#bergen_county

"Ooo I hate those," May says "But I roll with it"

"You do. Part of why you're the best."

May smiles "Hey, if it makes my friends smile, it can't be bad."

"Geez you're so nice" Lupe says

"She is!"

"Sometimes I'd rather be special..different, extra ordinary, but nice will do" May says shrugs, and an eagle, chimerical, bursts up from the motion and takes flight

"You are special." Firmly, in that way she sometimes has - utter conviction, as if pronouncing some universal truth.

(See also: "Okra is Evil" and "Tove is the best cook.")

And who can argue?

(End Scene)

Piper is bustling around the house, looking for this and that, packing up a duffle bag and chatting with her favorite Auntie.

"A new satyr - how exciting. Just a lil' faun, I bet he's just as cute as ZuZu used to be before puberty hit him with a baseball bat." Checking her bag... "Let's see.. I have a recorder, some old pipes, my ocarina, my guitar... Hmmm, maybe a uke would be a better size for little hands."

Setting it down, and darting off to another room to find the elusive piece, and coming back with a small tom tom drum. "Auntie M, do you know if this is just decorative, or if I can borrow it?"

Marsha smiles "I always find ukelales so cheerful"

"Oh.." At hte sight of the tom tom drum "You can use it."

"I admit, I don't know if music will be the faun's thing, but I never met a kid that didn't like banging on things!"

"He'll love it. " She says "Though he is very skittish. Poor dear was not treated well from what I hear"

"And now stuck there with a bunch of stern blue guardian stonework figures. I guess there is that pooka kid to keep him company, but it doesn't exactly seem an exciting place for a faun to frolic and play." A pause, and she grins. "And Tove, of course."

"Is he nice?" Lydia asks from around the corner

"I haven't met him yet. He might be filled with snips and snails and puppy dog tails."

"Well, there aren't enough kids so that's okay if he is," Lydia says "Lily is VERY quiet for looong periods" The kinain girl says

"awww"Marsha kisses her daughter's forehead, "There's always regular school honey"

"I guess" Sulk

A glance over to Marsha. "Do you want to come with me to the lodge? If your Ma says it's okay?"

Marsha says "I'm going to be robbed of my best daughter AND best neice? Oh very well" She winks "But be back in time for a meal mmm?"

Lydia beams 'yay"

She grins to Lydia. "Awesome. We can have a little girl time on the walk over. Oh, and, Auntie M...." She remembers something and sends a quick text to her aunt. "Here's the site for the dance club I was talking to Lyron about going to. I was thinking maybe this weekend, if he's free."

"Oh my... I am so tempted to ruin your fun with talk of strangers you barely know..." A grin "Thank you for keeping me posted on the location. YOu know the code to send if anything goes wrong"

Lydia bounces "Can we go can we go can we go can we go?"

A salute, and she grins to Lydia. "Oh, I'm gonna stop by to say hi to Tove. Any message or anything?"

"Just let her know if she needs some help around the house either I or one of the wilders under my power can be put to work so she can gets lots of rest"

"Oh sure - heeeeeeey, aren't I one of those wilders?" A mock offended look, as she makes sure that Lydia is bundled up.

"Good eye" her Aunt smiles and helps with Lydia's hat while Piper gets her coat on.

She takes up her duffle of instruments. "Lydia, did you want to bring something to play?" Trying to remember which, if any instrument the youngster gravitates towards.

"oh, wait..." And she races off to get it..whatever it is.

"Be glad she's no longer interested in the tuba" Aunt Marsha says

She comes back, clutching her instrument "ready"

A grin as she tries to peep at what she has, but if Lydia is hiding it, she chuckles. "Off we go! Let's make a merry pace so we keep warm on the trek."

She shows it "it's a harmonica" A smile "I can play it anywhee... and sure... I can't run satyr fast but I'm good" she follows

Piper keeps a brisk pace, but not too fast for Lydia to easily keep up. "I'm sure you've been to the lodge before, right?"

"Oh sure, mostly for big dinners and holidays. Imbolc is always nice"

"Oh, yes. I always dreamt of being a firebrand when I was a faun."

"Too bad they don't take kinian" she says with a sigh "mom says it's because we're not always protected by the Escheat in some areas so it's just best, but it sort of sucks" A sulk

"It is a shame. But chin up, there's lots of stuff you can do. And maybe things are starting to change, a little at least. Did you hear that Adam is the newest thane at Rivervale?" A touch of pride in her voice.

"I heard. Zane says Adam killed a linnorm and is getting lesson in fighting" She says "I hope Adam does well, maybe other kinian will get more chances too"

"Do you ever talk to Sallie May? She's a real sweetheart. You could come by sometime when she's visiting, if you want to chat with another kinain. Hey, any time I'm heading over, you're welcome to come too."

"Sally May's nice, but I don't see her often" she says then a smile at the offer, "You SURE? I'm little, might be a buzzkill if you want to smoochie with Adam or something at the lodge"

She makes a smooch face

She grins. "Let's make a pact. I promise that you're always invited to come along with, as long as you promise to not complain - or snitch!- about anything I do there. Oh, and if I ever head out after - I'll make sure you get home, unless you want to stay over. Connor seems to like sleepovers, and folk have been saying he needs more kids around to play with. "

"Deal!" Lydia says

Turning down the path that leads to the lodge

And they see Oak, who barks to greet them.