Perception Failure

     "Ok, so you just need someone to tell Dandolo you won't be home tonight," Cath said.
     "No," Lyla interjected. "That's irresponsible. He's expecting you. Go see him."
     "So is someone else," Cath replied. "He has to miss one of them."
     "Family is important."
     "So are faraway friends."
     "Keeper apprentices and bank managers have busy schedules. If the two of you have free time at the same time, you should use it."
     Prier spoke up. "Regardless of what I should or should not do, I will not be seeing him tonight. Someone needs to let him know."
     "No." Irritation was noticeable in Lyla's voice. "We're not taking any part in this." With that, Lyla began walking away.
     "I can repay the favor sometime. Maybe a large sum of money?"
     "Still no," Lyla called back. "Cath, don't help him."
     "I guess who you go see tonight is your decision," Cath stated. "But if it isn't your dad, shouldn't you tell him yourself?"
     "No. It needs to be someone else."
     "I don't see why. This is your problem, not ours. Keep us out of it." With that, Cath ran off to follow Lyla.

     Before Prier could find someone else to ask, Cath doubled back and blocked his path. "Wait! Don't worry about her. I can deliver the message for you. Where do you live?"
     "You? What happened to this being my problem, not yours?"
     "You need to hire a messenger. I want to get paid. We can make this work."
     "Nice to see someone being reasonable. The address is 28 Great Tree."
     "Great Tree? You actually live in the Great Tree?"
     "Yes."
     "I thought that was impossible."
     "It isn't."
     "Oh." An awkward pause followed. "Sure. Consider it done."
     "Great."
     As Prier and Cath went their separate ways, a thought occurred to Cath. She ran back and got Prier's attention by jumping onto his back. "Wait!" she yelled right as she landed. Finding his keys wasn't difficult. "What's a good lie?"
     "I don't know," Prier replied with obvious annoyance. "Figure something out."
     "Ok. I'll just say we went dumpster diving."
     "Figure something out that's better than that. And," Prier began yelling, "get off!"
     Cath did a backflip, landed behind Prier, and tried to not move her front left paw too much while doing so. She didn't want the jingling of keys to give away what she was doing. "Alright. How about this: You rushed off to Mosswood because someone in Tabira got that mysterious illness and needed an escort, but Fellin kept you there to make sure you didn't catch it yourself."
     "Sure. I'm going to be late if you keep pestering me." Prier left in a hurry. Once he was out of sight, Cath checked his keys. They weren't labeled, but that might not be a problem.

     "Hi, Marble!" Cath said in what she hoped was a nonchalant tone. "Hey, do you mind if I borrow Sue for a while?"
     Marble continued to stand motionlessly against the cabin's wall. Cath noticed this was very uncharacteristic of her. Marble would usually be working out or sorting through mail or yelling at Cath for barging into the cabin unannounced.
     "You know... the Substitute you have us use during training sometimes. I know you keep her in here somewhere."
     Marble continued to not do anything. It was creeping Cath out.
     "I promise I won't damage her."
     During Marble's total lack of a response, Cath could hear footsteps outside the cabin. She considered making a break for it, but if Marble wasn't going to say anything ever, she might be able to convince the newcomer she was supposed to be here.
     When Marble entered the cabin, she and Cath were both surprised to see the other. "What are you doing here?" Marble asked.
     "I was looking for... you..." Cath looked at the Marble who just, then back at the 'Marble' she was talking to, then realization hit her. "Aargh!" she yelled in frustration.
     "Sue's not just for show, you know. She's a proper move tool, although one that will stop working if she gets destroyed once."
     "Great. Can I borrow her?"
     "You... I just explained that she's fragile."
     "Yeah, I know. I was right here."
     Marble hesitated for a moment, then replied. "Yeah, sure, just bring her back here tomorrow. You'll be using her for training."
     "Great," Cath replied sarcastically. "See you tomorrow then." Cath wasted no time before leaving.
     "If you break it, you buy it. Replacing her isn't cheap," Marble called out before Cath was out of earshot.
     "Got it."

     The residential section of the Great Tree was empty that afternoon. Cath knew the bank was still open at this hour, so Dandolo would be away. Everyone else who lived here probably had similar arrangements. That was perfectly fine with Cath. She had plenty of time to look around, find the right place, and find the right key.
     The first thing Cath noticed about the place's interior was the grass carpeting. It was neatly trimmed, all the same short height, and softer than any grass Cath had encountered. She wasn't sure if this grass was real or artificial, mundane or magical. Everything else in the room was green and/or gold. There were large green cushions with gold trim, gold coffee tables with green doilies and a small stack of gold coins on them, golden torches on the walls, and a gold bookshelf that somehow had nothing but green books on it.
     Cath took some of the coins and decided to not search the rest of the home. She was worried she might try to steal too much. This front room was a good place to put Sue anyway. Cath set Sue on one of the cushions, placed one of the coins next to her to hopefully give the impressing that Prier took the money, then left.

     Was it midnight now? It was hard to tell. Cath hoped it was late enough for the residents of the Great Tree to be asleep. As casually as she could, Cath returned to the Great Tree and to Dandolo's residence. No lights were on anywhere. Cath had no trouble sneaking in, getting Sue back, and sneaking back out undetected.