" "I have a brother?" "Yes, sort of." "I have a brother?" "Yes, sort of. Tleils are made in pairs, one male, one female. Although this isn't necessary or efficient-- a species that is female top-heavy would be better off-- I tend to have some set ideas that, so far, have worked out pretty well. He's the male first Vulpin." She nodded, but I didn't feel her understanding yet. "Tasha," I said softly. "You're in a state known as incorporation shock. You're spending your first day alive, and you don't know how to handle it. Can you understand that?" She tilted her head slightly to the left, confused. "I think so." "Just think so?" "I think I understand what you're telling me, if you're telling me the truth." "You have no reason to doubt me. But that's about as good an answer as I could have hoped for, under the circumstances." I heard a shuffling over past both of us. She turned around to look. "Tasha, meet Derek. He helped me with you." "Hi," he said gently, reaching down to touch her hand. "I'm glad you're alright. You had us worried there for a while. |