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Bez nuzzles her quiet and watches as Fortuny cleans and examines the tiny squirming body. "No... he'll grow, never you fear. You were small like that once as well... Think about it... he had to grow inside of your mommy.... if he was as big as you... "

"Don't even think about it..." growls Fortuny from where she is lying curled up about the tiny cub, watching as he hunts and probes about, then finally with a tiny nudge from her, latching on hungrily.

**one down, one??? to go...."

Hope blinks and leaning down, gives the tiny cub a gentle nudge. Fortuny nudges her mate's head away and gets down to business. Wonders and worries aside, she needs to clean the babe and make certain it has all the acquired limbs and toes. That satisfied, she urges it up beside it's brother andthen and only then, does she look at Hopian. "It's not glowing like the sun..."

Hopian sighs gustily with relief, making Fortuny shake her head with disgust. "And what would ye have done if it had been him.... try to shove him back in? I'd have been a little upset with that solution, I'll tell ye right now."

Ai gives Shar a disgusted look. "Dawnmistress, I know Hopian has talked to ye and Mica of the prophecies surrounding the gem children, so I refuse to go into detail, but let's just say the prophecy is still awaiting fulfillment and leave it at that. Surely ye understand, no one wants to give birth to a child wrapped in portents that involve pain and sorrow."

Ai gets up and motions for Kero to join him.

"I'm sorry, Shar.... I hate to do this to her, but the answers to her questions may lead to rumors this era does not need... I will not risk the lives and peace of Hopian's family for her satisfaction. I won't harm her, but those questions must not be answered... It is best she not remember this conversation. And as ye are the only one capable here of rearranging her memories.... can ye help us out here?"

She has Kero put Estelle to sleep with a small unobtrusive sting, then turns, waitng for the priest to join her at Estelle's side.

Ai sighs and looks at the sleeping woman. "Only if we attempt to do more than nature might do on it's own.... I don't want you to wipe them all, just surgically remove certain ones. Her own question, being the most important one. If she does not remember asking it... then perhaps the knowledge she has just inadvertently learned will simply sit with her... most people do not spread rumors about things they are confused about. But I truly hate risking it to just that. I know Estelle, she is a stickler for details... she'll just start doing research on her own and who knows what will come from it. So it might be best iffin we merely blur her memories or better yet, simply remove Kero's retort... without his statements, most of what just took place has a fairly simply explanation, one which naturally explains itself."

She gives the dark lion a disgusted look. "Anyone ever tell ye, ye do so run off at the mouth at inopportune moments?"

Ai snorts through her nose. "Just use yer head... Estelle doesn't have a stick of magic in her body... and ye and Hopian are linked... silly cat... there are ways of consoling or helping him that wouldn't have brought her into the picture..." Shaking her head, she looks back at Shar. "Forgive us... but if ye merely blur his statement, not remove it... place it in the subconscious realm.... like a comment she's overheard in passing on market day... but make it indistinct to her conscious mind, will that soothe yer professional unease?"