“Make way! Incoming!” Lily screamed while flying past Sara and me. A moment later a large deer like creature came crashing out of the brush. It spotted me, snorted, bared its fangs, and charged. I looked around in panic and didn’t see Sara or Lily.

The creature was on me before I could run, and I backed into the wall behind me. A sudden flash of light blinded the buck and me in an instant. I heard a thudding sound, growl, and scream. Silence descended as I blinked and wiped my eyes. A tearing sound reached my ears and then a ripping sound followed by the sound of something being eaten.

“Ugh! That’s gross. Be happy you can’t see,” Lily told me.

“I can see a little,” I replied wiping my eyes one more time. “And yeah, Sara eating is pretty gross.”

The great cat stopped eating and looked at us both. After staring at Lily, she turned back to her meal.

“Sara says we don’t have to watch and that this is nature taking its course. She also said she’ll go with us into the building as this buck is more than she thought she would get.”

I noticed she didn’t say if we could get into the building. “Lily, you can get through the door, can’t you?”

The pixie stood in the air, looked down, and dragged a foot back and forth in front of her as if stirring dirt on the ground. “Maybe…”

“Lily, you can tell me,” I said keeping my eyes on my familiar instead of the cougar eating the buck. I was trying to block the sounds as much as possible too.

“I have the knowledge, but it depends on if the door still has power and if the keypad works.”

“Doors can have power?”

“Electricity powered doors like this. When I left to find a deer for Sara, I went up high enough to see that this building still has some intact solar cells, so hopefully there is enough power in storage.”

“Well, let’s try the door. Opening now should allow some fresh air inside,” I said.

“Ok! Lily said cheerfully and flew to the door. She stopped beside it and started cleaning part of the wall.

“Lily?”

“Yeah?”

“What was that light that blinded me and the buck?”

“Oh, that? Just a harmless flare spell,” Lily answered disinterestedly as she started pressing things on the wall.

“Just a harmless flare spell?” I asked incredulously. “It blinded me!”

“And you’re fine now. The same thing would have happened if any bright light had been shined into your eyes,” Lily retorted dismissively. She found what she was looking for and started pulling on part of the wall with telekinesis and physically. Several small objects fell to the ground. My familiar waved at me. “Drat! Jase, come here and help.”

“Help with what?” I asked as I walked to where she was.

“This panel,” Lily answered gesturing to part of the wall under where she pressed things.

“What are these things you were pressing?”

“Keys on the keypad,” Lily answered. She noticed my expression and continued, “Keys are numbered buttons that when pressed in the correct combination makes a code that lets the computer system know that the person in front of the door has permission to enter the building and open the door.”

“I have so many questions.”

“I know. We’ll get to that later. Finish prying the panel cover off for me.”

“Ok,” I agreed. We spent several minutes working together to get the cover off. “How long has this building been here?”

“A very long time. And no, I wouldn’t tell you if I knew.”

“Maybe we can find out inside,” I said.

“Perhaps,” Lily agreed. Pull the red and green wires from that circuit board.”

“This green thing?” I asked pointing to the green rectangle in the wall.

“Yep. But be careful you only pull them from the board and not out altogether. And be extra careful not to touch the yellow wire.”

“Why shouldn’t I touch the yellow one?” I asked while I reached for the two wires she wanted disconnected.

“It’ll be a shocking experience if you do,” Lily answered with a huge grin on her face. As I was reaching for the green wire, my little finger brushed the yellow one. I snatched my hand back as I felt a jolt or bite hit my finger.

“Ouch! That hurt.”

“Told you,” Lily said flying around my head. I pulled my hand up to my face to examine it. Lily stopped next to my hand and kissed it. “There, all better!”

I laughed. I reached for the wires again. This time I was extra careful and didn’t touch the yellow or black wires. I held the wires out. Lily examined them.

“There’s the problem. There is a break in the green one. We’ll have to cut it and the red one the same length and skin back the covering. Then join the two wires together,” Lily explained.

“How do I join the wires together?”

“There is copper inside. Just twist it together.”

“Ok. Sounds simple.”

“Chop, chop! Get to it!” Lily ordered with a grin on her face.

“Yes mistress!”

“Hey!”

“You started it.”

“I know.”

“I won’t get shocked again, will I?” I asked pulling out my knife.

“Nope,” Lily answered. I did as she instructed.

“Now what?”

“Touch the wires to the circuit board,” Lily replied flying back up to the keypad. I touched the joined wires to the board where the green had been previously. “Great! It’s working. Just hold it there.”

“Alright,” I replied. Lily pressed some buttons and the door opened. She flew down, pulled another piece of wire from somewhere, held it to the green and red wires, and shot the wires with a tiny fireball. They melted to the board.

“You can let go now.”

“What did you do?”

“I soldered the wires to the board.”

“More forgotten knowledge?”

“You know it!”

“Where did that silver wire come from?”

“Uh…the getting place!”

“Lily.”

“I promise to tell you one day. I just can’t now,” Lily said looking sad.

I held my hand out and she landed on it. I brought her closer and kissed her head. “Tell me when you can.”

“Ok! I will,” Lily promised as she took flight. “Ready to go Sara?”

The large cat made a noise. I looked down and noticed the buck was gone. “Where did the deer go?”

“Sara says she ate her fill and hid the rest for later.”

“Oh. Ok,” I replied nervously. The cougar moving that quietly and quickly scared me.

“Don’t be afraid. Sara won’t hurt you, Jase,” Lily told me as she landed on my shoulder.

“Alright. Are we ready?”

“Yep. Oh!”

“What?”

“If the lights don’t turn on, this will be a good opportunity for you to practice your light magic.”

“Good idea. Will you lead the way?”

“Are you crazy?”

“You said it was safe.”

“I said it should be safe,” Lily countered. Sara shook her head at us and walked into the building.

“I guess she is going first.”