"Not sure. They - grew up more sslowly, I think."

Helath clacks her beak disapprovingly. "They were sstill pulling recklesss sstunts lassst year!"

"Reckless stunts like what?"

"They thought it would be funny to ssteal the market-tent and fly off with it!"

"Well, it wass funny," Kythtar points out, rustling his wings.

"Did they ask if they could have a baby, and get told no?"

"Yess, I think sso. But yearss ago, they may have changed their mindss once they ssaw how much work ourss were!"

"What's the process for asking?"

Kythtar glances over at Helath, who answers. "You go talk to Urtho, I guesss. Although ssometimes he ssuggestss it first."

"Has everyone he's suggested it to gone ahead with it?"

Another look is exchanged.

"I think Kalys didn't?" Helath offers uncertainly. "She was not interessted, she preferred to keep flying in the racess."

"What'd he say about that?"

"- Nothing? Not everyone wantss to have children, he would not force her."

"I just found out today that gryphons need permission at all, I just want to make sure I know how it works. Do you think it's a good idea?"

The parents glance at one another; they seem very uncertain what to think of the question.

"I think sso?" Helath offers finally. "We're not finisshed as a speciess. There might be more ssick babiess if Urtho did not choose parents carefully."

"I don't think it'ss fair," Skan huffs.

"What do - good grades and not stealing tents have to do with sick babies?"

"Hmm, I ssuppose that part is more about being ressponsible enough to parent little oness. But pairing different bloodlines makess the babiess healthier, I think."

"Different bloodlines? Are some of you in the first generation related somehow?"

"Ssome much more clossely than otherss, yess."

"...how though."

"If they had the ssame ssource sstock?" Helath clucks with her beak again in irritation; that was an unfair number of S's in a row for a gryphon. "Or the ssame litter at leassst. I am not ssure how making uss wass done exactly."

"Oh, I guess there would've been litters, yeah... you didn't learn about how you were made in school?"

"A little. Mosst of it is ssecret." Helath seems totally unbothered by this.

"Uh-huh. What do you think about that?"

She looks at her partner again. Kythtar shrugs with his wing. "It sseems like Urtho'ss decision."

"Can I talk to -" note consultation "Raeshan and Lytha?"