"I don't know that he asked us to care for them -- I wasn't here when they hatched -- but certainly that was the justification he gave during the festival, yes. A thanks for looking after his relatives." Raine said it with a little distaste now, where before it might have been a happy thing to think of. "A number of us have them, and it's a real concern that they may be used against us. I don't think it affects the children themselves, only us, but that's more than enough."

She tipped her head just a little, added, "You didn't want to burden your friends with it."