#anywhere

Lupe and Sam meet in the wood, and have a private talk, "Wish May could join us. but can't talk freely"

"I know... I hate how she has to get left out..."

"Not sure that .. uhm.. what do you call it? Enthral.. no.. enammo.. darn I can't quite remember.. the glow thing you guys do counts for MY people's rules. And they would take well to her knowing" She says "The Litany is a bitch."

"Yeah, the rules."

"Well, I think since we're BOTH supernatural creatures, we get some leeway from our people. I ever tell you that my House-founder turned into a wolf once? For a whole year."

"I mean, it was in part punishment for being a jerk-ass, but he learned from it."

"Honor can be reclaimed by trial" She nods 'yeah, we got former jerkasses done good too. King Albrecht was a drunk for a time I hear" She shrugs "Not that i get Silverfangs"

"They're like your sidhe, yeah? Nobles?"

"Yeah, we Bone Gnawers are more a meritaocracy, though a lot of the other tribes would just say 'mutts' or worse. " She rolls her eyes "We're in a war, not the time to be worrying about pedigrees. Silver Fangs are a bit loopy. Your rulers may not be sweet but they aren't nuts every other day I bet. Anyway. Part of the reason I wanted to talk to you is shit's getting serious. You know how you have thos nightmare things?"

"Yeah. They've been BAD lately, we're fighting a lot more on patrols."

"Well we got spirits. Banes and things. I don't know if it's related, but they're on the rise ..causing illnesses that got nothing to do with the Corona virus."

Brow-furrow. "So, we gotta fight those, too."

"You can't.. just like I can't fight your dream stuff when the glow's not on me." Lupe says with frustration "I mean... maybe you can and have some way I don't know aobut but.. I don't THINK so"

"Dunno..."

"Spirits seem like kind of dream stuff. If they're, like, manifested.... like, if I can touch them, I could fight them."

"Like when you freaked out at the dance, yeah?"

A blush "Yeah well, I wasn't a spirit I was.. big hairy and raging... STILL embarrassed by that.. not sure how I got... I remember a voice ordering me... I think" A frustrtated look "Philodoxes are supposed to have good memory, not Galliard good but argh."

"Well, that's our magic."

"We can't stop it."

"I know I knwo, and it even makes sense right? And I'm lucky I remember a heck more than MaY does. Anyway.. and don't get angry or scared or make that 'the fuck you say' look you sometimes get, but one of these spirits...it .. ahm.." A sigh "It goes after the unborn."

WIDE EYES. "Tove!"

"How do I protect Tove?"

"See, what I was going to tell you is WE will protect her, the pack will roam about a bit closer"

"Patrol and stuff.. and tell you not to worry" She says

A grunt.

"So. How do I help the pack? Or pay you back for protecting Tove?"

"I'd say don't... but you know one day maybe we'll need a fae assist or you'll warn US of something.. it's all good right? But.. I know you want to do more. so I got you this" She reaches in "It's a Fetish...." A sigh "I hate that word.. Nothing kinky, more like tribal talk. " And she holds up what looks like a leather strand of intricate knots, bright feathers, and yes, a wolf claw "What it is supposed to do is ward the house, or cave, or apartment room it's nailed to. It's not fool proof, but find a spot on your home, nail this there... and it's suppose to make it harder for that bane to come near you"

She nods. "Dumb name, but... i can do that, sure."

"Near the door?"

"Anywhere should do.. though I was told on the Eastern side would probably work best for protecting the young or mothers to be . Something about sunrises"

A shrug. "Makes sense to me."

"Well, our wizards are called Theurges, and they like to sound smarter than they are, but they usually know their stuff" She nods

"Like Symon."

She snerks "Yeah, how is Symon? Haven't seen him much"

"Holed up at home. I miss seeing him."

"Yeah, he's okay.." A cough "Any .. any word on Dirk?"

"Dirk is doing surprisingly well. He likes being a Peacekeeper."

"Bet he'd be game for hanging out in the woods, y'know."

"Yeah.." She says "Well, there are like.. BETTER guys out there it's just.. a lot of them are on lock down you know? "

Trying to wave it off like she dont' care

"Yeah, and he ain't."

"Listen, I'm not gonna judge. Dirk's... gotten a lot better, really."

"I mean, he's still Dirk..."

"Well, of course.." A look "Better huh? " A bite of her lip "Well, you let that jackass know that .. my phone still gets texts?"

"Better... it... well, what I think happened I shouldn't say."

"He still eats mailboxes, though."

"Stupid moron" She says.. then says "I shouldn't find that funny. I mean, if it were MY mailbox I'd kick his ass"

"As you should."

"It's usually McGillicuddy's."

"She keeps replacing it. He keeps eating it."