I like the idea of the remaining Phoenix mating with the gods; it takes care of the crossbreed problem (although, if a phoenix flies overhead when a supposed crossbreed is born, would the crossbreed still be a crossbreed? I'd imagine he would have to be accepted as full Phoenix). Perhaps the Phoenix gene is so dominant that you wouldn't have a crossbreed... Who knows? I have a feeling that there is a parallel to the legend of the phoenix; it dies and is mystically reborn; somehow, even when the House faces extinction, it can mystically come back. Whether this is because of a dominant gene or the, um, intervention, of the gods, or some other possibility we haven't considered remains to be seen. Jose -- Jose Marquez jhereg69 at earthlink.net