Xuan didn't like that she dismissed his inquiries, there was something off about this Cora. He let it go for now, he would figure it out soon enough. She would eventually drop hints of where she came from. "As you wish," he said.

Mimi frowned at the new girl and put her things away, yawning. "I should follow Father's advice," she said hugging her woven basket close to her chest. "Sleep well," she hugged Xuan warmly before swimming to the gap near her parents and slipped into the chamber. She put the basket near the ceiling before snuggling against the wall and closing her eyes. 

Hunter and Winter entered the cave relaying a gory story, Hunter barely acknowledged anyone as he passed. Winter glanced at Cora with interest, he winked at her as he waited for Hunter to wiggle through the gap to the sleeping chamber. He followed close behind then poked his head back through. "Come on, X." 

"Sleep well," Xuan said and moved after his brothers. He couldn't get rid of the feeling the girl was hiding something that would put his family at risk. He didn't like jumping to such drastic conclusions. It was too easy to say she was doing nothing and suddenly passed out. That was a bad stink. He hovered in the middle of the cavern his brothers peering at him. 

"Who is that cute girl?"

"Cora," Xuan said, then lowered his voice to keep the discussion amongst them. "Do you remember what happened to Uncle Tide's family?"

"How could anyone forget?" Hunter snorted, following Xuan's example and quieted his voice. "The whole brood was wiped out. Why bring that up?"

"They let in a stranger among them," Winter said softly with a snort. "Our dear brother is getting paranoid. You think that skinny girl is going to start cutting throats?"

Xuan shook his head and eased his body into his sleeping spot. "I don't know what to think. I hate not trusting. I don't want to be blind to dangers either."

"A tough spot," Hunter stated. 

"What brought all of this on?" Winter asked floating toward his brother and wrapped an arm around Xuan's shoulders. 

"She supposedly far away from her brood and she doesn't want to talk about them? That is just odd. Even when Mimi is emotionally distraught for one reason or another, she still talks about us," he whispered. Mimi was the most emotional girl in the whole of the community, she was far too sensitive for her own good. Feelings easily hurt.

"We will keep an eye on Cora, if she keeps acting strange, we will take her for a dance with the rip current." 

Xuan nodded and the bothers settled for sleep, he felt better talking about it. Though the worry continued to grind inside him until he drifted to sleep.