Cannoli hummed a sweet tune while stirring her newest soup creation. Her tail swayed behind her in time with the melody, and she bobbed her chin back and forth.

A sudden clamor in the common room snapped her attention, and she dropped her spoon in the pot.

“H-hello?” Cannoli called, tiptoeing to the edge of the wall. “Keke? Matt?”

“Woah! What a ride!” A fluffy orange creature with long ears and a longer tail bounced from the couch and landed on its rear feet. “Where am I?”

Cannoli was torn. An Encroacher that could speak? How did it get inside her house? And it was so darn cute! “W-who are you?”

“Tabby Rabbit!” Arms spread wide; Tabby hopped excitedly from one foot to the other. “Who are you?”

“C-Cannoli,” Cannoli replied, stepping away from the wall and clasping her hands behind her back. Her ears bent forward with curiosity as she studied Tabby closer. “Are you an Encroacher?”

“What?” Tabby tilted its head. “I don’t know what that is.”

“Are you going to attack me?”

“With hugs!” Tabby dove forward, wrapping Cannoli in a tight hug.

Cannoli blushed, then stroked her fingers over Tabby’s head. “Oh, my goodness, you’re so soft!”

“I know!” Tabby swatted at Cannoli’s tail. “You have a tail, too!”

Cannoli giggled and positioned her tail closer to Tabby. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Coffee!” Tabby cried.

Cannoli tapped her chin. “What’s coffee?”

Tabby stepped back, expression abashed. “How do you not know what coffee is?”

“U-um, I’m sorry!”

“Aw, it’s okay! Keep smiling!” Tabby hugged her again, then bounced into the kitchen. “Oh! That’s right! I came here to tell you about Inksgiving!”

Cannoli followed Tabby, retrieving two bowls for the soup. An unexpected guest is always nice! “What’s Inksgiving?”

“It’s where people who love us give Ink to our creators!” Tabby took a seat at the table, and Cannoli carefully set down a bowl of soup.

“Our creators?” Cannoli asked, eyebrows raised.

“Yeah! Black Cat Soul and DoubleBlind!”

Cannoli blinked, looking around the room. She’d never heard either of those names. Wasn’t the goddess Saoirse their creator? “Is that a good thing?”

“It’s a great thing!” Tabby slurped the soup straight from the bowl. “Ah! Hot, hot, hot!”

Cannoli giggled. “Be careful, Tabby!”

“It’s delicious!” Tabby checked their empty wrist with wide eyes. “Goodness! I wish I could stay, but Black Soul will want me home!”

“Oh! Alright.” Cannoli hadn’t had the chance to try her soup. “I’ll be sure to tell everyone about Inksgiving.”

“Okay, good! And maybe I can visit again sometime?” Tabby hopped down from the chair.

“Of course!”

“Yay! Bye, Cannoli!” Tabby vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving a very confused Cannoli alone in her kitchen.

She waved to the spot where Tabby had stood moments before. “Bye, Tabby.”