The last few days in Las Vegas it started getting dark very quickly, and Circle-of-Fire noticed that the main building was always cold more often than before when she returned home to the Headquarters in the evening. That was not really a problem, because it was usually late and Circle-of-Fire thought that the fire in the main room had already been put out by those who had gone to bed. 

Circle-of-Fire usually went to the kitchen and prepared a cup of hot chocolate. A little cocoa in a cup, a lot of sugar and a tiny bit of hot water. She would mix it until it became a paste and the sugar was dissolved. Then she put the milk in a pan and put it on the stovetop. Of course it did not come to a boil, but she heated it until it was very hot. She put the milk in the mug that contained the cocoa and stirred until the chocolate and sugar had mixed with the milk. Satisfied, she would drink it sitting at the kitchen table and then quickly go to bed.

It was chilly in the morning, but Circle-of-Fire did not care, because after showering she grabbed an apple from the fruit basket and went to work. In her opinion, a Don does not sit on a chair in the head office, but works with the crew members to set up the crimes and to bring in the profits.

After a week in this rhythm, Circle-of-Fire did notice that there was never anyone in the main room when she came in at night. She made up her mind to come back early that night and see what was going on.

That night she came home and also then there was no one in the main room. It was only 7 o'clock and normally her crew members were then chatting with each other with a cup of coffee. She went to the kitchen and found it empty, but the cooker was still hot and there was still some coffee left that was a little lukewarm. Quickly she put a kettle of water on the stove and as soon as it boiled, she made fresh coffee. With a fresh cup of coffee, she went to look for her crew members. 

First she went to her right-hand companion, AmeliaGato. She knocked on her door and she heard a soft "Come in". Circle-of-Fire entered AmeliaGato's room and saw that she was already lying in her bed completely hidden under the covers. Even her coat was over her blankets to keep her warm.

"AmeliaGato what are you doing? It's only 7 o'clock and far from bedtime. Don't we normally sit downstairs in the main room drinking coffee at this time? What's the matter? Are you sick?" Circle-of-Fire said with concern. 

"No, I'm not ill", replied AmeliaGato, "I'm just cold. I've been trying to light the fire in the main room for weeks, but I can't get the fire lit. I just can't do it. So I give up and go to my room and crawl into bed. At least it's warm here." She said to her boss. 

"The fire can't be lit?", Circle-of-Fire replied, "That is strange. Do you have any idea why it's not working? And have you asked anyone to help you?" 

AmeliaGato looked at her leader and said, "Of course I asked Stefan, but he didn't know either. The only thing he said was that his father Aang had always lit the fire before we came home. But he's still too young to know how his father did this."

"You should have told me AmeliaGato, then we could have looked for a solution. First I'm going to see Stefan to see if there's anything in his father's papers."

The coffee in her mug had become cold, but Circle-of-Fire did not care. She had to find out why there was no fire in the main room.

Stefan was in bed too, with, if possible, even more blankets than AmeliaGato. She even recognised one of the plaid patterned thrown blanket that normally covered the sofa in the main room. 

"I suppose you're cold too Stefan? I understand from AmeliaGato that you've already checked why the fireplace doesn't work?" Circle-of-Fire said to her Left-hand. 

"Yes", said Stefan, "my father always lit the fireplace and stupidly I never watched him do it, so I just don't know. AmeliaGato and I gave up then."

"I understand Stefan, isn't there something in your father's stuff that tells us how he lit the fire?"

Stefan answered, "Yes, the procedure is described in a document, but no matter what we try, the fire doesn't start and so it stays cold in the main room. But here is the document, maybe you can find something out that we have not tried yet."

Circle-of-Fire took the document from Stefan and started reading. She recognised Aang's handwriting and it brought back fond memories of this fantastic man. The document began as follows.

"The fireplace in the main room is only used in winter until spring. Because the fireplace goes out in spring, there are birds that make a nest on the chimney. Every year the stork returns to build her nest on the chimney and hatch her young. As soon as the young are big enough, the stork flies away again and the nest can be taken away. This nest has to be taken down otherwise there is no airflow to the outside and the fire cannot catch fire and go out due to lack of oxygen."

"Have you read this?" Circle-of-Fire asked Stefan.

"Well, no. AmeliaGato told me to look for the description of how to light the fire and that was on page two, so I skipped it", said Stefan.

AmeliaGato had followed her and was listening to Stefan's answer in amazement. "That's silly Stefan, I assumed you'd started at the beginning. Don't you read a book from the first page? Or do you always start at the end?"

Circle-of-Fire had to smile a little at those two. They were always bickering, but they could also just about live without each other. 

"Come on, there is no point in this, Circle-of-Fire interrupted them, we are going to solve this. You get dressed warmly and we'll go and see if the nest is still on the chimney."

When they got outside, the three of them looked at the chimney and yes, the nest was still there. It was quite a climb to get on the roof. Stefan took the initiative immediately and went to the shed to get the ladder and climbed up to remove the nest. When he came down they went to the main room to see if they could get the fire going.

Stefan read carefully what his father had written and began to apply his father's magic to the fire. He took his task very seriously and soon Circle-of-Fire saw a small flame. AmeliaGato was ready to put some kindling and wood on the flame and yes, there was the fire. 

It started to get warm again in the main room and Circle-of-Fire opened a bottle of wine to celebrate. As if all the other crew members heard the uncorking of the bottle, they all came to the main room to have a cosy and above all warm evening.

"I am glad that this has worked out well people, now we can at least start preparing for the celebration of Christmas in our main building. I hope all the leaders and hands will come. Soon we will have to send out the invitations".