“Do frogs have skeletons?” Smurt asked.

Snitch glanced at her friend but kept walking.  “That was random,” she said.  “I think you’ve been hanging around Dervel for too long.”

“No,” Smurt protested, coming to a halt, “I was just thinking – I’ve never seen a frog’s skull.  Do they have them?”

Smurt

Smurt is the rat that keeps them all together.

Smurt is a natural peacemaker.  Whenever Snitch is tormenting Dervel, she is there to break them up.  Whenever Dervel is scared or alone, she is there to offer a friendly shoulder to cry on.  Whenever Mum has done something Dad might not be too pleased about, Smurt is there to hide all the evidence.  Smurt is the pet all people wish that they had, and she’s only seven inches tall!

Smurt is ten months old – a little older than Dervel and Snitch.  She’s very protective of the only boy in their group and sees him as a dopey little brother.  Even though Dervel’s stupidity knows no bounds, Smurt has endless patience for him and is happy to explain things over and over again.  And even though Snitch is Dervel’s main tormentor, she is still very close to her wayward friend and tries to see the best in her at all times.

That’s not to say that Smurt is a 100% angelic character.  Although basically good, she too can have her moments of madness.  She loves to nap and if she doesn’t get her 16 hours of sleep per day she will crack and lash out at anyone who happens to be nearby.  She is obsessed with jammy biscuits and, although no one has been brave enough to test this theory, it is thought that she might go so far as selling Dervel if her secret stash ever ran dry.

In the book we find out something about Smurt that might make Mum and Dad start treating her with a little more reverence.  Smurt is royalty.  She is the 33rd child of Queen Bronte, making her a genuine princess, although not one who is ever likely to have any true power.  In fact, rather than living a life of privilege and happiness, Smurt is miserable.  Neglected by her mother and ignored by her brothers and sisters, she is forced to live a lonely life moping around in her room, where she’s frequently sent after acting out and chewing the antique furniture.  Her only friend is Snitch, the rebellious little rat who looked after her when she was a nervous little eeper on her first day at school, and has remained her best friend ever since.  No matter what Snitch does, no matter how much trouble she gets into, Smurt will support her until the end.  She just doesn’t expect Snitch to test her loyalty in such an extreme way…