Zelda was relieved that the other woman had her own child — Orion wouldn't be a surprise to her. Zelda opened the door to her cottage and held it for the creature healer. "He turned two in August," she said. "How old is yours?"

The house was tidy, but obviously lived-in — they had staff, but there was a lot to keep up with. The door opened into a hallway, with stairs ahead of them, and the parlor to their right. There were moving photos on the wall, and some ocean-themed art.

There were clomping sounds upstairs; Zelda supposed that was either her son or her dog.