I think most people have mixed feelings about the birds and negative ones about the rodents.

They're an essential part of most ecosystems. Small scavengers. What's bad about them?

Well, they aren't toilet-trained. And sometimes they get into garbage or homes and make a mess of things. Rarely they'll bite.

Most things will bite if they feel threatened. We have very different perspectives on things.

I've noticed that.

Their presence is an annoyance, an accepted cost of existence, a gnawing at your feet. It would be supremely difficult to wholly exterminate them. If you did manage it, there would probably be unwanted knock-on effects. Draak would try to change the system - to find a use for the rodents or to give them a new niche that didn't have them eating things we care about. But Draak could never build such a hive of stone and steel and glass in the first place. To each kind their own Way, I suppose.

We have domesticated some animals, just not the sort of rodents that would live around here.

Domestication is not quite similar enough to what I'm thinking of to use the same word. At any rate, this is not my territory and if your people choose to try to exterminate rats I have no say in the matter.

All right.

Her guide skirts the edge of the grey neighborhood and they come out in another purple neighborhood, but he takes a route so eventually they're at a purple/green overlap area, and there are in addition to the usual purple businesses and a purple kids' school, theaters and an art museum and a university campus.

I might be interested in the art museum some other time. How is art chosen for these places?

I'm not sure, but I can see about getting you an appointment with a curator if you like!

That would be interesting, I would like that! I think life is the most beautiful but other art is certainly good too.

I think the garden we're going to has a bonsai exhibit. That's life turned into art, I wonder what you'll think of it.

Flowers bred for color and arranged, herbs grown with tender care, bushes trimmed into pleasing shapes, are all life turned into art. I will probably like it. (Happy tail-swish.)

And at last here is the botanical garden right at the end of this green/purple divide! They are welcomed by a smiling docent who asks if they'd like the grand tour.

Yes. I can feel it from here, beautiful diversity, thriving photosynthesis! It's not natural but it will be lovely none the less. I am told I might like Bonsai.

"We can stop there first!" says the docent, and she leads the way through the cactus section.

She dawdles, inspecting each species, careful not to damage anything.

I could easily spend weeks in here, I think... If only I had thought to bring some seeds from home!

"That would be amazing! We'd love to open a section of alien plants."

It would be good, yes! ...But I'm not eager to repeat the experience of stellar travel. Perhaps in late spring, or local summer?

"Especially if they'd take to being transplanted best then!"

I have very little idea what they'll make of the long year here. Or what my body will make of it, for that matter.

"Hopefully you do better with a funny year length than we would, ha ha!" says the docent.

Yes, I hope so as well. Winter is the worst season for me. Draak hibernate, and occasionally estivate. I once slept for four of your years!

Amentans would fall into a permanent spring, correct? Watching someone experiencing that or coming out of it would be valuable insight.

"Right, if we go someplace without seasons," says the docent.

"It's on the list. We'll probably be able to get you some people visiting from orbit or the tropics," Ruan says.