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"Alright, we have two teams going," Setsuko concluded. "Now we have to add--" But before she could finished, Kuilak and Tariq burst through the door, each carrying several still-wet blankets. Jaci bounded in behind them, trotting over and sitting by Setsuko. Kuilak plopped his blankets on the ground. "So what have you been doing while we were out washing blankets?" he inquired. "Playing a get-to-know-you game. Would you like to join?" Kuilak shrugged. "Sure. What do I have to do?" "Introduce yourself, for starters. Name, age, and something special." Kuilak thought a moment. "Okayyy," He said slowly. "My name is Kuilak, I'm 34 years old, and I'm the best archer in the South Pole."

"Uh," Tariq began. "I'm Tariq, I'm 36, and I'm part bat," he said, sounding as if he had no idea what to say. HIs voice was slightly muffled from speaking through blankets.

Setsuko glanced curiously at Tariq, noticing for the first time that his wings weren't feathery like Rue's. In fact, now that she thought about it, not all of the children had perfect bird's wings either. But she dismissed the thought for the time being...she could talk to Rue about it later.

Tariq noticed Setsuko's glance, but didn't acknowledge it. "Where should I put these?" he asked, now looking at RUe. She looked around, then pointed to a chair with a broken back. "YOu can pt them there," she said, pointing. TAriq nodded, placing the damp blankets on the chair.

Jaci took Setsuko's long, loosely-pulled-back hair between his teeth and tugged. "Ow!" Complained Setsuko, turning. "What is it, Jaci?" It was unusual for the Blue Lion to tug her hair. Even when he was a cub, he had rarely done so. Jaci whined pitifully and slapped his tail against the ground. "What is it?" Setsuko repeated. "I bet he wants to play!" Misaki interrupted. "Ride!" Cried Yuumi at the word "play", standing and stumbling over to Jaci. He looked at Setsuko, then Kuilak, then back at Setsuko. "Ride!" He said again, petting Jaci's leg. The Blue Lion stood up in surprised as the three-year-old's hands brushed is fur. Setsuko hesitated a moment, exchanging a glance with her pet. Finally, she lifted Yuumi and set him down on Jaci's back. Jaci twitched his ears, but did nothing else.

Rue grinned at the three-year old on the Blue Lion's back. Jaci now was about as tall as Rue's chest, and she reached her hand up, placing it on his head.

ooc--Jaci's not that tall. He sands up to just below and adult's chest.

Jaci began moving. Yuumi smiled and laughed. Misaki jumped up and followed the Blue Lion around. Kanna followed her, and after a pause, Kya stood and elongated the little train. Setsuko laughed, deciding to follow as well so that Li could join in.

(Edited it)

When MIsaki stood up, Tess did the same, not wanting to be left out. Gale took the oppurtunity to escape to a more shadowy wall, hoping not to be called back to participate if they started to play another game.

Kuilak sat down next to Sumi, watching their family dance around the house. He glanced at his son. "Why don't you join them?" He invited. Sumi turned his gaze away from his father. Kuilak's eyes shown with concern. "Natsumi..." He began. "Why do you never want to play with you family anymore?" "Because it's childish!" Sumi hissed, standing and running out of the cabin to the forest around it. Kuilak followed swiftly, dodging around Setsuko and the others. "Sumi!" He called. "Suuuumiiii!" After time and time of calling his son's name, Kuilak found him sitting on a fallen log. "Sumi..." He murmured. "Why dose it have to be like this?" Sumi moaned. Kuilak stared at him, confused. "Like what?" He inquired. "I never get attention," Sumi explained angrily. "Not the kind of attention I want." Kuilak thought for a moment, in which one could only hear the chirping of birds among the trees. "What do you mean?" He whispered gently. "I mean, you never play with me anymore. Not those kinds of games, but the games I can play, that the others are too young for!" Sumi's voice, which had started off soft, crescendo-ed into a frustrated shout. "It seems like whatever we do is for the safety of Yuumi or Li. It seems like once I got old enough to move on to other things, you just threw me aside and focused on the younger kids!" "Oh, Sumi," Kuilak murmured. "Oh, Sumi, Sumi, Sumi. It's not like that." Sumi stared angrily at Kuilak, though behind the unpleasant heat in his eyes was a glimmer of curiosity. "Prove it," He hissed. Kuilak met his son's gaze evenly. "Natsumi, you were named after my father. I never met him myself, but I've heard stories of how brilliant he was. When you were born, you were sickly. Your mother and I gave you the name we did because we wanted you to be as strong as he is rumored to have been. And it seemed to work. You got better and better until you were just as healthy as any other child, if not stronger," Kuilak's eyes began to water slightly. "And we were so, so relieved. Your mother and I love you very much. We really, really do. We've loved you from the moment you were born, and forever after that. And now you say that you feel we've left you out. We haven't, I promise we haven't. But the younger children need us more right, and we need you to be strong. We're...counting...on...you..." His voice began to crack, and a few tears escaped his eye. "Natsumi. Son. I am so sorry if you've felt neglected." He sniffed. He paused a moment to scan Sumi's reaction. Tears were streaming down the teenager's face, his stormy gray eyes pouring rain, a new, understanding light shining in them...perhaps even with a touch of sympathy. Kuilak embrace his son, and the both sat weeping for a few long moments of bonding.

Ooc:// Woah, long post. Very touching and emotional....it's nice.

"Where did Sumi go?" Gale asked. He didn't ask anyone in particular, he was more of wondering outloud. Natsumi was the one that he could relate to here, the otehrs were too young, or worse, girls.

Setsuko paused at Gale's question. "Sumi's gone?" She asked, a hint of urgency in her tone.

"He's not in here," Gale said. Rue caught the note of urgency in Setsuko's voice, and knew how she felt. "I'll go look for him, if you want," she offered. Setsuko might want to do it herself.

Setsuko preformed a quick scan of the cabin noticed that Kuilak was missing too. Normally this would worry her, but in this case she sighed with relief. "No, it's ok. Kuilak's with him." She replied.

Gale didn't expect to get an answer to his question, so leaned back against the wall again.

After a few minutes of silence outside, Kuilak and Sumi headed back to the cabin. "There you are!" Setsuko greeted gently as they entered. The two nodded in acknowledgment. "It's getting dark out there," Sumi pointed out, making the first good-natured comment he had for the entire time they had been in Ayumu's world. Kuilak nodded briskly. "It's probably time we get some sleep." Sumi twitched at his father's statement. That hadn't been his intention.