"Can you push me on the swing?" Cyra asked Arezoo, pointing to the smaller swings designed for younger children.
"Of course, sweetie." She lifted the little girl into the swing, making sure she was secure.
"I can push her," Drova offered, surprising Arezoo.
She hesitated, then nodded. "Just be gentle. She's small and she doesn't like to swing too high."
"I might be strong, but I know how to handle small things without breaking them," Drova said.
As she took over pushing Cyra, the child squealed with delight at the attention, forgetting her fear of the tall Kra-ell. Arezoo settled onto the bench and watched. It was strange seeing Drova playing with Cyra. It was like watching a tiger entertain a mouse.
"Higher!" Cyra demanded, her earlier fear completely forgotten.
"This is high enough for you," Drova said. "Arezoo wants me to be gentle."
"But I want to go higher!"
Drova shook her head. "We don't want you flying off to the moon."
"I want to see the moon!"
"Maybe when you're older and have wings."
The boys had abandoned the climbing structure and the swings, gathering near the open area beside the playground. Rohan and Arman were engaged in an impromptu wrestling match that looked about two seconds away from tears, while the other two watched.
"Boys," Arezoo called out. "That's enough!"
They paused, looking guilty, then separated with muttered complaints about who started what and walked over to where Drova was pushing Cyra on the swing.
"I heard that you are very strong," Rohan said.
"I am. Do you want to see how strong?"
Rohan nodded enthusiastically.
Drova spread her arms wide, holding them straight out from her sides. "I bet all of you together can't pull my arms down."
The boys exchanged glances, mischief and intrigue warring with their healthy fear of the Kra-ell.
"That will be easy." Arman pointed at her slender arms that didn't look like they could hold anything over a few pounds. "You're skinny."
"Skinny doesn't mean weak," Drova said. "But if you want to prove me wrong, try to pull down my arm."
"Me first," Arman insisted.
He approached cautiously and grabbed Drova's right arm with both hands, trying to pull it down with all his might. Drova's arm didn't budge. Not even a tremor.
"How do you do that?" Arman gasped, his face reddening with effort.
"Help your brother." Drova gestured with her chin at Zaden.
Before long, both of the older boys were hanging from one arm while Rohan and Arman attacked the other. The sight was comical. The tall, thin Kra-ell, standing perfectly still while four boys dangled from her outstretched arms, looked like a scarecrow with ornaments.
"This is impossible!" Zaden declared, his feet actually leaving the ground despite him being the oldest and tallest of the bunch.
"Kra-ell muscle fibers are different from human ones," Drova explained in a measured tone, as if she were giving a lesson rather than supporting the entire weight of four children. "We're much stronger than we look."
"Can I try?" Cyra called from the swing, not wanting to be left out.
