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Tam gives a nervous laugh. "Temper temper, dulcha... " he whispers into the dark. Then he gives the cub a hug and smiles. "Hope will see us safe. Let's just pray that Bez doesn't decide to run him ragged or he'll be in a foul mood tomorrow. I'm tired. Why don't you sleep upstairs with me tonight? I know I'd feel safer with you close at hand. Hmmmm?"

Tam shudders. "Dang, he's pissed. I wonder what Bez did to upset him now? Well no use waiting up. And Hope knows how to let himself in. That brother of yours is as good with his claw as I am with my picks. If he wants to stop by and give us an update, he know where to find me. Shall we call it a night, Taro, I'm bushed." Tam yawns behinds his hand and chuckles bitterly. "You'd think with all the sleeping I did this afternoon, I'd be wide awake but I feel so sleepy."

He picks up the cub and carries him up the steep stairs to his room, tucks him in bed, double checks the lock on his window, and crawls in beside him. "Good night, Taro." she murmurs between yawns and quickly falls asleep.

The next morning, as Tam gets up and opens his bedroom window he hears the sound of neighbors chatting over their fences all around him. "Did you hear that thunder last night? Could have sworn we were in for a big one yet nary a drop fell." "Let's hope it didn't strike the forest and lies smoldering the last time it did that..." "Maggie, did ye get any sleep at all ye look horrible... ah, the kids ye say..."

He pulls his head back in and nudges Kerobian awake. "Thank the Lady they have no way to connect Hope's attack last night with us... or we'd be on the hot plate this morning for sure. Hungry, kiddo?"

Tam takes one look at his arm and digs out the first aid kit, looking for a salve he used on cuts and abrasions. "Sorry, I never expected him to fight back, at least not that hard. He must be feeling rather lonely and desperate right now and probably sees you and your people as rivals. Let me look at that, ok? This may sting a little but it does wonders in the speed the healing department. You didn't hurt him did ye?" he asks nonchalantly as he doctors Hopian's injury. HIs off handed manner doesn't fool the lions one little bit.

Tam sighs, tying off the bandage. "Yea... I'd rather ye wouldn't. Drive him off, yea but hurt him..." He hsakes his head in negation. "He's not out to hurt me ye know"

He puts the kit away and sniffs appreciatively. "Smells good.. whacha
making, Hope?"

**OOC time whee

Tam smiles his thanks and digs in, but Kero is slower to respond clearly confused as to why Talesian does not want Bez hurt.

Tam swallows hard and looks to Hopian for help, but the white lion seems to side with Kerobian on this. "Be... because he's my brother..." he answers lamely, but it is clear there is something more to it than that. He lifts his eyes from his food and flashes them both a twisted grin. "Would ye want something to happen to Hope, even if ye were angry with him?"

"Well," he says with obvious relief, there are somethings he'd rather not talk about yet, especially with someone so young. "Neither would I. Thanks for driving him away last night, Hope. But this is going to get a little tiring for you and the other gem children. I'm thinking ye might not want to jump to a standing alert each time he shows is face. Since he knows where I am, he's probably going to be lurking around a bit, until he gets tired of it, that is. I don't think he meant any harm last night anyway." He stands up and fetches the lilies, which are still as fresh and sweet smelling as they were the night before. He places them in a bowl on the table and flashes them both a sad sweet smile. "He was only sending me some flowers. He's a hopeless romantic, ye know."