A Genius Cornish Rex

Nadia and Leo made their way to the tall house where Simon, the peculiar Cornish Rex, lived. As they approached, Nadia couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and curiosity. Simon was known for his intelligence and mysterious ways, and she hoped he could help them find the merchant.

"Here it is!" Simon exclaimed as he pulled out what appeared to be tiny round poker chips with various icons on them, from a small satchel attached to his collar.

"Yes!..What are they?" Leo asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"This is currency only found in the land beyond the doorway," Simon answered, his voice trembling slightly.

"What is that gonna do for us if we need to be in the land beyond the doorway to use it?" Nadia offered up, her curiosity piqued.

"I'm glad you asked! These are what you'll use to pay the merchant to get you through the doorway. You are headed to a merchant, after all," Simon explained, trying to sound confident.

"Oh, that makes sense," Nadia let out faintly.

"What do you mean 'you'll pay the merchant with'? Don't you mean we?" Leo said, his tone firm and determined.

"Oh, yeah about that...you see, I, uh, well, I don't really do the, erm, outside. It's...uh...gross. I mean, that's really a you thing, you know, the...brave Leo...always going on adventures," Simon trickled out unconvincingly.

Nadia turned her head to look over at Leo, trying not to laugh. She didn't know if she was imagining it or not, but Leo seemed to fix his posture just a bit to stand a little taller. Nadia tried to suppress her laughter, seeing Leo eat this comment up like a hidden treat.

"Well, yeah, I am a pretty brave, big, handsome adventurer," Leo said, looking at his slight reflection in the window.

"I don't think I menti-" Simon started, but Leo carried on over him.

"You know, sometimes I get mistaken for a Maine Coon. Actually, this one time I was in the park whe-"

"So, Simon, are you saying you're staying here?" Nadia cut in, feeling the urge to end whatever was going on. Leo looked about ready to deflate, then looked over at Simon for an answer.

"I'm saying I don't want to get in the way of what sounds like a big adventure for big cats like yourselves," Simon let out slyly. Nadia rolled her eyes.

"Ah, tuna, maybe next time. Well, let me get a few chips then," Leo said as he put his paw out to receive some chips as if he had the thumbs to catch them.

Simon let out a sigh of relief and chuckled almost to himself, "Ha ha, me, outside. I got you your own satchel." Simon shuffled around the window ledge, moving little toys out of the way to reveal a small pouch in the shape of a sardine.

"Here you are, your very own puuuuuuuurrrrrr aaahhhh!" As Simon put his paw out to drop the sardine purse in Leo's paw, Leo grabbed him, dropping them both off the ledge down to the grass below.

Nadia looked shocked for a moment before gathering herself to follow them down the safe way. She heard them before she saw them.

"Get off of me! I think I feel a bug on me! Oh my god, they're probably fleas on us now! Look at what you did, you animal!" Simon let out, sounding somewhere between grossed out and upset. Nadia was a bit confused as Simon was the one that fell on Leo.

"You'll live," Leo said, wheezing his way to his feet, "you're pretty heavy."

"Well, I just ate! Of course, I would be slightly heavier than usual," Simon tried to explain as if trying to convince himself.

"What now?" Nadia asked.

"We're off to the merchant, of course," Leo smiled and started toward a small hole in a fence straight ahead. Nadia watched as he disappeared without looking back to see if any of them followed. When Leo was out of sight, Nadia looked at Simon, who was shaking his head.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, and thank you for the chips!" Nadia said to Simon as she quickly made her way to the small passage in the fence so as not to get left behind.

Simon, now standing in the backyard in the dark, tried cleaning himself but couldn't help but feel unnerved. The quieter it got, the slower Simon cleaned himself until he just stopped.

"Ugh, all these germs...guys?" Simon said out loud, looking up to find himself alone. Finally feeling vulnerable, he darted toward the gap in the fence to keep up.

Upon seeing the others, Simon couldn't quite gather why he felt tension, but seeing Leo's face proved his fears as he approached.

"Maybe I should head back instead," Simon said but didn't move to match his desires.

"Shhh," Leo and Nadia said in unison.

"Dog up ahead," Leo completed.

"So what? Let's go around up the fence," Simon said.

"Wait it out if there are raccoons on the other side don't-hey!" Leo warned but turned to see it was too late. Simon had already jumped the fence, laughing, happy to have another solution.

"Honestly, Leo, I gotta figure everything out? When are you gonna learn to think on your own? I should start charging you," Simon was a bit louder toward the side of the fence he just came from, thinking the dog couldn't get him. Walking quickly, to be first to the park, he slammed into a furry wall.

"Well, what do we have here, a rat?" a raccoon the size of a Boston Terrier said.

Leo, thinking quickly, started to act erratically. He hissed, growled, and foamed at the mouth, making the raccoons back away in fear.

"Rabies! He's got rabies!" one of the raccoons shouted as they all scurried away.

Once the raccoons were gone, Leo, Simon, and Nadia burst into laughter.

"That was brilliant, Leo!" Nadia said, still giggling.

"Yeah, well, sometimes you gotta get a little crazy," Leo replied with a grin.

They made their way to the park to search for the merchant. As they walked, they came across a cat that could almost be mistaken for a charcoal statue. Nadia approached him to ask for directions.

"Excuse me, do you know where we can find Enid, the Merchant of Traveling Worlds?" Nadia asked politely.

The cat hissed and laughed, "Enid isn't someone you find unless she wants you to find her. Be back tomorrow night for the full moon. You can't miss her radiant glow in the late night...that is if you're meant to see her."

With that cryptic message, the cat disappeared into the shadows. The trio decided to head back to their homes before anyone in their respective households could notice their absence.

As they walked back, they shared stories and laughed about their adventure. Simon, despite his initial reluctance, seemed to be enjoying himself. Leo, ever the brave adventurer, led the way with confidence. Nadia, feeling a sense of camaraderie and excitement, couldn't wait for what lay ahead.

"Simon, you were pretty brave back there with the raccoons," Nadia said, nudging him playfully.

"Yeah, well, I guess I can be brave when I need to be," Simon replied, a hint of pride in his

voice.

"Leo, that rabies act was genius! Where did you come up with that?" Nadia asked, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Oh, you know, just something I picked up from watching too many nature documentaries," Leo said with a wink.

They continued to chat and laugh, the bond between them growing stronger with each step. When they finally reached their homes, Nadia felt a sense of accomplishment. She had taken the first steps on a journey that promised to be full of mystery and wonder. Tomorrow was the day before Mandy had planned to go out with her friends in a dress that was destroyed, but Nadia knew that her adventure was just beginning.