Role

Duffels is the guardian of Mills Beary and protector of the forest that shelters it. Entrusted with the care of the Bear Mill and the Silver Thread, a powerful gift from the Silk Worms, he ensures that the threads of truth, balance, and belonging remain unbroken.

Personality

Wise and stoic, Duffels is deeply connected to the magic of the forest. He leads not through force, but through presence. Quiet yet commanding, he is the rock others lean on, steady in both calm and crisis. His moral compass is unwavering, guiding him through the complex dynamics of village and forest alike.

Appearance

Broad-shouldered with warm brown fur, Duffels moves with deliberate, grounded confidence. His thoughtful expression suggests a life shaped by listening and reflection, and his steady eyes offer comfort to those who find themselves unsure of the path ahead.

Strengths

• Wisdom of the Land: Duffels feels the forest’s rhythms and understands its needs before they are spoken.
• Moral Compass: Guided by heart and instinct, he always seeks the path that honors life and balance.
• Guardian’s Grace: He does not need to be the loudest to lead. His strength is quiet, patient, and unshakable.

Role in the Story

Duffels is the one who welcomes the SnipPets as they awaken, who watches over Lily as her journey begins, and who understands that leadership is not about being followed, but about walking beside others. In moments of uncertainty, he is the still point that holds.

Excerpt

“Remember, Duffels,” she whispered, her voice soft against his shoulder.

“It’s not so much about knowing what to do. It’s about knowing why you do it. Please never forget your heart, and let that guide you.”

Role

Little Red is the village’s quiet watchman and a former companion of Bobbins, the old guardian. Though he no longer lives at the heart of Mills Beary, he remains deeply connected to its fate and often appears when the balance of magic is shifting.

Personality

Mysterious, introspective, and intensely loyal, Little Red is the kind of soul who says little but sees much. He is slow to trust, but once his loyalty is earned, it is unwavering. His presence is grounding, like the hush before a storm, or the whisper of trees at twilight.

Appearance

A fox with deep, thoughtful amber eyes and a coat of rich russet red, darkened slightly by the years. He wears a worn brown overcoat, sturdy forest boots, and a deep red scarf that has been mended more than once. Always in his paw or tucked in a pocket is a piece of silver thread, something he studies, fingers, or tucks away without explanation.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Little Red’s greatest strength is his ability to sense things before they surface. He understands the forest’s moods, reads signs in nature, and follows the Silver Thread’s pull with quiet certainty. He has an uncanny way of appearing exactly when he is needed, no sooner, no later.

But his strength is also his solitude. He walks a path no one else can, often alone, and carries knowledge others may not be ready to hear. He offers guidance without explanation, and while he is never mistrusted, his silence can leave others wondering what more he knows.

Role in Mills Beary Village

Though he lives on the edge of the forest in a house he built himself, Little Red is a guardian in his own right. He keeps watch from the shadows, walking paths no one else notices. He was once Bobbins’ closest confidant, and the Silver Thread still leads him back when the village needs him most.

The new guardian, Duffels, senses that Little Red knows more than he says, about the past, the silk worms, and the deeper magic threaded through the village.

Personality

Henry is wary, clever, and unexpectedly tender. A loner by instinct, he is fiercely loyal once trust is earned. He speaks in brief phrases, letting silence do much of the talking. Beneath his cautious demeanor lies a quiet bravery that reveals itself only when it truly matters.

Appearance

A small, wiry rat with storm-grey fur and a long tail, Henry’s ears twitch at every sound and his dark eyes never stop scanning his surroundings. He often carries a small pouch of found things, stones, bits of string, tiny tools, items others might overlook but he knows will be useful.

Strengths

• Keen Observation: He notices what others miss, subtle shifts in energy, hidden movement, and changes in both people and land.
• Survivor’s Instinct: Resourceful and adaptive, Henry knows how to move through danger without drawing attention.
• Unshakable Loyalty: Rarely spoken aloud, but absolute. Henry would protect the few he trusts with everything he has.

Role in the Story

Henry arrived in Mills Beary by accident, curled up inside a shipment of grain, yet the magic of the village accepted him without question. His past is still unfolding, with hints that his connection to the land runs deeper than even he understands. Often the first to sense when something is wrong, Henry becomes a quiet companion to both Lily and Little Red, standing watch at the edges where others rarely look.

Excerpt

“It’s too quiet,” Lily whispered.

Henry gave the smallest nod, his nose twitching toward the forest. “I agree,” he said. “Something isn’t finished. Rowan stirred things he didn’t understand.”

Personality

Rowan is charming on the surface, but calculating beneath. He plays the part of an old friend, speaking with warmth and nostalgia, yet there is always something cold and watchful behind his smile. Patient, persuasive, and dangerously clever, Rowan never raises his voice or forces his way in. He waits until you open the door yourself.

Appearance

Sharp-eyed and composed, Rowan’s dark, slick fur is paired with a well-worn overcoat that once might have belonged to someone respectable. His scarf is always neatly knotted, his boots never muddy. There is a precision to his grooming, as though every detail has been carefully chosen to put others at ease, right before the ground shifts beneath their feet. He carries a journal, but never allows anyone to read it.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Rowan’s greatest strength is his mind. He sees what others miss and uses words as weapons, shaping conversations to his advantage. His greatest weakness is ambition. He believes he deserves a place at the center of Mills Beary’s magic and is willing to manipulate, deceive, or endanger others to claim it. In doing so, he underestimates the bonds between the SnipPets and the depth of the land’s memory.

Role in the Village

Rowan once lived in the Bear Mill and was trusted, perhaps even admired. But he tried to bend the magic of the village for personal gain, and the land does not forget. When he returns, his presence sends ripples through the Silver Thread, felt like a shadow in the weave, a warning. Rowan is the reason a new guardian must rise. He is what the SnipPets were made to stand against.