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Gale looked at Rue, hoping she wouldn't say the same. "I think so too," she said, looking at Gale. His face fell slightly, but he didn't complain.

Setsuko bounced Li slightly in her arms. "Bedtime," She cooed to the infant. "Ok everyone," announced Kuilak, "Time for bed!" A chorus of groans and sighs sounded through the cabin. "Ah! None of that!" Kuilak interrupted harshly. The room fell silent. Kuilak's tone softened as he continued. "Now come up and choose a blanket and find somewhere to sleep...that means all of you," He indicated the winged children as well.

"Okay!" Tess said cheerfully, seeming to be the only one not botehred by going to bed. She walked up and grabbed three blankets, sweet enough to grab some for her siblings. She handed one to Gale first. "Here ya' go," she said, beaming up at her older brother. She handed one to Maddy to, then clutched her own around her shoulders.

Misaki and Kanna made a run for the blankets, each snatching one up enthusiastically. Kya followed more slowly, and Sumi waited until even she had her blanket. Setsuko grabbed two, one for her and one for Li, and found a spot on the floor. Kuilak, too, got a blanket, following Setsuko and setting up next to her.

Rue grabbed a blanket, and simply sat down where she was. Tariq sat close by.

Gale was surprised, but took the blanket from her. Tess rushed back to her brother, and slipped her small hand in his, sitting down where he now sat, wanting to sleep next to him. Gale looked hesitant, but placed his arm around her, and Tess beamed again.

Misaki lay down, but felt to jumpy to sleep. "Mama?" She murmured. "Yes?" Setsuko replied. "Can you tell us a story?" Setsuko sat up, a slightly confused expression on her face as the though it over. She sighed. "Ok," She raised her voice a bit. "Who wants a story?"

"I do!" Tess called out, still cheerful. She was always willing to listen to a story.

"Sounds good," Kanna agreed. Yuumi clapped his hands. "Sure," said Kya. "Well....why not?" grumbled Sumi. "Ok then," began Setsuko. "Do you want to hear about the time Kuilak saved me from a snowstorm?" Being the oldest, Sumi and Kya already knew the story, but they wouldn't mind listening. Kya rather enjoyed the story. If Misaki or Kanna had ever heard it, they didn't remember, and Yuumi and Li most likely had never heard it at all...especially Li. The children nodded in agreement. "Maddy, Tess, Gale?" Setsuko addressed. "What about you? Do you want to hear that story?"

Tess nodded eagerly, and Gale looked down at her, then nodded slowly. Maddy answered outloud. "Sure," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Ok," Setsuko began, taking a moment to remember.

Tess waited expectantly, her grey-blue eyes contended as she settled against her brother. Gale, suddenly feeling very brotherly, used his free hand to stroke his sibling's light hair. Rue smiled at the sight.

"So," Setsuko said, the beginning of the story coming back to her mind. "One cold winter afternoon many years ago, Kuilak and I where out exploring. We were assigned to be exploring partners, you see, and back then we didn't get along so well. We where trudging through the snow across the South Pole, Jaci just behind us--he was only a cub back then. Suddenly, unexpectedly, we ran into a clan of Blue Lions!" Her mind flashed as the details rapidly returned to the story. "The snow began following. Recognizing his kind, Jaci tried to communicate...but the leader of the clan was not amused. He held up his massive paw and struck Jaci down with an agonizing blow to the face...where his scars still remain," She indicated Jaci and pointed to the long, thin scars that outlined his face just below his eye..not much different than Kuilak's. "The snowstorm picked up, flakes flying everywhere! I looked over at Jaci, who way laying sprawled in the snow, bleeding. Furious, I turned to the clan." Setsuko's voice began to speed up, her breathing coming in short gasps and her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she was almost reliving the moment. "I would not let them do that to Jaci and get away with it. I bended at them, Airbending and Waterbending alike, wiping them all out. Kuilak may have shot a few with his arrows. The entire time, the snow was getting thicker and thicker, until we could hardly see anything at all. All the Blue Lions had finally left, though...and I began to feel woozy, and the next thing you know, I was out cold." Her voice, which had been building up to and epic climactic tone, took a sharp diminuendo, decreasing to a whisper. Speaking up a bit, she continued. "After I fainted, Kuilak woke Jaci and carried me back. He carried me home, all the way through the snowstorm. When I woke up, I was back home, my parents and Kuilak standing there, Jaci resting in the corner." She sighed. "That, I'm afraid, is the end," She concluded.

Tess had gasped at all the right moments, and found the story exciting and wonderful. "Tell anotehr one," she begged, her pleading eyes turned on Setsuko hopefully.

"Not tonight!" Setsuko said briskly. "You all need your sleep! Maybe tomorrow...and perhaps Rue could tell one next time," She glanced up at her friend.

Rue nodded. "Sure," She said, smiling at Tess, who looked happy at that idea. Tess smiled back, and grasped Gale's hand. Gale wa sstill surprised by these acts of love, but gripped his sister's hand back anyways.