🌱 From Pouch to Place: Settling In at the Grove

With full bellies, strong legs, and curiosity to spare, it was time for the three youngest Grove joeys—Aryll, Twinkle, and Link—to take the next big step: leaving their parents’ pouches and learning how to live without them. Though still small and a little unsure, these little gliders were quickly growing into themselves. And like every other family in the Grove before them, the time had come for us to figure out where they’d go next.

🐾 A Pair Meant to Be

Twinkle Starling and Aryll Kerr were born just a week apart and were both standard grays—each beautiful in her own right, and both sweet in her own way. Aryll had been a surprise for us, being only the second standard that the Kerrs ever produced (after their first joey with us, Wendy). We’d expected another dramatic coloration from Dave and Sue, but instead we were blessed with a soft-gray sweetheart and her white brother.

Twinkle, on the other hand, was a first in many ways. The very first joey from our Starling pair (Dottie and Dusty), she had the laid-back charm of both parents—but just a hint more spice. With her occasional crabbing and bold little eyes, Twinkle seemed like the perfect match for Aryll’s calm determination. And so, we made the decision: these two girls would be housed together, raised together, and one day hopefully adopted together.

🎮 A Hero in the Making

Then there’s Link.

The other half of the Kerr twin set, Link’s look was unmistakable: a gleaming white coat with a soft platinum underlayer and a faint, gray triangular “triforce” mark on his forehead. He was instantly striking—and instantly special. Where his sister blended in like moonlight through leaves, Link stood out like a sword in a stone.

Because of his unique appearance and healthy lineage, Link is being evaluated as a potential future breeding male. Until he’s matched with a mate, though, we’ve set him up in his own cozy bachelor pad—his cage surrounded on all sides by other gliders so that he’s never truly alone. We don’t keep him isolated from sound, scent, or energy—just safely separate to avoid early and unplanned pairings. After all, a boy this pretty doesn’t get to roam around unsupervised.

🛁 Extra Attention for Extra Babies

Each of these joeys required a little more attention than most, much like S’morie did before them. We’ve made a few changes to keep our Grove as clean and comfortable as possible, and our gliders have responded wonderfully. With daily monitoring, improved cleaning schedules, and better environmental controls, all three joeys are thriving. We’re proud of how far they’ve come—and of the patience and care it took to get them here.

🌟 What Comes Next?

With the trio now weaned, socialized, and growing stronger by the day, it won’t be long before it’s time for new decisions. Will Aryll and Twinkle find their forever home together? Will Link be chosen to help raise the next generation of Grove gliders?

That chapter is still being written.

But one thing is for sure: these joeys may have just left their parents’ sides, but their own stories are already unfolding—with personality, possibility, and a whole lot of promise.

🖋️ —The Grove Keepers (with Fable Quillvine, Archivist of the Grove)