#debukefarmhold

"So...." she says, retrieving her hand. "Want to show me the new calf?"

"Oh yeah, this way. Her name is Godiva. She's all brown so why not after the chocolate?" He leads her on

"Well, she's also presumably naked, so that part works, too." She walks along with him.

A smile "I hadn't thought of that"

"Give her a long blonde wig come Samhain. Too late for Carnivale this year."

A snerk "You city girls are weird. But maybe" He says "Oh, Lanark's colt has grown too. You seen? Mom's sweet disposition, Dad's form"

"Oh! I was on my way to see him when I saw Mr. Stodgepole, never got that far. I totally need to see the colt. He has a name?"

"Stirling..." He smiles as they come to the calf.

She's quiet as the get to the new baby. "Hey, little one...."

The calf is curious at this new person, and seems to be a bit bold for something that might be a steak if she's not careful. She trots out past her mom and looks Sylvi over.

"Wow! Look how steady you are on the first day!" She offers her fingers to be snuffled.

"Might be the second, daylight savings messes things up in my head" He says

The fingers are snuffled, and then..suckled.

No milk? What a rip off!

She chuckles. "You've got your mom, don't get greedy."

"Godivia does that to everyone. There goes her mom's milk rations for US , the little calf's a vacuum"

"She'll get big quick, and start contributing soon enough, I guess."

"Story of a DeBuke's life: Get Big, Get Good"

Sylvi chuckles, scritching the tuft of hair between the calf's ears. "It's a troll thing."

Godiva likes that, Sylvi's gotten to know the animals well enough how to butter em up.

"it is. How are the others at the lodge? Anything new Torin wouldn't talk about?"

"Well...we've got a new kid living with us. A satyr. He says he doesn't really remember his given name, but he decided to call himself Jack Flap." A sigh as she keeps scritching the calf. "Poor guy has been through a lot. Used by thallain, according to what the others have figured out."

"Ugh, geez. I mean, I'm glad he found you. Rivervale's got big hearted people in all senses of the word. I heard about a satyr there.. Ariel, oru satyr, is excited. Maybe they'll be friends. Sounds like he could use em. Torin told me Tove is Due in May, THAT he talks about a lot. Gonna be a grandfather twice now. Dagmar and a boy."

She smiles. "That's so cool. Torin's great. Huh...I don't know if Jack's met Torin yet. He really should."

"He's a nice guy so yeah. " the calf enjoyed the scritch, but already is looking back at her mom ready to return to her warmth

"Go on, you...." Sylvi says when she realizes the calf is wanting mama. Then she nods to Spencer. "That's an understatement. He's the kind of wise grandpa type that every kid needs in their lives."

"He helped me sort some shit out , and I've got lOTS of old guys to lean on here so you know hw's good" Agreement "Want to see Stirling?"

She grins. "Yeah. Let's."

They head towards the horse stable. Lanark is the same surly old man he's always been, but his ears prick forward and he shows those signs of 'you're not so bad' with her. ... the old warhorse greets her.

She gives the greeting gesture and the sign for are-you-well before reaching out to see if he'll let her pet his nose.

Affirmative, and yes. Sylvi strokes his nose and the old stallion enjoys it.

"If I tried that he'd chew me up and spit me out" Spencer says

"I could try telling him to be nice to you, but I don't think he'd take me seriously."

"Nah. Stuck in his ways, that one" He gestures "now where is..."

Bluebell is happy to trot up to Spencer. She's always been the gentle horse.

Sylvi smiles at her. "Hi, Bluebell. You keeping this guy in line?"

And then, with the body of a warrior, and the gentle eyes of his mom, comes Stirling. He has silver along his forelocks and blaze, and dark hide elsewhere making and amazing contrast.

Bluebell nickers happily

And glances to her son with pride, as if to say 'that fine young colt almost a horse? he's my son'

"Oh... look at you..." Sylvi appreciates this handsome young one. "Hello, Stirling." She extends a hand.

Just like his mom, it seems he never met someone he didn't like and he trots right up.

His sire just looks sad that his boy should grow up to be such a sap.

Sylvi grins at Lanark. "Don't wish that out of him too soon, Lanark. You were a foal once, too." She shows Stirling the sign for hello.

"He might not get it right away," she says to Spencer. "But he might as well learn what his dad knows, right?"

Stirling stops and ..seems to recognize it. Fae steeds ARE smarter than most horses.

And she watches as Lanark looks to his son, and makes a positive head bob

ANd Stirling gives the greeting response!

A blink. "Oh, hey! Lanark, you've been teaching him?" She takes a few steps back, and then gives the sign for come to me.

Confusion, and she recognizes the look on Stirling's face. It's he knows it was important, but he needs to see it again.

Lanark gives the equine equivilent of a shrug. But his body language also indicates he's almost as proud as the mother.