"Please don't make me." The fledgling hung onto the Power's leg as if it were his life preserver to save him from drowning in an unseen sea, the elder sighed and tilted his head back with a gentle hand atop, "Please Nis. Please don't make me."

"There is nothing to be fearful of, little one." The Captain brushed his hair back from his eyes, letting the light hit the soft amber, and they glowed like little rubies up at him, "Just other young ones such as yourself and the caregivers. It is not for long. I will come for you as soon as I return."

"Please! I don't wanna lose you!"

It caused another soft sigh, and the Power knelt, taking his cheek in hand, "I'm not going anywhere. I swear to you. It is just for the afternoon and you will come home with me to the Pavilion after."

Sasha leaned against the might Power with his entire weight, clutching tightly at the strap of his armor, "You promise?"

"I do. Have I ever lied to you?"

"You don't like it when we lie."

"That's right, my fledgling, so I would never do so to you. I will be back for you by sunset." He pointed behind the fledgling at something, or rather at someone, and Sasha turned to see what it was. Akeelah waved brightly, where she sat on a large rock munching on a peach half and slouched in on herself as she munched another bite, "And you will not be on your own. I am sure our Baby Power would be more than happy to play with you. You know her."

That seemed to appease the young ones nerves, and he nodded as he turned back around to return her waved greeting, hugging himself close to the Power for a moment, he finally allowed him to take his hand back as he let go of his fingers.

Sasha spared him one final look and turned to trot over to the other fledgling. Nisroc stood back straight, watching as they met each other, and the Baby Power scooted over on her rock for her friend to sit with her, passing over the other peach half as if it would fix everything.

He snorted softly in good humor, to her, it undoubtedly did fix everything.

He waved to them as he turned to make his way out, nodding to the two caregivers as he passed them, receiving a nod in return as he departed the Garden.

Akeelah turned to look at her timid friend, and swallowed her bite of peach, "It'll be okay. I get left here when they all have to go too. Just stay with me." To which Sasha nodded, nibbling on the peach half he was given "Don't you ever get scared that they won't come back and you'll be alone again?"

She nodded, "Always. But I know that there's others there in case they don't. Nis wouldn't have taken you in if he didn't have a backup plan."

"Really?"

"Yep. If anything happens to him then you go stay with Haniel. They swore an oath and everything."

He tilted his head as he turned to look at his friend, "How do you know?"

"I saw it through a window."

Akeelah finished off her peach half and turned to look at her friend, "Wanna play tag?"

"Yea, I'll play tag."

She tapped his arm and ran in the other direction, and he laughed as he made chase, weaving through the trees and high grasses, interrupting the caregivers as they tried to get the hatchlings settled in for their midday nap. Ignoring them when they called for them to lay down and rest. They kicked water at each other in the shallows of the sparkling lake, despite the caregivers telling them to stay out of the water.

He was so thoroughly distracted in their extensive game and frequent breaks, that he forgot about missing his guardian and the sun was quickly setting on their fun. They lay giggling in a patch of grass when a shadow fell over them both, and they looked up to meet the eyes of the Captain. Sashael jumped up from where he lay, quick in hugging himself to the mighty Power, nearly making him fall back from where he was kneeling.

"Nis, you're back!"

"I told you I would."

He smiled as he lifted the fledgling up from his feet, as he stood back up himself, and Sashael curled around him. Little Akeelah had spotted her waiting guardian as soon as the Power had stood back, and he turned to watch her be scooped up by the Morningstar.

"Are we going home now?"

The Power looked down at the little one he held close, "Yes, we are going home now."