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"Hold up, hold up, hold up," Tidings said, spinning up from a snake into a stag, because he was unable to take this anymore, "the only part you got right about making babies was 'together.'"

Distant Tidings had, in fact, been privy to the entire conversation: first, part one, where he'd actually been innocently basking in the last of the evening sun as a snake by their riverbank and couldn't help but overhear, then, part two, where he absolutely remained for another two hours as a snake by the riverbank so that he could deliberately overhear the conclusion.

"This is how you make babies," he began to explain.

Ten minutes later…

They sat in silence at the river's bank, contemplating their discoveries.

"Who would have thought," I Shall Not Want finally said, "that was how babies are made."

"Indeed. I would never have realised on my own."

Surely, To Ashes had thought halfway through the Acha's vivid explanation, no one would have known how to make babies.

"Who would have thought that the ███ goes in the ███."

I Shall Not Want wrinkled his brow, "It is quite confusing."

"Yes, yes it is," To Ashes agreed, but she was humble, and honest, and as keenly hardworking as the Motherfather could ask for.

She turned to him once more, and suggested with earnestness, "Perhaps we should start practising?"

"Okay, I'm out," Tidings said, "bless you zany kids, and your babies, too."

And he was out.

*****

Later when Tidings recounted the whole sordid affair, Distant Thunder found himself deeply enraptured in the way that only the most absolutely gossipy nonsense could enrapture a kin.

"I'm surprised you left," Thunder said, fascinated.

"Unlike some people," Tidings airily declared, "I have some manners.

"And besides," he added, "they weren't my type. All innocent-like. Very prudish. Well. Maybe not anymore."

"Well, I suppose only very innocent, prudish kin would need someone like you to explain ██ing.."

And Thunder laughed.

END