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"Hmm. Good point. That probably wouldn't be healthy for the old guy. Or gal," Xander said, patting the top of the tortoise shell.

"Out in the backyard. I'll dig it a home under my shed," Xander said without hesitation while Alec laughed at the idea.

The twins just laughed and went to pet another tortoise. This one stretched out its neck, and when they cautiously started rubbing it, it stretched it out even further, clearly enjoying the attention. They took turns rubbing its shell and scratching its neck, being very, very careful. "Hey...

Xander smirked at him. "I think you've been concerned for us since the day we met." "Definitely since the first day we came into your home," Alec agreed.

"Nope. That would teach Mini bad habits," Alec said straight-faced. "Like eating perfectly good lettuce meant for tortoises," Xander said.

Xander replied loftily, "That is confidential information." "We could discuss that, or we could talk about how cool these tortoises are," Alec said, grinning.

"How else would I know how it tastes and that it's dusty?" Xander asked dryly. "It is very dusty and dry," Alec confirmed shamelessly.

"Dog food's actually not that bad once you get past the dry, dusty aspect of it," Xander mused. "Most of it is pretty safe for human consumption, too." "Not that Ivy should eat it," Alec said quickly. Xander shook his head. "She has far better food to eat."

Xander snickered, watching Ivy. "Nice try, Mini, but that is the turtle's dinner, not yours." "At least she has a taste for healthy stuff," Alec said cheerfully.

"Here you go!" Alec said, handing Ivy the lettuce. "Hold it down here at the end, like this, and show it like this!" He held out a piece to show her how to hold it and then gave it to Daizi. "Follow Mama."

"It's a big turtle," Xander remarked to Daizi. "But your extra-tall husband should be able to help your mini find you."

"That would make sense." Alec took some lettuce and offered it to the tortoise, who was happy to eat it in his own very deliberate way. Xander sat next to the big Albara tortoise and watched it. It was kind of cool to watch the giant creature. Rather calming, actually.

"It looks a lot different from the other one, too," Alec told her. "I wonder what the reason for the difference is? It seems like it would make it more likely for the tortoise to get stuck."

Alec took Daizi's hand and led her over to the Madagascar Radiated tortoise. This one was smaller than the Aldabra (which was not saying much), but was still a substantial tortoise in its own right. It checked them out, looking for food, and then seemed prepared to ignore them. Alec guided...

The twins glanced at Dark, glanced at his hat, at his toddler, and then at each other. "Nah, he hasn't gone soft at all," Alec grinned. "Nope. Same stone face as always," Xander agreed. "Mama, you gotta pet the radial tortoise!" Alec urged. "Its shell is so cool looking!"

Xander considered the question. "Yes," he finally said. "Ba has resting serious face all the time, but these dudes have intense serious faces. It's a close fight, but the tortoises win by an eyebrow. Or brow ridge, I guess, since they don't have hair." Alec watched the other tortoise for a...

Alec snatched his hand away. "It can? Oh dear. What if it doesn't like being pet?" "It probably wouldn't be here getting snackies and standing here tolerating it all," Xander pointed out. "It's incredibly studious, Mama. It gives your lettuce this long, serious look, and then it chomps...

Alec reached out to touch the shell. "Whoa! This feels so cool! It's like... like... I don't know. Maybe if dirt and rock had a baby and baked it in the sun." "That is the weirdest description," Xander said. He stepped up to stroke the shell, as well. "Huh... weird, but not inaccurate."

"It wouldn't bite you on purpose, and they wouldn't let random people do this if the turtles bit easily," Xander said, crouching down on Daizi's other side, keeping back and to the side so she'd have plenty of room. "He just wants the green." "He - or she - is pretty big!" Alec grinned.

The twins kept back a little. They were eager to join in, but they could see most of the animals. They had the luxury of being able to watch the great, ponderous Aldabra tortoises as they moved toward the promise of food. Their mother did not have that pleasure, so they stood back and let her...