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Ava saw everything And far fro a haven for wounded Irina, she could also see what the Irin scribes hadn’t known

This was a training center, and it ht have been isolated, but it was far froht red cross She heard shuffling, then the door opened

"Welcome," Astrid said with a sht Ava’s swollen eyes, she said nothing

Astrid’s clinic looked just like a s area and kitchen in theoff a s area, and a kettle was on the stove Ava wandered around the room, which was decorated with pictures of women, children, and families

"I didn’t know there were so many families left," she said as Astrid went to the kitchen "How ht most of the Irin and Irina lived apart"

"Most, but not all The girls eren’tmated quickly, if they were still interested Many weren’t But some So there are still a few families" The smell of pepper and red meat filled the air It smelled like Astrid had made chili "There are more in Vienna since it is the safest Irin city But even there, Irina live very quietly A very few live in scribe houses with their mates Some live in places like this But most Irina have hidden in the human world"

"Does the council know about them?"

"They do and they don’t They knoe exist From the news that leaks out of Vienna, there are as many solutions to the ‘Irina probleine"

"I doubt that," Astrid said, but she didn’t see Just tired Her movements were deliberate as she set out the cups for tea "So, only a few families And of course, there were some children left"

"How many--"

"Fifteen… maybe twenty percent of the children survived"

It seeedy

"Can the Irin survive, Astrid? Really?"

Astrid cocked her head "Biologically? Yes There are enough of us to survive But e? Who knows? Things are still very fresh for us"

"But the Rending o hundred years ago"