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She chuckled at the boy's speech. Though he might have a point about Masika ending up protecting him, which made her proud. V'demhe thought over his reason for the decline then nodded her head. "That sounds very reasonable." She would be worried about him when she left. Whether or not he was eating or if he got stranded via canoe again. Still, he was not her child nor would she force him to travel with them.

Instead she looked at him in a serious manner and said, "I expect to hear good reports when I return. It would be nice to know that more have been saved." Heck, she might even join this group of his one day.

The fact that he was going to train was good. Though when she heard his stomach growl she remembered why he had come and chuckled a bit. As he reacted to it Dem got up and moved over to the cabinet that held the food for her home. The alkidike grabbed some fruit and bread then returned to the table and set them in front of Xewai. "I actually don't know when Masika will find her siblings. So it's alright if you eat now." There was no point in letting the boy starve just to wait for the others. Since her house was busy with kids going in and out it was hard to get them all to sit down for a proper meal.

As he took a bite out of the fruit she turned to head for the side door, pausing only to listen to him speak. V'demhe only continued to smile as she stepped out for a moment then returned with smoked fish on a wooden plate. "Sweetie, you are fine. Masika's friend stays for meals sometimes so you aren't intruding at all." Dem set the plate down in front of Xewai and moved past him to find a fork.

"Careful, it's hot." She warned. With how hungry the boy was she didn't want him to just dig into the fish since she'd just taken it away from the fire.

She found the correct utensil and brought it over to set by the plate. V'demhe laughed as he gorged down the fruit and gently patted his shoulder. "Slow down child, the fish is dead and isn't going anywhere." The last time she'd seen someone eat like that in her home was when she brought Draven home. Home cooked meals were a hit with the young ones after they had been on the road for a while.

"Feel free to start eating Xewai. There is no need for you to wait when your stomach is so loud." Dem moved away from the boy and found her seat again. Just as she did so Masika could be heard outside. It seemed like the others had made it back and the family meal would begin. It was Keket who entered first. She was an Alkidike but her colors were dark. She was the opposite of an albino and she walked over to Dem and hugged her, calling her big sister before making her way out the door that the older one had used earlier to get Xewai's fish. Valharii was the next to come in and she was much younger than the others. She was a hybrid mix of the fire and water tribes but she ran right to Dem and clung to the woman's side, calling her mommy and giving a grin that showed her two front teeth missing.

V'demhe welcomed each with warmth and love, hugging them and kissing their foreheads. Though when Masika entered the house Dem looked at Xewai and chuckled. "Get ready for a full house." Since Valharii stayed attached to Dem's side the Alk didn't get up. Soon everyone would be inside and enjoying a meal at the table.

(( END! XD ))