It was late into the evening by time the three friends got home. Earlier that day, Sitala had knocked on Xensefer's door like she always did - unannounced. Luckily, because of their close bonds, Xensefer and Xayaa didn't mind in the least. They were rarely doing anything anyway... and if they were, Sitala joining them was always welcome. She always had something fascinating - albeit random - to say.
The day had consisted of numerous laughs, many relaxed conversations, and dining out together. Usually, Sitala headed home after an occasion like this... But tonight was different; As severe thunder and lightning shook the house and blinded its inhabitants, Xayaa offered a place for Sitala to stay: here.
After a brief telephone call to her parents, permission was granted to Sitala to have a "sleepover" with Xensefer and Xayaa.
After a brief celebration, Xen stretched out on the couch and yawned, Xayaa following suit.
"Anyone else tired?" he asked the small group, smirking lazily. Xayaa shrugged and looked at Sitala, awaiting her answer. Sitala frowned, her brow furrowing, and responded with a vigorous shaking of her head, "No!"
Glancing exasperatedly at the hyper Sitala, Xayaa chuckled before urging Xensefer off to bed, insisting that she would stay awake with the girl.
After a brief argument about it, he pecked Xayaa's lips and ruffled Sitala's hair.

"When do you think you'll be tired?" Xayaa asked curiously, in no rush to send a vital member of their small group off to sleep. Sitala shrugged her shoulders and hopped to her feet, "No idea!"

Xayaa rolled her eyes, but laughed, and hugged the girl. "What do you wanna do then?"
Sitala's mind was elsewhere, as always, her pencil scribbling madly onto one piece of paper after another, "Do you wanna draw with me?" she asked.

Xayaa grinned; quite possibly her most favorite activity, "Of course!"
Dashing to the pantry to retrieve several large pieces of construction paper, she rushed back several minutes later, to see Sitala, curled up in a corner, her head resting against the hard walls of the house. Somewhat saddened to see she wouldn't be able to draw with her surrogate sister, Xayaa put the construction paper back and returned to the living room. By now, Sitala shook from the cold - cold which Xayaa thoroughly enjoyed. Concern apparent in her face, Xayaa tip-toed into her own room, so as not to awaken Xensefer, and retrieved a large, blue blanket.

As gently as she could, Xayaa applied the blanket to Sitala's shoulders, legs, and back, attempting to tuck the folds in wherever possible for more insulation.

Eventually, Sitala's eyelids fluttered open just enough for Xayaa to see the sleepiness in them, and she smiled at the adorable sight, feeling accomplished having cared for her young friend.
Then Sitala said something Xayaa didn't at all expect: "Will you watch over me...?"

There was complete silence for a long period of time as Xayaa sat back on her knees and observed the sleeping girl.

A beaming sincerity accompanied Xayaa's next smile as she whispered her response, leaning forward and placing a gentle hand on the blanket:
"I will watch over you..."

Artwork © to  Torrential
Characters © to ~Aralia17 and  Torrential