"That would be wonderful!" says Ruan.

I cannot know whether it will become truth, but there is always hope.

I think I would like to learn to read. Or try to, at least.

"In what language?" he asks. (The docent shows them through the arboretum section.)

...I had forgotten those exist. Perhaps I should start with Darktooth's symbols, our own language such as it is.

"As you like! I'd be happy to teach you our country's language if you ever want to learn it."

She notices that she's dithering again. Dithering is an annoying state to be in.

Yes, I think I want that. My decision is made, I will try to learn your language.

And now, having stated it to the world, she will.

"Would you like to pick it up by being around people talking aloud, or more systematically with a tutor or program?"

I listen in the Song, when you speak your minds shed intent into the Onesong. A systematic approach seems easier to actually learn than trying to not do that, I think.

"I can hire you a tutor, which might be easier to use than software."

It probably would. You are not demanding anything of me that I wasn't already going to do for the warehouse, the escort, the tutor, the miscellaneous accommodations?

"No, not at all. We've got a budget set aside for making sure you're happy here and a language tutor's well within its means."

That's surprising. But good, that will be a pleasing arrangement. I can focus on learning without the annoyances of needing to hunt for food or defend myself or find people to learn from.

"Why is it surprising?"

...I suppose setting aside resources to welcome and care for a visitor is not something I can imagine doing unless I want to have a child with them. Draak are self-sufficient. It is perhaps against Tradition for me to accept being accommodated to get more time to learn but I don't really care, at least not for a time as short as an Amentan year or two.

"I think Baravic citizens being the first people to benefit from your project is more than worth it to us."

I suppose it makes sense if I imagine I am Baravi. You have many, many warehouses and orange tutors and so on, and there is only one Enkindler here. Very well.

Back to questions about the plants! The garden continues to be lovely.

She can see the whole grounds, though there are a few places where the paths don't accommodate her and she has to skirt sections and get a look from a bit farther off.

Afterwards they can go back to her warehouse, bristling somewhat more visibly with security now.

And the next day she can check out a train station!

Train stations are loud and crowded and cramped. But she's determined to be unruffled. She demonstrates how small she can make herself and still be comfortable for a while then lets Ruan lead her to a good spot, since he knows where she'll be in the way.

They bring some greys along, who can set up a perimeter to give her some space. But on the stairs down into the station a two-year-old purple darts toward her and the grey who lunges for the kid slips on the stairs, letting her through, and she gets her hand on some feathers.

The reaction to jerk backwards and bare teeth and raise one handful of claws towards the surprise, the threat, is instinctive and automatic.

She catches the reaction a half-second later, five sunset-painted knives raised to the kid's head's height. She freezes, all her feathers puffed out, hissing quietly.

BAD! You do not touch without asking, hatchling!

Another grey reaches the kid and yanks her back. The kid's mother, horrified and panicked, is standing frozen past the perimeter. The child bursts into tears.

I am not going to hurt a child who does not know any better, she announces, still unmoving. I am going to turn around and be on the street and calm down.

The grey marches the kid back to her mother. The grey who fell gets up, apologizing under her breath to the lead grey and Ruan. Ruan catches his breath. "That seems prudent," he agrees.

She squeezes in the stairwell and manages to turn around without much difficulty. She goes up to the street.

Draak really, really, really do not like being touched unexpectedly, she tells Ruan. Everything in my mind and body says it means something is trying to kill me! Another in my place might have finished that swipe! And I have to fix my feathers now, threat response tangles them like nothing else! Her mental voice sounds fluttery and almost-panicked.

"I'm so sorry," Ruan says. "I can get some more greys so they'll be able to stand closer together."