#anywhere

She gives him a long look. "Bring the troll, Mace, to the Lodge for a discussion with me. That is the price of getting help in retrieving your spade. If you decline...you may find it yourself."

"You think he's gonna agree to that?" A frown

A brow. "I do not believe that is my problem."

"Now...you have twenty minutes to get out of Rivervale. Do not return. If you meet the task I have set you, you may come back when you bring him, and only then."

A grumble growl "Fine fine. Hey, wait.. how about you and I both share the prize for the centaur? "

That...was a mistake. Her silver hand backhands him across the face in a motion that is more about reflex than conscious decision.

"GO. NOW." Angry Gwydion is giving a final warning. As if that blow weren't enough.

The cap flips to the side, not because he wanted to "Got it.." he gets up.. afer a bit of a crawl "Shit.. was just an idea" And off he goes

She seethes there for several minutes, sorely tempted to pursue him in his flight.

Deep breaths, seeking for the sound of the lake waters to soothe her again.

And eventually, she returns the way she came, checking on the site of the interrupted pit. How much must be filled in?

About three square feet

"Chief" A familiar voice, Sir Vali

She is beginning to kick dirt back into the hole when he speaks. She looks over at him, and gives a nod. Clearly, not a very happy Chieftain at the moment.

"I saw and heard at least part of it. Sorry, wasn't trying to pry, but I was looking for twobit earlier"

"Hm." She nods, continuing to refill the hole. After a moment, "You have a suggestion?" Her tone is definitely gruff.

"Well, I took the liberty of gettinng some blood at this location while you took him to the lake. I hope I didn't overstep, but I thought the option of tattletaling that cap later might work if you wanted to 'trust but verify' or , more likely 'not trust and verify' . I like Lane, she's a cute kid. laughs at my jokes" Despite the mentioned fondness, he doesn't look happy, "And I think a message about coming after citizens here is very tempting"

She pauses a moment...then nods. "I should have thought of that. About the blood. Good," she nods to thank him. Then a deep breath. "This won't be the last one. And we must send word to Lady Sparrow. There are centaurs there, as well, I hear."

"That's what I heard too. Good news is she's got thanes and rovers both in the area" A thought "I think Bix is still visiting but lives at Brightwinnds now. He could deliver the message if we asked and if you wanted."

"Yes. Good." She finishes stomping the dirt back in place, and then checks around the area to see if anything else were left behind by the 'cap.

As a matter of fact, yes.

She investigates.

A small vial he dropped. She doesnt think it was intentional but one has o be careful.

The vial has a shifting mist, it kens as chimera

A frown. "Vali..." she gestures him over to show him. "Does this look familiar?"

"Reminds me a bit of the genie, but not so powerful" his brow knits "Actually, I think this vial is a trap. Or.. cage."

"Mm. Trap for us, or cage for it?" She mulls it over. "If he carried something trapped, I suspect I would enjoy the trapped being's company more than I enjoyed his."

"Well, if you want to pop the top I'm with you in case i's trouble" he offers

A nod. She kneels down by the bottle, glances over to Vali once to make sure he is standing back, and then holds the bottle still with on hand while pulling out the stopper with the other.

And out pops... a doe, a chimerical female deer of most unusual coloration, does blend, yet her hide seems to have a golden cast to it, almost as if a celtic sun were graced along her frame. She is not alone, a small fawn scutters behind her. If her mother is the noon, this little chimera is dusk before the dawn, a smattering of stars across an almost purple hide.

"you will not eat my daughter!" Says the Doe, sounding a bit like Jane Seymour!

Vali steps back lowering his weapon

"Oh..." Brekke says, momentarily stunned by the beauty of the creatures. She stands and steps back, nodding to the chimera. "It is not my intent. The one who held you captive is gone. Do you know where you were taken from?"

"A wood far from here, I suspect" She says then looks around "yes, this is definitely not my wood. "

"they're not gonna eat us?" the little fawn whispers a bit too loudly "Like the cap ate .. ate.." She starts to cry little dewy tears

"your father died bravely" the doe says "Never forget that"

Vali mutters "Now I want to find that cap and hurt him . Just me?"

"Not just you," Brekke grumbles to Vali. Then she says to the mother and child, "I am sorry for your loss. We hunt chimera, but not those who can speak for themselves. This is Rivervale. I am Brekke, Chieftain here, and this is Vali. You are welcome to stay, but you may wish to come closer to our Lodge for now. These times are not as safe as I would like."

"And we have skywolves" Vali says "they talk too but might just see that as even"

"WOLVES?" the litle one skitters back behind mom again

The Doe shoots Vali a look. the look of mothers who just had their job made harder by a well intentioned stranger

Then the Doe says "Thank you, Chieftain, for freeing us. That monster would have kept us until his hunger grew too much. I am Sunmeadow, this is my daughter Earlydawn. We shall trust to your lodge's area. Is there grass aplenty?"

"It is important that you know of the risks here, but I will let the skywolves know that you are friends. And yes, there is much grass. I ask you not to eat from the gardens, though. Come, we will bring you back to the Lodge."

"Earlydawn, you must not eat from their gardens" Sunmeadow says

"Even if the greens are succulent, and the roots oh so tastey?" earlydawn says "And the fruits sweet?"

"Even then" Sunmeadow says, tail flick of authority

Brekke nods thanks to the mother, and then turns to lead them back. To Vali, she mutters, "I would punish him further for this, if I have the chance."

the little fawn sighs and nods

"I'll keep an eye out for a chance," Vali says.

"Good."