#darkgatefortress

Piper swallows, and nods to Kelby. She eyes the troll over, and not just because she is an attractive lady. "Are you a DeBuke? You kinda have their look about you." Curious.

"Yes, or I was. " She shrugs "My family isn't crazy about the change. Of course they also thought I died... or I did die? Not sure, but that's another story."

Piper raises a brow, clearly more, not less, curious. "Well, I know well enough that relations are bigger than blood, so I can kinda get that... so, shall we move on?" Her hooves are fidgeting anxiously.

"Sure" Kelby says "This is your quest so I am just escort guard lady" She nods "Got all you need gear wise?"

"Rope, Torches, iron rations" Zane quotes a D&D list

Kelby mmphs ("Not as funny as he thinks he is somedays")

Piper eyes Zane hopefully. "I didn't even pack a lunch." She admits.

"YOu know what," Kelby thinks on it, "Let me get some gear for you. What's the point of living in a military camp if you can't get supplies from a quarter master. "

"I have my keys, wallet, phone.=..." She pats pockets, "note pad, dross... uh... some gum..."

A grateful smile to Kelby.

"Talk to the Hearth about some travel food would you?" Zane asks Kelby.

"What?" She says to the look Zane gives her. "JONAS does the packing for our trips!"

Zane says "I thought you California girls were into hiking?"

Kelby snorts at Zane, "Get food too. Glad I've got you to fill me in on that. NEver would have thought of it. How does Piper live without your new and inventive ideas?"

Her nose wrinkles. "That's northern Cali. I'm a beach girl. If it wasn't almost WINTER I'd have sunscreen, tanning oil..."

Zane sighs as Kelby hits him with the sarcasm "Let me just say thank you and be done."

"Good play" Kelby smirks, nods to Piper "I was never much of a Beach goer before but it IS relaxing as hell." Then she heads out to get the food "Don't kill Zane while I'm gone... we DO need him."

Once she's gone, Zane , in a soft voice explains "Kelby and I used to date."

It turns out Kelby IS a hiker, and also a knight who travels a lot, so she returns with a small pouch of food, some long lasting others meant to be eatten first, and a backpack with supplies that Piper might like. She's clearly packed for a satyr's carrying capacity rather than a satyress knowing that while Satyrs got stamina, they are like almost all other kith puny creatures who are a bit weaker. "There we go. Veggies, fruits, trailmix stuff... you're a vegan right?"

"Vegetarian - cheese and milk are okay, not that that's really shelf stable. This looks great."

Kelby nods "Fantastic, let's go." She motions for the Satyress to follow.

"Have fun storming the castle," Zane waves to his cousin.

"Such a nerd" Kelby says, but not with hostility

Piper rolls her eyes as she waves and follows Kelby.

They have to go out a bit for the trod, but when they get on it... Kelby seems to know the Silver as if she were born there instead of Iowa.

"You look as confident as a Rover." Piper observes. "Makes me feel all safe and warm and fuzzy."

"Instead of just fuzzy."

A nod "We Danaan are ...tied to the Dreaming by ancient rite and purpose. Even those adopted like me. It's the autumn world that throws us off. I can get you to the ten towers of delights for shopping, recite the name of the 3 dragon kings and their sister queen, but I can never remember where I left my car keys and sometimes I put on unmatching socks."

"Shopping!" She squeals, then blinks. "Oh, THAT's where I recognize you from! I'm sure you were at one or more of Sylvi's parties. So, like, we're already friends!"

"Sylvi and I were tight" A nod "She was my best friend for awhile. And yes, I saw you at a party, at least I think that was you belting out Black Betty ? I remember it being a great performance" a thought "I should visit Sylvi more."

"Were? Oh... the dead thing. That's weird, sorry, not gonna lie."

"Sylvi won't admit it, but I think she's worried about her mom taking on the lodge responsibilities. A friend would not be amiss." She remarks.

"What? Sylvi's mother is going to be a great Chief, she's running half the lodge for a long time now" Kelby ponders "Unless folks are giving her mom..oh, now that it's official they're giving grief? You know what, thanks. I think I will drop by Goldfinch a bit more often, see what I can do. Thanks, Piper. I appreciate the head's up." She clearly did not know

"Oh, she's not worried that Kerri will be a good chief, but... it's like, you know... things change, and family always worries about family."

"How can I help? Besides being there I mean?"

Piper shrugs, "Heavy is the head... there's a reason why I never let Sylvi foist GF on me."

"Mmm" She ponders "Sometimes taking up the load is the only way to change the world, but I can see why you don't envy it. " They go deeper into the Dreaming..... and much memory is lost. They come out of the trod. PIper has a light bruise, Kelby a few bigger ones. While she has it over or under her clothes, Piper is wearing something new. She seems to recall it being the spoils of some fight with a chimera?

Kelby has a better memory "That'll teach that stupid Dire Pearl. Sorry about that. It was a short cut and I knew I could take it"

"I'm... not sure which of us made THAT with the remains mind you," She blinks "Do you bead work as a hobby?"

"Ooooh." She twists and turns, admiring how the pearls click and clack pleasantly. "I can't wait to model this for my loves... only this." A hint of wickedness in her smile.

"Nope, never! Music takes up all my time... that and babies. You DO know I have twin babies right?"

Kelby blushes a bit. Still a troll

Piper admires the purple blush. Hey, she's married, not dead.

At mention of the baby she says "Word got around. Congrats."

"I mean, that's why I'm here. Or, why -I-'m here. Siv might well murder me for haring off on my own, but..."

She shrugs. "You don't have to be Fiona to be brave and scared.

"Siv should appreciate what she has" Kelby says "You're brave and you're protecting those you love... and that is not just for we trolls or the Fiona" She agrees, "if she tries to murder you, let me know and I'll talk to her. I remember her when she was younger, and while it may have changed her drama would peter out if you let her pace a bit and grouse... you'd know better than I" She looks around "Oh, welcome to Trenton. Docks are this way"

"Oh, don't say THAT. About 'when she was younger'. Someone called her 'ma'am' and started this whole debacle!"

"Say what?" Kelby walks with her "Oh geez, Siv is such a yankee. It's not an insult"