#brightwindsbarony

"She's not in her room" Rose calls to Ross

The door cracks, and a sleepy looking Nessa peers out. "Sorry, I fell asleep with headphones on. I was trying this guided medication podcast... I guess it worked too well."

"Was it the chiming bowl?" Ross asks

"You know, those do not work for me" Rose comments, then looks at Nessa "Sorry, honey, but we have a big decision to make"

"This one was a lady telling me how to breathe." A smile, and then a concerned look at her mom. "What's going on? Did something happen?" Her hooves tapping a little nervously as she shifts her weight.

"Yes and more.. " Her mom nods "But it's all good. The jackwad who tried to have you kidnapped? He's been taken down"

"And a lot of other centaurs freed" Her dad adds, "Six or so more centaurs"

She recoils a bit at the mention, but then relaxes a touch. "Geez, he really had it out for us, didn't he?"

"He did" Her mom's anger over the memory flickers "Glad he's dealt with. But ah, that''s nnot why we needed to talk to you exactly. More the fall out from that. Something that could affect our family"

"Perhaps in a good way" Her dad adds

Her brow furrows up a bit. "But... he's gone. Right? So we can relax and get back to normal."

"In fae jail" A nod from her dad, he pats her shoulder

"So... what is it then?" Looking from mom to dad, now a touch nervous.

"Well, some of the centaurs have few places to go" Her dad looks her over, "they don't have a family of centaurs to hold together like we do. They're lost, confused, no hold of their own so to speak."

A frown. "I know the feeling. We all do... before Sparrow took us in." Nodding. "But... remember how many people came looking for us when we first arrived? Surely they are still open to 'adopting' centaurs too?"

"So many at at once, they have to be split up to different holds, willing to take them in" Her dad explains "Remember what we learnend about balefires varying in power? Well.. one might be coming here"

"But We get a say in that" rose nods "The baroness said so. wanted ot make sure it was okay with us"

"And we wanted to bring it up to you" Ross nods "It's ah.. about a kid"

She blinks, confused. "But... it's Sparrow's hold. She should decide. Of course I wouldn't say no to anyone who needed a home, but it's not up to ME."

"Unless..." A worried look. "Would we need to leave to make room?"

"oh goodness, you go to the worse places" Her mom fusses "I blame myself for being so jaded by Retail. Passed on some paranoia. No we're not going anywhere.. Ross, you tell her? Do that Charles Ingles thing... you know, look wise and paternal?"

Ross swats his wife's rump lightly, but chuckles, then looks at Nessa "It IS up to us. You see, the kid is just tha, a childing. He would need a family, so WE would be fosterring him, in the mortal world and the changeling. IF you're okay with someone who might turn out ot be a much younger brother"

"Oh... OH!" She looks surprised, then relieved, and then delighted! "Of course! The more the merrier!"

"Truth to tell," Rose admits, "We're doing better as Centaurs than we ever did as plain old folk, and I guess I DO kind of miss having a young one to boss around. God knows you were often latch key because of us working long shifts and so on"

"You were both great parents." Nessa argues, then amends, "still ARE. And if you're up for the task of running herd on a new little foal, more power to you! I guess it's fitting, we can all learn together what it means to be a centaur."

"His name is Ganbold..." Rose grins "apparently he's a little go getter"

"I think we'll have fun showing him the park"