Despite having a pattern of ice permanently printed across her skin, Eloise didn’t feel any different. A late night cup of actual tea and a croissant had washed away the awful taste of what she’d drank, and a good night’s sleep had brought her back to her new reality. After a quick, refreshing shower, she put on the new outfit she’d found hanging in the closet. Pulling on her new t-shirt and jeans, she found in her pants pocket a note promising more clothes by the end of the day. Stepping into socks and shoes, Eloise moved to her nightstand to pick up the black ribbon the Headmaster had offered her to hide her god’s symbol. Eyeing it again for the millionth time, she finally elected to strap it onto her neck and see how she liked it. She’d been afraid it would feel like a weak person choking her, but she relished in the ribbon’s softness. Looking at herself in the bathroom mirror, Eloise decided to keep it on.

A knock sounded at the door. Proud of herself for not jumping, she called out, “Coming,” and confidently moved to open. Sure she’d seen everything by now, she opened the door and stopped. The first word that came to mind as a description of the woman before her was ‘furry.’ However, this was not a human in a fursuit standing before her. It was a living, breathing, anthropomorphized, “Oh Jesus, please don’t be offended, but what are you?”

The brown furred woman grinned, revealing long canines and carnivorous teeth. “It’s okay, I’m just a ferret. The name’s Trish Mustelidae.” She held out her hand - paw, no, definitely hand - to shake.

Eloise nodded and shook her soft, clawed hand, taking in the cinnamon hue of Trish’s sable point fur. She was pear-shaped in frame, her clothes a simple tank top and capris that allowed her clearly mustelid legs room to bend. Eloise was head and shoulders taller than Trish, the ferret’s tied back, brown hair as long as her bushy tail. “Are you and Macavity from the same place?”

The ferret blew a raspberry, releasing some of the tension Eloise felt in asking so many questions. “No. He can shape shift into human or semi-human form. This body’s all I got,” she gestured to herself before reaching into one of her baggy pockets. “Besides, his world is dead. My partner and I could technically go back to our plane but, eh?” she shrugged as she procured what she’d been fishing for. “That world was boring,” she presented Eloise with a box labeled Verizon, “unlike your new phone.” She pointed a finger gun at Eloise and clicked her tongue. “Like my transition there?”

Eloise gingerly took the box from the ferret, transferring her gaze from one unfamiliarity to another. “I get a phone?”

“Yep! Everyone’s number is programmed into it just in case you’re off-plane and need to get in contact with us. It’s connected to our VPN regardless of where you travel. We managed to create some pretty versatile paths, so you should never have signal or connectivity issues.”

Blinking rapidly, Eloise had to cycle through the jargon before finally replying, “How the hell did you manage to do that?”

Trish let out a bubbly laugh, definitely more animal than human. “It was a lot of backend work, but Ruiz and I managed.” Placing her hands on her broad hips, she said, “The Headmaster requires that everyone at least accept a cell phone. He’s a worrywart like that, and maintaining those things keeps my partner and I busy.” She shifted her weight onto one foot. “Would you like a laptop as well?”

Dumbfounded, Eloise asked, “For what?”

Trish shrugged again, this time putting her hands up in the air for emphasis. “Schooling? Business? Lots of people have online jobs nowadays. Wanna start an Onlyfans or game on Twitch? We won’t stop you!” She pointed at Eloise, “Unless you go doing the naughty internet thing and sharing your address.”

“Okay,” Eloise began, blown away by the information, “How much for a laptop?”

“Costs you nothing. You live here, you’ll probably end up working here, it’s paid for.” Trish tilted her head back and beckoned Eloise out. “Come on. I’ll show you the shop.”

Yesterday’s nervousness gave way to curiosity as Eloise followed Trish down the hall.