#debukefarmhold

The two head towards the stream, where else? The notice other older trolls nearby vanishing between trees

Sylvi frowns at that. "They're hunting it, too?"

"It's a possible threat to the hold, did you think we would be the only ones?" Kelby asks

"No. I mean...I guess I've just gotten used to working with other Wilders about my age, like you. Funny to be on the same page as the older folks, again."

"Oh the Grumps and Elders may get to order folks around, but wilders are expected to work and if need be defend around here," A bit of humor "You admitting you rivervale girls are soft?" Ignoring the fact their team LOST at Pennons

Sylvi gives her a sidelong look. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that, for your own good, Hayseed." A wink. "Okay...you want to start with the water, or the surroundings?"

A chuckle , "I figure the water's edge is best, but if you have a better idea, tough guy?" A grin

"Sounds good." A hip-check, then she heads for the waters edge. Memories of fun summer puppy-love flirtations here....

"Um...how's Spencer doing these days?"

"Really well, h ..oh he had his togail." She says "It came on while you were away at Alaska"

"Oh! Oh...wow...yeah. Of course he would have, by now. I'm sorry I missed it," she frowns. "He...well, he really made my Togail special, and I would have liked to do something special for his. He's okay?"

"He's doing great, got an apprentice ship lined up with another troll.... learning skalding ways. "

"Oh, that's excellent. Hmm...I wonder if he'd be willing to sing with Tove sometime? She's one of the Thyle trolls, you've met her? Her voice is amazing."

"Oh, of course I know Tove. It's her dad that's mentoring Spencer!" A smile

"Oh! Cool!" Sylvi smiles happily.

"You okay about Spencer?" Kelby asks curiously

"Well...yeah. I mean...I mean, I know I hurt him. I don't like that. I don't like being that person, y'know? And maybe it might have been different if we both had our Togails closer in time or something, but..." A shrug. "That's not how it worked. And I'm seeing Colton now, and he's great, and...and I hope Spencer's got somebody he likes?"

"He's got lots of attention,, ,but no one he's dating" she says "And... " there's a slight ripple in the water

Sylvi freezes and watches the ripple, holding up a hand to point so Kelby can see it, too.

Kelby quiets with practice hunting skill and nods. She makes a walky walky motion with her fingers and then gives a question move, mouthing 'should we try to grab it?'

Sylvi draws her blade, carefully and quietly...she looks to see if Kelby has any weapons on her (what an afterthought!).

She did ggrab a shield and mace.

Sylvi points to herself and a large rock by the river's edge...then to Kelby, a gesture to stay back a pace, and a bonk gesture.

Then she carefully slips off her boots.

Easing her way over to the rock, she takes a seat, readies her blade, and carefully dangles her toes in the icy water....

And so she ddangles her blue toes over the water

...and they get bluer. A slight shudder, and she says, "Wow...makes me think of Alaska."

The serpent rises out of the water, this is NOT what they were looking for no. It is pale, to be sure, but it's eyes are bright ice blue and it gazes at Sylvi with them. For a moment, Sylvi feels a strange urge to let this creature bite into her, to drink her essence and soul entirely. A blissful ending. Won't that be nice?

then WHAM, Kelby hits it with the mace ,and the spell is broken. The serpent maybe hurt... but it is not dead... and it writhes in pain and confusion

Sylvi is slack-jawed and enrapt for that moment, but shakes out of it quickly. She slashes out at the creature with her blade, aiming for just below the head.

She cuts it, wishing she could behead the damn thing. Something about the way it made her feel made her feel..well,dirty inside. As if she.. ugh!

She doesn't sever it's head from it's body, but she does wound it, and it lunges trying to bite her

Oh, that feeling of helplessness, of being controlled, of being seduced to do something she doesn't want.... She might not be able to fight certain sidhe countesses, but she lashes out vengefully at this serpent, crying out in outrage.

The snakee avoids a second mace blow, but that sets it up for the next slice! Sylvi may not be the strongest troll , but she is a troll, and her kith lends her might! Her outrage? More so! 'It will Keel' is the motto on her blade, and it is enchanted to cut! this time, the already wounded serpent finds it's self cut in twain, the top 1/5th of it falling to one sidei n the water, the rest the other way

Rather than writhe even after death, rather it turns to a cascade of tear shaped crystals, about 13 of them.

That are now sinking into the stream

"Sylvi, you okay?" Kelby asks

She's breathing hard, angry...but she nods. "Yeah. Just...pissed. Hey, let's try to get some of those." She reaches in for a handful of crystals, still wary of what else might be in the water. "Thanks for getting it when it whammied me, Kels."

"No problem, thanks for being bait" she scoops some up, "did it's stare hurt? You're still seething. your eyes got dark there"

"No, it...it was...wonderful," she grumbles resentfully. "Like, I wanted to just let it bite me and do whatever it wanted. I...I wanted it to drink me up." Just saying it makes her feel sick, but better to admit it than hide from it.

"Huh...wait..." She looks at one of the crystal tears. "What if these are fae it did eat up?"

"Ugh, that sounds creepy" then "And i mean the fifrst part, as well as the eatten fae. Yeah, I could see why you'd be upset. I meann.. bad enough you might die, but to have it make you want it? that's creeptastic times ten." She looks at the tears "if they are, ,then... I don't know, maybe talk to Uncle Emmit?"

"Even creepier, it felt kind of familiar. Like...like I've been there before...." A shudder of disgust, then she pockets the crystals away. "Yeah, the Mountain would know. Did we get them all?"

"I got five, you got... seven. Wait, we're missing one." she looks "Oh, this one got carried further"

She plucks the 13th one up. "Let's go. Hunting for the river lady will have to wait"

"Yeah..." A dubious look back at the water, but she follows Kelby after slipping her boots back on.

Kelby does glance back at her with concern sometimes but leaves it be.

A smirk after the third glance. "I'm okay, Kels, really. A little freaked, but okay. So you get to tell Mountain Emmitt how you saved my ass, okay?" A genuine smile at that.

"You better believe it, I'll also tell him how you were the one who offered yourself up for bait and then got the killing blow. Plenty of glory all around when everyone gets a brag in"

the smell of pipee smoke soon leads them to the mountain's personal cabin