There was humming. It was gentle and slow, like a child's voice.

Mr. Hopps didn't remember inviting anyone to his lonely manor, but he did do a lot of charity work for children, so, in his old age, he may have signed some papers to let a child in there and forgotten he did. 
He sauntered down the stairs, following the sweet tone. "Hello? Is there someone here?" His breathy voice called.

The humming stopped, and there was a loud screech of something being dragged across the wooden floor, like a chair.  He chuckled slowly and followed the noise, finding a little girl, standing in the dining room. She had a pink, pastel dress, a bunny she was hugging, and a party hat.

He smiled and kneeled down. "Is it your birthday today?"

The girl stayed silent, staring coldly into his eyes.

He glanced over at the long, empty table. "Are you waiting for your guests?"

She clenched the bunny tighter and gave a tiny nod.

He stood up, his bones groaning. "Alrighty then, I'll go check my list and see when your guests will arrive. You sit down and wait."

She stood silently as he slowly made his way to a large podium in the front room, peering suspiciously at the child. He found the names that were not crossed out and looked at the first one.

"Mora Henderson, age eight, turning nine on Sunday. She is hosting a party at four." He read out. "Are you Mora?"

She nodded.

"Okay, I'll find your guests..." He slowly ran his bony finger down the sheet. "Abigail Gold, Emily Nochaten, Noah Beckett, Lila Hemmingway, Ella Harper, Sofia Nightingale, Daniel Moore, and Michael Moore?" 

She nodded once again.

He looked down at her feet, noticing they were bare. "Where...where are your parents?" He said.

She stared into his eyes. "My parents aren't here..." Her voice was faint and vagrant.

"Okay...when where your guests supposed to arrive?"

"Yesterday..."

"And how long have you been here, darling?"

"I don't know..."

There was loud banging at the door. A gust of wind wailed as each bounced across the large room. 

He shook all over, the noises kicking his PTSD in.

Mora giggled and skipped over to the door. "They're here!" 

The door was kicked open, almost knocking over the little girl.

Mr. Hopps regretted hosting the party in his mansion the second he got a good look at the children. They walked in a line, each being greeted by Mora.

The first girl walked in. She could only be a bit older than Mora. She was wearing a frilly, girly straight jacket and white pants to match. Her hair was a light brown, her eyes glowing dark brown, looking black.

Mora giggled when she saw her. "Abby, did your mom not let you out yet?"

She shook her head.

"Aw, but it's my birthday! Can't we take you out, just for today?"

She looked at her, coldly. "Mom said if I take this off I'm going back to the Room."

Mora closed her eyes and smiled. "The Room isn't all that bad, but whatever! Welcome Abigail!" 

She took a small bow and went over to the large table.

The next was a taller woman, with pastel blue hair, her eyes a faint green. She had to be a teen, but she was odd. Adorned in spikes and flowers, black and pastel, and a belt of combat knifes and weapons with bows, she had to be the oddest one.

Mora looked up at her, as this woman was much taller than her. She raised her arms into the air, as if she wanted to be picked up, and the woman did so, spinning her around.

"Mora! I'm so happy you're turning nine!" She turned to look at the table. "Ooh, is that the same tablecloth from my  birthday last year?"

The small girl smiled. "Yes! That birthday was fun so I stole your tablecloth!"

The woman put down the small girl and laughed. "You're mischievous."

"I know, Ella!" She smiled and gestured to the table. "Go ahead!"

Ella nodded and walked over to Abigail, striking up a conversation.

The next two were twin boys, maybe fourteen or fifteen. Both of them seemed very pale, black hair and shiny gold eyes. One was smiling and jumpy, the other was glaring at anything and anyone, scowling.

Mora waved at them. "Hi guys!"

The jumpy one smiled back and kissed her on the forehead. The other one just stood there. 

"C'mon, Mikey, be more happy than that! It's Mora's ninth birthday!" The jumpy one said to the silent one.

"No, Dan, and again, it's Mike. Not Mikey." He said, almost as coldly as Abigail.

Mora smiled. "I don't mind. We all know how Mikey is." The way she said that made Dan burst into laughter. Mora stuck out her tongue and shooed them off to the table.

The next two girls were holding hands and laughing together. One had dark brown, almost black, shoulder-length hair and tan skin. She was tall and took long strides. The other had chocolate brown short hair, pale skin and freckles. She also seemed to have glasses. She was much shorter and smaller than the other, so she had to take many more steps to keep up with the other. 

"Hey, Lila!" The taller one looked over and waved. "And Sofia! Glad you two could make it!"

They smiled and nodded as they walked over to the table. 

A little girl with pale blonde hair and a boy who was only a bit younger with hair the color of the moon walked in, both of their eyes a blueish color. Mora waved silently and they did the same.

Mora came to one knee in front of the girl and started signing something out to her. The little girl smiled and signed another sentence back. She did the same with the boy.

She stood up and spelled out their names in sign language. "N-O-A-H and E-M-I-L-Y!" She said, rushing them off.

Mr. Hopps was frightened and intrigued at the children and teenagers. What he didn't know was that these friends of Mora's where very....special.