â€œMorning,â€  Karr returned, voice scratchy and hoarse from hours of disuse.  He cleared his throat, and tried again, â€œI've laid out some more food for you.  It's not much, but it'll keep you going.â€<br/><br/>Sparing an assessing glance at the sun, he went on, â€œStreets should be clear now.  We should head out as soon as you're ready.  We've a long trip ahead of us, and we need to make a stop first.â€<br/><br/>Helpfully providing hot water and a marginally clean scrap of rag, Karr gave Lillith some privacy and trekked back down the stairs to check the street for signs of disruption.  He loitered for as long as he couldâ€”just til the sun's first rays began to strike the tower above, freed of the shadows of the skyline, and then headed back up.<br/><br/>Knocking on the creaky panel, he entered and finished gathering up the sparse supplies they might need.  Strapping on his belt, he nodded for her to keep the heavy coat he'd given her the night before.  â€œYou'll need it more than me.  Besides, if we're lucky, you can give it back soon.  We're going to find you something of your own.â€<br/><br/>He didn't explain his words until they left the safehouse, heading vaguely southwest down the demolished streets towards a tall, spherical shadow that stood on the horizon.<br/><br/>â€œWe call it the Coral Ring.â€  He explained an hour later as they looked down on the massive circular structure.  â€œWhat it was really called before is anyone's guess.  All we know is that most of it's still intact.  We try to use it as little as possibleâ€”we want to be able to access these supplies for a long time to come, and accidentally leading<span style="font-style: italic">them</span>here would be... it wouldn't be good for us.â€<br/><br/>â€œCome onâ€”let's go down.â€<br/><br/>Half climbing, half scrambling down the sheets of sloping rubble, the pair landed on a floor made of massive marble tiles, many of which were cracked or jutting up at odd angles.  Deeper into the shadowed structure, the floor was more intact, and echoed back their steps as they moved forward.<br/><br/>â€œEdison compared it to a mall in your world.â€  Karr explained as Lillith's eyes traveled up the many floors to the glass top of the dome.  â€œAll the food is long gone, of course, but there's still lots of useless junk in the abandoned shops.  Mostly toys and trinkets and such, but there's also some clothes.  We can find you something warmer here, I hope.  The bridge is going to be chilly, so you'll want to layer up.â€