#baronyofthesilverwolf

"I got the job!" Noínín hugs Monobrow!

" I knew you would!" Monobrow declares "I knew you would. Uhm.. can I stay?"

"Course! The baron here thought that Gwydion was an idiot for trying to grind you up!" Noínín assures "THey scared me a bit, but then I played some vivaldi, and he asked for Straus' Blue Danube, and they waltzed and I was in!"

"I like them already." The Unicorn decides, "Did you make any friends?" Monobrow asks "I want you to have lots of friends"

"I got a unicorn for a friend, let's not be greedy" Noínín informs him, then he pauses and considers "Bluebell's nice. SHe's a grown up but ... fun? A pooka lady. SHe's very pretty and she dances like she's got no bones but lots of strength and grace you know?"

"Awesome" Monobrow observes "You did it! I can stay, you got a place here! "

"It's all good" Noínín nods

"it's better than good, it's great!" Monobrow says, then laughs "THough THistle is just.. .I get a bit weird around her"

"You did seem kind of pushy likey with her" The boy says "What's up wqith that?"

"I don't know, I just.. feel this pull? SHe's just neat!" Monobrow admits.

"She seems nice enough" Noínín says still not seeing it, "Maybe I can pay her back for the ride with a performance too. OH, that reminds me. I'm gonna put on a party for here, with one of the thanes inviting her boyfriend I think? And I also need to find good music about rabbits. For Bluebell"

"Oo are there a lot of songs and such about rabbits?" Monobrow considers "Little Bunny Fru Fru?"

"Oh too much bopping in that one" The boy considers "I'll find something though. Maybe someone will have ideas"

Of course, neither Monobrow nor Noínín could predict that Briar's suggestion of 'watch watership down' would lead to yes, a good song or two, but also a nightmare in his first week!

.............

"Niner, you ever hear of Jefferson Airplane?"

The boy nods "The nobles prefer I go classiical music ,they did in my old hold, but I learned a lot so I could make many people happy" A pause ":Didn't they turn into a starship?"

"Not when they sang this." Poking away at her tablet.

The boy leans over to hear

"I'm curious" Noínín tells her "Sides, If I'm the troubadour for the hold I have to know what everyone likes"

White Rabbit continues to be cool AF, with smoky guitars and slick vocals.

He listens to it all, swaying his head.

It is clear he's commiting it to memory as best a 9 year old can, even as he enjoys it, a smile on his face.

Thistle smiles when the kid isn't looking, and starts bringing up a queue.

"Hey, this might be a good song for Bluebell. I'm looking for rabbit songs"

The next song is much more upbeat. Bouncy even. Elton John singing about Ol' Jack Rabbit.

He taps his foot to this one

"Bet that'd work on harmonica."

"Easily" He takjes out his harmonica

"Bluebell likes to dance."

"She's GREAT at it," And he starts to play the Elton John tune... stops, starts over, and gets it better. The kid has a real ear for music

Yup. Rough at first but soon he's getting it right... and more. Thistle finds that project she was considering, the one on the back burner? Comes back to mind, with a new idea!

"Oh!"

She lets him play, but her hands are suddenly busy - striking while the iron is hot!

And the boy does play, practice makes perfect after all, and he has two songs to switch between now, more if you coun't Bright Eyes from Watership down... though he's not sure Bluebell needs to hear that one. It might make her cry.

It is interesting, he's caught in his music, unaware of her art. She however , is no less in her artistry, but draws on the ambient music for fuel to her own creative fires

She'd had other sings to share, but the ideas are just flowing.

The Nevers at least don't mind the repetition, chiming and dancing in the air around the childling.

Dancers he notices, and plays too

Giggling as one shamrock green one kicks real high

And nearly losing the tune

Thistle doesn't mind the waver - she's riding high, elbow deep in an engine.

While she works on that, he switches things up.. which is good, as the muse reignites. It's the first time she hears him sing. He's only 9, but his voice is really good with more power than some adults. It's probably good this life isn't centuries ago or someone might try to make a castrati out of him

"Trickster came a'calling To find a totem here
To teach the foolish heart of man
Without installing fear.
Many came and many went And still the Trickster paused;
Bear and Cat and Tiger tried but had too many claws.
Dog and Wolf though wise indeed
Had teeth t'were quite a fright
And Owl with his tawny eyes could only see at night.
"No," the Trickster said at last
"Teachers, I see many.
But My way is full of laughter and in you I see not any."

"But beneath the tree where Eagle sat
Coyote told the tale
of silly hares cavorting
In the old country of Wales.
Raven stared unto the sun
And Crow sang awful songs
And Rabbit sat a'listening
With ears so wondrous long."

"Aha!" The Trickster danced a dance
Of mirth and vict'ry sweet.
He leapt with joy and swooped a swoop
And landed at their feet.
"Of all here now," the Trickster said
"You are the very Beasts!"
And Rabbit said, "I'm sorry sir
But of all, we are the least."

The song is no less inspiring than the harmonica, though what the shift does for Thistle's muse, well, only a nocker could explain or know

The Trickster smiled and raised a hand
And spoke: "I have a plan
The four of you shall help me
To teach the heart of Man.
Raven with your love of light
The Sun you'll steal and soon.
For the gift of warmth I give to man
To be the greatest boon.
And Crow, you silly creature
Who sings without a voice,
Teach man 'bout pride and helping
You really have no choice.
Coyote my friend, together we'll spin
Many a tale at night,
And show man by our naughtiness
What really should be right."

At the mention of Coyote again, why, memories might come to light for Thistle

At last He turned to Rabbit
With a twinkle in his eye
"You'll be my favorite creature
And here's the reason why:
Your eyes are bright, your feet are swift
Your ears hear round the bend
But your very simple humbleness
Will steal the heart of men.
Together we shall thwart the pains
The gods do throw to earth
And turn aside their fiery darts
With merriment and mirth.
And when time comes that men forget
The lessons animals render
T'will be the humble rabbit
That mankind will remember."

And round the Trickster the animals thronged
The birds and all the beasts
And humbly bowed to the king they found,
who thought himself "the least.""