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Tam urges Hopian to lie down, handing him both of his daughters to hold. Then he scoops up the crystal and pockets it. The rage and horror of Kerobiain's wrath is not something he feels Passura needs to see just now. When Hopian complains, saying he should go help, Tam simply smiles... grimly... If he needs ye, surely ye will know... but right now, ye'll only hold him back. Rest grow strong, so that if he does call ye can answer his plea."

He turns to the small dark serpentine and asks, "You know the way about my kitchen... ye've helped out there often enough, true? Go, fix us all something to eat... and make certain ye make something special for your sirrah... he will be drained and starving by the time he returns. Your duty will be to see to his needs then, understood. I'll take care of Hope."

Tam is following with his inner eye and he tries not to laugh outloud at the boy's choices for his sirrah... both of them good choices considering the void mage's tastes.

Then he turns to Hopian and frowns. "I thought I told ye to rest, don't ye set one toe from that bed. Do ye hear me?" he growls gently pushing him back down. Once again he hands him the winged cubs and laughs as they try to mimic his movememnts. "See they want ye to stay put, too. And we all know that when Ari get s that look, ye better listen."

Tam simply stares at him. "If you do anything that will harm my children, so help me... Hope... ye better hope Kero loses... because I will hurt ye... " he says in a voice so cold it sends shivers down Hopian's neck. "And since I'm leaving them there to watch over ye... ye got no choice but listen." He is glowing ominously and his face doesn't even look remotely human or even humane.

"Someone I love very much is out fighting for the lives of the ones he loves in return... and if ye think for one minute I'll let ye go back there... injured, to distract him from what he needs to do, ye are very much mistaken."

Tam nods. "So be it... As I said. ye will know when he calls ye... and iffin he calls I will let ye go... but until then yer to rest and gather yer strength. Understood?"

Tam snorts through his nose but does as he asks, moving the girls to a safe distance and telling them to stay.

"Ye know as well as I do that speed healing takes years off yer life... but if ye feel it's that important, I won't stop ye. I meant what I said, I don't want ye slowing him down. He's too damn angry right now to care... and rightfully so... iffin ye get in his way... he's liable to strike first then pay fer his foolishness later. I... I'm doing this fer both of ye, Hope... please... I hope you realize this and don't hold it against me." says Tam in a soft voice. "Yer both too damn important to me to let ye throw yer life away foolishly."

Tam sighs and shifts back to his lioness form, gathering up his daughters and moving to the foot of the bed, pretending that he doesn't see Hopian pretending he isn't there. He curls up and begins nursing them, occasionally flicking the tip of his tail at Hopian's ear.

So he whacks him back with a bolt of warmth... that is just this side of giving Hopian a nasty burn. But when Hopian cracks an eye to see what Tam is really up to he sees him lying there feeding his cubs, eyes shut, for all apparent purposes fast asleep. Was that some form of self defense? If so... what kind of defense could it have offered?

This time he does get a bit singed... as well as warning growls from the cubs, but still no response from Tam.