My guide, the man from the Pure, lets out a grunt and collapses in front of me, taking the package down with him. At first, I don't see what took him down, until I smell the scent of the Wasted. A rotten, festering smell, like decaying flesh. I resist the urge to lose my lunch. But then I see it. A figure, vaguely human, held together by threads of red energy, crouched on top of the man. I let out a shriek of terror, and the Wasted lets out a cry even louder. Then, baring moldy fangs, it leans down to bite and infect the man.

I regain control over my muscles and pull out my pendant. The Wasted hisses and steps away from the man. I come closer, the Void Crystal glinting threateningly. With another cry, this one less loud, more filled with fear, the Wasted skitters up the wall with inhuman ability and runs away.

I release my breath and tuck my pendant back under my shirt, then I walk over to the man. Opening his eyes, he grunts. "Didja chase it off?" he asks, his voice raspy. I nod, then hold out my hand to help pull him up. He takes it, then we both pick up the package and continue our trek like nothing happened.

We reach the alleyway leading to the Circus, and he shakes my hand. "Appreciate you saving me back there. 'Fraid I have to leave you here. You're close enough to get home, right?" he asks, a hint of concern creeping into his voice. I nod, and he sets down his half of the package. "Starspeed to you, little one," he says. "Starspeed to you as well, noble warrior," I respond respectfully.

When he left, I drag the package to another air vent and slide it in. Then, I walk around to our personal entrance to the Circus, where I am immediately greeted by Julia, a ring dancer for our crew. "Anne, you made it! We heard the Wasted and worried... I almost messed up my routine!"

I laugh. Despite my guilt at making my friends worry, I couldn't help but find Julia's statement amusing. She never messed up her dance, no matter what happened. "Yeah, we ran into a Wasted, but nothing happened," I say. Then I gesture behind me. "And the package arrived safely."

Julia smiles, then beckons me inside. I follow, and she pulls me to our food trailer. "Come on! Lenny made cookies, and we plan on playing cards to get them!" She races towards the trailer, and I follow her, my feet bounding gracefully over the ground. I manage to catch up to Julia and then pass her, slamming into the side of the trailer. "FIRST!" I yelp triumphantly. I hear a faint shattering of glass inside. "Uh, oops..." I say nervously as Julia runs up behind me. The door opens, and Lenny, our cook, pokes his head out. "You made me spill a jug of milk!" he said, his naturally happy baby face wrinkled with a scowl.

Lenny's parents were bakers, which is how he got to be the cook for our Circus, even if he is just 15. Oogway found him in a gutter after being beaten up and robbed by a nasty gang of orphans. He had a natural hand with food, dishing out the tastiest platters. He has usually had a smile on his face, but after my trailer slam, he doesn't look very thrilled.

I duck my head. "Sorry, Lenny..." I peel myself away from the trailer. "You know me, I can't resist your cookies!" Lenny's scowl disappears. "It's impossible to stay mad at you, Anne. Come on in!" As I was stepping in, Julia right behind me, Lenny said, "Oh, and Oogway found another orphan to stay with us!" I look around, excited to meet a new member of the Circus. But I freeze when I see who it is.