There was no reason for what they said to hurt so much, not when all they said was the truth. But then, wasn't it his lack of reason that caused them to say it?
"You're not one of us."
"Halfbreed."
"You could never learn the proper philosophy."
All true. All unchangeable. However much he tried to behave like his proper pureblood classmates, they always knew he wasn't, and they would always know.
"Mother says I should be proud to be as I am. Father says I need to try harder to fit in," the boy said, absently stroking the creature's furry head. But he wasn't really trying at all, was he? It was irrational, illogical, to believe that the sehlat might be listening. He shouldn't even be out here alone. Dangerous, his mother would say. Unreasonable, his father would say. Especially when there were still lessons to be studied. But he knew studying couldn't make him any more Vulcan, and no harm would come of staying a few minutes more.
