#darkgatefortress

Yup. They ennter the grim place and approach the .. oh, he's is the smithy now

And that's where they head. Sylvi doesn't look at Colton on the way there, and they likely arrive in the smithy standing stiffly next to each other. "Chieftain."

Hammering, then he looks up "Eh? Oh you're back. How goes it?"

"We found the Ravager" The Storm says "But the Bridge and I disagree about what should be done with her"

Chief Hewitt lifts a brow "That right, Bridge?"

"Yes, Chieftain."

She wants to just rattle off the situation...but the Chieftain gets to decide who goes first.

"Well, Bridge, I'll hear from both of you but why don't you start"

Sylvi glances at Colton, and then takes a deep breath and begins, explaining the situation with finding Mr. Catt, and learning about Bobby being ravaged, and how well Colton brought him out of that, and how she helped with Spring. "Then we went to meet the nocker...and I'm pretty sure we put a good dose of fear into her. Chieftain, I'm really reluctant to take a mother from her son, unless the son is really suffering at the mother's hands, and that doesn't seem to be the case here. She knows we're watching her. I say we consider this probation. But...the Storm doesn't agree."

"Storm?" The Chief says "That so?"

"I empathically do not agree. Karbunkle has ravaged a mortal Dreamer child, and not out of need, but SPITE and pettiness. Our fief cannot afford to lose Dreamers and while Bobby will dream again, i will be sometime before he can be safely mused. A slap on the wrist is just going to send the message that everyone can ravage 'once' and naught come of it. And the boy has a father. "

Hewitt ponders this for a bit

"The boy does not have his father. His father is a once-a-month visitation...and we don't know why that's the case."

"He lives in another city, so of course he's not visiting every week. And it appears to be unsupervised. If he was a danger I doubt that would be the case. Mrs. Karbunkle is the criminal here. Why are we trreating a man we haven't met like he must be? " Coltonn frowns

Hewit's brow wrinkles

"I'm not. I'm saying that Karbunkle is a known quantity, and she's on our radar now. Yes, she's a fuck-up....pardon me, Chieftain...but that's her son. That's his mother. And on top of that, he's friends with Bobby, the dreamer. If his mother disappears, Chester will have to move to be with his father. How is that fair to a kinain who did nothing wrong?"

"And if she gets frustrated with a 'second place son' , what if she DOES hurt her son because he's a failure? Let alone ravage Bobby againn? " Colton replies

At this, the Chieftain holds up his hand "All right. All right I think I know what we need to do next"

Sylvi was about to reply, but she snaps her mouth shut as Hewitt puts up his hand.

"Seems to me, both of your complaints have to do with, in part, that we don't know the nature of the father. I want to find out who the man is, what he's like, why they divorced and more. Justice cannot exist wihout more facts. As for Karbunkle the missus , I feel she SHOULD pay a deeper price than a scare, but I am not sure denying her son is... well, kinian or no, that's a great price for mother to pay and yes, possibly too great to punish the son with either. My business is Changelings, rulin them, shielding them. I myself am no Liam, but how will it look, if we show the commoners hee that I am willing to tear their own clan mates from them? Could be as bad as letting her get away with a ravaging with just a 'boo' and 'we're watching you' . I do not blame either of you for your views. I COUNT on them, but I think somewhere between too soft and too hard we'll find a 'just right' option. I'll make sure someone patrols by her House once a day fo a bit, and we'll send out someone to learn of the Father in detail, then I'll make a ruling" The Chief nods "I thank you both"

Sylvi looks like she wants to say something else, but she just says, "Thank you, Chieftain."

"Thank you, Chieftain" The Storm says

A nod from the Dougal, and he goes back to Hammering but says "One of you please tell the Mountain to see me when she can"

"Yes, Chieftain." Sylvi takes his return to hammering as a dismissal, and turns to leave the forge.

As does Colton. They walk, he looks like he might want to say something but.. doesn't

Neither does she. But she does head to where the Mountain might be found. If Colton wants to head there too, that's up to him.

They both go, and then.. find the Mountain

Wildheart looks up from her book, "Storm, Bridge" Thenn a brow "You both look like you each took a bite from the same apple and both found a worm"

Sylvi shoots a quick glance at Colton before she simply says, "Chieftain Hewitt would like to speak with you, Mountain, when you have a moment. He's in the Forge."

"Sure thing" the only other female among the hiher ups glannces at Colton "What did you do anyway, Storm?"

"My Duty, as much as I was allowed" he says coolly

"Uh huh" Wildheart looks dubious, but rises to head to talk to the Chieftain

Sylvi's jaw clenches at that comment from Colton. She makes room for the Mountain to pass, and then continues on towards the Fortress exit.

For a moment, Colton looks tempted to follow ,or say something. His jaw softening, and his eyes also, but then he takes a breath and goes back to check on his men. he has patrols to arrannge

Sylvi, for her part, heads back to the house. That hadn't been what she'd planned to do, but plans change.

Flo is outside beating rugs to remove the dust, and there are quilts waving merrily in the breeze - airing out in the sun, the best way to keep them fluffy and fresh without the damage of washer or dryer.

It may not be the warm welcome of Colton's arms, but she does have a welcome at her home when she returns - and perhaps even cookies in the oven as well. Again, not as fine as her mother's... but none ever are!

Sylvi bids a quick hello to Flo, compliments her on how fresh the rugs and quilts are looking, lets her know that she doesn't want to be disturbed for a little while, and then vanishes to her room where she may or may not compose angry notes that she deletes without sending.

The kinain knows well not to disturb one in that stormy mood! Perhaps, Flo ponders, she should mention this to her lady. But for now... the rugs, and the quilts!

(End scene)