Anatu Arrangements had been made to house an additional eleven thousand heads. My sisters and I were told to make sure that all the guest rooms and other locations were prepared for their arrival. The serfs ran around making sure that all was being completed. The storage unit had been filled with more food. My poor mate was working double shifts, if he was not working at the house he was training with the rest of the males. Our dwelling has been finished now for three blood moons. With the extra room that we had, Father asked me to house fifty three heads. I was going to decline saying that there was no room when Steve told my father that if more humans needed a place to stay, we would find the room. I was so angry with him that I refused to speak with him for the longest time. I did not want the human borns to ruin anything that we had collected. Steve was prompt to tell me that there are many who need help and were never given the common courtesy of a smile. It was for only a short time that they would need aid to keep them safe from a world that was trying to kill them. I spent the remaining time putting away anything I did not want destroyed. I was not happy with the situation but I would accept it as it was. Human borns that needed shelter for a short time. If I was lucky they would be gone before the baby would be born. My siblings were handed tasks to complete. I was placed on half duty since my growing belly was now noticeable. With the birth rate here being low, no one wanted to take the chance that I would lose the wee one. The day that the human borns were to arrive we were all summoned to my father's castle. Heading to the Great Hall we all stood there waiting. Each family member was expected to be there. Strolling over to Ashur, "Where is your mate?" He glared at the entrance that we all came from, “She will be here soon enough!” Ashur and Father had been holding a lot of top-secret information from the rest of us. Each of us heard Sadragon in our minds, 'They are here!' Materalizing, Father stood beside us. He was dressed like the king he was! All along the walls warriors and hunters stood shoulder to shoulder lining the wall. 'This has to be huge!' I linked Zefer.'I have never seen Father react like this ... I am going to take a guess and say it has something to do with … your mate!" Zefer was looking at Ashur. Down the hallway, we all heard the sound of footsteps and not a few! It was an army heading our way! "Straight line!" Our Father ordered. Merna was in the centre as a group of human borns surrounded her. Following behind her were several heads. Women, children, men and the elderly. The group made their way to my father. Each of them bowed their heads but those that stood around Merna and herself. Merna and my father had glued their sight, no emotion, leaving all of us wondering what was going on. "From this point forward," Father began, "No one is to hunt nor harm the birds!" He made the order clear. "Anyone found breaking this rule, will suffer a punishment worse than death!" I glanced over at Ashur, his eyes steadily on Merna. I could see it in his eyes that he knew something that he was not sharing. 'Why did she not bow like the others?' Bau hissed. Whispering, "One does not bow to their equal!" Ashur informed us. "There is no way she ... NO!" Zefer refused to finish once Father silenced us. Alma was clinging to my arm, 'She is my mate!' She chimed in my mind. I glanced over the group that had come into the Great Hall, 'Who?' 'The girl with the black hair with the two braids!' Alma pointed out to me. It did not take long to find the Human born, 'Alma are you sure, she looks ....' ‘Perfect!’ I could tell that Zefer was not pleased with this. In her mind, it was another human born mingling with our bloodline. It took Zefer a long time to admit that Steve was good enough for me. I had no idea how she was going to react to another human born in our bloodline. “This is your home as it is mine!” Our father's voice rang in the area. “All of those with a blue band will be going with my daughter Anatu!” I glanced at my father, he motioned for me to step forward. Small little human born heads directed their feet towards me with five elderly females walking with them. I could see the questioning in my brother and father's mates eyes. I could tell she was very protective of the children. One male had his hand on her arm. It was a silent conversation. A little boy ran to Merna, “My queen I do not want to go! I can fight and protect you!” His little voice was whiny and yet cute at the same time. Merna led him back to the group. Kneeling to their level, “I know that you all must be very scared. This is an unfamiliar place, nothing like home. But until Parpavar is apprehended, we must keep you safe.” All of the children's eyes started to glow … red, brown, blue, green and one little boy's eyes absorbed the light around him. Merna glanced up at me, “I know that Anatu and Steve will keep you safe and if you ask real nicely, Steve will let you work on his farm. If he does … you know what to do!” All of their little heads bobbed up and down. One at a time she hugged them, giving them comfort in their time of need. Kissing the last one on the top of her head, Merna stepped to the side handing me a slip of paper. “They are expected at the training ground at the assigned time. Even the girls!” I glared at my siblings not understanding what was going on. Taking her place once again my father continued with his orders and commands. The elderly and doctors were to remain in the castle while everyone else would be taken to the locations where temporary dwellings had been placed up for their stay. Everyone had started to move their feet as everyone had been dismissed. I opened the page that Merna had given me. “Anything the children need, do not hesitate to ask me. We will cover the cost of the children's stay with you. Each child has been provided with a bed roll as well clothing. The children have an already set sleeping arrangement from the orphanage. If it is possible could you keep the children in the same rooms. They suffer greatly from nightmares! They have dreams of the death of their parents and other tragedies that they had to endure. I have made sure that their caregivers remain with the children to make sure they listen. All you have to do is tell them your house rules and they will follow them. They will also tell you the rules that are placed for them to keep a regular routine going. I thank you for opening your doors to the children. This means a lot to them as well as me! Merna!” I read the letter one more time to make sure I understood what was going on. Zefer took the page and read it herself. “These children are like Merna!” Zefer stated. “In every way yes they are!” Ime popped up behind us. “They are the one thing Parppavar fear … the thing she believed was extinct. The neruppu, nir, pumi, karru parivar most of all piniks! The birds are back!” Ime had a grin that stretched from side to side.“Well that explains a lot!” Zefer huffed out. “Let us get the ankle biters to your place Anatu! I do have other things to get done!” Getting the children to my place I was happy to find out that father had gotten Ime, Zefer and Alma to aid me in this task. I think I would have lost it if I did not have help. Once the children knew where they were sleeping. Steve took a handful of the children to the field. It brought a smile to my face when I saw how excited they were to help Steve. They were even more ecstatic when they found out they could use their powers. Steve and I were not sure what that meant until we saw the land moving. Water streamed down the groves the children had made. And with a snap of their little fingers, sprouts shot up from the ground. The cutest little boy ran up to Steve wrapping his arms around his leg. Thanking him for letting all of them use their skills. While they are in the physical realm they are not allowed to use their power in case the bad guys find them and take them away. This broke my heart! The fear that they have, hiding what they are because they could be killed for just existing. Once the children were in bed resting before they had to go to the training grounds Steve and I took the time to talk. “I want to adopt one or two of the children!” Steve waited until I was under the cover. “I know we spoke about having a large family but what if some of them were adopted?” I thought about it. We were doing well for ourselves, we needed nothing. Those children could have a future with the right family. “How can you choose, there are many of them?” “Little Tim! I have fallen for his smile and positive demeanour.” “You already have in mind who you would like to join our family!” I stated what I felt was true. “I have an unfair advantage! I saw the children long before you did. There are more of them but I took what I knew you could handle. Some of the other children were worse off and hid in the corners unable to move. They are traumatised and sometimes lash out not realizing where they are. If I thought we could take them all, I would … They are great children. They just need some place to be safe and …” “Grow!” I spent the rest of the night crying and apologizing to Steve for my behaviour. I judged the children without even getting to know their situation, like my siblings. I was only thinking about myself and what I wanted. Not for one second thinking about the needs of those that are more unfortunate. I promised my beloved husband I would do much better in the future.