Sasha came up beside her. “They can’t sleep. I don’t blame them really.”

“Let me see what I can do.” Lilly said quietly. She sat in the center looking at the blank stares of children raging from ten to as young as four. Some were still sobbing like the little one in her arms. “I’m going to tell you a story. It was told to me when I was young and feeling scared.” She began getting the children’s attention.

“It’s a story of a baby bird who lost her way and didn’t know where her parents were.” The little girl in her arms looked up at her, her sobbing calming. “She searched and searched for her parents, but no matter how far she walked or hopped she never saw them. She was too young to fly and didn’t’ know how to find food. She was scared and to top it off it began to rain. A large black panther appeared and the baby bird was frightened that she would be eaten. But the panther only laid down beside her to keep her warm. The panther asked the little bird. “Where is your mother little one?” The little bird cried saying that she didn’t know. That she was lost and alone, that she was too small and weak to go on. But the panther shook his massive head and looked kindly down on the little bird. He said to her. “You are as you wish to be. Never doubt your strength and never give up. If you want it bad enough you will find the courage to go on.” Lilly looked around seeing the children sleeping. She looked down and saw the little girl breathing evenly with a peaceful expression on her face.

Lilly slowly put the girl down and covered her up with a blanket stepping carefully through the mass of children to Sasha who looked on in amazement. “I’ll go see if Mistress Clara needs me for anything.” Lilly whispered not wanting to wake the children.

“Lady Lilly.” Sasha whispered getting her attention. “What happened? Did the baby bird find her parents?”

Lilly smiled. “With the panther’s help and friendship she finally learned to fly and found her parents.” Sasha grinned and nodded.