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With Kisala's growing interest in Pirates and treasure in mind, Shiori decided that it was about time to arrange some sort of activity involving it. Besides, she still didn't know many other children, and Shiori was certain this would be a good way to meet some...and to let some parents relax a bit. Afterall, Shiori and the rest of the monks at the Temple would watch the children of any parents who wanted to go home.

The girl herself was all but bouncing off the walls. She fidgeted anxiously while watching the clock. The hunt was due to begin at Noon, but it was still an hour to, and she'd run out of things to do in the meantime.

She brushed her hair out of her eyes and glanced up at the clock again. Even if noone else showed up, she'd still have fun looking for treasure! But she didn't want to cheat everyone else by starting early. Well, maybe a little part of her did, but she knew her adoptive mother wouldn't stand for it.

The second family to arrive could be heard long before they walked through the temple doors - the high-pitched voice of a little girl mingled in with the slightly grouchy tones of an older one, pitched in harmony with the sound of their mother. As they walked through the door, it seemed as though they were engaged in the most charming and sweetest of family conversations: an argument.

" - don't see why I can't stay home - "

"You need to be sociable."

"I am sociable. I am so sociable this is about you and my legs - "

"TREASURE," piped the little girl. "I'm gonna find a big box of gold an' a box of unicorns - "

" - if you found a box of unicorns they'd all be dead, retard."

"Jacoba, first warning. Do not speak that way to your little sister."

" - big box of unicorns," the little girl continued blithely. They finally came through the doors, revealing themselves as a grouchy redheaded girl with her hair cropped short and cargo pants, which were a few inches above her shoes and revealed a flash of metal - an adorable little girl in a strawberry-and-white pinafore, and what was apparently their mother, a blindfolded woman in slacks and a tailored blouse. The little girl shrilled like an alarm going off when she caught sight of Chris and immediately ran to him and Shade, tugging on Shade's pantleg in order to get his attention.

"Nice to meet you, Kisala," Shade said before glancing down at the little girl tugging on his shirt. "Hey, I think I know you..." he said, trying to think of where he had seen her before.

"It's Wisp," Chris said, staying right where he was. "Mommy and Daddy are on a date so Uncle Shade is babysitting me," he told his "sister."

"Hello," Antony said with a shallow bow. "We're here for the treasure hunt."

He ignored his complaining from before, since she was cute!

Shiori reached out to shake the offered hand from Beatrix, though she still wasn't completely comfortable with this whole hand-shaking thing. People in her lands just didn't -touch- each other unless they knew each other very well. Still, she smiled and gently let go of the other woman's hand,
"If any of you wish to leave, the monks and I will be watching the children. I know how difficult it can be to find time for yourself sometimes."

Kisala grinned, waving at the newcomers. She blinked at the boy bowing to her-- she was only used to momma and the monks doing the whole bowing thing, most of the other kids shook hands or hugged or whatever,
"Hi Jace and Wisp and boys! Momma and the monks were setting up the treasure hunt all day yesterday, so I bet it's going to be -awesome-!"

"That's a considerate offer," said Beatrix, but was obviously hesitating: then, the fact that Shade was there and possibly could pick Jace up by the scruff of the neck obviously made her feel better. "Are you sure there's enough parental help here, though? I can stay if there's a strain."

"It is like a 'follow the clues' or a 'get a shovel' treasure hunt?" Jace asked Kisala, and shoved her hands in her pockets. "I'll hold the shovel if it's the last one, because Antony doesn't like getting dirty. He's a priss. We'd have to soak him in bleach."

Missy had looked pretty! Wisp nearly swooned at that piece of information. Missy always looked pretty, but getting confirmation on it made her happy. Missy was the only person in the world who was allowed to be married to Tyler, as Wisp had been planning on it until she had been told Missy was married to him first so that counted more. "OUR Missy," she allowed. "'Cos I loved her when you was just a crabbage even if you's her really truly son. I'm like next best to you."

Irelia had been on one of her"adventures" around town when her dad phoned her on her cell phone. Irelia DESPISED her cell phone, and forbade her father to call her unless it was an absolute emergency.

Asher didn't take directions well. Answering the phone for the third time that morning, Irelia skidded to a halt on her bike and flipped the phone open.

"What is it now?" Irelia snapped.

She had been heading towards the woods, towards the place where she had met the pretty lady. She seemed kind and gentle, though Irelia wasn't about to reveal that she was alone in the woods to her father. Irelia did wonder just what Asher thought she was doing all by herself all day.

Irelia clicked off her phone and grinned to herself as she let her father's message roll over her like a gentle breeze.

And then she peddled like mad to the temple, which Irelia had wanted to visit for awhile, but she was too scared to step on sacred ground in case she was chased off.

Coming to a stop, Irelia discarded her bike on the ground, and ran up the stairs, her hoofs clicking on the stone loudly. Seeing a crowd of kids and adults, Irelia grinned in delight, and waved excitedly.

Irelia wavered as she came closer. The only person she knew was Antony. Ugh. And he didn't know how to treat a girl, so unfortunately Irelia wasn't entirely pleased. The other kids looked like all the rest of the Cabbage kids, odd but usually sweet, and Irelia smiled at the other two girls her age.

One looked oddly familiar, and she tried to place the girl with the short red hair's face.

"You seem awfully familiar," Irelia said conversationally.

The redheaded girl shoved her hands in her pockets and scowled, which seemed to be her default thinking face, looking Irelia up and down very slowly. She smirked a little at the hooves - well, at least there was somebody with legs as weird as hers - and slowly travelled up to the face, lost in thought, feeling the same deja-vu and wanting to place it. Finally, it dawned on her all in a rush.

"You," she said. "You were the chick who tried to steal my xylophone when I was a baby, with bird-boy. Guess you grew up, huh?"

Wisp was still clutched to Shade's pantleg, but her mouth made a small o of surprise when she saw Sophie. Sophie was beautiful. She always admired pretty things, rather than got jealous of them, as she was far too safe in her own golden-haired cuteness to feel insecure next to Sophie's radiance. This new little girl was nearly as beautiful as Missy (nobody could ever be QUITE as beautiful as Missy!). She pulled one hand away and waved furiously.

Delilah pouted for all of a second when Christian recognized someone before her but then schooled her face into a pretty little smile. Shaking her mother's hand off, she walked over to stand between Antony and Shade, thereby placing herself neatly by the smaller children in the group as well. She pushed a piece of brilliant hair behind her ear and toyed with the flower pinned in her hair. Then she shot her mother a meaningful look.

Kova ignored it and, instead, turned to greet the new arrivals. She grinned at Irelia. "I remember you!"

Likewise dismissing his guardian, Ignacio bounced over to give Kisala an impulsive bear hug. "You've grown so big!" he laughed. "That's how long it's been. Man, that's bad."