You tell Eva about Saint and the Eliksni.

"I told you he was kind, didn't I?" she asks. "Though I'm sure you weren't surprised. Anyone who knows him can see it."

She pauses to watch an Eliksni hatchling run past on its way to the Hangar. A caregiver follows behind, a cloth belt of infants bound tightly across their chest. The caregiver notices Eva and raises a tentative claw in greeting.

Eva waves back warmly, then breaks into a grin as a half-dozen tiny hands reach from the swaddling to return the wave. The Eliksni chirps with laughter and runs off after the hatchling.

"You know, Guardian," Eva says happily, "I think this may be the best Dawning yet."