Sleeping Is Good For The Soul

It took Pika several attempts before Kura would wake up enough to stagger back to the dens. He could feel eyes following them as they picked their way back, aware how ridiculous they must look. Somewhere along the way, Kura's head fell against Pika's shoulder, and now they looked like a two-headed, eight-limbed monster, who had had too much to drink. Being an identical twin wasn't easy.

"Ermph," said Kura as she fell gracelessly into bed.

"Sorry," Pika mumbled as he pulled off his boots. He undressed down to his tunic, and after a second, glanced over to his sister, who remained unconscious. Heaving a sigh, he began to undress her as well.

"Oh goody! Twosies!" said a voice excitedly. "Can I help?"

Pika looked up quickly, close to ripping his sister's tunic in half surprise, half shock, and half expecting to see Windflower beaming back at him. He did a double take when he realized who had spoken. "Mo-Mossy?" he said uncertainly, as though suddenly questioning his vision.

"That's my name, don't wear it out!" said Moss with a smirk.

"Wh-Why would I wear your name out?" said Pika looking puzzled.

"Er-nevermind, it just a bad joke. Can I come it?" said Moss, stepping into the den before Pika could respond.

"Um, no, of course not," said Pika, who hurriedly began covering up his sister with blankets. Kura was self-conscious about showing too much skin.

"Ah ah, that's cheating," Moss chided. "I can't see anything if you do that."

"That's the idea," said Pika, looking down at his sister uncertainly. He really hoped she wouldn't choose this time to wake up.

"Tsks, no imagination," said Moss as knelt next to Pika, who was beginning to look as though had eaten one of the Healer's sneeze-curing herbs. They had a tendency to turn the patient's face bright red

"Sleeping is good for the soul," said Moss, fluffing the blankets covering Kura. "Did you know that?"

"Er-no," said Pika stupidly.

"Ah. Then I guess you didn't know that not sleeping alone is even better for your soul," said Moss, intent twinkled in her eyes.

"Er-n-no," Pika stammered, leaning away from Moss's predatory gaze.

"Then I guess it goes without saying, that the more people you sleep with, the better your health is," said Moss, following after Pika's retreat and snaking a hand up his thigh in blatant suggestion.

"Wh-what's good for your health?" asked Pika, looking as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing. He stiffened, looking ready to bolt, but unwilling(afraid?) of leaving his sister behind.

"Sleeping with people. And the more you sleep with, the better your health is," said Moss, who now shadowed over Pika and was easing the anxious elf down next to his sister. Moss chanced a glance over at Kura. "Does she ever wake up?"

"Not often," he said, afraid of what Moss intended to do about it.

"Well, we'll figure out a way to wake her up," said Moss, the look in her eyes confirmed Pika's fear. "And keep her awake."