"Oh, no you don't!" Ashe's hand shot out and steadied his grandnephew before the boy could fall from the branch. "Your mother would skin me alive if you broke an arm or leg climbing a tree."

Shane giggled, then grasping the branch more firmly, edged a bit closer to the nest. "See? I saw them building it the other day and I've been watching! She just sits there and the male brings her food."

The older elf nodded. "He hunts for her while she warms the eggs. It is the way of things. Once the young hatch, she'll be able to leave, helping to bring back the food for them." The mother robin's head swerved to regard Ashe and he laughed. "My apologies, milady! I know it's easy for us males. You do all the hard work."

Suddenly the bird stood and looked intently down at her eggs. With a slight rocking motion, one of the eggs began to hatch.

"Uncle Ashe?"

"Yes, Shane?"

"It's a good thing I wasn't hatched from an egg. It would have had to be a mighty big nest to hold it and wouldn't I ---"

"Umm.. look!" Ashe pointed at the nest, thanking the gods for the interruption. "Here comes the hatchling!"

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