Page 91 of Grulen

“Short is fine for now.”Morgan glanced between the two new males.

“We’re a home for Zuvgran hybrid children and adults.”

“Most are orphans or in some cases, wish they were orphans.”Emmy’s face looked like she drank sour milk.

“Oh.”

A Mostiffian-Zuvgran male youngling bounded down out the front door holding hands with a younger Crestillian-Zuvgran female.

“We have guests!”The young male with three oval eyes grinned widely.Four-fingered hands on long, gangly arms were another Mostiffian trait.His short, thin tail waved excitedly.

The small reptilian female smiled shyly.

“Hello.”

Morgan squatted and smiled.

“Hello, I’m Morgan.This is Grulen.”

“I’m Yostal.I’m four and I like science.This is Zela.She just turned three.”

“Wow, Yostal, I’m glad you told me that.”She tapped her lower lip with a forefinger.“Are you supposed to be out here alone?”

Yostal looked confused.

“But we’re not alone.You’re here and so is Largon and Ronan and everybody.”

The adults laughed.

“True, but did you have permission to leave the building?”

Yostal peered up at Ronan.

“Do we need permission?”

“To go out the front without an adult?Yes, you do.If you’re going into the courtyard, not really.We just want to ensure you’re safe.”

Yostal’s oval eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry.”

“Oh, honey, please don’t cry.You just learned something new you didn’t know before so you can do better next time.There was no harm done.”Morgan reached out to pat his hand.She has a natural talent with younglings.I can see why she wants to be a teacher.

“You’re nice,” Zela whispered.

“Thank you.I think you’re nice, too.”Morgan stood in a fluid motion.“I think I’d like to see more of Phoenix House.”

Grulen followed her and listened as she asked numerous questions.Amazed at the amount of thought and care that preceded the construction of Phoenix House, he saw happy younglings throughout.Older Zuvgran hybrids, which Largon said he and Ronan had rescuedsolarsprior now helped care for the younger ones.

They only met one other purebred individual.Talos, an older Pellotian teacher, had spent twentysolarson Pellotia rescuing and hiding hybrids from Zuvgran patrols.The male had scars on his green skin between his wings.His flat yellow eyes lit up when he discovered Morgan also trained as an educator.The two of them wandered to a corner in one of the classrooms and spoke animatedly.

After checking that Morgan felt comfortable with him leaving, he found himself wandering alone as the other couples broke off.He noted recreational rooms, the library, large dining area, and kitchen before he walked outside to the courtyard.Various play areas, an outside garden, and several training areas filled the spaces around smaller tables and benches.

Grulen noticed an older youngling who wasn’t gray in one of the outside training areas.Brown skin, high narrow forehead, and no hair signified the other portion of his heritage was Romittel.The younger male experienced difficulties with the climbing portion of an obstacle course.Grulen watched for several minutes before approaching the trainee.

“Hello, young warrior.My name is Grulen Jevax.”

Sweat poured from the youngling’s bald head.

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