#anywhere

"Come on..." he says moving along with her

She falls in at his side, hiking towards the lodge.

Soon enough, the warm light of the Lodge windows are visible through the trees, and the sound of a dog (probably Oak) barking an alert.

Jaymes opens the door "Is there a bird doctor in the house?"

"We're going to get you help. The Chief and Kerri, they both fixed me up when I got hurt..."

"A...bird doctor?" Kerri looks up from where she's tidying up the coffee area after getting back from the game.

"Frozen Wren...which is odd enough, but this one is enchanted, and had a chimerical note"

Jaymes cuts to the chase. A worried look. He's not sure the bird is alive

Dagmar holds out her cupped hands towards the Hearth.

"Well...that's something you don't hear everyday. Let me see..." She approaches and takes the bird in her hands. "Oh, poor thing. The Chieftain's on patrol, but...well...let me see what I can manage."

It's a mortal bird, but enchanted.

"I didn't think birds could freeze. I thought.. like... they aren't like people?"

"They can freeze." Kerri confirms, taking a clean tea towel and turning it into a nest shape on the mantle over the balefire. "At night in winter, this little one should be curled up in a nest, head under wing, to keep warm. If he was flying around at night, that's too much exposure to cold."

"Is he gonna be okay?"

"I have no idea. If he's still not-quite-dead, maybe warming up indoors will be enough. I don't think Heatherbalming him would help, since he isn't exactly wounded."

Jaymes frowns at the note then says "Maybe... yeah, the balefire"

"What does the note say?" Kerri asks.

She lurks by the mantle, watching worriedly.

"Here, read for yourself" he hands it over

Kerri makes one more adjustment to the wren's temporary nest, then takes the note and reads.

Mackerel eyes the bird. They deliver?Oh yes

Mackerel gets a finger pointed at him. "You. Behave."

Her.Hurumph

"She sounds like she's in trouble. Isn't that right of rescue?" Dag rests her chin on the mantle, watching the wren.

Edelweiss eyes Mackerel, and notices the Hearths' Tone. And gives a doggy warning look. she will protect the bird. so if Mack wants to keep her tail, she'll mind

"It sure is. Unless it's a trap. And the Pine Barrens. That's the Jersey Devil's area."

Vali comes in, then raises a brow "Well, I admit, it's a bit of a let down after the turkey last month"

eyeing the bird

"Healing, not hunted, Vali. Here, what do you think about this?"

He frowns "YOu need Sylvi" he says "Spring magic...if anything would restore this bird in this state, that would. All I can do is freeze it more" Then a glance to the note "Oh. Mm"

"Is the Jersey Devil real?"

"Real is a rleative term in our world...there's probably more than one" Vali says

A pause. "Is Santa?"

"Same answer," Kerri says automatically.

"Heck, with Santa, there's rumor of a Siochain(sp) a fae soul so powerful and wise that he has...surpassed limits and returned to legend. Dougals,Nockers, and boggans all claim him as one of theirs. Boy won't they be surprised when they find out he's a troll?" A wink from Vali

A gentle touch of the bird's feathers, and Kerri nods. "I'll text Sylvi. 'Scuse me."

Her mouth tugs to the side at the beaumayn. "Vali, i haven't believed in Santa since I was five."

"He's a very forgiving legend" Vali says "Don't worry. I'll put in a good word for you. Me and the Santa man are tight"

Jaymes grunts

While Dagmar must wonder about Santa, she may be relieved to see Sylvi come in, floating on clouds... almost tapping the bird but once, who wakens with a happy chirp! the bird flies out the slightly open door... and Sylvi floats up the stairs.

Kerri sighs and goes to remind her daughter of a few chores here in the half real world.

tove closes the door 'Sorry the bird got away, Dagmar, but at least it's okay?"

"It's better than okay" Jaymes says "I think it's nesting near the chimney. Soure of heat safe from cats"

"I'm glad it's better, yeah."

"So - when are we going to the Pine Barrens?"

"We?"Vali raises a brow "Ah.."

"First, we find out what the Chief ando thers think of this, what we can learn." Jaymes ssays "Willowhisper the note and stuff. that's gonna take a while"

"Oh..."

"Then we go save her?"

"Maybe" Jaymes says "But remember, it's about rescue, not WHO gets to rescue"