, watching as her half-pint companion disappeared into the water. She dropped to her knees and loomed over the edge, tears poured down her face but her cries remained unheard.

Awakening with a jolt, Miluna stared at the ceiling with sweat forming on the side of her face. Her pupils dilated as she sat up, hugging her knees close to her chest. Her body stiffened when there was a knock on her bedroom door.

“Milly? Can I come in?”

“Y-Yes-”

Peering her head in as she opened the door, Marley beamed. “Merry Christmas Milly!” She brazenly presented Miluna with a porcelain female figurine, crowned with bunny ears and dressed in a frilly gown. Her limbs were moveable and adjustable. Covering her mouth with both hands, Miluna’s eyes widened. Her hues flickered in awe.

“She’s so beautiful.” She tore the blankets off her form, ambling over to Marley who continued to smile from ear to ear.

“I knew you’d like her, believe it or not, I modelled her after you. My beautiful bunbun~” The aged woman lovingly stroked Miluna’s cheek before cuddling her. “It’s up to you if you want to give her a soul.”

With a nictating eye, Miluna inhaled as she leaned her head on Marley’s shoulder. “No, not this time.”

Cradling her head, Marley hummed lowly before pulling back. Putting a hand on Miluna’s shoulder. “Now, you got everything ready?”

“Yep, your presents are in a carry bag- I got everything packed into my duffle bag for the night and- Sierus should be picking me up in-” With a glance at her alarm clock, her face became stupefied. “In half an hour- I-I need to get changed!” Hugging her godmother one more time, Miluna frantically dashed around her bedroom - putting her Christmas present down before rummaging through her drawers.

“Well, I will leave it to you then Milly. Do have fun, and tell your Dad I said ‘hi’.”

Dashing down the stairs with her duffle bag slung over her right shoulder and holding the carry bag with her left hand, Miluna glanced over at the store counter, waving Marley goodbye as she raced out the door. Lifting her head as she exhaled, she smiled nervously as she stepped closer to Sierus who approached her.

Sending Miluna a debonair smile, Sierus hugged his girlfriend. “Good morning, Luna.”

“Morning. Sorry I am late.” She hugged him tighter, kissing his cheek before pulling back. “Your present is in the carry bag-”

“Before we exchange gifts, let’s put your duffle bag in the back first.”

“Oh right-”

“How was your shift last night? Was it busy?” Sierus brushed his hair with his fingers, making sure his fringe covered his left eye.

Hm, not really. It kinda settled the later it got.” Slipping out a neatly wrapped present from the carry bag, Miluna stood on her toes and pecked Sierus’ lips before handing him the present. “Merry Christmas.”

Handing Miluna a rectangular box that was roughly thirty centimetres in length, Sierus kissed her forehead. “I think you should open yours first.”

Miluna raised a brow. “Why?-” Before she could ask any further the lid of the box rattled abruptly and an all too familiar but muffled voice escaped it.

“Can I come out now? Miss Miluna? Is that really you?”