Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted

Unshift 325

325 Lisa: Shopping Mission (I)

LISA

The pack only has a few cars now. Nothing like the SUVS they used at the Westwood Pack; these are older sedans and a couple trucks.

The Grand Sage sits in delight in the front, while Elverly crosses her arms and scowls out the window from her side of the backseat. Kellan seems minorly irritated I gave up shotgun to the Grand Sage, but maybe it’s just me projecting things.

Despite being pretty okay with giving me space, he’s also clingy. I know, I know, I’m contradicting myself. It’s just how things feel right now.

The gentle rumble of the car lulls me into a drowsy state as I gaze out the window. It’s almost hypnotic, the way the landscape rolls by.

“How does this auto–mo–bile function without horses?” the Grand Sage asks for what feels like the hundredth time. His enthusiasm for technology is endearing, if a bit exhausting. for technology is endearing, if a bit exhausting.

Kellan, to his credit, answers patiently. “It’s an automobile, sir. And it runs on an internal combustion engine.”

I stifle a yawn, my eyelids growing heavy. The constant questions and explanations fade into background noise as I let my mind wander.

“Why do we keep passing these cities?” Elverly’s sour tone cuts through my haze. “Are none of them suitable?”

Kellan glances in the rearview mirror. “These aren’t cities, ma’am. They’re small towns. We’re avoiding anything too close to the safe haven to maintain our cover.”

The old gnome scoffs. “Humans and their excess. Calling these sprawling monstrosities ‘towns.”

I turn in my seat, meeting Elverly’s disapproving gaze. “Actually, these are pretty small compared to real cities. In big human cities, the buildings touch the sky.”

“Humans aren’t so capable.”

“They’re engineering marvels,” I explain, warming to the subject. “Some are over a hundred stories tall, with foundations that go deep into the earth.”

The Grand Sage turns in his seat to peer back at me, eyes sparkling. “Fascinating! And how do humans traverse these vertical metropolises?”

“Elevators,” I say, then catch myself. “Um, they’re like… vertical moving rooms? They carry people up and down.”

Elverly shakes her head. “Stairs work just fine.”

I shrug. “A hundred flights of stairs is a lot. There are elevators everywhere. You’d understand if you saw them. We have to build high because of the population of the cities; we’ve run out of space to house them. Millions of people can’t share one or two story houses in such a small

area.”

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325 Lisa Shopping Mission (1)

“Millions?” Elverly’s voice is barely a whisper, her face pale. “In one city?”

It must sound overwhelming to someone who’s never experienced it. “Yeah, New York City has over eight million people.”

“Eight million souls, all in one place,” the Grand Sage muses. “The magical potential of such a gathering boggles the mind.”

Elverly sniffs. “It sounds like a nightmare. How do they not suffocate each other?”

I can’t help but laugh. “It’s not so bad. There are parks and open spaces. And the city has its own kind of magic, you know? The energy, the diversity, the constant motion…”

“You sound fond of it,” Kellan observes, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror.

“Yeah, I guess I am. I mean, I always wanted it to be my home. To become a city girl like that.”

The Grand Sage nods sagely. “Home is where the heart finds peace, regardless of its surroundings. There are those who thrive in a busy atmosphere.”

“It’s not just the atmosphere. Convenience, too. Oh, and the food.”

“Food?”

“You could get anything you wanted, any time of day or night. Indian, Chinese, Italian, Ethiopian… And the best pizza in the world, if you go to New York.” Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

“Pizza?” the Grand Sage inquires.

“Oh man, you guys haven’t lived until you’ve had pizza.” I grin. “It’s like… a flat bread with tomato sauce and melted cheese and toppings. It sounds simple, but when it’s done right, it’s heavenly.”

Kellan chuckles. “You’re making me hungry.”

“Sorry,” I say, not feeling sorry at all. “But seriously, the food in the city is amazing. And then there’s the museums, the theaters, the music…”

I trail off, realizing I’m gushing. But the gnomes are listening intently. The Grand Sage, of course, is always interested in things humans do, but not Elverly.

“It sounds… vibrant,” Elverly admits grudgingly. “Though I still can’t fathom so many people in

one place.”

The Grand Sage claps his hands together. “Marvelous! We must find a way to visit one of these human metropolises someday. Think of the technological wonders we could study!”

Kellan coughs. “That might be a bit complicated, sir. Many of them have been attacked.”

“Ah, yes. He strokes his beard with a sigh. “The world has changed. A pity”

These facts are hard to fathom when you can look outside the window and see what looks like pristine rural towns on the side of the highway. Like all of it happened in another world.

Kellan glances at the Grand Sage again. “Maybe we can bring some of that city magic to the safe

haven.”

I perk up at that. “Oh! We could totally have a pizza night. I make a mean homemade pizza.”

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325 Lisa: Shopping Mission (1)

Elverly turns to me with a scowl. “You cook?”

“When I have to,” I shrug. “It’s not as good as New York pizza, but it’s not bad.”

The conversation drifts to other topics as we continue our journey, but I find my mind lingering on thoughts of home. Not of fancy cities, but of the life I left behind. My parents, my friends,

college…

My heart clenches as I think of Mom and Dad. They probably think I’m dead. I want to see them, to hear their voices again, to feel Mom’s arms around me.

The Grand Sage’s voice cuts through my reverie. “Are you alright, my dear?”

I blink, realizing I’ve been staring out the window, lost in thought. “Hm? Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”

But I’m not, not really. I force a smile, hoping it doesn’t look as brittle as it feels. The last thing I want is to worry anyone.

“We’re about ten miles from the city,” Kellan announces, his eyes flicking to mine in the rearview mirror.

Turning back to the window, I use the motion to discreetly wipe at my eyes.