Monster Wrangler

As Calico walked along the streets, Orlok riding along on her back, one thing was quickly becoming apparent...

I am far too poor to make hanging around here anything but a hassle.

She passed the Namtech store without even glancing at the windows.

Instead, she wandered rather aimlessly, with nothing better to do with her time for the present...

Sitting at one of the tables outside a small cafe was a young woman feeding a somewhat ugly and unpleasant smelling bird table scraps with a smile.

Wait, that's...

And a hergh?

Huh.

Calico blinked and cocked her head as if trying to parse the elegant actress (and was she jealous of the other woman's success in the performing arts? Oh, just a scoche) and her grotesque companion.

I mean, plenty of monsters are kinda gross, but a hergh?

...

That thing is eating better than I have lately.

Citaly seemed to notice the lingering gaze and waved to the person looking.

Oh crap.

Orlok fluttered his wings and crawled up to look over her shoulder.

Calico returned the wave, hoping (in vain) she didn't look as self-conscious as she felt.

She waved a hand, indicating that Calico should join her.

She looks so uncomfortable. Maybe she's lonely.

Oh god.

Calico approached, and blinked as her eyes started to water.

That was certainly a genuine Hergh all right.

"Uh... hi. I'm Calico Carter. New in town."

She was keeping her words short so she could limit the amount of air she needed to breathe in.

Oh no. She was tearing up. Was it too much? Maybe she needed cuddles from Mr. Pukeybirb. Well, they would get to that if it was the case.

the bird in question let out a loud "WARK!" And started hacking. Citaly pet him gently on the head. "It's okay, Mr. Pukeybirb, she's nice, I'm sure."

"I'm citaly Velasco, and this is Mr. Pukeybirb. Pleased to meet you. Would you like to join us?"

Oh god.

"Uh... sure. This is Orlok..."

The saturnadus peeked over her shoulder, made some sort of chittering noise that Calico couldn't quite decipher under the circumstances, and then crawled up to sit atop her head.

"... so, what's a star like you doing in town? You here to compete?"

She put her hands on either side of her jaw when she saw Orlok. "He's gorgeous! Oh my goodness! How did you two meet?"

"Oh, that?" she shrugged. "I'm here as a 'celebrity fight commentator' for Channel 10 Sargaros. They decided to grab me since I used to be a Wrangler. Are you competing?"

"Oh, this little jerk? I, uh... trapped him, actually. Luckily he seems to have forgiven me..."

Orlok unfurled his wings a bit and chittered.

"... probably because I know where the food is. And yeah, I'll be screaming suggestions at him while he does his best to beat up somebody else's monster. So. Uh. Your buddy there... known him long?"

"Give him a little more credit. Monsters have a good sense for people," she replied with a smile, then looked at the Hergh. "I've known Mr. Pukeybirb since he was born. His dad was actually the first monster I ever wrangled."

Oh god.

"Huh. Really? Well, he seems fond of you. So I guess that feeds into your 'monsters have a good sense for people' idea..."

"Indeed," she replied with a bright nod. "And Saturnadus are about as smart as the average person. He's probably got a few thoughts about you."

She looked at her Hergh affectionately. "Herghs, meanwhile, are as dumb as they are ugly and disgusting. But they have good qualities, and it can be cute from a certain point of view."

"Hey, loyalty has a charm all its own. Besides. I don't tell people how to pick their friends, and he's plainly a friend of yours, so that's all you need to know about him."