All activity in Fort Corrin had ceased with sundown, the only sounds filling the usually busy area were the songs of the night insects. My soldiers had retired back to their houses in the various locations of the Fort; The soldiers that were also parents had left before sundown to sleep with their children in the Deeprealms. I lay with Azura in our bed in my private quarters. Kana and Shigure had a seperate house that was only a few seconds walk from my quarters. Kana still prefered to sleep with Azura and I, but we made the decision to let her sleep in her brother's house to thicken her skin. She wouldn't last as a soldier if she still slept with her parents at night. The first few attempts of Kana sleeping in Shigure's house were failed attempts. Kana had managed to sneak back into my private quarters and go unnoticed until morning. Shirgure finally caught onto Kana's antics and managed to catch her sneaking out majority of the time. This night, however, was not part of that majority.
Azura's breathing was already even. She slept with her back spooned to my front, one of my arms wrapped around her waist. I sighed heavily with exhaustion and was about to let sleep overcome me before I noticed the creeking of the stairs leading up to the quarters. I buried my nose in Azura's hair and feigned sleep, all the while keeping my eye on the door. The wooden entrance to the quarters slowly creeked open, revealing a small figure with bright, light blue hair. There were three soldiers with bright blue hair who were in the Fort, one of which was laying beside me, and another who had a much taller frame than the one who was currently inching towards the bed. I was about to catch Kana red handed before the door to the quarters slammed opened, outlining Shigure's figure in the doorway.
I sat up with Azura and reached over to turn on the lights. Kana was sitting on the floor in front of our bed, the back of her head turned to us as she looked at her older brother. Shigure looked furious as he stormed up to Kana, bright blue bed head hair still ruffled and unkempt.
"I'm sorry, Mother, Father. The older of our two children apologized. "I failed to catch Kana before she was able to sneak out."
Azura yawned before replying. "It's alright, Shigure. Take your sister back to the house and go to sleep."
Kana whined. "I want to sleep with Mama and Papa!" The small dragon sat on the floor and crossed her arms indigniatly across her chest. Shigure placed his hands on Kana's waist and lifted her to sit on his shoulder. She squealed in protest, but automatically wrapped her arms around her brother's head to stop herself from falling off.
"Big brother will protect you." Shigure assured her. Kana continued to pout, pleading with her eyes to her parents to let her sleep with them.
"I want to be with Mama and Papa..." She whined again.
"How about this?" Shigure turned to look at Kana. "You can sleep next to me, and I'll sing the song Mama used to sing to you when you were little."
Azura and I smiled as Shigure's offer brought a smile to Kana's face.
"Okay! Do you promise, big brother?" She asked.
Shigure smiled. "I pinkie promise." The older of our two children leaned down so that we could kiss him and Kana on the cheek goodnight, then left with his sister back to his house.