"Bah," says Katin.

Awww.

"My sons are triplets, so I'm well acquainted with how much work raising a small child can be. I'm happy to help out if you need it."

"She's a really easy baby, honestly, my little siblings were way more work."

"Good to hear. Still, if you need anything."

"Thank you!"

She looks at Ashras. "I don't suppose you've seen your brothers since you got back?"

He shakes his head. "You could try the palace if you need them urgently for something, I think last I heard Elarron was visiting Rokarai."

"No, no. Just wondering."

"I think I'll have a nap, I've been keeping Ceirene hours today and it's catching up to me -" he glances at Peka and explains, "Aluvai don't keep fixed sleep schedules, we usually sleep multiple times a day, so I'm not used to being awake for this long."

"Huh, okay."

"See you later!"

Off he goes.

She settles into the guest room and unpacks. She eats the snacks she brought and feeds Katin. She tentatively explores the house.

It is a big pretty house. Much of the furniture is cozy. No one jumps out from behind any corners to reprimand her for touching things.

She can see pictures of the family, if she looks - Ashras and his two identical brothers, Kyralaine and a man who is presumably her husband, both parents and one triplet, father and children and another man who might be an uncle...

What a nice house. And she seems allowed to be in it! Although she keeps her hands to herself mostly anyway.

She lets herself out to see what's in the immediate house environs, pocket-everything lighting the way.

Immediate house environs contain grass and a few low hills. Way over thataway, out back of the house, is some kind of animal pen. The animals look fluffy.

She brings Katin over to look at the fluffy animals.

The fluffy animals have long shaggy fur in muted colours, and short curved horns, and short shaggy tails.

A winged Aluvai is in the middle of feeding them; he pauses to smile at Peka and Katin, and says something friendly-sounding in what is presumably the local language. Looks like the maybe-uncle from the family pictures.

"- um, hello to you too?" She waves Katin's hand for her.

"Hawa," says Katin.

"Ah." He gives Katin an appropriately tiny wave back, then looks at Peka. "Ashras?" he guesses.

Nod.

He nods. A goat gently headbutts him in the ribs; he pats its nose and offers it some mixed grains from his bucket.

She doesn't feel quite up to pushing her luck by gesturing an offer to help. She and the baby just look, and then continue their walk.

The local vegetation is bizarre: usually very dark but sometimes very pale, or a mix of both. A lot of it is pretty, though. There are some weird-looking flowers.

The sun comes - uh, down - while she's out, a brilliant golden disc sliding along its golden line and into view. The moon makes a simultaneous appearance coming up its silver trail on the opposite side of the sky. It's really something. The green clouds of the floating jungle are lit from both sides, and they look beautiful that way.