---
"If Fizz says egg," Penny said, "then it is an egg. I will knit it a hat if needed."
Elara peered. "If it hatches a monster I will hit it with the flat of my blade. Gently."
Sera smiled into her hand again. "I will bless it," she said. "In case it tries to eat the curtains."
Edda stared a long time, then shrugged one shoulder. "If it is an egg, I know a woman who knows how to keep odd things warm."
Pim put both hands to his mouth. "Name it Eggward," he squeaked. "Or Rockard. Or John Egg."
John held the warm weight and felt something like a tiny slow heartbeat against his palm—or maybe it was his own, echoing. "All right," he said, and tucked it into his inner pocket where it sat like a secret that had agreed to wait.
Fizz dusted his paws. "Gifts delivered. Emotions deployed. Now we do the Adult Segment."
Penny clapped once. "Children out," she said briskly, pointing at Pim with her good spoon and then at the cat. "You too, scholar."
