I knew what they needed. The men I’d rescued were friends and the girls wanted to check on them.


    With a heavy heart I watched the girls leave through the skylight. They were so carefree and wild. The


    entire world was their yground. Listening to them I almost felt like I had been there with them,


    learning and exploring. It had almost made me feel free.


    Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I smiled down at my daughter. Her fur was just starting to grow and I


    petted the thick tufts lovingly. Her skin had been white, but the fur almost appeared striped. I traced the


    patterns as I smiled at her.


    “I could pluck it,” she told me seriously and I was shocked.


    “Absolutely not,” I scoffed, “your fur, andter your hair, will protect you from wind and cold. Hannah


    used her hair to hide injuries from me. You need it. Don’t ever talk about losing it.”


    I walked with Kennedy back into our apartment and sighed. All three families had huddled in here for


    five days to Listen to Hannah and Ra. The main room was a mess.


    I settled Kennedy with some toy puzzle pieces and started to clean. She wasn’t done with our


    conversation though.


    “It would make me more like you, if I didn’t have fur,” she said. “The jelly creatures could probably be


    paid to remove my hair. I’d just have to wear clothes like you and Dad.”


    Pausing in my picking up, I red at her.


    All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “You cannot weaken yourself for any reason,” I argued.


    “The fur is a strategic advantage. This is a tough world. You know what I’ve read and you heard your


    sister-“


    “I’m getting rid of it as soon as I can,” she said decisively.


    Ang’s Library


    Kennedy was dead set on removing her fur and hair. She didn’t like it and it wasn’t pretty. I couldn’t say


    anything she would believe. By the time the men came I was frantic and they found that a Little silly.


    “It isn’t like she’ll do it right now,” Kein reminded me. “What’s she going to do? Shave?”


    “Maybe we should lock up the knives again,” Evan joked and they all found that funny.


    Christof did sit and have a serious talk with her though. The rest went and brought back food as he


    discussed the importance of maintaining her natural defenses with her. The fur was permanent clothing


    that kept her warm. It was ayer of protection against sharp objects aimed at her skin. He could


    convince her in ways I could not.


    “I like Mama’s skin,” Kennedy told him sadly. “You like Mama’s skin, too. I want to be pretty Like


    Mama.”


    I was horrified Listening to her talk. She was confusing human beauty with beauty here. Kennedy


    would never look human. The Paterian genes had overridden mine in most ways. This was going to be


    a disaster for her.


    Christof considered Kennedy for a moment and then sat back.


    “Dinah,” he said softly, “is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Each time we had to mate I hoped


    it was her that would take me. You know I feel that way. I admire her strength and speed. When I was


    younger, I even found her temper attractive.”


    I did not know that about Christof. Of course we’d never talked about who his favorite woman was. It


    just had note up.


    “Your Mama,” he continued, “is special and so very different. It wasn’t until she exined the Earth


    concept of beauty to us that I understood. We just don’t think of beauty the same way. You do not have


    to alter yourself to be lovely. The men you breed with will find you beautiful.”