I want to know what exactly makes them different from animals. I know they are not quite as dumb as farm animals, yet not quite as intellectually capable as a human being, but only because you say so. I guess I want you to show me more and tell me less. Couldn’t this family snip his ba… ahem… I mean neuter the Avan so he can’t procreate? It would be interesting to hear an argument within the family about whether neutering the Avan is ethical or not. I see it coming up, especially if they are on the line between animal and human, in some ways they are treated like animals and in others like human— this idea has political implications. I see a scene in which one family member stands up against the people who want to do some Avan snipping if you will.

Glad I made you think. It’s not what I was thinking about when I wrote it, but that’s a good thing!

Sweet story! I think because of the name, I imagined them to be bird-like (wingless and maybe featherless too). The only thing that toubled me at all was the term matriarch which seemed to come out of nowhere. I understood the “family lines” bit sort of alluded to it but it was still confusing to me a little. Don’t take that too seriously though because, all in all, I found this to be a very enjoable read.

I just saw Avan as another word for slave, but like a top class one. And so this family are a slave family and sell their own children or something. But I agree that it’s kinda confusing.