[spirit_queen]

Lucy noticed Victor. "We have a little bread today," he told the older boy. He wandered in to the pantry, got a crust of stale bread on the verge of turning moldy, then wandered back to Victor, handing it over.

Astarte suddenly pawed gently at his ears; hers, like all Avians, were little more then holes in the side of her head, so something as big and fuzzy as a cheetah's ears were a marvel.

"That's wonderful," smiled Nedakh. "As soon as you can stand on that foot without damaging yourself, I'll have you to work."