When me just trying to survive in the jungle turned into a caste challenge

[Chiyanna]

So I just started playing with some teenage nichelings in the jungle. In my starters there were more males than females. I decided to forego the traditional breeding pairs. Soon the females were considered breeding females and storywise they were elevated in importance over other members of the tribe. Each tribe member settled in to a specific task or set of tasks for the most part.

He is the most confident of the group. A leader of sorts. He has had several roles throughout his life, explorer, warrior, and food gatherer. But the most important one was keeping the group together and being fearless in defending his tribemates. He was the first male to have a child, with the main breeding female Lenanami.

He is cautious but not easily scared off. The right hand man of Duknota. Also the chief food gatherer who spent much of his life under a stinky fruit tree once he discovered it. Has always had a crush on Raelana and had his only child with her.

The main breeding female of the group. The camp is practically structured around her nest, which has been the main nursery area. She can be a bit prideful because of this. Most of the young members of the tribe are her children. She spends most of her time beneath her favorite oak tree raising her children and cracking nuts open to feed them.

(screenshot is a bit outdated sorry)

Spending most her life as an explorer, Raelana is now settling down as a breeding female of the group. She is currently trying to start another nursery at a nest that was discovered in the tall grasses next to a poison berry bush. Though her first child was born in the main nursery, she wants to have one of her own where she can put her own special talent of being able to collect poison berries to use.

The strongest member of our starting group. He often performed warrior tasks like freeing nichelings from carnivorous plants. But his favorite past-time was finding and digging up roots when the tribe had no need of his claw. He has two sons in the tribe, one with his digger claw, and the other with his claw.

Due to Notata being weak and unassertive (plus having few useful gene-given special talents) he used to always feel useless and stupid. But he has come into his own in the tribe, being a note-worthy explorer, and someone who isn't afraid to be the prey of the carnivorous plants in order for the tribe to kill them. (One of the tribe's three main food sources).

Tare was the first child born on the island. And she has lived up to her name! She's an incredible explorer who's not afraid to tare apart rabbils, carnivorous plants, and whatever other more dangerous things the tribe may encounter. She spent part of her life collecting nuts with her mother, but after almost being eaten by a carnivorous plant (and getting the tribe a food source in the process) and hunting a couple rabbils she decided on becoming an explorer-warrior instead.

[Chiyanna]

Baby Nota is born, Lenanami's second child and Lurlurkir's first.

Unfortunately Lurlurkir passed away (from starvation damage incurred over his life) soon after, leaving Lenanami expecting his second and final child.

An overview of the tribe. Lenanami's nesting area/nursery by the tree where the youngsters are hanging out. The carnivorous plant nearby that serves as an extra source of food. And the foraging outpost of the stinky tree that is Kirpriduk's realm. That blind black-furred nicheling is a wanderer we found.

And here he is! I figure him right away a good sentry since he can smell and hear a lot further than everyone else. Plus he can help the explorers to avoid getting eaten by carnivorous plants. And he has a good movement stat, look at how far he can travel!

Lenanami's family tree at this point

[Chiyanna]

Toxic body bebe!

Donro has been spending his time sniffing around for roots and digging them up to help feed the tribe. But now he's sniffed out something rather more dangerous.

On the other side of our territory Tare has gotten herself into a bit of trouble. Anyone who can reach her that turn rushes to help.

The next turn, with the help of her half-brothers, she is released. Instead of being shaken so that she never wants to explore again, she finds the experience exciting. Especially after Notata mentions that at the very least they would be able to harvest the plant when it regrows. Finding that she can be useful to the tribe in other ways than gathering nuts her whole life, Tare sets out to explore.

Little Tami is born, the second poison-bodied bebe and Notata's first child.

On the other side of our territory the tribe uses the technique of letting a nicheling be caught by the carnivorous plant and then freeing them to get food in a desperate time of little to eat.

[Chiyanna]

Raelana finds a wanderer with a beak! We invite her in. 

And we breed Komi and Kudukpri to try and get their genes in the mix.

Tare is off exploring on her own when she stumbles upon a carnivorous plant. She can't smell whether it is dangerous or not because of her gilled shark-head. But because of her adventurous spirit and determination to help her tribe, she proceeds toward it anyway. And it turns out the plant was in it's non-dangerous phase! So she cracks it open to reveal the food inside.

Kirdukta discovers a stump and a healing plant.

Donro volunteers to be eaten by the carnivorous plant so that it can be defeated. His brother Nota and Duknota finish it off in just a couple turns. Now Komi can use the nest that is next to it.

 

[Chiyanna]

Duknota knows his time is near. And so he does what he can to help the tribe in his last moments. He gathers from the main food outpost, that stinky plant tree his friend Kirpriduk and him have been gathering from for forever, and he ushers over a little one whose mom had went off to do her role, to teach them how to gather food.

Duknota's final family tree.

Little Reana is the child in the above screenshot. She was born in the nest nearby the stinky tree outpost. It was a nursery her mother Komi had been trying to found, but upon seeing there was no permanent food source around with which to feed her children and contribute to the tribe, she decided against founding it. After all, everyone, including her daughter was starving far too often. Instead she went off to search for what little food she could find in the dirt. She found she could dig it up with her beak. She also helped out at the main nursery with Lenanami getting older. Why she didn't take Reana with her, well perhaps it was simply impractical for a child to travel that far. At least, that's what she thought to make herself feel better.

But maybe little Reana wasn't quite what she was expecting, with those useless shortsighted eyes instead of the cloudy white ones of her father that made him so much better than everyone at hearing and smelling. Her daughter also didn't have Komi's useful beak that had fed her all the years she was alone, even with those useless non-budding, deformed, wings she had. And bright colors with spots was a curse in her old tribe, though they had cast her out she still carried some of their superstition with her. She knew this tribe had no such reservations, but she couldn't quite get over them.

Regardless, the child was taken under Duknota's wing. Though it wouldn't be for long. Her mother isn't that far away. But for the child it feels like she's on the other side of the island.

Knowing his last days were also near, Kirpriduk decided to spend some long put-off time with his son. He had always put the tribe first, since there was never enough to eat or enough paws to gather it. But now that he was retired as head food collector he finally had time.

A healer is sent up to assist Duknota in any way possible as it becomes clear something isn't right. But unfortunately it's a bit too late by the time they get there. Perhaps his life could've been extended by a week or so, but he spent the end of his life like he spent the rest of it, helping his tribemates as much as he can. 

Komi watches from a bit of a distance, realizing that now her daughter, the one she wasn't sure about, the one who she couldn't help feel disappointment in already, would have no-one.

[Chiyanna]

It's day 54 and all our starters are either close to dying, or already have. The ones that are left are at retiring age. Notata had been helping found Raelana's nursery in the swamp. He discovers a healing plant, and just a day away from death, shows it to them and ask if he can use it.

"Well it will regrow, right?" says Raelana with a shrug.

The other explorer that had helped escort her here says, "I'm unsure about that."

Raelana faked a smile and cleared her throat, "Notata, can you leave us alone for a minute?"

"Of course," he said, his smile looked genuine but slightly forced as he disappeared into the grasses.

"It's dangerous out here. We could really need this plant at some point," Donnuro said as soon as they were sure they were alone.

"Dangerous it is, but a legacy doesn't come to those who take the easy route. Anyways, Notota has helped us this whole time. I think we should give him similar curtesy."

"It was his job to help us, as an explorer he was obligated too. But he's an elder now and-"

"I don't want to hear another word out of you," snapped Raelana, "I'm getting close to that old myself."

"Yeah, but you're my sister. The reason I joined this tribe. He's just another outsider to me." He looked at his paws, "You're all I have left. What if something happens to you?"

"Nonsense, nothing will. You'll always have me, and my daughter here." 

Dispite some more grumbling, he caved. And Raelana called back Notata so she could show him how the healing plant could be used. She had learned some things from Raelana when she was at Lenanami's nursery, though not enough to make her a full-fledged healer.

(Raelana's bebe)

This poor child of Kudukpri got grabbed by a carnivorous plant but we manage to get her free, mainly because of Tare but also because of young Sita, (the head with the ram horns poking out from behind Komi's stinky tail).

Again, Sita helped free someone (Reana) from a carnivorous plant, along with Nota. This time it was planned in order to make the carnivorous plant edible. Reana did it so that she could feel useful to her tribe, she couldn't fight, and wasn't good at gathering or fast enough to be a sentry or explore. And her mother's abandonment is still clawing at her emotions all this time later.

Kudukpri helps out Tare, who as you know can't smell anything, with an expedition down to this edge of the territory which is teaming with a green carnivorous plant and several healing fruits. He does the honors of cracking the green plant himself, with is secondary role being a food gatherer.

Though the tribe has done it's best, food has become scarce as nichelings are shifted around and some of the older ones have started dying off. Staring down death, Notata decides for his last act to be one of sacrifice and before Raelanan even really knows what he's doing he picks a poison berry off and pulls out the poisonous core. Raelana is asleep beside him, trying to ragain her energy for more picking tomorrow, but he knows his energy will never recover, whether he does this or not.

He sets it in where she will find it, where the pile of food, which had a day ago contained a few berries and a half-dozen dead insects, usually is. Donnuro had gone to give it to the main nursery at Raelana's behest. Then he stumbles around a bit before settling down into a seep he won't wake up from. With his final act, having repaid all the kindness she had shown him, Notata dies as peacefully as one can having been poisoned.

Though Donnuro wasn't fond of much of the tribe, he was fond of those that reminded him of his old tribe and his family. Before all but he and Raelana...well...died. It started with an ape attack. They were surprised the ape had chosen to attack them, being poisonous and all. But yet, it did attack.

They all tried their very best to stay quiet, hidden in grasses, and scentless as they evacuated. Still not sure which of the predators it was. But some made mistakes, and paid for it with their life. Still, most got away, and just as they were regrouping, a pair of bearyena. These could not be evaded by stealth. They would have to fight or run, so of course they ran. In the panic some got trapped by carnivorous plants. Some tried to help, others kept running. But when the dust settled, Donnuro found himself alone. He found one other survivor. And they foolishly headed back to see if anyone was still alive. They found only remains. And then they were jumped by the ape from earlier. The ape killed his only companion, and Donnuro ran, and kept running. He went to the ports and crossed them. He was surprised as anyone else to find his sister here, on this island. He hadn't yet seen a single ape or bearyena, but yet he figured they were out there somewhere...waiting to strike.

As he approached the tree, however, his mind went back to the task at hand. He delivered the food, and upon seeing a smiling face he hadn't seen in ages, got butterflies in his stomach. He stayed longer than he meant to, but he found himself glued to her side. She was so kind, so gentle, so diligent, picking berries day after day to feed her tribe, but never once complaining.

And so he approached her with a flower in his mouth one day, and set it down in front of him as was custom in his tribe, "R-reko, you've always been so kind to me and to everyone. And-well, uh...I," his stuttering made Donnuro curse under his breath, but then he pressed on, "I mean, you're so beautiful and I've never felt this way about anyone before. So would you please be my mate?" 

"Wow, Donnuro, I erm," he could tell she was nervous, did she not feel the same way as he did? "I...think you're quite the hard worker. And you've been so kind to me helping me collect these berries and talking to me, breaking up the monotony," she giggled a bit, "And...well...I admire your horns, but-"

"You don't love me?" he asked, his heart sinking.

"Of course I love you!" she said, and seemed to mean it.

"So what's the problem then?"

"Your tribe probably had different customs is all. I've chosen the life of a gatherer, I'm not meant to have children."

"Well that's the biggest pile of ape turds I've ever heard in my life!" exclaimed Donnuro, "You mean if two nichelings love eachother, and want to have a life together, but that's not in the job description they can't?"

"Well I guess I've never heard of two nichelings being 'mates' before. There's breeding females who have and raise the children. They have a certain status in the tribe because of that. But they don't spend their life with anyone in particular."

"So you're saying nobody can love someone and spend the rest of their life with them and have children?" No wonder I hate this tribe. I hate their stupid rules.

"Well there isn't a rule against it, just that nobody's thought of it before." Reko sighed and put her head on her paws.

"I couldn't help but hear," said someone behind Donnuro, making him whirl around.

"What?" he growled at Lenanami, he wasn't in the mood for a lecture.

"You know, though usually breeding feamles are the only ones who have children, those with other roles are permitted one. And like Reko said, there is nothing in the rules of our tribe preventing two nichelings from loving eachother, spending time together, and raising that child."

"You mean it, mother?" asked Reko with widened eyes.

"Of course, I want you to be happy. And this child must be given the utmost care and protection. He must be born right here in this nursery where we can all keep an eye on him and give him our love. I wouldn't have it any other way."

"I guess that will work..." mumbled Donnuro, still not happy about the limitations and unsure he could survive hanging out with the head breeding female all the time. Still, she was Reko's mother. And she had bended tradition quite a bit for them, "Thank you." He said her as he picked up the flower and handed it gently to his mate-to-be.

 

Rekoana brought Komi down to the healing plant to make her life a bit longer.

[Chiyanna]

Lenanami and Kirpriduk, who had continued assisting the tribe in ways appropriate to their role throughout their twilight years, were now dead. 

Donnuro and Reko finally successfully bred. At least her mother's legacy would go on, even if she never got to see it.

Tare ate a healing plan in order to expand her lifespan a while longer.

Kudukpri continued his duties as sentry, but his body was starting to break down on him. It was only a matter of time before he, too, would die.

Nota sprung into action, attacking a carnivorous plant that had trapped a young member of the tribe.

Meanwhile, Reko prepared to finally have her child. A child borne of love, not duty. A rare thing in this tribe. Her friend Tami was nearby to assist her. Though not a breeding female nor healer, Tami had been by the tree her whole life, and had seen many births, even assisted some of them. She reassured her friend everything would be fine.

Donnuro went down to the newly explored edge of the territory in order to eat a healing fruit. It wouldn't do for him to die just when his child was coming into the world.

Meanwhile, Nota freed Reana from the clutches of the carnivorous plant. Kirdukta rushes to her, glad she isn't hurt. They had become exploration partners, and he wasn't quite sure what he would do without her. They confided in eachother often on their little exploring adventures, and though he knew that almost getting eaten by a carnivorous plant made Reana feel useful, he hated that she had decided to do this. She didn't realize how truly amazing she was, just the way she was. She didn't need to risk her life to gain worth. He wished he could make her see that.

 

 

[Chiyanna]

It was just another day in the swamp, with Raelana and Sichi out foraging bugs. Until Raelana heard a distant growl. She had only heard this terrifying noise one other time in her life. The day her old tribe was killed.

"We have to leave, now!" she growled under her breath before swiftly making her way through the reeds. She wasn't even really paying attention to where she was going. The scent unexpectedly grew stronger as she tried to creep away, but to her relief it soon became fainter again. Just as it did she bumped into a small nicheling. Expecting Sichi, she was shocked to see a light colored, thin young female instead.

"Sichi?!" she called, how had she lost her daughter, she had been sure she was right behind her this whole time. Panicked, she turned back the way she came, she had to go back! Her daughter would be eaten otherwise! But if she did, wouldn't they both die? She turned away and took a few steps, before turning back and walking thw other way. She had started pacing.

"Um, are you OK?" asked the new nicheling, concern in her voice.

"There's a bearyena!" blurted Raelana.

"A bearyena!" said the nicheling, ears perking up with interest, "I've never seen a real live bearyena before!"

"Did your parents not teach you anything?" growled Raelana, "Bearyena are dangerous beasts, killers! And my daughter is stuck up there with one." She began to go back, still unsure what she should do, but knowing she had to do something.

"Oh, I'm sorry...well...I could help," the nicheling offered, following her.

"You? It would eat you for lunch, literally."

"No it wouldn't!" she said defiantly, "I could distract it so your daughter can get away!"

"That...isn't a bad idea. But still. I couldn't let you get yourself killed. If anyone will be distracting it, it should be me."

"But your colorful squishy body would just bounce off a bearyena without doing any damage. I could ram into it and hurt it at least a bit. That should get it's attention," she said.

As much as Raelana hated to admit it, she was right. She had tried attacking carnivorous plants and rabbils before with no success. Maybe a bearyena would be the same. Plus, Raelana was getting old, and just one hit of the beast's claws could shatter her. She wouldn't be any good to her daughter if she was dead.

"Fine, but we do this methodically. You go hide behind that carnivorous plant and wait. We're not going to charge the thing until we know for sure that it is attacking my daughter. Once you hear a commotion or smell blood, then you rush up and attack."

Meanwhile, Donnuro was taken by the carnivorous plant since he (and a lot of other nichelings) were just sitting there when it regrew. Great tragedy struck the tribe as he died, since we couldn't get Tare there in time and the others were not strong enough on their own.

But when it happens again we are ready for it now, and Reko is quickly released. Now she is without her mate, and completely heartbroken.

A ray of sunshine in all this darkness! A wanderer that we could really use right about now.

It turns out Sichi had sleeping sickness, which was why she couldn't follow her mother and get away from the bearyena. While her mother and the healer that had also learned of their situation snuck in the back, to lick her wounds and eat the remaining bug swarms. At the front the distraction makes her move, clawing the bearyena and taking damage before scurrying back because of a newly formed insect swarm and the damage she had taken.

Adding insult to injury, Reko is now impregnated by a rogue male and close to death.

[Chiyanna]

Though I don't have a screenshot for some reason, the bearyena actually flees right toward more of our nichelings and we take it out, despite it doing some damage before it dies.

While fleeing the bearyena, poor Sichi finds herself in a carnivorous plant. Thankfully, this time there are plenty of strong nichelings and even a healer around to help out. Rekoana takes Sichi under her wing after this and teaches her everything she knows. Though Sichi had known a bit about healing from her mother.

Tare had been impregnated by a rogue, and so despite never wanting to be a mother she now was one. There is the culprit. She lets him know that if he dares take another step toward the other females, he's mince meat. But she does allow him to stay around to see the child.

Sita also settles down to begin her career as a breeding female.

Well, the rogue did not heed my warning, so attack it is.

This poor little guy is staring down a rogue. I cant help but imagine he is intimidated.

Tare's child! I was actually pretty impressed with his genes Not bad for a rogue child.

Think this one is Tami's, pretty sure the father is a rogue

And this one is Sita's. Not sure who the father is, maybe Nota or his brother.

And it turns out the rogue did want to see his children. Both sons. He is going to die this or next turn, so not much time to reflect on it. Still, I imagine he must be happy to see his young sons...despite being a no-good rogue.

 

[Chiyanna]

Tami is unfortunately killed by a carnivorous plant, despite the best efforts of these three to free her. This leaves the tribe reeling since she had been the nutcracker of the main tree. And no one else is old enough or close enough to the tree to take over for her. Not yet, anyway.

But when it grabs Lalen next we finish it off without a problem.

 

 

[Chiyanna]

When Reana showed up at the main nursery bursting at the seams, Sita was tempted to turn her away. Why did she have to show up at my nursery? She thought, now everyone will know that this illegal child was born here, giving it an awful reputation! For she knew something untoward was happening, since this was Reana's second child, and she was no breeding female. A mere food collector, with no secondary role, she had never announced her intentions of being a breeding female, neither had the council or Sita herself approved it. So she was only allowed to birth one child under tribe law. 

Her last had been the child of a rogue male, so with no other explanation she wondered if this one was too. As head healer Sichi rushed her into the nest and began preparing for the birth, Reana left for the other side of the nursery. Usually, she would now distract all the children she found from the unpleasant but usually rather common sight of a child coming into the world, but now she was in no mood.

She busied herself by collecting grass as she pulled her thoughts together, still able to hear the commotion as Reana struggled with the birth. Part of her was for once glad for the pain that accompanied it, but then again, if it was a rogue's baby, perhaps it wasn't Reana's fault at all. Perhaps she would be as glad as anyone when the child was killed or left to die in accordance with tribe law. After all, having a rogue's child was bitter-sweet, as Reana knew, since they reminded you of the rogue and the awful thing they did to you to give you this child that would find it much harder to pull their weight for the tribe, given the genetic defects the rogues usually carried. Perhaps that emotional rollercoaster was better to be left alone, snuffed out along with the life that drove it. Though Sita did care for her rogue child, she had noticed that the unusually high number of rogue impregnations was putting strain on the tribe as a whole. 

And now, hearing the cry of a newborn rogue descendent, and knowing what fate awaited them anyway... This is a bad idea. And it's a dreadful thing to do. But it must be done, sooner or later. And if I correct this breaking of the law now, it would be less likely to hurt my nursery's reputation, would it not?

Looking around, she saw most of the teens were outside the nursery limits, and the smaller children were sleeping. So she slowly crept back over to the other side of the nursery. The child was of course nestled next to it's mother, and she didn't think Sichi would let her hold it. So her only option was to come in quick while nobody was looking and snatch it away. After a minute of waiting, she spotted the perfect opportunity, and as she sprung into action, someone jumped in front of her path. 

Going too fast for correction, she bumped into them, causing her to lose her footing and fall. She muttered a curse word as she did, then said to this new nicheling, "What do you think you're doing, getting in my way like that. Don't you know who I am?"

"I know exactly who you are. We grew up together, remember? And I'm preventing you from making a very serious mistake." It took her a minute to place the voice, but then she remembered.

"Kirdukta? Is that you?" 

"Of course it is!" then he became much more serious, "We need to talk, alone."

"Sure, it's certainly been a while." She glanced over at Sichi, who was giving her the death stare. Apparently Sichi had noticed something, at least this catch-up would give her time before she had to explain herself.

So they walked out of the nursery, settling just at the edge of tribe territory to talk. But as they walked in silence, Sita wondered what Kirdukta was doing here, and why he stopped her from carrying out tribe law.

"Why did you stop me? And how did you even know?"

"I knew because I saw your posture, you looked about ready to pounce from behind and were laser-focused on that baby. What were you thinking? Why would you do such a thing?" He seemed...agitated.

"She's not a breeding female, and has already had her first child. This was her second. Under tribe law, they must be killed or banished. Don't you know that?" She explained self-righteously.

"But this can't be carried out by you. Only the council decides what must be done. And the warriors carry out their decision."

"But it's my nursery. I decide what goes on in there. I could've prevented her from using that nest, and I can kick her out at any time. How is this different?"

"This has nothing to do with mere usage and land boundaries and who decides what. This is the fate of a member of the tribe at stake." Kirdukta said, rather exasperated.

"How can you call a rogue child a tribe member? They aren't fully tribe blood, nor did any tribe member make the decision to bring them into the world. They're a fluke, and one that costs the tribe dearly in terms of resources." But seeing the hurt in his eyes, she finally put two and two together, "They're not a rogue child, are they?"

"No," he said quietly.

"It's your child, isn't it?"

"Remember when you told me that you were going to be a breeding female, the night I left for good?"

"Yes, I remember," she said, surprised at the emotions suddenly coming to the surface.

"And you said that even though you would have the children of many males, you loved me still and wanted me to stay, but I said if I can't have a mate just for myself, I couldn't have one at all. And I had fallen in love with someone else."

"Reana is that someone else," she said, emotion raw in her voice.

"And it was never supposed to happen this way. She was supposed to have one child, my child. And we would raise it together and be a family. But the rogue got to her first. He shattered our plans for a life together. We came up with a new plan, though. She was supposed to get a secondary role as a breeding female. But then we found out she was pregnant again, I guess after she had the first child we couldn't help ourselves when we got back together again, but we never expected her to have another so soon. So then we couldn't have her go before the council to become a breeding female, since they would know it was just to circumvent the rules that she had already broken. She was then supposed to have the child far from camp, pretend she found it or something, but she went into labor early."

She couldn't help but feel bad for Kirdukta, maybe because she still had feelings for him. But she found her hatred of Reana developing, and her hatred of the child they had created grow even more. "Why did you tell this all to me? Don't you realize I just tried to kill the child?"

"You're the only one here I really know. And I know you would've never hurt them if you knew they were my blood." It was true that though she felt hatred for the child, now she would never hurt it herself as she had planned. For Kirdukta would never forgive her. And that mattered very much to her for reasons she couldn't explain.

"Yes, but why tell me all this, what can I do about it?"

"You loved me once, and we are good friends of old. All I ask is that you present my case to the council, as a member with influence. Ask that the child be spared, and that if it must be punished in accordance with tribe rules, ask that the child be banished along with it's mother and me."

"You wish to leave the tribe? But, you'll die! You'll die out there on your own!"

"You forget, I am an explorer. I know of what dangers there are out there, and what can be done to avoid them. But I must be with my family, that is my dream. You have found your happiness here, with an important role in the tribe. I am glad for you, give me a chance to find mine."

Could she really do this? Should she put her position in jeopardy just to get her best friend and the one she loved banished? "I will take this into consideration, but I must tell the council what I really think. At the very least, I will let the council and the warriors do their job if it comes to that. I will not interfere anymore, and will make sure Reana and her child have the utmost comfort before the hearing." She could at least do that, so that he would think better of her. But promising to do this thing for him was a big mistake, because even if she tried, what if it didn't work? And if she didn't, somebody could tell this to him. So this was the best thing she could think of.