I don't know. I don't like the idea of cross-species adoption, but the alternative to that is sending them to the humans in my world, and I don't know how that'd work out at all; I'm not even actually sure they're the same species and not just really similar.

Have you seen humans in your world?

Not much. They do look the same to me, but there might be some subtle difference that matters or something.

And even if now when babies are new and exciting there are enough people who want them, if this keeps up -

Well, they know, now. And, uh.

Hmm?

Tyelkormo came up with a temporary solution, I have no idea what you're going to think of Tyelkormo's temporary solution.

Tyelcormo is reckless and defensive and proud but rarely unkind.

They are that, she grins a little. And also in this case very Fëanorean, but I don't think they were wrong. And she sends the memory of Tyelkormo's announcement to the humans.

Well.

I don't know if that was wise. It was in fact very Tyelcormo. I suppose if it means people aren't having unwanted children, that's something.

She nods. Kobolds don't have that taboo - we also don't have the associations with it - and we do fine. I think the Valar are just wrong, on that one.

Could be different for Eldar and kobolds.

Possible, I guess. I haven't seen anything to suggest that, though.

I haven't seen any same-gender Eldar relationships to guess whether the people involved are hurting each other.

Nod. Well, if you do, be gentle with 'em, okay? There's at least reason to doubt there's anything wrong with it.

Definitely.

Grin, nod.

So, humans. The other problem is that they seem to be a fragile species in general, like me; I know Eldar healers aren't used to that, but they're still probably the best thing we've got; pregnancies aren't very dangerous, at least for kobolds, but they are somewhat. There's also a Speaker who knows more about healing than I do who might be willing to talk to us; I'm thinking I should take a group of healers out to ask questions, if they are.

You were going to go talk to a Speaker soon anyway, right?

Yeah, sometime in the next week or so. We can move that up, but the healers should probably go see the humans before I take them, so they have a better idea of what to ask.

Okay. I'll tell our healers.

She nods. And the other thing they're going to need is to be taught how to take care of babies and children, since they've never seen them before. Practical stuff, as generic as we can get it since we don't actually know what human babies are like either; I should probably help with that, but I can't contribute much directly since I've never actually raised kids.

Nor have I, but I can ask some people who have.

Thanks.

I'll be doing some hunting for them, too, and I'll need to take a few trips to collect the plants I know about that might be worth trying for them - shouldn't put me too far behind with things here, but I plan on making that my priority for a while.

Makes perfect sense. What a horrible mess. I'm glad there's someone around who was at least familiar with the concept.

Hug. Yeah, me too.

I think I want to go check on Maitimo, maybe take them flying or something for a little while if they need a break, and then I'll come back and get started on the stuff that shouldn't be let go while I'm busy. Sound okay?