A young, female street urchin? Jeff hardly had time to say “Wha-?” before he rapidly shrank in on himself, shedding years as he went backwards through puberty into childhood again. Now almost two feet shorter than previously, his body lost its adult muscles to become scrawny and thin. Skin became smooth and pale whilst his brown hair sprouted long, tumbling down to the small of his back before a dingy old ribbon tied it into a messy ponytail. Features softened and became delicate until he had the face of an innocent waif that belied a slight feral look in his big blue eyes. Clothing evaporated, giving him a last glimpse of his dwindling manhood slipping inside a new opening that set him firmly in the female category. Then, a rough-spun garment draped over his - now her - frame to lend a token bit of protection from the elements. Moldering strips of fabric wrapped around her tiny feet for shoes, and smudges of dirt and grime darkened her complexion.
Meanwhile, Jeff’s room blurred and swirled out of existence. Rather than settling back down, the movement persisted even when a new environment became apparent. The source turned out to be a sea of people milling about an open square. Sunlight shown down over countless merchant stalls lining the dusty streets, and shoppers passed by on their errands without so much as a glance at the girl who stared about her in confusion.
Suddenly, a gentleman in rather expensive looking robes stopped and began searching his clothing for something. Then, he noticed his young audience, and his worried expression turned to anger. “You there! Return my belongings, this instant!”
Too late, Jeff realized that her hands weren’t empty. From her small fist dangled a cloth bag with gold threading, doubtlessly pilfered from the irate nobleman. Not just an urchin, she had become a pickpocket!
The man stalked toward her, his hand thrust out to grab hold of her. “I’ll have you thrown in prison, you miserable little rat! Guards! I have a thief here!”
Before the man could seize hold of her, a boy every bit as bedraggled as herself appeared from nowhere between them. “What are you doing!? Run!” He yelled at Jeff before diving towards the man’s feet, forcing him to stumble to a halt. The man changed targets in an instant, long arms snatching at the boy, but the child nimbly dodged and vanished again into the gathering mob of onlookers.
Jeff managed to shake herself out of her paralysis and used the opportunity to escape, ducking around legs and the occasional cart to distance herself from the area.
“Stop her! Out of my way!” The man shouted, shoving people aside. To her growing panic, Jeff caught sight of shiny helmets moving in her direction through the crowds. The man’s cries had attracted the authorities.
Using her small size and quick feet, she escaped the closing ring of pursuers and darted into a narrow alleyway. The sounds of the bustling throng fell behind as she turned corner after corner. Finally, she stopped. Ears trained for any telltale sounds of approaching boots, she waited until her heart finished pounding in her chest.
At last certain that she was out of danger, she inspected the bag in her hand. It felt somewhat heavy, a good sign. Tipping its contents into her hand, she stared. Instead of money, she found herself holding a chain from which a curious stone talisman hung. Why did the man have this on his person?
“Aha! Found you!”
The voice made Jeff spin around. There stood…