“Never seen anything like Morrisville before?” Napier asked.

“No,” I answered shaking my head. The capital was huge compared to every other village I had seen on our trip or been to. Most of the buildings, including the homes, were at least two stories. There were several buildings at four stories tall with stairs running up the outside.

“Those are multi dwelling homes,” Napier informed me seeing that I was staring at the big buildings. “There are several families living in each building.”

“In the old days such buildings were called apartment buildings,” Lily said from where she was hiding in my shirt pocket.

“People live above their shops?” I asked.

“Yeah. Those with three stories will often rent out the top floor to make extra money,” Napier said.

“Interesting. Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it,” Napier replied as he parked the wagon where the caravan master indicated.

“Jase, we will be here in Morrisville for three days. Do whatever you want but be ready to depart at sunrise four days from now,” Bob Greene told me as he walked up to the wagon.

“Thanks Bob.”

“You’re welcome,” Bob replied before walking away.

“Do you have enough money to rent a room at an inn?” Napier asked.

“Probably. I hope so,” I answered unsure of myself.

“Any inn along this block or the next will be affordable with clean rooms. Further to the wall will be cheaper inns, which may or may not be clean. The fancy places are further to the heart of the city.”

“Where are you guys staying?”

“I’m going to stay with family. My uncle has a house here and he lets me stay whenever we’re in the city. I pay a little fee and get a room to myself and good home cooked meals. I don’t care where the rest stay.”

“I see. Is there a place you would recommend?”

Napier looked thoughtful for a moment or two. “The Golden Leaf Inn.”

“Golden leaf is something people used to call a plant named tobacco a long time ago,” Lily helpfully told me.

“I see by your expression you’re worried about the name. The inn is not as fancy as it sounds. If I’m not mistaken, a few of the other wagon drivers stay there. It’s just up the block and is a three-story building. You can’t miss it,” Napier said. He turned to leave. “Enjoy yourself Jase.”

“Thanks Napier. You enjoy your stay too.”

“I plan on it,” he said as he walked off.

“Should we check into the inn?” I asked Lily.

“We could or we could check out the ruins. You can’t hide that you want to see them from me. I can feel your curiosity.”

“It would be cheaper…”

“And more fun. You’ll need food though.”

“But the inn would mean food I don’t have to cook, a bed, and a bath.”

“I…You do need a bath,” Lily agreed after sniffing me.

“Hey!”

“It’s the truth!”

“I know that. That’s why we’ll go to the inn.”

“Get some food and let’s go to the ruins. I can find you a safe place that has a shower or tub.”

“You said you’ve never been here before.”

“That’s why I said I could find you a safe place.”

I could feel my excitement and Lily’s both. “Ok. Let’s go exploring.”

*

Lily led me northeast out of Morrisville. We traveled for an hour before she came to a stop. The ruins were a bit of a disappointment since most of the buildings were just empty shells or had collapsed.

“This is the place,” Lily said.

“SynAgiBiome,” I read the sign in front of the building.

“What kind of place was this?” I asked. The building was in good shape compared to everything else I had seen so far.

“An old biotech company.”

“Biotech?”

“I’ll explain later. We have to get into the building.”

“Will there be a bathtub and bed in here?”

“Should be a shower and kitchen at least. Maybe a bed too,” Lily answered and flew to the door. I followed and tapped on it.

“Metal.”

“Thick just like the walls too.”

“I reckon that explains why the building is still standing.”

“Yep.”

“There’s no handle or even windows. How do we get in?”

Lily suddenly spun around. “Jase, get down!”

“What? Why?” I asked.

“That’s why,” Lily answered and pointed to a very large cat that emerged from some shadows at the corner of the building.

“What is that thing?” I asked backing into the wall behind me.

“Looks like a mutated or bioengineered cougar,” Lily answered. “It’s a big one too!”

The creature was gray in color and about 9 feet long nose to tail. It didn’t roar but made a human like screaming sound as it crouched and approached slowly. It didn’t seem afraid.

“Maybe we should run.”

“You’ll die faster if you do. I’m going to try to talk to it.”

“You’re going to what?” I asked in disbelief.

“You’ll see,” my pixie said and flew to the creature. It stopped and watched my familiar.

“Lily?”

“Hush Jase,” she replied keeping her attention on the cougar. “We apologize for invading your territory.”

“It can’t talk!”

“Of course, she can…to pixies,” Lily replied. She turned back to the cougar. “Yeah, humans are still dumb. Jase is better than most though.”

“I don’t…”

“No Sara. You can’t eat him. Jase is my human. We’re bonded and I’m his familiar,” Lily informed the cat.

“Sara?” I asked only to be ignored.

“I understand you’re hungry, but eating humans is bad,” Lily replied to the cougar. “Yeah, I understand they can’t hunt or hurt you. But don’t they taste bad?”

My eyes widened in alarm at the turn of the conversation that I could only hear half of.

“So, human is an acquired taste?”

“Acquired taste?” I asked.

“No, just because a pixie bonded with a human doesn’t mean they taste sweeter. Wait, how do you know pixies are sweet?” Lily asked. “No…Nope…forget! Let’s make a deal.”

“What kind of deal?” I asked and wondered if the cat had asked the same thing. “I’m nuts. I’m bonded with a pixie, and she is talking to some kind of strange cougar.”

“Yeah, he worries too much,” Lily agreed with Sara as both stared at me. “In exchange for your protection, I’ll lead a buck to you. Jase will also give you some of his jerky to tide you over until I locate a buck. And no, you can’t taste him.”

“Lily? What’s going on sweetie?”

“Almost done. Just be patient,” Lily replied to me. After a few more minutes, Lily and Sara approached me. Lily made introductions. “Jase, give Sara some of your jerky.”

“Why?” I asked.

“It’s part of our deal,” Lily answered. She explained the deal to me, and I sat half the jerky I had on the ground in front of the cougar. Sara ate a little of it and then looked at Lily. “I don’t know why humans use so much salt either. At least they don’t use as much as their ancestors did.”

“What about my ancestors?”

“Not important right now!” Lily said and made a zipping motion across her mouth.

“Yeah, yeah. More of your secret knowledge.”

“Yep! Stay here with Sara. I must go find a deer for her.”

“Don’t you feel bad about that?”

“No. Why should I?”

“It’s a defenseless animal,” I replied. Lily laughed and Sara made a sound that I assumed was laughter. Lily flew up to my face and kissed my cheek. “My dear sweet and innocent Jase, the deer around here are predators and have fangs.”

“No way!”

“Yes way!” Lily replied and flew off.

“Hi. How are you?” I nervously asked Sara while cautiously watching the cougar. She ignored me and ate the rest of the jerky.