#bergen_county

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Late morning of the next day, Sylvi sends out a text to the group. TXT: Hey, I'm in RV. Meeting up with Dagmar first. When does everybody want to get together?

TXT: At the stables!

She also sends a text to Olgar and Kerri: TXT: Hey, parental units! I'm in town, will be there in a bit.

Indeed, Dagmar has prepared by saddling Star and Stormwake. Spark is tethered to his sire by a lead rope.

Sylvi shows up outside the Lodge, sporting a stylish backpack. "Hey!" she calls out as she approaches the stables, then smiles. "A ride? Cool."

Stormwake whickers a hello

"Hey, buddy," she says, reaching across the fence to pet his velvety nose.

"Listen, let me run inside and drop my things, say a quick hello to the folks, then I'll be right out. Promise I won't be more than a minute."

"Sure thing."

True to her word, Sylvi jogs up to the Lodge, finds her mom in the kitchen and gives a quick hug hello, explains that she's running right out because Dagmar is all set up for riding plus there's some kind of wilder drama to discuss but she doesn't know all the details, but she'll be back in for a real hello later and she'll be staying for the weekend, love-you-mom-bye! And then she's jogging back out to the stables.

"Hey." A shy smile for Sylvi.

(Kerri would not have had time for much more than a hi, a hug, and a bemused "have fun!" before Hurricane Sylvi was out the door again.)

"Hey," Sylvi grins in reply, and she gives Dagmar a proper hug hello.

"I thought... I dunno, I thought a trail ride would be fun?"

"Spark is restless, but he's usually really good on the lead. You'll be on Star..."

"Oh! Okay. Hey, Spark!" She ruffles the yearling's forelock, then she goes to Star. "Hi there. Ready?" She checks the girth before mounting up out of habit and good practice.

Star is quite happy to get a good trip going

Dagmar mounts and takes the lead. "So, like... we could head for the lake, maybe? I got snacks from both our moms..."

"Oh, great! Yeah, lake sounds good." She follows Dagmar onto the trail.

"I am still not sure about the Siv drama. But, like, no way Chief and Frank are leaving - right?"

"Wait...leaving?!" Sylvi sounds alarmed. "When did them leaving become part of the conversation?"

"I... I dunno. Siv was really alarmed. Just... like... people leave... but Chief wouldn't, right?"

Sylvi's quiet for a few moments.

"I guess...I mean, someday? Someday she probably will. I mean...she's pretty old...."

"Banality is gonna get us all someday. Or, y'know, like Hearth Agnes, she didn't want to be Chieftain after a while, and gave it to Clem."

"But Hearth Agnes didn't leave."

"I... I know that. But she's strong. And you're right. Agnes didn't leave."

"Right. I think...maybe you're worrying too much?" she suggests carefully.

She nods. "Might be. Yeah."

"But I still don't get what Siv was talking about," she says as they ride along as a placid pace. "Have you spoken to her?"

"Not yet."

Thoughtful silence.

"Siv's kinda... like.. she and Piper and Jonas kinda all... " Waves. "They're a set."

"Think she was just having a Fiona moment?"

"Maybe. Siv's got big feels."

"And yeah, I'm not worried that she doesn't have anybody to talk to. They look out for each other."

Spark hops into little short flappy flights on occasion as he trots along with the group.

"They do. And, like, it's good? They seem pretty happy."

"Except when there's OMGDrama." Then a grin. "Spark seems pretty happy, too. Those wings are wild."

"Right? It's amazing Star hasn't gone grey, but I've been setting her up with the winged saddle so she can fly with him. He's kinda like a drunk goose, still."

She laughs.

Star gives a snort and tosses her head a bit, but seems amused.

"And I think with a Fiona and a Satyr, there will always be OMGDrama at times."

"I bet they really look amazing, flying together." Sylvi leans forward to pat Star's neck.

"Yeah, and Jonas has to keep them all grounded."

"Well, he's a nice solid guy."

"Yeah. I mean, what I've seen of him is uber-formal with the way he speaks, but nice."

"Yeah. It's a little weird, but he's okay."