selective-breeding

In this chapter, Peregrine reunites with Woodcarver, who reveals the toll of centuries of selective breeding on her mind and body, expressing both regret and hope for change brought by the arrival of the Two-Legs. The chapter also explores the Woodcarvers' investigation of the alien picture box, debating its nature as machine, animal, or magic, and highlighting the tension between tradition and new possibilities. The interactions emphasize themes of identity, change, and the challenge of understanding alien technology.