Febra's a short gryphon, and February's a short month.

Also very true. Febra's personality is based somewhat on Jo Brand (at least, from what I've seen of her on QI) - bawdy, sarcastic, but overall her heart's definitely in the right place. Merci there, though, is - well - mercenary. That and her connection with Pluto, god of wealth, are two good reasons for her to be as money-obsessed as she is. She's fairly amoral; even though she helps the village out by trading with the outside world for things they can't get themselves (and she's a damn good bargainer), she's got no real sense of right and wrong.

Heh, they both look cute in their own way, though I like Febra is looking at Mercedes as if she's cussing her out for looking all 'thin and swav.'
(in all truth, they both look eaqualy attractive to me.)