#brightwindsbarony

Rockhammer seems restless, but does not thrash about in the tub of soil and rocks

Grete is perhaps more nervous that the shark. Hope has likely manages to corral her long enough to wipe off her face at least, if not a full change of clothes - the wichtel, despite assurances, is loathe to leave the shark's side.

Hope fusses about those clothes

Catir still looks pale but has changed clothes, to a dress of green

Grete's eyes widen when she sees Catir - shoulders slump in relief. But not quite ready to make eye contact.

Sparrow has claimed her high seat. "So. We have a bit of a mess on our hands, don't we?"

"So it would seem" Dubh observes drily "The other sharks were.. liberated, but they seemed to have left the area"

Grete is staring at the floor. She shifts her stance a little taking comfort from the familiar stone tiles under her feet.

"Now. How do we move forward from this? One thing seems very clear to me - both of you regret having caused harm to the other. Am I mistaken?"

A shake of her head.

"No," Cathir shakes her own head "Not mistaken"

"Well then. That's a start."

"I do not want the misunderstandings and fears to fester and grow into hate. Hate causes nothing but suffering. So... Grete, Caitir... I am asking you both to be brave. Can you do that for me?"

Grete nods. She can't quite look at Sparrow right now. Not when she's not Sparrow, she's Baroness Derynwydd in her glory.

Catir nods

a lot

"Good. I know you are both brave girls. That is why I am so very fond of both of you. Now - you both regret causing harm, but you both felt such BIG emotions you had to strike out. Anger can be very loud, and fear can sound like anger, too. Am I making sense?"

A touch of hesitance, but she nods again. It kinda makes sense.

"Anger is.. like fire sometimes" The Gwdyion looks guilty

"So - this is why I am asking you to be brave. I want you to tell me what you are afraid of. I can start, if you like. I am afraid, very afraid, of harm coming to either one of you. I have promised to look over you, and I care very much about your happiness. I fear... I am not very experienced at being a guardian, or at being a parental figure. I make mistakes."

...."It can be like... if fire gets into a seam of coal." Grete offers, hesitantly. "It smolders, and you can't see it. Until it's too much for the ground and it comes up."

"Yeah" A look at the Baroness. DOes She HAVE to admit she's afraid?

Sparrow nods. "And when it comes up, flares out... oh, it can feel justified in the moment! It can feel powerful. But... you kind of don't feel so good after?"

Grete shuffles a little. "Sometimes it feels better after." She has to admit, though she doesn't think it's what the Baroness wants to hear. "Not like this, though. If we'd just had a scrap..."

"If I hadn't gone berserk" The Gwydion adds, then takes a breath "I'm afraid that I'll let Sparrow down if I'm not a good leader to the other childlings and don't help them enough. I'm also so afraid no one likes me, but I don't know how to find the balance"

"...Baroness, can I ask for something? I know it ain't the time to ask for favors, but."

"You can ask, Grete."

"Can I take Rocky away, help her find a safe place to be, before I go?" She reaches over to touch the fin that is lazily swirling in the bathtub. "I know you don't want her here."

Sparrow sighs.

"Well... I am afraid to say that I don't think we can allow the whole school of sharks to stay, Grete. But Sir Dubh says that you led the rest of them off?"

A pause. "Wait. Before you go?"

Grete carefully schools her expression into something other than a wobbly chin. Be like stone. Be strong.

"I almost killed your... Catir, and she's your special person from Arcadia... I started it. And then I fought with your OTHER special friend, and... and THAT I'd do again." A flick of a sullen glance at Dubh. "I disobeyed, and people got hurt. So now I'm gonna be sent away."

"..maybe I can go live with the sharks. Honest, Baroness. I'd rather do that then have my mama come get me."

"you can't send Grete away, this is her Home" Catir protests

Dubh raises a brow at this odd display between the girls

Grete just shrugs, looking somewhat miserable.

A stricken look. "I... Grete, I would not send you away."

"Then.. you're going to lock me up?"

She looks a little stricken, too.

"We are going to have to find a way to make sure your shark friend can't hurt anyone going forwards... well, not hurt a friend, it can bite the hell out of a true enemy..." She shifts her weight, feathers slicking and relaxing.

"Maybe.. uhm.. some kind of geasa? Or.. other magic for... what's the shark's name again?"
that from Catir

"You and Caitir will be punished for coming to blows, yes. You will have extra chores. But nobody is being banished or imprisoned."

A big tear rolls down Grete's cheek. followed by another.

"That..." She shakes her head.

"Or not a geasa..." Catir says "I.. I don't think her shark should be punished for being loyal"

"It might be a matter of obedience training."

Catir blushes and fidgets

She rubs her temples. "Grete. You are my ward, like Caitir, and like Ashlee. I am not happy that the two of you fought, but I don't... Grete, can you choose between your big piece of lapis and that faceted amethyst?"

She shakes her head slowly. "Irene... Irene said that the Amethyst was better because it was purple, but that's just from element impurities."

"Irene is a little biased."

"Now... those two stones, they're very different. But that doesn't mean they don't both hold value to you, right?"