#baronyofthesilverwolf

Clatter! The glass hits the floor but does not shatter, though the water within glugs out onto the kitchen floor.

Pearl stares down...well, the floor is wet. He can never go down again

"Briar?" Calls Marigold, her footsteps coming down the hallway towards the kitchen.

She turns into the kitchen, and it takes her a moment to realize that the culprit is NOT a sullen childling but rather...

Mew? The kitten asks. Save him from the flood

"Goodness!" She steps over - the round woman - smaller than HIS person, but still huge to HIM, is unafraid of the wet and reaches over to scoop up the offending kitten. "How did you get all the way in here?" She scolds gently.

Pearl watches the wagging fussy finger of the scold.That could be used to pet him... if it comes low enough he catches it on his back so she'll get the hint

"Naughty thing." The hand is pulled away, his tummy trap foiled. "Why don't we get you something to eat."

He hears, wwah wwah wha wha wha wha whaah ala Charlie Brown, but the sound of the kibble bag rustling when she pulls it from a shelf - now THAT he recognizes!

Oh yes! Ears perk!

A bowl is procured - a rather fine china thing, and placed on the floor, after she sees what happened to the glass, and filled up with kibble. How much kibble should a wee kit get? According to Marigold, "Well, you've got growing to do, wee one. We can't have you being underfed."

Pearl doesn't understand all the words, but he still likes the way this woman thinks. She's almost as wonderful as New Mom. New mom is tall, and seems like a mighty huntress but her big hands are kind and she is soft with him.

Down he goes, looping around the water, then he begins to eat. As there is no evil influence here, he has no problem with 'rocks'

Crunchy and meaty tastingg!

"Pearl?? Pearl!" The frantic voice sounds down the hallway.

"In here, Linnea." Marigold calls back as she gets a towel to mop up the spill.

The troll strides in, her face worried. "Is he okay? I didn't notice him sneak out. I was worried - he's so small, and he could run into the dogs, or get into the laundry, or..."

Munch munch

"He can't still be hungry, I just fed him before patrol."

"He's a growing beastie, of course he is. And you needn't worry about the dogs. Lord Aiden himself will be speaking with them. They'll not harm a hair on his little head."

Linnea colors slightly. "I didn't mean to bother the Baron."

"Nonsense. He's happy for any excuse to be out there with his pups."

"If you say so..." Linnea shrugs, and helps with cleaning up.

Just so.... out in the kennels, Aiden is speaking to Fledge Gwen.

"You'll recognize from working with Ivan, that our hounds are more than simple companion dogs. They are wise, intelligent beasts. Yet, we still must recognize their limitations, and not burden them with tasks too great for their intellects or natural urges."

The pack of barony dogs are gathered around in a loose mob, tails a wag as they sniff and snuffle at troll and sidhe alike.

Pearl stops eating and moves to go around New Mom's big feet, in figure 8s that might trip and kill with affection

Gwen nods "That makes sense my liege, like trying to keep Glass from howling?"

"Just so. Come, sit with me." He moves forward and the dogs part for him like the wake before a ship, and he sits on the ground - and they swarm in, trying to all climb into his lap at once, or lick his face, or sniff his hair. The Baron laughs, a rare unguarded moment.

Gwen gives a smile, small but there, to see the Baron Happy . She sits down too, and sure enough gets checked out as well

Aiden allows the dogs to swarm for a bit, before he chuckles and says, "Alright, that's enough." Firm, yet not unkind, and they back off to sit, stand, or in Ivan's case, to roll over with his belly up for scratches next to Gwen.

Gwen blushes a bit, rubs and scratches the belly briefly, then motions her dog up, and has him sit "So the lesson is they need love as well as direction?"

"If you lead only by strict orders, they will obey, but such does not inspire loyalty. A firm hand must be used in turn with a soft touch.

Even more so with horses - some claim that the only way to train a horse properly is to allow them to grow wild, and then 'break' them. It works, it is true. If all you desire is a placid mount with no spirit." A frown at that, but he returns to the dogs, giving Mischka a scratch behind the ears that makes her eyes close with bliss, and then stroking the snout of Fort, the wolfhound who is starting to go a bit grey around the muzzle, which is somewhat hidden by his natural smoky coloring.

Gwen frowns "I think I prefer to leave the spirit intact, even if it makes them a bit fussy sometimes."

He nods approvingly. "That is good. I expect no less from you." Turning back to the dogs, he produces a small throw blanket, one that is covered with a scattering of short white hairs.

"Come now. Target." He sets down the blanket and lets the pack all sniff and snuffle it thoroughly, tails waving.

"There is a new animal in the home. Many of you have not encountered a cat before. He is still small, and young. He should remain inside, but if you encounter him, know that he is not to be hunted, harried, or hassled." Firmly informing the pack.

Ivan sniffs then looks curious. Might this 'cat' be played with ?

Aiden pats Ivan. "Gently, like a new puppy. Remember he is small. He also must learn manners. He may scratch or bite. Only gentle corrections, as you would a new pup that doesn't know how sharp his teeth are." A small smile remembering that Ivan is not so far grown from such a pup himself.

"Code of Dagda it, Ivan," Gwen pets her dog too, and says that as if he'll get it.

Ivan wags. Protect the small!

Gwen looks her dog over, then looks at the Baron and says with trust for her dog "he gets it"

"That is good. After all, he does spend rather a bit of time inside, does he not?" A faint smile there, amused.

A blush "Well, my lord, some dogs can guard the exterior, and Ivan can help me protect the interior"

He chuckles. "If it was a problem, something would have been said. As your own dog, much like Pyschka, it is good that he learns proper indoor etiquette." The baron sobers somewhat. "Once sained, you may decide to travel to other holds, where he will need to behave in settings more or less formal than our own."

At that she nods "Yes, My lord. I have him on good behavior. I know he can be quite the pampered pooch when I let him, but he also is first and foremost is obedient and loyal to me . He stays when I tell him to stay, fetches when I tell him to fetch, and, well, he'll either spare or tear the head off who I direct."

"Lot like his mom" She smiles at Mischka

"I have been watching, and what I have not seen, I have heard good things from the Thanes and Marigold both. Do you feel prepared for your saining?" He asks. "We have not had a fledge in many years. It is our duty to you to provide you with a foundation strong enough to build your current incarnation upon."

"If I may, my lord?" She asks

He raises his brows, and nods slightly. "Please."

"You came to my rescue, when you were, I am told, reclusive and withdrawn. Yes, that is right of rescue, the Escheat and I have learned House Ailil honors that but it showed me how one may have a nature, and that is fine, as long as they can rise above it when it interferes with doing what is right. You then introduced me to a world of animals and taught me canine and horse care ...skils that will serve me in both fae and autumn worlds and have opened my heart. You have seen to it that I have learned from my own kith, and the Thanes have shared what it means to be a troll with me. Julius and ohters have insisted I gain an education and that's to my betterment- both fae and mortal again. I have learned in my time here of my own worth and that it is not a small thing, though I must be ware of thinking I somehow tower over any other kithain despite my height. And Marigold has..." She stops "Well, Marigold is precious to everyone. I do not think I will be the first to think so. I hope I am not the last. She gave me love unconditional. Brair.." A smile "is a challenge, but is probably the closest thing Ill ever have to a little sister . ALl this was made possible because you let me stay here. .Sir Ivory and I are still in contact, but I do not regret my choice. My foundation is strong, and you have made it so , all of SIlverwolf has to one degree or another. I'll be ready, and I shall not let you down"

Aiden's brow arcs a bit at the idea of having to rise 'above' being Ailil. He listens to her speak, and when she finishes, he has to take a moment, clearing his throat a little. "No matter if you stay or decide to travel on, you are, and will be, a credit to Silverwolf, and to myself."

Well she meant rising above his nature as a recluse but... well... hopefully he'll not take offense either way a smile "You do me great honor, Baron." A look at him "How are ... you feeling? "

He looks a little surprised by the question, and perhaps guarded. "I am well. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I know Change is good by Unseelie code, but.. you've had a lot in your life and sometimes I worry I started it.. I mean , I know that sounds vain, but it's no secret that the Chancellior wants more social functions, and the Baroness and she actually agree some on that, so you're being yanked out of the stables and kennels more often that you might like. And the Baroness is great, Marigold likes her so I trust her, you know? But you're um courting? And that's new.. good I hope but not my businesss.. i'm talking more of so many changes happening. New Childlings. Tiberius shaking things up... though I'll never regreat that. Alliances with Gwydion holds. .sort of. By troll standards this is dizzying"

A quiet laugh. "Indeed. This past year has held more excitement then longer than I care to remember. However... I do not regret it. Perhaps I had allowed things to stagnate. Seelie lords may say that still waters run deep, and rolling stones gather no moss, but there is no growth without change. I find that I now look forward to seeing Silverwolf grow again. If a little excitement is the price to pay, then it is a small cost. And for Nadeen..." His gaze softens, "You will find, that some things are priceless."

"I'm glad you like her, lord., I do too though I don't know her well"

"In that cause, you'll probably be okay with the big auction and stuff the Reeve has planned"

"... Auction? And 'stuff'?" A blank look.

"Well, I think she and Bluebell were talking it over? The Reeve wants to ssell some stuff to help the locals..." The troll blinks "I... thought you'd know about it"

"What sort of 'stuff', do you know?" He reaches to scratch at the scruff of a silvery colored hound with long ears and a short tail - a quarter the length of other similarly sized dogs. Adel, was it? Or Axel? A germanic name for this line.

"Less and less than I thought" Her brow knits "SOmething about helping locals pay off mortgages and scholarships? But Bluebell was fussing at her to make it more.. uh.. you know I don't always understaand blue bell and I didn't exactly eavesdrop just overheard"

"Ah. It is a noble thought to help the locals in need." He gives the dog a last pat. "Gut, Axel." There is it, the Weimaraner's name. "I will speak to Nadeen about it. Bluebell... her dance speaks clearer than her voice, many a time."