“Saves us a trip, then," Lul said happily, "we have a young family here that was bred by the third Brother in Basin's family. My Brothers and I have been watching them, but they should be with their breeders. There has been so much to do with all the boys we have not had time to bring them to Basin's family."

Hyun misunderstood the look of shock on Rose's face.

"They were to be returned sooner," Hyun pleaded.

“We have so many children here right now. Caring for their immediate needs was our first priority."

“We could not continue to leave them with Child Keepers from the compounds," Hyun's Brother continued. "Those men do not understand the right way to treat children. We have been finding the children's families as fast as we could. There is training that must happen with many of the men first. It is time consuming and we worry about who the children are left with..."

“Especially the very young," Lul said agreeing with his Brother. "The little ones need special care. They couldn't be left with just anyone..."

Rose regained her composure and sought to calm Hyun's family.

“We did not know there were children," she said. "My mates and I would gladly care for them and we are not upset you kept them safe. No one had ever told us these children existed..."

Hyun and his family relaxed visibly as Lul turned and called out toward the smallest boys in the whole hall.

“Edas, bring your Brothers and come here! I want to introduce you to your new Keeper.”

Five small boys were running toward us a moment later. They were younger than Mycah's family, that was obvious. In fact, they barely looked old enough to be at a compound. In their haste, one of them tripped and fell, dragging a Brother down with him. Their lack of coordination told me these were very young boys.

Rose didn't hesitate and went toward them, just like Hyun did. She picked the little boys up off the floor and set them on their feet before examining them closely for injury. They were surprised, but didn't fight as she fussed over them. The little family watched her closely until one boy spoke.

“You no have stripes!" he announced proudly. Rose smiled as she knelt down in front of him and he grinned up at her.

"I do not have stripes," she crooned.

“You are a very observant boy What is your name?"

The five little ones announced their names proudly. Edas and his family didn't have any fear of Rose. Hyun told them Rose would Keep them today. The children seemed to like the attention this new strange looking Paterian was paying them.

I noted how the boys instinctively wanted to be close to those around them. The compound had not started to teach them the devastating Lesson of drawing in yet. These boys would be socialized the way they should be.

I could not imagine how crushing it must have been for Damien's family to grow up in a compound. Isolation was not natural on this planet, far from it. Men needed groups and other Paterians. Their nature was to be outgoing and trusting.

Jonathan jerked me out of my thoughts as he pulled hard on my skirt.

“Mama, where's Daddy?" he asked looking at the door. I got the impression I had a heart beat before he tried to get out the entrance. Remembering his family's persistence, they might actually succeed.

“Daddy is working," I said grabbing Mycah's hand and Jonathan's hand “We have to learn about the animals in the forest today."

I pulled my boys back to where they'd been and Rose walked with Edas and his Brothers. It wasn't even mid-morning when Hyun and his Brothers left us alone to continue instructing our boys.