#darkgatefortress

At Darkgate.. The Storm finds himself wanting the healers to hurry

"I've got one metal arm, just heather balm the flesh one faster will you?"

"Just because your lady is dropping by this weekend?" The Mountain snorts delicately. Wildheart continues the healing

"I may not have her for much longer, Wildheart" A frown on his face

"is she dumping you?"

"No.. " He shrugs "But her duties are now to Goldfinch..."

"Goldfinch, the hold that's a trod away?" A brow

"Yes.. she'll be focused on that.." Dubious abrow back from him

"Too bad that can't possibly work, say like it might for a Rover annd Hearth, or trucker annnd chiefain.." The mountain finishes healin him. "Don't be a twit, Colton. You can have your cake and eat it too, you just have to coordinate and be understanding"

"I've got understanding come out of my A...ears"

Colton's phone signals a text. TXT: Hey! Just got into town, will be at DG in a few minutes. ❤️

He smiles and looks at , texting back TXT: I'll be here.

then he looks at the Mountain "Thanks for the healing. The advice you can keep."

"Suit yourself, sparky" Wildheart walks off "But you should take it" And she goes

And out he goes to meet her. One arm healed, the other polished

Soon, she approaches, a small pack slung on her back with Flopsy riding atop it and peeking over her head.

FLoppy has filled her in while she was gone "As you asked I checked with the theatre a great deal. the real nnews was the protection racket, but that's been dealt with"

"Thanks, Flopsy, I really appreciate that. And I hope everything went smoothly with the protection thing...." Then she spots Colton and waves, smiling!

"Well..." FLopsy says "He was injured but apparently he's all healed"

"Tattle rabbit" Colton says, moving to his lady and kissing her without shame

"Injured? You..." She starts to fuss at him, but is interrupted by a kiss that distracts her from whatever she was about to say. Flopsy may very well get jostled from his perch.

"Hello.. back here..." A protest "I could get mushed annd.oh forget it I'll just hunker down. Have at" Says the rabbit

Still in Colton's embrace and enjoying the kiss very much, Sylvi carefully slips the pack and its passenger to the ground.

MMm "I .. missed you" Colton says

She murmurs, "I can tell," a smile in her voice. And she claims another kiss from him. "I should report in..." she whispers reluctantly.

"I suppose you should. Want an escort or should I arrange dinner?"

She sighs and steps back a bit. "Come with me?" she says hopefully.

"Of course" He akes he hand then walks with her "Wait, was I supposed to seduce you and make you late?" he realizes he may have missed a chance there

"I guess you'll never know now," she says with a wink. She scoops up her pack again before they start walking. (Whether Flopsy clings on or goes forth under his own power is up to him), and then walks with Colton into the Fortress. "I'm going to want to hear all about you getting hurt, you know."

Flopsy walks on his own power

Colton raises a brrow "Who said I was hurt?"

"Tattle rabbit, remember?"

"Mmph... Bunny spy net work" he huffs, then says "The protection racket didn't like me charing their headquarters. They hurt my arm. I hurt their faces. I'm healed now"

Floppsy follows "Feeling no shame here, everyone knows who I work for"

Sylvi gives Flopsy a wink. "There'll be an extra carrot for you at dinner."

Then she looks at Colton's flesh arm, the one with the hand she's holding. "It doesn't hurt?"

"Not anymore" Colton assures her

And they come to the Chieftain's office

"he's had less time in his smithy lately" Colton adds

"That's bad, isn't it?" she murmurs cautiously before they enter.

"Mmph. He's not letting it affect his judgment"

That's an odd way to put it, she thinks while knocking on the Chieftain's door.

the Chiefain calls out "Come in"

Sylvi releases Colton's hand, and in they go. She salutes Hewitt formally. "Chieftain."

"Bridge," he nods. Lots of paperwork on his desk "How is Goldfinch?"

She smiles. "The balefire took hold a lot better than I ever expected, and the local crew are chipping in and contributing. In their own ways," she adds a bit wryly. "I hear there was trouble here, but...the hold still looks brighter than it did," she observes.

And it does. It's Duty, but not so grim. It's purpose, but not so doomed. It's vigilant, but not so hunted.

"It does at that, and yes, we had a bit of some clever thinkers trying to do a protection racket but the storm took care of it. Lucky the bullet went into his arm annd not his heart" The Dougal nods

BULLET? they didnn't mention it was a bullet