#baronyofthesilverwolf

What DID happen with Briar? The Redcap returns home late but satisfied, and reports on where she, with Glass's help, demolished other trap locations.

Meanwhile, Sir Treyvor has been, to all appearances, a gracious guest. Marigold is thrilled to have another mouth to cook for, and the Thanes take advantage of a new sword to spar with in the practice yard. His steed fits in well enough as well, though Snowthorn takes a bit of exception at an unfamiliar Stallion in his stables, and they must be kept in far stalls or opposite paddocks.

Gwen hasn't had much of a chance to get to know the new Sidhe, should she have the desire - because the Mountain Dog pups are all on track to go to their new homes!

The honey-colored female to the DeBukes
A white-pawed and colorful female to Rivervale, and her blaze-faced brother as well, though to Olgar rather than the Lodge proper.
A sweet-natured pup is headed to Earthrunes in Sergei's care
Of the others, one went to an Aesin hold in Northern Ice, another sent as a good will 'gift' to a young Lordling of Varich in Montana who has a fae Russian Hound that might eventually be a good breeding pair, and similar placements are in discussion.

Soon, the kennels are... well, they're never quite quiet, but they are much less noisy than with an entire litter of half-grown beasts running amuck. Mischka was glad to see them go. It is right and proper. Ivan, perhaps, misses playing with them a bit, but at least now his sore ears will get some relief.

Of the Glennies... Muppet has been lured to the Never-attended studio quite often. The silly little things will tug on his fur or chase his tail, but the terrier is actually very patient with them.

And it's here that Thistle is approached. The knock on the door is a courtesy and a safety as well - even though the Baron rules over this freehold, he knows better than to open the door to a Nocker workshop unheeded.

"Come in!"

Thistle is at the table, clay up to her elbows, on her face and apron, kneading at a lump.

He steps within, and blinks at the smudged mess all over. An unconscious brush at his own shirt, which is far from immaculate - currently coated with a fine layer of dog hair.

"Thistle. I trust I am not interrupting a project?"

"Oh! Oh, (*&^&.. sorry..."

Hastily trying to straighten up.

"Be at ease." He gives a reassuring smile and a gesture to relax. "I wanted to let you know that I took the liberty of requesting the presence of Janice and young Frankie. They will be coming by this afternoon to visit the kennels, as I have not forgotten my promise of a guardian dog for the boy."

He crouches to extend an hand to ruffle Muppet's ears.

Muppet wags

"Oh. Oh, right, of course. Good."

"Do you wish for them to be greeted as mortals or as Kinain? I would defer to your comfort as they are your own kin."

"I.. I know it's hard for Janice, but maybe it's better if they're enchanted?"

He nods. "I will see it done. We'll let you know when they are due to arrive, if you wish to, ah, finish your project for now." Politely not drawing direct attention to her state of disarray. "I will have Gwen prepare the kennel for viewing. Muppet, heel." He gestures with a soft snap of fingers for the Glennie to attend and follow.

Blue spirals. "Right, on it."

Muppet immediately heels. Though he looks over at Thistle even as he obeys, then looks back to make sure he stays close in proper heeling stance

The terrier by his side, Aiden strides briskly off to the kennels.

Thistle works on cleaning up, scrubbing off most of the clay. She misses some - on the back of her elbow, a streak in her hair, splatters on her shoes...

A voice through the open doorway. "You missed a spot." Briar leans on the door frame. The young redcap, never the most diligent about grooming or hygiene, has a strong, sour, coppery tinge to her scent today.

A slight nose-wrinkle.

"Well, it's better than it was." She drapes the apron over the back of a chair.

"Why ya playing in the mud anyways?" Her nose wrinkles a bit in return, but it's a pug nose to start so does her no favors.

Her expression turns a touch sullen, spirals shifting a muddy yellow. She hides her hands behind her back. "It's not mud. It's clay."

"What's the difference?" She actually sounds baffled. "Dirt's dirt, ain't it?"

"No, it ain't."

"Dirt is lots of things. Clay isn't even just clay, there's different kinds."

"Can you make knives? Like on a forge?"

"I can make knives outta clay - maybe even sharper than some from the forge."

Briar's eyes narrow - not in anger, but in suspicious, and a bit of thought from her furrowed brow. "Sharper'n metal? that's bull."

"Ain't!"

"You can grind one hell of an edge on ceramic, because the particles are fine."

"Really?" Thoughts processing "So like, I could have a knife sharp enough to jab someone deep, and then snap off to leave the bits inside?" Her eyes GLEAM.

"Oh, yeah, that would be easy enough."

"That's bloody wicked it is!" Impressed.

"I mean, you ever break a vase? Those edges are nasty."

"NO! Who said it was me?!"

"I bet it was Blossom, her giant horse-ass is always knocking into things."

"Is not!" from outside but far too close to the door

"Why I oughtta..." Briar grumbles, cracking knuckles.

"mmph" but sounds of hooves moving further distance in case the redcap starts to carry out the threat

Briar smirks. Back to Thistle, she says, "You lemme know when you make some murder blades, yeah?"

"Oh... uh.. sure?"

Briar nods, and trots off. It's not long before sound of a car crunching gravel pulls up - Thistle recognizes the sound of Janice's minivan, before she even catches sight of it. It was the source of several conversations ongoing - Dad trying to convince her that she could get a smaller, sportier vehicle, and Janice insisting upon this one, with the highest crash test ratings and solid suspension. Plus, soon they'll need room for three kids in the back, after all. While not anywhere nearing due date, the figure of Trina's stepmom now boasts a distinct belly pop.

Her spirals are back to an anxious yellow. She shoos some of the Nevers to the edges of the room.

"TREEEEEENA...." Shouts Frankie, even as Thane Linnea comes around to offer him a lollypop, and Janice, her business card. Both accepted, the kinain take on a slight glow - Frankie brightening up with glee, and Janice taking on an aura of mixed melancholy.

"Frankie-stein!"

He runs up, then stops short, staring up at Thistle, and then he giggles. "I -REMEMBER- you like this now. I forgot, but I remember again now! And your fairies! Can you ask them for pixie dust so I can fly? Pretty-pretty-pretty-pretty-PLEASE?"

The Neverlanders set up a series of tinkling chimes, delighted at this.