The Child-Thieves

"Sleepy in the night time Bedtime's not the right time Quiet, quiet, quiet Or the spirits come
Sneaking at the door, shh Peeking in the window, shh Underneath the floor, shh Here the spirits come
Aelos takes the good ones Aalis takes the bad ones Leaving with the little ones Home the spirits come"

This Duleinish nursery rhyme is based on a common folktale, that of the child-stealers Aelos and Aalis. Depictions of the duo vary greatly; the two are thought to be brother and sister in some cases, husband and wife in others, and occasionally both at once. Often drawn as stone foxes, the pair is sometimes associated with Rauami, usually as lesser earth aspects. Like most Duleinish mythological figures, their exact names vary from one region and tribe to the next; just as commonly they are known as Aro and Aria, Ellis and Alise, or other slight differences.

In all versions of the tale, they sneak into houses to break apart troubled families through kidnappings. Aelos is said to rescue innocent children from abusive parents and take them on wondrous adventures, then leave them with a kind adoptive family. Aalis, meanwhile, snatches away disobedient or cruel children and subjects them to harrowing trials before sending them either back to their parents or a safe but humble new home, once she feels they've learned their lesson. Both are considered at least well-meaning, if not always fully benevolent, but the judgment of spirits is known to be different than the judgment of men, and to not shout at a family member after dark lest one attract the notice of Aelos and Aalis is a common superstition.