"Wow. Is that some analogy for you, Ira?"

Ira snaps her teeth lazily at Lan, and something passes between them.

Huh. That was...interesting. 

"Well, I suppose with Aaren around we never have to worry about anyone not being well-fed."

"Yeah. Dad takes personal affront to anyone going unfed."

And here is a keeper to feed the otters! Who are all now clustering near the barrier, chirping eagerly.

Zev nudges 'Chelle, grinning at the chirping.

'Chelle nudges back and sticks her tongue out.

The keeper starts talking about the otters, the species in general, and also about their otters specifically - all of whom have names.

Nova leans into Zev and watches curiously.

"Finbar. That's an adorable name for an otter."

The keeper grins. "We do try to get adorable names for them. And sometimes we do have competitions to name new babies, not just the otters, all the animals."

"We know," Lan says with a grin. "'Chelle keeps entering them."

Zev watches as Finbar does little praying hands around his food. 

“Awww!”

The keeper finishes up his talk, and then takes questions from his...admittedly very small audience, but there's the impression he's done this talk to less.

'Chelle asks a couple, although that seems to be because she's pretty sure Zev and Nova won't, rather than a lack of knowledge on her part.

Zev seems pretty content to listen, half watching the otters. 

Nova is equally content. The keeper wraps up his talk, thanks them for their attention, and heads off to his other duties.

"Aaren had sent me to see if you guys were okay, didn't need anything to eat or anything."

"I wouldn't mind some food. Watching the otters eat made me very jealous."

"I can always eat."

"As if that was ever in doubt."

And Ira will lead the way to an indoor picnic area, where Aaren and Steve are sat at one of the tables talking over mugs of coffee.

Zev will direct himself and Nova closest to the food, and gleefully help himself, smiling at Aaren.

Aaren smiles back, and pushes mugs of hot chocolate around the table for them all. "Are you enjoying yourselves?"

"Yes. It's...strange. So many people, all...at ease." 

Zev sips his drink.

"We do try. And you'll find that more people than not are decent sorts."

"Yes, well, it's a learning process." 

He tucks himself a little closer to Nova.

"Such is life, unfortunately. I've more years than I care to admit to-"

"Fifty-six," Aaren stage whispers to the kids with a cheeky grin.

"Than I care to admit to," Steve repeats louder, "and I still find myself learning new things about how people behave."

"Nova and I had been on our own for some months before Aaren found us. We hadn't seen much of ease."