It was only when Jade actually took her coffee cup that she noticed that her server had claws. Small and well-groomed, but claws nonetheless. She looked up and took in pale orange skin, feathery ruff, sword, and wings: a sprite. She smiled a little and he raised an eyebrow.

As she drank her coffee, Jade got a good look at the sprite. Sprites were pretty rare; it was far more common to see trolls or imps or prospitans or dersites than sprites.

She’d never met a sprite before, though she’d seen them from afar, and she was interested.

She was one of the last to leave from the morning rush, so when the sprite sauntered out from behind the counter she just figured he was going to chivvy her out. She stood and had her hand on her backpack when he said, “Sit yourself down, I’m not gonna kick you out.” Jade sat back down and waited for him to continue.

“So I noticed you staring. Can’t keep your eyes off of this beautiful bod?” he asked, sweeping his hands from his ruff to his long tail.

Jade blushed. “Sorry, was I that obvious? It’s just that I’ve never met a sprite before, and I’m studying xenobiology.”

The sprite settled (not sat) in the chair opposite Jade. “I can understand that. I’m Davesprite, by the way.”

“Jade Harley,” she said. “Nice to meet you, Davesprite.”