"Tell me what troubles her so much." she said quietly.

"She's afraid of loosing you or her hatchlings. She worries that when you leave, you wont come back, and that something might happen and cause one or more of the hatchlings to die. She's also worried that she will slip up and her depression will take her," he said, creating a bridge between Mayumi's and Goldenscale's minds to show  to worries, "She seems to fear a being that calls himself the White King. I can't get any more on that since her mind blocks anything  else about him."

"Judging from her past, it is reasonable for her to worry about these things.  If you want, i can take up guard while you are away. My kind are sworn to serve the spirits of nature and their champions," he said, watching as Mayumi relaxed a little,  "If you ask me to defend this area, I will. I may not be as strong as you physically, but metaly I am just as strong."

"If that is what you want, then I will try my best.  I will try my best to help her through her depression as that is the greatest threat to her mind and body at this time," he said, reaching back and plucking one of the thicker feathers and handing it to Goldenscale, "Here, you can use this to contact me wherever you are. Just put it in water deep enough for it to float and pour a  little energy into it. Th water will work like a window between us."

As Kian'Iel spoke, he roots around Mayumi began to loosen and recede back into the ground. The blackness that had once covered her body was now gone as she settle into a more comfotable position to rest.

"Are we not going to play any more games Mom," Ece asked, moving from Goldenscale's back  onto a near by branch, "I guess it would be Gian's turn if we continued hide & seek."

"Yes, let's continue.  I'm sorry." she said as she climbeddown.  "Everyone ready for round two?" she asked with a smile.

"I'll be the seeker this time if you want to hide this time," she said, spreading her wings and floating down to land on Mayumi's head, "It's supposed to be Gian's turn, but he probably doesn't know how to count."

"That's probably true..." she said with a chuckle.  "We should probablyonly have thisewho can count be the seekers."

"Sounds fair to me," she chirped, jumping down to the ground, "I'm ready when you and everyone else is."

"Everyone ready?  Ece said she'll be it."she asked

"We were wondering if you had quit. We're ready," Chiei said, becoming tangible again and running into the bushes. Nodding, Falinx, Gian, and Frost  split up heading in different directions.

Ece nodded and turned to face the willow before she started counting.

Goldenscale went and hid underneath a tree, becoming hidden very quickly.