#bergen_county

Connor wags his tail at Jack. "Did you have a good dad-day with Mister Torin-rad?"

"It was awesome. I took Dad to a pizza place, because who doesnt like pizza? Later we went for a hike'

"How was it with your dad?"

"It was good! We went on a jungle cruise, and rode roller coasters, and we were gonna take a trip to the moon but it was during the day so we couldn't find it, and ended up going to a walk instead. I don't know if it was a hike. How can you tell the difference?"

The boy considers, and thinks about it "Aha, we had walking sticks. Maybe that's what makes it a hike?"

"There were a lot of sticks around. There's even more trees up there than over here. Or maybe there's just less city? It's different. It was... nice, though." Smiling to himself.

"Of course, would a hiking stick make it walking since a walking stick makes it hiking?" He says "wow. Mind blown."

"And..." He leans in, practically bursting with his news. "Guess what? Guess. Guess. Guess!!"

"What what what?" He leans over back grinning

"Gerd is gonna be working there! I heared it with my very own ears. Miz Marigold - she's like if you took Hearth Kerri and washed off the Blue, and squished her down a bit until she is wider instead of taller - she gave her a job and everything. That means I can visit more, which is neat, because. Um. Because. Um. Because I can hang out with Wudlig. He drives a Pumpkin!"

"You're moving? the boy rubs at his horns.. okay, they're stil nubs

Blink BLINK. "I don't think so. I mean, Miz Marigold said I should call it home, but it's not HOME home. I have a room there, but it's just a room, it's not MY room. And they have horses there, but not Stormwake 'n Star 'n Spark. And their Knights are all wrong, none of them wear proper green 'n' gold. But maybe I can spend some of the summer visiting?"

His tone reassuring, even as his tail flashes happily.

"They don't have even ONE goat."

"Oh, well, I know you like them but I'd miss you if you did go fur ever" He says relaxing

"No, I'd miss the goats too much. All my best friends have horns and hoofs." Reaching over to ruffle a hand through Jack's hair.

Jack smiles "That's great then."

Nod nod nod!

"Your big sister sure is nice" He says

"And Gerd can hang out with Wudlig. They like smoochin', but it's okay because they're taller than me." His nose wrinkles up a bit.

He pats his friend's shoulder "The Cooties hit hard when you get tall"

A narrow eyed glance over at Jack. "Stand up for a second, yeah?"

He stands up "What? Not me. I'm still a kid"

Connor moves back-to -back with Jack and reaches a hand to measure their heights. A gasp. "You GREW!"

"Only a little!"

"That's it, you're fired from the Shadowpaw."

"UnLESS."

"Unless?" He sweats "Hey Layne's taller than me? Horse parts and then girl part on top of it "

"UnLESS... you find some snacks." He grins, then sobers up. "Dinner was awful. I don't want to say so, because that's rude, but... even Oak wouldn't eat it."

A confused look "Dinner at Silverwolf, or dinner at Rivervale?"

"Dinner here. And Hearth Kerri is all..." He makes stomp stomp stomp motions. "I stayed out of the way! SOMEONE is in TROUBLE."

"But not me. I'm pretty sure this isn't about the flowers in the pantry. The bag SAID "flour" on it, so I just filled it back up...."

"Hearth Kerri's food is great." But he thinks it over, then He nods "Probably adolt stuff. Grumps are always having to dealwith stuff mortal dolts cause" He brightens "I'll get you a snack. You wait right here"

And zooom the satyr is speedy quick fast

Connor rubs his belly and waits eagerly...

And jack flap returns and skids to a halt "Okay ones on the left are Karab Peanut butter the ones on the right side are chocolate. I forget if you're alergic to chocolate. "

Connor grabs one of the carob ones and shoves it into his cheek. "Mmmmmmmmmmmmm"

"Bes' pard uh these treatsh?" Chew, chew, swallow, satisfied look. "...Is they never let you down."

"Mmm " A mouthfull agreement "King's convenience has the best snacks.."

"Ymmmmm-hmmm." His tail wags, all forgiven for the betrayal.

"Maybe you can come visit up north. They have a garden, but it's all topsy-turvy, nothing grows in neat rows."

"Oh? A garden?" The satyr boy is one of the few to show a love of green things among his kith, not that satyrs hate green

"With a drippy fountain and the biggest frog I EVER seen, and roses that grow up a wall...."

"Oh maybe they'd let me try grating some of their stuff to ours or vice versa?"

"And a bench with a statue of the prettiest ladies you'll ever see..." He blinks. "What's that?"

"you take one part of a plant and put it on another.. like frankenstien , but with flowers" A grin

"Frankenstem!" He laughs!

Jack laughs too

"I'll ask when I'm up there. Or I'll try to. Maybe better if you come otherwise they'll get confused. People get confused a LOT."

"Oh yeah, people do NOT Like you messing with their yards and stuff. Learned that. You gotta ask even if you could improve things a LOT they get touchy "