After making Riv a simple breakfast the next morning I was greeted by Morissey, accompanied by two small pures. I stood in the corridor of the lobby as he walked to my desk, taking Friday's work and placing down a new folder.

"Here is their associated work," he said, patting his hand on the folder. "I won't lie-- there is quite a bit. I trust you'll be able to take care of it."

"Y-Yes, of course," I said from the corridor. "...Are these the new residents?"

"Yes. One is eleven and the other is nine. The rest of their information can be found in this folder."

"Alright, th-thank you."

"Your pay will increase slightly from here," he said, walking back toward the door. "It will be nothing noteworthy given your...choices."

"...My choices?"

He turned his head just enough to look at me, a strange gaze of unease and quiet distress. My ears reflexively drew back, unsure of what this could be about. He refused to elaborate, simply grabbing the doorknob and exiting the home.

I sighed come his departure. Riv was still eating in the kitchen, so I thought it were best to take advantage of this time.

"H-Hello there," I said to the two siblings. "Would you please come with me so I can take you upstairs to your room? It will only take a few minutes."

They looked up at me nervously before turning to each other. The poor kids had probably been through a lot just to get here, and in such a short time.

"It's alright, you're safe here," I said, offering my hand. "The staff will take care of you, okay?"

"...Okay," said the oldest as the youngest looked away.

"Do you have anything with you? Clothes, perhaps?"

They both shook their heads as the oldest took my hand.

"Well, that's alright," I said quietly. "We keep changes of clothes here and you will have warm beds to sleep in, kept nice and clean. I will see if the staff might be willing to take you both into town to get something a little more your own."

They shyly smiled as I took them from the lobby to the upper floor, down to the left end of the hall. They chose the farthest room, which worked well enough for me.

"Have either of you eaten yet today?" I asked the two. "It's still quite early."

They both shook their heads.

"Hmm, alright," I said, raising my hand to my chin. "I really need to start working soon, but I'll see what can be done about it. Don't want you spending your first morning here too hungry, now."

I accompanied them back down the hall as Kuri tapped his way up the stairs. The children looked up at him, orange eyes wide. Kuri bent down to introduce himself and shake their hands before continuing to his room to sleep for the day.

"He's one of the people who keeps the house safe at night," I reassured them. "Please don't be alarmed if you see him again-- he lives up here, too."

Once we all got downstairs I heard the familiar rhythm of Daniel's footsteps in the lobby. I wasn't sure how I was going to go about this, with these children needing to use the same kitchen as the one Riv was still using.

"Ah, um, Daniel, could you please help me with something?" I called down the hall.

He poked his head around the edge of the lobby corridor with an inquisitive look.

"W-Would you mind taking these two to get something to eat?" I asked. "They're our new arrivals and haven't eaten yet this morning. I really need to start my work and you know where everything is."

Seems by now Riv was finished, poking his head around the corner and looking down the hall to us. When I turned around I saw him recoil back into the lounge upon the sight of the new residents.

"Not a problem," he said, walking around the corridor with a bag in his hand. "I happen to come bearing gifts anyway, ones they might like."

"U-Um, I'll be right back," I quickly said before heading down the hall and into the lounge.

Riv was hiding in the far corner, hugging his knees and quietly crying.

"Riv, what's wrong?" I asked, slowly walking around the benches.

"...Do you...not like me anymore?" he sniffled.

"What? Where on earth did you get that idea?"

"There's...two pure kids here now. Is it because I'm...not a pure?"

"Riv, you're not being replaced," I softly said, reaching my hand to stroke his head. "Remember when you first came here? There were twelve of you. This is like that."

He quietly whined from behind his knees.

"Nobody could ever replace you," I said, running my fingernails from his hair to his cheek. "You're my sweet little boy and you always will be. They will be here for a while just like the other children were, at least until they're either picked up by relatives or adopted out. Nothing else is changing."

"...Nothing?"

With a small, understanding smile I gently shook my head.

"You will be alright," I assured him, extending my hand. "Let's take you out front and get you started with your schoolwork. I have a lot I need to get done today."

He took my hand and we both gradually stood up. I opened my arms and he came in for a hug, my holding him close and rubbing his back.

"No matter what happens, Riv, nobody will ever replace you."

With his small hand in mine and my tail wrapped around him we left the lounge, the little boy trying to bravely face the two strangers in the hall. The pure children just looked at him with a mild fascination, their heads tilted as they saw his eyes. As we walked past I heard some muttering about his eyes and how pretty they were.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

I brought Riv up to the lobby to take a seat behind his table. From behind my desk I procured some paper, pencils, and a box of crayons for him to work with. On top of the paper I set down a few handmade worksheets I would likely be helping with as the day went on. I gently scratched his head to comfort him, still recovering from what occurred in the lounge.

With him situated I went into my box-like desk and took my seat, starting with the new residents' papers. Sure enough, they weren't from here but a single rural home about twenty miles away. Large housefire; the parents didn't survive but their extended family in other towns would be notified. Apparently they were farmers and a spark from a lamp got away from them? Hm. Given the season and the drying of the air to reflect that I suppose it made some sense.

I went ahead to prepare several copies of the information as per instruction. During this time Daniel had prepared a decent breakfast for the two children out in the staff lounge. I couldn't help but wonder where the staff were as usually at least a couple would be here by now.

...Not that I minded their absence, really.

After about an hour the day staff finally showed up, giving Riv and I strange looks as they headed toward the hallway. I asked the last one where everyone had been, the one I had asked to deliver my hiring form.

"...Meeting, sorry," she said, continuing onward.

...A meeting, where?

Nevermind, it didn't really matter. They were the ones actually doing hands-on work while I was just working the desks. Different lines of employment have different protocols.

I continued my work while my boy continued his, quietly asking me questions when I seemed to have some downtime. I answered when I could. By now I could hear the noise of construction taking place outside, though it was far enough that it was only a buzz in my ears.

Around noon I was surprised by a knock on the door. Tamani had come to deliver the new folding chair, exciting the small child. I couldn't blame him; stools hurt to sit on after a while. Tamani couldn't stay long, still being on the job, but it was nice to see him again. With a wave he headed back to the shop and we went back down the hall to break for lunch.

I put together a simple lunch of sandwiches and a sliced pear for each of us, the staff opting to prepare lunch for the new residents in the bigger kitchen. When I walked by the doorway and looked in the other kitchen the two residents, Tobias and Zuri, shyly waved to Riv and I. Riv hid behind me and what little cover I offered, barely poking his head out from behind me to see they meant no harm. The staff, though, looked at us with a strange disdain as they carried out their duties in the kitchen. Despite this I waved back to the two children, taking Riv with me to go eat our lunches outside.

Daniel soon followed with a lunch of his own after we got there. It was a nice enough day, though a bit colder than it had been over the weekend. From here you could see some of the construction, the workers taking shifts for their own lunches while some continued the job. Before long we were spotted by some of the workers, a couple even mustering up the courage to advance on us. Whoever they were, they didn't look happy.

Riv shuffled closer to me, my arm wrapping around him.

"Hey," they yelled. "You're the one with the weird dilute kid."

Daniel slowly stood up to meet them, easily a hand taller than both and quite a bit wider.

"What seems to be the problem here?" Daniel asked, face firm and hands behind his back.

"I remember seeing those creeps out in front of the grocery shop some time ago," one spat. "What kinda race traitor you gotta be to raise something designed to terminate your whole family line?"

"Don't you talk about my boy that way!" I snapped back, ears raked back sharply.

"Terminate a family line?" Daniel laughed. "My boy, I was raised by those 'weird dilutes' y'all hate so much when my biological family WAS terminated. How 'bout you head on back to your playpen with the other kids and leave my friends and I to our lunches."

"Yeah, looks to me like that's the last thing you need," one sneered. "You should give it to your tiny friends; they're practically wasting away."

"Oooh, a fat joke!" Daniel raised his hands to his face, squishing his cheeks. "I haven't heard those by the dozen by any means! You slay me with your sharp tongue and quick wit!"

One of them lost his temper and attempted to punch Daniel in the gut, but his blow seemed to bounce right off. They both stood there in disbelief.

"Alrighty then," Daniel grunted, head low.

He took a step and lurched his arms forward to grab both men by their throats, squeezing and throwing them backward onto the ground. From below they just looked back up at him, orange eyes wide and terrified.

...I guess looks can be deceiving.

"Ain't you supposed to be building me an infirmary?" Daniel said snidely as he towered above them, eyes narrow.

"...Y-You're the nurse?" one coughed. "H-How the--"

"You bet your ass," the tall man growled, "and that over there is my employer and his son. You don't have to like us, but you WILL respect us."

"I...I can't belie--"

"My soil-laden friend, you're not really in a position to contest my words. Should you choose to anyway," he went on, pressing his foot in the center of one man's abdomen, "I'll be sure to fix you up real pretty and tie your bill in a nice little bow for ya. We had no issue with either of ya; the smallest courtesy you could offer is the very same."

Both men looked to each other, confused.

"We done with this little farce, then?" he asked, offering a hand to both. "Because I got shit to do; and from the looks of that shed, so do you."

With great reluctance they took his offer, Daniel helping both of them back up to their feet. They were still a bit stunned by what just happened, looking back to me and my hiding child.

"...You two, there," I called out as they turned away.

They cautiously turned back around as Daniel stepped aside.

"...Thank you for your hard work," I said. "I-I know you don't like me or my child, but...I do appreciate what you're doing here all the same. It really means a lot."

Both men's ears sunk back and they looked away, not really sure what to do or think. Against my better judgment I stood up and warily walked toward them, extending my hand. They just looked at me, and then at my empty hand.

"...I remember your faces from that day," I said quietly.

Both of them looked back to me in alarm, taking a step back.

"Please, I mean you no harm," I affirmed. "I just...want to start over. All of it. I forgive you for the assault...just please let me live with my little boy in peace. He, too, means you no harm, and I hope you can see this for yourself someday."

They stood there for a moment, but after a short time seemed to read my sincerity. Reluctantly they extended their hands to meet my own, my shaking them firmly with a small smile. Perhaps riding his bravery from earlier, Riv had carefully walked up behind me and clung to my side.

"...Hello," he said to the construction workers, trying to smile.

"H...Hello," one replied.

Riv offered his hand as he clung to me, the men hesitantly shaking his little hand. My heart pounded during the entire exchange, unsure what I would have done should it have gone sour.

"Please let me know if we can get you anything while you're working," I offered. "I-I don't have much, but I'm willing to share what I can."

"Uh...th-thank you," they said, entirely dumbfounded as they walked back to their work.

"...That was terrifying," I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Thank you, Daniel. I don't think that would have gone nearly as well without you."

"Eh," he shrugged. "Maybe this'll get people thinking with their heads for a change."

We turned around to see some of the workers in the back doorway, watching us. They had Tobias and Zuri with them, seemingly waiting to come outside.

"Well, I need to head back inside to work," I said, grabbing my dishes. "Are you alright watching Riv outside?"

"Sure," Daniel said. "Looks like those other kids wanna come outside too. I'll make sure everyone gets along."

"Thank you, that means...more than you might think," I said, taking everyone's dishes and heading back inside.

A couple staff took the pure children outside, looking back to me with confusion as I brought my dishes to the lounge to wash up. From the window I saw Riv mostly clinging to Daniel, but eventually approached by Zuri. Daniel nodded and Riv slowly peeled himself off the man to cautiously follow this new person while under his watch.

I smiled, putting my dishes in the sink to dry before heading back to my desk to finish my pile of assignments.

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