#bergen_county

"Yeah, well...I get that." Adds a hand to the petting. "Sorry...."

She rubs at her face with her sleeve, making both somehow grubbier.

Star takes the strokes and nuzzles both

Sylvi sighs and lets her go.

"...sorry."

"I was kind of hoping you could give me some tips on how to get used to a new place...." A wry grin. "Guess not, huh? It all sucks?"

Trying to wipe the raccoon circles away from under her own eyes.

She sits down heavily on a hay bale.

"Not every place sucks." She sinks down to sit, too, drawing her knees up close.

"No."

"It... " She struggles. "You..."

"I know you'll do good there. You're so good at people. Better than me, for sure."

"So."

"Ppfft." A dismissive noise. "Didn't do so good with people tonight." She gestures at the two of them. "How's this for interpersonal skills?"

At that, Star nickers. As if yes, horses have much more sense

"That's just me."

"I'm not... I'm pretty selfish..."

"Well...I'm a big chicken. So."

"I wish you could stay."

"That's the thing. I could. I mean..." She gestures around. "It's Rivervale. I could stay here forever." A sigh. "But...I've been able to have this my whole life so far. I mean, yeah, I visit other places, but...I'm totally spoiled."

Sniff. "You are needed here. How don't you see how much you matter? You're... the leader. You're gonna be Chief someday."

Her brow furrows. "Maybe. I don't know. But...if that's true, then I've kinda gotta learn how to do it right, y'know? And...that's what Chieftain Hewitt's asking me to do."

"This doesn't feel like Alaska. Or like Siv."

"It feels like forever."

"It's not like Alaska. It's not just a mission. It's...a move. And yeah...it does feel like that," she adds quietly. "I mean, there's a trod right there...but."

"But it's not the same."

She shakes her head.

"Are you mad at me?"

Another head shake. "I mean...I was, just then, because...well...we both were. But I'm not now. Just...I really need us to stay friends," she says hopefully.

"I wanna stay friends."

Sylvi reaches to give her hand a squeeze. "Sorry I'm not making it easy."

"It's not... like... I'm not helping, either. So. So we're even?"

An attempt at a laugh. "Yeah."

"Woo." Softly.

"If it helps any...Chieftain Hewitt knows Rivervale's my first priority, if it ever comes down to some kind of conflict."

"Hope there ain't, though. You know?"

"And... and, you won't be all alone, right? Flopsy going?"

"Yes, he..." she stops and thinks. "Wow. I...I guess I kind of assumed he will. I...think he is." A troubled look. "I hope he is."

A gulp.

"That'll help, if he does. And having your stuff."

"And, y'know, boyfriend."

Sheepish, "Colton's really not why I'm going, but I've gotta admit I'm glad he's there."

"Yeah."

"And... and it can be fun, setting up a new room?"

"Maybe... maybe Anne Marie could help with a quilt..."

"I don't know...I've been in the same room since I was little."

"Like... like you can take something from everybody with you... and then.. maybe that would help?"

"I mean, I've stayed in other rooms, but they weren't mine."

"That would be cool," she agrees.

"Oh, no, you gotta make it yours." She nods. "Stake it out, yeah. Like, this one time, when I was staying with the Dinofrios..."