"I find helping others a joy.  There is also nothing I do better than that." she said with a slight bow.  "I might come join you for a bit during the festival, though." she said as she walked to the door.

"That would be wonderful. I guess we'll see you around then," she said fallowing Goldenscale to the door, "Be safe getting home."

"I'll try.  See you all later then." she said with a smile as she started walking towards Mayumi's house.

"I see you made it there without any trouble," Tieral said while he craddled a sleeping Alekai, "I let him play on some of the school's playground equipment. I guess even machines with free minds need sleep."

"I guess so." she said, taking Alekai from Tieral and cradling him in her own arms.  

"To think such a nice day could have started on such a sour note," he said wrapping a wing around Goldenscale, "It just proves that you never can tell what will happen."

"That's the way nature intended it to be.  Always mysterious." she said with a chuckle.

"It's times like this that make me glad i ran from home," he said looking towards the snow barrier, "I know I would neve have met you if I hadn't."

"Everyone has choices in their lives, but the lath leading from them is always something the stars decide." she said airily.  Shw truly believed that the stars made ever path accessible to those who tried.

"Do you ever wonder how many other world there are that have life like this one," he asked, "We know there's at least one, but how many could there be?"

"Several others." she replied.  Nature had shown her how life can live on other planets and she was certain there were more than two.

"I think it's about time we head home, it's getting dark out," he said, "No need in makeing Mayumi worry."

"Yes." she said.  She then placed Alekai in Herr wings and held him close as she ran back to Frostr's cave.

Back at the cave, Mayumi had already fallen asleep holding her wooden doll, keeping it just off the hot coals. Tieral set to making up a bed for Goldenscale, trying to keep noise to a minimum. "This should due for the both of us," he said quietly once he finished the bed.

(Sorry for the late post.  I was watching the Guilt Trip with my mom.)

"You didn't have to.  I would have done just fine without it." she said, setting Alekai down and stretching