Mulekia wagged his tail as he rubbed his crackly green paws. A nasty smile covered his sticky mouth. Happy thoughts of munching on babies filled his mind.

"Nothing better than a baby for breakfast. Nothing tastier than a little boy as a snack, and nice toasty brown skin for dinner," Mulekia sang in a sunny meadow. His growling stomach guided him towards Camelot. His mouth watered as he dreamed of food. He could sue the curly hair to clean his teeth afterward. Happily, he danced across the meadow.

Vivi stomped down the front steps of the castle. A deep frown dented her lovely face. How did they do it? How did they get rid of the toads? They aren't that smart. Vivi wrapped her arms around her legs. She noticed a group of children playing a game out of the corner of her blue eyes. She pushed herself up the steps and skipped towards the children, leaving a trail of dust behind her. She didn't notice Amhar and Gwydre creeping up behind her.

Vivi pasted a genuine smile on her face. "May I play the game?" A young boy with dark red hair and freckles frowned in her direction. "No, we don't play with your kind."

Vivi's heart clutched at his harsh reply. She bit her lip and willed her tears to stay in her eyes. "My kind?"

The children surrounded Vivi. "Yes, your mother is a witch. She caused a lot of pain. We don't care if she's the King's sister, "the boy sneered.

Gwydre didn't realize he ran full speed at the large boy. Amhar watched in amazement as Gwydre launched himself at the boy who grabbed Vivi's wrist. The boys wrestled on the ground. Another bigger boy attempted to grab Gwyrde's brown hair. Vivi focused her magic and pushed the larger boys into a wall with a wave of her hand. Amhar shrugged and dashed into a wiggly battle of arms and feet. He couldn't hit very hard; however, he could bite and pull hair.

Gwyrde's legs swung and he felt a pair of adult's hands pull him the ruckus. His feet dangled in the air as he kicked furiously.

"Gwydre," a gentle masculine voice reasoned. "Please stop, it's okay." Gwydre opened his blue eyes to peer deeply into Gawain's soft brown eyes. Gently, Gawain deposited the angry little boy on the ground.

Gaiwane arched an eyebrow. "What is going on?"

Gwydre waved his arms in frustration. "He had his hands on Vivi. I just saw red. I don't know why." Gawain turned his glance to Amhar. "He's my brother and she's my cousin." Gawain looked at Vivi. Vivi brushed dust from her red dress. "It wasn't fair."

A beautiful smile crossed Gawain's handsome face as the wind lifted his deep silky brown hair. "I appreciate loyalty. However, I need to inform your parents. "

Gwydre rolled his eyes. Great, another conversation with Father. What a way to spend the day. Gwydre noticed Amhar leaving. "Where are you going?"

"The woods, we need a head start."

Gwydre grabbed Vivi's hand and pulled her after Amhar. "Don't ask. Just run. I don't like you, but you're family."

"Same here."

Gawain shook his head as he watched the children dash into a thicket of trees.

Arthur watched Duran reading a book in the Council room. He looked at the pictures, Arthur realized. He needs to stay little. I don't want reading so soon. Time is slipping away from me. Occasionally, he would raise the book to show Arthur a picture. He still loves me. He's a good blend of Gwen and me. Such a sweet little boy.

"Sire," a breathless guard muttered as he fell to the floor. Merlin rose from the table and rushed over to give the guard a goblet of water. He drank thirstily as water spilled from the goblet.

Arthur brow knitted together in concern as the guard staggered towards him.

"We found strange animal tracks in the city, around the castle, and through the woods."

Duran's golden curly head swung towards the guard; the book slip from his hand. He stood up and ran to Arthur. He grabbed Arthur's hand and tugged on it.

"Mule, Father," he muttered earnestly. Arthur brushed his thumb across his small hand. "It's okay, Duran." Duran yanked Arthur's hand with all of his mighty. "Come." Arthur looked curiously at his son. "Come, father."

"Are you trying to tell me something?"

Duran nodded and raised his arms expectantly as Arthur picked him up. "Merlin, come on."

Duran kissed Arthur's lean in joy.

Duran sat happily in Gwen's lap as Arthur and Merlin read about Mulekias.

"Goodness, it's ugly," Arthur muttered. "It eats noble children. What kind of creature eats children?"

Merlin shrugged. "One that needs to die."

"Of course."

"Guinevere, where are you children?" Morgana shook her dark hair in dismay.

Gwen bit her lip to keep from refraining the one she married or the ones that she birthed. "Anyone able to walk and feed themselves were outside the castle near the steps including Vivi."

Arthur nodded. "Go collect them."

"Did you break your feet?"

Merlin covered his mouth with a large hand. He loved pregnant Gwen. She was sarcastic and cranky with Arthur. He always walked into verbal battles with her.

"No, darling."

"The children ran into the woods," Gawain replied from the doorway.

The color drained from Arthur's face. Gwen gasped as Merlin looked horrified at Gawain.