I don't think it was anyone's intention to go hurting anyone else, but we seem to have gone full circle here... no-one wants anyone to leave, and to be the cause of someone leaving probably hurts as much as what caused the person leaving to choose to leave in the first place (if you understood that I'll be amazed and likely faint).
I think I know Rach well enough that she didn't mean any harm to anyone, I've just seen the amount of work she's done on this species, so I can understand why she feels so protective. And I myself have stomped on a few toes before now (I think you should wear platemail gloves, Rach) but as the victims of my finger-stompings are still here I think its fair to say it hasn't damaged us too badly...
I don't think you need to have to join in, per se, to be accepted - I think we all knew and liked you for what you've done already. To tell the truth, *hides* I thought the species was a wee bit unrealistic when Rach decided to make them a proper species, not just a load of mong- uh, crossbreeds... Having argued about them with her and Dan in IM for ages, though, I think we're getting there...
(Another advantage of chatting in M$N IM, you can stomp all over each others toes/finger/nitpixel each other to death (that's when youre not too "*boredboredbored*" to talk) and then hash out a solution that is to both people's worries.)
Hm.
*scratches head and debates hitting "Add reply" for fear of fanning any potential flames*
Just don't leave... (besides, we'll never get to find out what happens in the rest of your fics
)