#carnival

............

Kelby does turn around, and looks confused, "I was talking to him about Iowa basket ball."

The grin fades. "Somebody in Iowa basketball is bossy?" She shrugs. "Okay." It's none of her business, really. They were talking to each other.

Zane blinks, "Dude!" glaring at Colton.

Colton turns, "What?"

"I'm not useless, you know?" Zane says testily

"I didn't say you were" Colton says confused.

"You did, I heard you" Zane says "Just because I'm not a warrior doesn't mean I cant' contribute."

Bertrand looks around, "What the furk is going on?"

"Wait..wait...everybody stop."

She looks around at the terrain near the Silver.

She's looking to see if there's anything there, but she also asks, "Kelby, were you just thinking I was bossy? Be honest, it's okay, I need to know."

Pines, bristly and spiked adorn this part of the woods

"No. I mean, you are! but I wasn't thinking of it..." Kelby says "And you're not near as bossy as Clem."

"Okay...okay...." She thinks, still looking...and somehow it stings less when Kelby actually says it. "I think we need to keep moving, but...just...I think we're hearing things that people aren't actually saying. Zane, I didn't hear Colton say anything bad about you. So...just...ignore that stuff." She nods to the two in front to get the party moving again.

"It's not like she is anyone, her mother's ONLY hearth" Zane's voice is full of disdain.

At least, that sounded like his voice.

A sharp inhale, and she only just manages not to give the satyr a glare.

Betrand stiffens "For a moment I thought one of you said...never furking mind."

They keep moving.

OOC: int plus Lore would be fine if you want to roll it

"We didn't, Bertrand. Whatever it was." She's trying to be reassuring, but it probably comes across as irritated.

((hang on))

((Sylvi rolls 4 dice to Int & Lore 1,5,9,8 [1 success]))

Her dad mentioned something bout trees not always just being there in the Dreaming, not just growing.But talking and thinking and... to quote him "Not all of them are nice. "

"Somebody better not be trashing iowa" Kelby grumbles.

"It's...I think it's the trees, guys. I think we need to...when we get past them, it'll be better." I hope.

"Kelby, your home is great. I don't know much about other places in Iowa, but the Farm is wonderful."

"And Zane, you care a bunch about people, and you want to do things to help them, and that's important."

She keeps marching forward with the group.

"wasn't you who ... well, the trees huh?" Kelby eyes the trees, "How about this. The next rude comment I hear, or anyone else tells me they heard something mean, and I chop one of you down." her best her john wayne, "My fault, your fault, nobody's fault. You trees try that again, and one of you is kindling."

"Bertrand, you craft amazing stuff. Like Colton's arm! And Colton, you're really strong and a great fighter. So don't listen tot he rest of the stuff."

The boys look pleased, but then they hear Kelby's ultimatium. and give a low whistle.

She laughs at Kelby's threat to the trees, agreeing and adding, "She'll do it too!"

And for the rest of the trip past the pines (which Zane will refer to as the 'quarrel pines' as he's keeping something of a journal), they are no more insulting remarks from ANY voice.

Sylvi has no small sense of relief at that.

"Thanks, Kelby."

"No problem," Kelby says then sheepishly "I guess I can be bossy too." That causes some laughter to break out, as the terrain shifts around them, the pines behind them.

"I was going to say...." She grins at her friend. "Okay, Bertrand, how's the compass mirror doing?"

"We're gonna want to go towards the left which I guess is kind of...westerly Hard to tell here, but that's what I got..." He answers staring carefully into the mirror.

Scanning the terrain, she checks to see if the Silver is going to help them out. "Watch your step, stay on the path."

the silver continues straight, but does have a branch off to the left.

And the terrain has new trees, fewer spikey pines, more Poplars... and less in number, not as dense. It is hillier

"Okay...I guess we go that way." Nodding towards the left branch.

"Everybody okay?"

As they make their way onto the left branch, there's a rickety clatter of wheels, a man pulling a cart. He looks less kithain and more... human, albeit one in a low brim hat and patch work coat. "Greetings youngins... care to trade?"

((Is he coming towards them from in front, or overtaking them from behind?))

(Coming towards them)

"Trade? I don't know...what sorts of things are you offering?" A cautious frown, and she glances to the others.