"Now Ira would take that challenge to the point of collapse," 'Chelle says thoughtfully. "Dad. I think we have enough food for an Arctic expedition, never mind the zoo."

"Never hurts to be prepared!"

“On the upside, if we get lost, we’ll be fed for days.”

"Not the way Lan eats," Nova mumbles into Zev's shoulder.

“Us for days, Lan for minutes.”

"I fear I should be offended. But that takes energy. And I have more important things to expend energy on."

"Hopefully not something only minutes long."

"The zoo!"

"I'm finally going to see what all the red panda fuss is about," Zev laughs.

"It is such a good fuss. Also: aye-ayes. They're good too."

"That doesn't sound like a real animal."

"Oh but it is!"

"-It is too early for you to start spouting aye-aye facts, 'Chelle."

"What time of day is appropriate, according to you?"

"Sometime around noon?"

Zev laughs.

"By which time we will actually be seeing aye-ayes. I should educate people before we get to them."

"Getting to see something that isn't a cat, dog or rat is honestly a treat."

"Oh boy. You're gonna love this."

"I think Nova and I have proven ourselves easy to please." 

He tucks his face into Nova's neck, hugging him tightly. 

Nova leans further into him.

"That's not necessarily a bad thing," Aaren points out with a smile. "Being easy to please."

"Oh, we'll form preferences. Eventually." Zev's voice is somewhat muffled by Nova's shoulder.

"Ah, whatever shall we do then?"

"Learn to please us."