A frantic search would find the twins Loosening the tops of spice jars in the kitchen.

“I don't know where Kaley is," Jonathan would inform me as we swam and bathed in the morning.

Kein found them painting bright eyes on a shadowed patch of wall in the very back of the cavern.

“Come on, Daddy," Kaley whined while she perched on a warm stone.

“It will be funny when someone sees it!" Kelli exclaimed as Kein quickly rubbed the haunting visage off the wall.

They just couldn't seem to stop their antics. The twins sharp wits were not entertained with simply learning about the world. I got the feeling they enjoyed the excitement their stunts caused.

Kaley and Kelli weren't all fun and games, though. They were fiercely protective when it was necessary. Damien and his Brothers had come across a Rack while with the Sisters one day. My youngest girls had just learned to fly and only sharpened their spears on their wings the day before. The Rack did not see the twins flying above and attacked my men. Kaley and her Sister did not wait.

“It was unreal," Kein told me Later while watching the girls laugh and talk outside our dwelling.

The twins were playing a card game with Hodlen's family. They Looked so delicate and small next to the men; it was deceptive. My girls were powerful Like nothing my men had seen before.

Kaley and Kelli were fast and efficient. Damien and his Brothers had never witnessed a female fight the way the twins did it. Their Lack of cold tolerance was their only weakness. My twin girls moved with fluidly and with precision. The Rack was distracted and neutralized before it understood who was attacking it.

It relieved me to know the twins were not as weak as they looked. This world was incredibly dangerous and they would not survive if they weren't tougher than everything in it. I was grateful once again for my strong, competent offspring.

Kaley and Kelli were using their teeth and eating before I knew it. They were small, for a Paterian female, giving me the illusion they were younger. Since there was no Nu-reeh to shove them out of our nest, I thought they might stay. I was wrong.

“We need to go," Kaley informed me after the evening meal one night.

I had been sitting with Mycah and his Brothers as they learned to sharpen a blade. It was an important Lesson and my focus had been entirely on them. The comment took me by surprise.

“We have our bag packed," Kelli stated showing me the satchel slung over her shoulder.

“We'll need clothing for the colder areas."

As a mother I always saw my girls as the tiny, weak creatures I'd first seen at their births. Now, I saw two Sisters ready for life in the world. Their wings were barbed with an impressive array of spears and their talons were sharp. The twins' needle Like teeth had proved they could bite through anything. Still, they were my baby girls...

“Aliens-," I started to say and Kaley shook her head.

“Are an inevitable part of Life now," Kelli said sounding unconcerned. She casually brushed the rock wall beside us with her talons and the solid stone easily chipped away.

“We are strong enough to deal with aliens."

“Your father and I wanted to travel with you," I said standing and starting to feel frantic.

I hated it when my girls left.