#baronyofthesilverwolf

Meanwhile...
Briar seeks out Gwen, at some point soon post-party.

Imagine the surprise that a source of music is not a satyr, but a troll. Gwen did, after all, take a music class rather than an art class, and while not great ,she stays in practice

"Jeez, damn Gwen. My freakin' ears." Briar gripes as she approaches. Everyone's a critic!

A sigh, and she stops playing "Good to see you too, Briar"

"You should stick to your pigsticker. Speaking of which, you wanna be conscripted?"

"Conscripted, into what?" A brow lift

"Into a battle, OBVIOUSLY." Her chest proudly puffed out. "I'm running a HUNT. For the great and gloomy smoggolith."

"Smoggolith" The brow rises higher

"All the best monsters have names. I'm WORKSHOPPIN' It!"

"Shop harder" She advises. Hey, a bit mean, but she did just get her musical skills trashed. She says "Okay. Who put you in charge of this hunt?"

"The BARONESS."

There's a bit of swagger to her step, yep.

Gladiola hides her surprise, mostly, "Wow. That's a big step for you isn't it? Well, she always said redcaps were good at monster hunting didn't she? I guess it makes sense. Sure, if you want me along I'll help. It sounds like a needful cause, and the smoke is annoying to our animals"

A snort. "Needful, schmeedful. We get to KILL IT! I got T-hissy on board to figger out some way to make the monster come to us. She's GOOD at shit like that. Otherwise, I ain't got no clue how to murder something up in the sky I can't reach to stab or bite. But if she bombs, you can always, you know, throw a pointy stick at it or some shit."

"Weather manipulation" A nod "Tricky but it might be possible. I only swept that soul away by Unleashing mind you" The Art oops incident "I take it we're not going to reason with it?" she doesn't seem upset by this notion per se

Her brow furrows a touch. "You ain't gonna sweep it away. You can STAB it, but no blowing it to the next town over. One, they'll come and bitch about it and Nadeen will have to get all uppity, and two,. that's as good as stealin' my kill!"

"Wouldn't it be OUR kill?" She points out with almost big sister like guidance

"Not if you hoodoo up a storm and steal my thunder." She grouses.

"No pun intended?" She observes

A scoff.

"Pugni non verbum!"

"Whoa" She says "I'm not sure what that means but it sounds impressive" Then a nod "Yes, I'll join your group and try not to just blow it away"

"I got it from Nerdboy. It means, uh, like... Fists, not words." Holding up a fist in demonstration.

"Not a bad motto for you" Gwen admits "Good to have Arthur back, huh?"

A shrug. "I guess. Doesn't really bother me either way."

"Oh, I knew you weren't HOSTILE to Artie. He's not bleeding" Sanguine about it, "I'm actually kind of impressed with you, Briar. This is a big step for you, isn't it? Taking point on a hunt?"

"He stays out of my way. Smart kid." She says, and puffs up a bit more. "I've done my own hunts. ACOURSE, but this is the first time I've been like, assigned. Not sure if that's how I'll go in the future, dunno about being some noble's muzzled attack dog... maybe I'll be a roaming hunter for hire."

"A Merc without mercy sounds nice, but then won't you just be under the orders of more than one at a time? "

She adds "I mean, I'm selfish, I kind of like having you around here, so that might be biasing me"

"Nah, because I'll go where I want and pick the jobs I do!"

"I mean, I'll visit, gotta get Marigold's cookin'."

A smile of wolf like teeth "I understand that. Mom's food is the best."

"Well, good. Be ready when I tell you it's time to go."

"Well, sure. Long as it's okay with the baron. He'll want forewarning so we don't leave the dogs"

"They're DOGS. They can fend fer 'emselves." She rolls her eyes. "But yeah yeah if you need your master to loosen the leash, whatever."

She's not insulted, The Baron is a good lord, and she is happy to serve him

"Fair point" A sigh "Lucky Rivervale. They'll deliver the new pups there. "

“How do you know they won’t steal or hide the best uns?”

"Because they're trolls and we're awesome" matter of factly

"Uh- HUH." A roll of her eyes. "You can't trust no one."

"Also the Baron knows contracts and you can bet he makes sure we get an early pick of the litter"

"Well, that's good then." She jerks a nod. "I gotta go sharpen my gloves. See ya. Soon."

"Gotcha. Later, and thanks for the invite" She picks up her flute almost threateningly

that is, she may play again any second

Briar skedaddles. Of her own volition, of course!

And soon, the Native American flute is blowing a wobbly but well intentioned version of Rainbow connection

(scene!)