“Can we take a break?” Izzy gasped. We had been hiking for a couple hours over the mountain and she was suffering for it. Isabella flopped down into the grass.

“Sure,” I replied. I walked back to her and held out a canteen. “Have some water.”

“Thanks,” Isabella replied taking the canteen.

“Perhaps we should have paid more attention to the child’s conditioning before agreeing that she could come along,” Trillium said from where she landed on my left shoulder. Lily was sitting on my right shoulder.

“We all assumed that Izzy would be in decent shape since she has lived in the area,” Lilly said waving a finger around to encompass ever how much land she considered the area.

“I am in shape, I’m just not used to hiking through the mountains,” Izzy objected. “This is a lot different than what I’m used to doing.”

“There, there, it’ll be alright,” Willow said after landing on Isabella’s head and patting it. Izzy looked up and frowned but didn’t try to dislodge the pixie.

“Uh Willow?” Lily said while I tried to keep from laughing.

“Yeah?” Willow asked while still patting Isabella’s head.

“You’re supposed to pat their backs when you’re consoling someone, not their heads,” Lily said. “Humans are people, not pets. Hugs work too.”

“Oh? Really?” Willow asked. She stopped patting Izzy’s head and flew behind her and then started patting her back. “Like this?”

I could keep it in any longer and laughed. Lily and Trillium took flight as I bent forward laughing.

“Jase, it isn’t that funny,” Trillium said.

“He thinks it is,” Lily replied. She then laughed. “I also think he’s right.”

“Children,” Trillium muttered. “Jase, take a break too. You two still have two more hours of walking to do.”

“Yes elder,” I replied while smiling at the older pixie. I dropped down and sat beside Izzy. She passed me my canteen back and I took a swig from it. “Want more?”

“No thanks,” Izzy replied. “Do you often hike around like this?”

“Pretty much,” I answered while closing the lid on the canteen and putting it in my satchel.

“Helpful plants are scatted throughout the mountains,” Trillium added. “We show Jase where they are if he doesn’t find them himself.”

“So far, we’ve stuck to this mountain and haven’t needed to venture further out,” Lily said.

“Nor should we need to with careful harvesting and cultivation,” I added.

“That is true and shows wisdom,” Trillium replied.

“That’s the primary reason we had Jase and Lily claim so much land,” April said, speaking for the first time in a while. “The other humans would have used up the plants in the claimed area without much care.”

“How can you be so sure?” Izzy asked. “Most mountain folk care for their surroundings.”

“We’ve watched it happen repeatedly over many long years,” Trillium said softly. I perked up at that statement and felt she was hinting at something far more than it appeared.

“Elder, you mean that about a lot more than just here in the mountains, don’t you?” I asked. Izzy gave me a questioning look.

“Jase…” Lily whispered shaking her head in warning.

“Perhaps,” Trillium answered nodding her head just once. I nodded in return and wondered just how long the pixies and other familiars had been with us humans once more. The elder gave us a sad smile. “Humanity has a pattern of repeating its mistakes.”

“I’ve been taught that is why we have familiars, to help us learn to do better,” Izzy said. Trillium’s smile turned brighter.

“That’s true,” the elder agreed. “Now rest for another five minutes. We must not waste time so we can get you back before it gets dark.”

*

“They look almost like sunflowers and are big,” Izzy said as we gazed over the tall compass plants. The shortest one was three feet tall, while most of the plants in the field were between six and ten feet in height.

“That’s what she said,” Lily snickered.

“I should make you fly laps for saying that” Trillium said.

“I’m just glad Lily said it before I did,” May said.

“They are big,” Izzy said in confusion while pointing to the compass plants. The younger pixies giggled.

“You all have dirty minds,” Trillium said shaking her head.

“Be glad you’re not bonded to them,” I told the elder.

“Hey!” Lily objected. “Don’t tease like that.”

“Then don’t tease the way you did,” I retorted.

“Fine. Wait here while we scout the field,” Lily replied. Her, April, May, Yam, and Willow took off flying over the field.

“Why are they doing that?” Izzy asked.

“To ensure yours and Jase’s safety,” Trillium answered.

“Yep. There could be cougars or other things lurking in the field where we can’t see them,” I added.

“That’s the first lesson learned then,” Isabella said with a smile on her face. “Never had to worry about things lurking in the shadows or weeds around Asheville.”

“Too many humans and their familiars there,” Trillium said knowingly.

“Well, Lily is reporting they haven’t found anything yet, so I’m going to step to the edge of the field and crack a stalk. I want to see if this sap works as a gum,” I said. A couple minutes later I returned to Trillium and Izzy chewing on some of the sap.

“How is it??” Izzy asked.

“Probably slightly bitter,” Trillium said.

“It is,” I agreed nodding my head. “Very chewy and odorless. I’ll probably have to add honey or something to the sap to sell as a gum.”

“Can I try some?” Izzy asked.

“Sure,” I replied holding out the stalk I had. “Just crack the stalk some more and dip some sap out on your finger.”

“Blech! That’s not good,” Izzy said after trying the sap and making a face before spitting the sap out. “It’s way too bitter. Can I have some water?”

“Yeah,” I replied fighting not to laugh at her. I gave her the canteen.

“So, it’s not good gum?” Lily asked as the pixies returned.

“Not unless you like bitter tastes,” I answered.

“Pfft! You know we don’t!” my familiar replied. I shrugged my shoulders.

“Let’s gather some and head home,” I said. “I want to see how good this plant is at for its reported uses.”