#anywhere

Dika-Hannah shakes her head slightly at the unspoken question.

A wave of relief. "So, um...no, sir! Not looking to fight you."

The walrus LUNGES and stops, inches before the girls, the ice threatens to crack, "Good. Let's talk a bit. Of shoes, of ships, of sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. Tell me something of one of these, and I will tell you some knowledge. Ask nothing, and I flatten you, for ignorance untreated is a slow death, and kind creature that I am, I would do you mercy and end it fast instead."

As a troll, she's used to being among the tallest of kithain, but she feels almost puny looking up at this thing

"Uhhhh...." It takes her a moment to get her footing back after that, and she nearly did lash out with her spear as that great mass nearly fell upon them. Her mind races, but she quickly latches onto... "Ships! Oh! Back in my home lodge, in the Kingdom of Apples, the Chieftain and the Mountain went on a quest in the seas of the Dreaming. They borrowed a ship to leave, but the whole party plus more returned in two ships, one returning from where it was borrowed, and the other coming to our Lodge. It's called the Kestrel, and it's a viking ship, sleek and beautiful. It floats in the sky as well as in water, and already Siv, the daughter of Chieftain and Mountain, has had an adventure with it. In the midst of a flood, she took the Kestrel without telling her parents, and swooped along the river shore, rescuing kithain in danger from the water. The Kestrel is a ship for stories." She smiles, hoping that's what the walrus was looking for.

"A ship for stories is a very good ship indeed. Reminds me of that good ship, the Lollipop" The creature says as if glancing at a memory inside it's own skull then says "Good. Now, what would you know from me?"

A deep breath. "My friend, Dika-Hannah," she indicates the Nunnehi, "told me that the Hatchet of Bury the Hatchet can be found on this path. I'd like to retrieve it and bring it to the Autumn World. I think it could help a lot. So...can you tell us how to locate and safely retrieve the Hatchet of Bury the Hatchet?"

"You bring a native guide, well done. When you go around to where you need to be, you will find the bodies of the drowned. A little respect for the dead never hurt anyone, and sometimes wisdom can be found. Say words of kindness to the ice itself, too. Words and whimsy in the dreaming can be the myth of today, and a metaphor or pun can reshape things more than you know. Go on around, remember what you've learned. And remember, peace can be a struggle- in the end by effort it is earned"

Dika-Hannah is relieved they're apparently not going to be smashed or eaten, or sat on

"Oh." Sylvi nods. "Thank you, Sir. I appreciate your advice." She gives another bow, then looks to Dika-Hannah. If she's ready, they continue on their path.

They do travel on, Dika-Hannah swallows, "I think that creature was just a little bit mad. Only a little, but glad he turned out to be helpful. you okay?"

Sylvi grins slightly. "I kind of liked him. Scary, though."

"You okay?"

"Intimidated. Old spirits are powerful, but they act stranger as stranger with every where it seems. And I"m not a wise woman who knows how to deal with that"

"Well...it's not like I think he and I are buddies or anything. He'd just as likely eat me on the return trip, if we pass him again, I think."

"Yes, good to remember" She says "I tried making friends with spirits, but they..well, they don't always act the same even after a short time. They see things differently. Sometimes I worry they see me on the inside, and that's not pretty either' A confession as they continue to walk in the curve of ice towards the waters

Sylvi pauses and looks at her. "What's not pretty about you on the inside?"

"I mean, other than guts and stuff...." A grin to show she's joking, but the question is sincere.

"I get jealous and mean, and stuff like anyone I guess. at least, I hope others do. I think bad things about pretty people sometime... not you, not so far" then a chuckle at the guts "sure, put it that way"

"Oh, well, come on...I do that, too. I even..." She hesitates, then takes a deep breath. "I got jealous of the sidhe Colton's been traveling with. She's really pretty. Because, y'know, of course she is. And I guess I was thinking...they're going to be in the Dreaming, and she's going to be extra sidhe, and he's going to be....how's he going to resist that? And...that didn't give me very nice thoughts about her." A confession in trade.

A look then "Well, I can't help you with that. I can tell you what helps me is knowing that the dreaming guards its secrets and maybe that's for the best, and also- he's a troll. From what I'm learning, your kind are very.. uhm.. stead fast? He might admire her like one admires a sunrise, but then the sunrise is over...the fire shines too, and is there waiting for him. If he is faithful to her. I..think, something like that... pretend I'm old and wise and junk" A hapless look on her hideous face. And they turn around to come to the waters again, well, to the ice. Oceans shouldn't freeze, but here the sea has. They move along, and then... "here" beneath solid ice, not so deep, they can see the glittering of a hatchet, and the frozen bodies ofthe ambassadors "This is where I found them. Bear side mind you. but either way" THe ice is thick.

The wind whips and chills them even more on this unprotected area. the glacier no longer provides cover at all

Sylvi's about to tell Dika-Hannah about how Colton asked her for a token, and that made it better...but then they're there. The bodies...so many of them.... She stands stunned for a long moment, but the winds are bitter and her fingers are beginning to ache despite her thick gloves. "The walrus said...to show respect for the dead, and for the ice...." She thinks about this, forming her words.

Dika-Hannah shivers and nods, pulling her jacket tighter around herself while Sylvi works

She feels almost greedy, looking at the hatchet, seeking to take what so many sought. No way to start a conversation, by saying 'gimme that'... Instead, she raises her voice a bit, loud enough to carry to the bodies, but not a show that the dragon or phoenix should hear. "I see you, travelers, seekers, adventurers. I see where you rest. You did not mean to stop here, but you have. I recognize your sacrifice. I hope, today, you will help me to do what you were unable to complete. If you will permit, let me be one who helps you finish the task of bringing the Hatchet of Bury the Hatchet to where it may do good work." She pauses, just in case there's some kind of response.

...Kind of hoping there isn't.

and the dead men speak...