“Captain May of the PDF reporting, ma’am,” May said flying up to Lily. She stopped and saluted the other pixie. The small stone I had dislodged from the covered doorway with telekinesis fell to the ground as I frowned as my concentration broke.

“You almost had it Jase.”

“Yeah,” I replied wiping sweat from my face. Concentrating that much was hard to do. “What is the PDF?”

“Pixie Defense Force,” Lily answered, returning May’s salute. “Report solider.”

“There is a pixie defense force?” I asked in disbelieve.

“Affirmative sir!” May answered. “We of the PDF defend your claimed land.”

“Lily, does the land we claimed really need defending?”

“It does.”

“From predators?”

“No sir! From trespassers,” May replied. “Vile, mean, trespassers.”

“Trespassers are vile?”

“Yes sir! They don’t respect your rights, home, or land. They take what they want and leave graffiti,” May replied as Lilly nodded in agreement.

“Graffiti is drawings or writing sprayed onto something or a wall,” Lily helpfully informed me. I nodded in understanding.

“Is that something people actually did?” I asked.

“Uh huh. A long time ago,” May answered.

“Mostly teenagers and young adults about your age,” Lily added. I shook my head grinning at the pixies.

“What trespassers?” I asked.

“Those like her,” May cheerfully answered pointing to the path where a disheveled looking girl from the village was running. Birds ridden by pixies were dropping things on her. “We chased off the two boys with her and they headed back towards the village. She ran this way, so we are still chasing the trespasser.”

“Help!” the girl screamed catching sight of me.

“Oh, for the love of all that is holy,” I muttered. “Lily, please.”

“Call off the assault. We’ll take it from here,” Lily told May. “And pass along my compliments to your commander.”

“Yes ma’am! We would appreciate more honey drops,” May cheekily replied taking off toward the mounted pixies.

“So…”

“You’re not wondering about her camo outfit?” Lily asked.

“No. Sadly, it’s not the weirdest thing I’ve seen since we bonded.”

“That’s probably true,” Lily agreed.” I think I should have warned you about the PDF.”

“Yep,” I replied as the girl slowed to a walk heading to us.

*

Lily landed and sat on my right shoulder as I stopped a couple of feet from the girl. I recognized her as Mohe’s daughter but didn’t recall her name.

“Are you alright?” I asked the girl.

Catching sight of Lily, her expression changed to one of anger. “This is all your fault!”

“My fault?” I asked.

“Yes! You had the birds and pixies attack us for coming onto your lands.”

“I didn’t order any attacks and can’t tell the pixies much less the birds what to do. I’m an alchemist, not a wizard or seer, and had no idea anyone was on my land until you came running out of the trees screaming for help.”

“We could make you a convincing fake if we wanted to,” Lily telepathically informed me.

“Then how do you explain this?” the girl screeched gesturing to herself.

“You were somewhere you shouldn’t have been,” I replied. The girl was attractive, but her attitude was off putting. “Your father agreed that the lands we staked would be ours and that the village would respect that.”

“We even have a signed contract,” Lily cheerfully added.

“What were you even doing on my land?”

“They were taking dried branches for firewood,” May helpfully called out.

“I wasn’t picking up wood. I was just with my friends,” the girl muttered.

“Even so, you were trespassing!” May shouted. I stifled a laugh.

“Thank you, May,” I said. I hadn’t realized that pixies had such good hearing. “I’m sorry I don’t remember your name…”

“Woya. My name is Woya,” the chieftain’s daughter replied scowling at me and Lily.

“Woya, it’s nice to meet you again. I’m Lily and this is my Jase,” my familiar replied.

“Let’s get you cleaned up a little,” I offered.

“Jase, she can wash off in one of the streams,” Lily quietly told me.

“Right. We don’t want anyone finding out about the tech,” I telepathically replied back.

“And just where am I to wash off at?” Woya asked.

“In one of the streams,” I answered. Woya frowned once more, and I shrugged in return. “It’s not like I have a working bathtub and running water.”

“I suppose that’s true,” Woya replied. “Maybe I should just head home.”

“Washing in the stream and us cleaning your clothing will keep you from being embarrassed in the village,” Lily said flying up and turning to face both of us humans. Woya sucked in a breath.

“I hadn’t thought of that. Just who would be cleaning my clothes if I accept your offer?”

“Me and some of the other pixies,” Lily answered smiling. Willow and Yam flew up at that moment. Lily threw an exaggerated wink my way before addressing the two pixies. “Willow, will you and Lam get one of the ‘good’ washcloths and towels for our guest?”

Willow and Yam returned the wink while I stifled a groan. “Sure!”

I watched the pair as they flew off towards the house. “I’ll go and start back working on that wall.”

Woya frowned again.

“Don’t worry. Jase is being honest and won’t try to spy on you,” Lily said. “Follow me and I’ll lead you to the stream.”

“Th…thanks,” Woya replied turning to follow my familiar.

“May!”

“Yes ma’am?” the pixie asked saluting.

“Watch over Jase. He’s in charge while I’m gone.”

“Yes ma’am!” May replied saluting again. I shook my head and started back to the house.

*

Woya gave in to her curiosity. “So, there is a pixie hierarchy?”

“There are elders that rule an area,” Lilly answered.

“Are you an elder?”

Lily laughed. “No.”

“Then why do the others listen to you?”

“Because defending our home is part of the deal I made with the local elder when we moved here.”

“Getting me a towel is not defending your home though. So, why do the others do that?”

“We like being helpful,” Lily answered.

“Seems to me you like being mean and attacking people.”

“That wasn’t mean. What you call an attack was mostly a prank taken to an extreme. While soiled, you’re not hurt.”

“I guess,” Woya replied.

“Here is the stream,” Lily said.

“I can see that.”

“Good. Yam, Willow, April, and a couple of others will stay here with you to make sure you can find your way home. I’m going back to my Jase.”

Woya nodded agreement. “Why do you call Jase my Jase?”

“Because we are bonded. When you get a familiar, they will feel the same,” Lily answered. She waved and flew away.