Bunny slippers propped up on a nearby chair, Zhaan sat leaning back, her entire expression one of meditation. Although the posture wasn't exactly common for her, she'd seen others adopt it and had decided to give it a try. Naturally, she'd gotten completely distracted.
Students appearing made her shift slightly and then smile.
"Hello, class." Dropping her feet, she stood and picked up the glossy photos she'd printed from the web, "today, I'd like to discuss one of the largest organisms on your planet. The
Sequoia .
"Known to live for thousands of years, they grow to excessive heights." Zhaan paused, "One must imagine the life they have seen for that time. The wars they've witnessed, the young lovers that frolicked beneath them. Plants see everything that occurs, and rarely tell of it. Even to each other, they're more interested in the dance of the bee, the delicate step of the aphid."
Fingering one of the photos, she shook off the slight dreamy nature of her tone and continued briskly, "Conservation on your planet is sadly lacking, with much of the natural flora being razed to produce meat animals. Rather a pity, considering that plants are there to keep things balanced and healthy.
"Not that humans are the only destroyers of living creatures. The Peacekeepers--" She broke off, suddenly looking sheepish. "My humble apologies, children. I forget myself. Please read up on the sequoia. And have a lovely, death-free, weekend."
[sorry. was being all responsible and adult and paying bills and sorting paperwork. yarggh. Can I be a pirate now?]