#debukefarmhold

"Clem..." Kerri says carefully, "...I think definitely that Da'an put you there to rescue her. I'm...not so sure that Da'an put her here to rescue you."

"Pardon?" Clem 'sh ead whips from the child to Kerri

"I think you heard me."

Kerri's tone is quiet and even.

"You've quickly assumed that she's lacking in parents of her own."

"Kerri... she's a new chyrsalid, her parents won't understand. They might undo her"

Clem says "I won't let her come to harm, you know that. I'll raise her with love and care"

"Many new chrysalids do feel that pain, it's true. Many others do well with their birth parents. And...are you sure her parents aren't fae?"

"Roland... Rowdy, didn't mention any and I'm sure he would have. " She says of the boy who was injured trying to save the child

"I have no doubt that you will be an excellent mother, Clem."

A puzzled look. "Why would he have known?"

"Because he was there when she had a dream dance. That damned carriage tried to seize her and he tried to save her. Poor boy got mauled under its wheels. Why do you think I was so furious? I went after the carriage to avenge him... and save the girl. Kerri, you say I'll be an excellent mother, but that's not what your actions are telling me. You're trying to take Chase away now? Why? Because we saved her but didn't return her to mortal parents? How many folks in the lodge are given haven from their biological families? "

"I'm not trying to take her away, but I do expect you to do more to find out the facts. Now you say Rowdy didn't mention any parents present, but that doesn't mean there weren't any. And you are making it sound as though you didn't ask. If you haven't asked, it's time to do so, now."

A bit of a sting at the mention of haven from biological families.

Clem bristles "I save a lot of people every year from flood, or fire, I put my people to it . We DeBukes risk ourselves. And you're saying we can't take in changelings? What, does Right of Demnse work only for Noble Lodges?"

Kerri has apparently ired Clem, who is not normally this.. well this.

A blink. "Clem...listen to yourself."

"Do you rescue because you think you'll be able to collect a debt later? That you're owed a child after all this?"

"I am listening to a friend who tells me I'll be a great mom, an EXCELLENT MOTHER ,but now that I finally can be... you're trying to take her away. I will not lose this one, Kerri. I love her."

She does wince at the 'owed a child' then says "Someone owes me a child . Da'an anyway" A mutter

"Someone owes you a child?!" Kerri's voice rises just a bit, but she catches and lowers it again. "Clem, what are you talking about?"

(Perception Plus Empathy if you like)

/roll explode 7

Clem 's eyes are full of pain, and for a moment, Kerri notices them drift not to the child, but a patch of green not on the main farm

It's a lovely patch of trees and clearing, untouched and not for farming obviously.

A puzzled frown as she follows Clem's gaze. "Clem? What's there?"

"nothing... " Clem says, but one doesn't have to be a Gwydion to know she's lying, "Look, Kerri... I see your worry, but this is our choice, mine and Buck's. I don't tell Rivervale who it can take in or under what circumstances. My lodge would ... would appreciate the same courtesy"

"Clem. What is there?" Kerri doesn't let herself get drawn away by the rest of the comments. She presses the issue, and her voice is like a quiet magnifying glass. "In that pretty clearing. What is it?"

"A place of unfulfilled futures" Clem answers "It's small, should be. This farm is blessed with life and fertlity... for most"

Clem shakes her head "Forget I said that. Come on, Chase, let's go inside"

Finally, mercifully, Kerri puts the pieces together. "Oh, Clem. I'm sorry. When?"

Chase looks up from her dirt "Inside?"

"Yes, " Clem says, "Inside." A breath then... "You go ahead. Mama Clem will catch up. Tell the Hearth I said you could have a snack"

Chase looks Clem, then gives her a dirty hug "Thanks, Mama Clem" And ambles towards the hearth

Clem rises "You're not going to let this go, are you Kerri?"

"Bye, Chase," Kerri waves as she goes. Then she stands along with Clem. "No, I'm not. "

Clem walks towards the clearing like a woman being expected to be strip searched before a mob, exposed and humiliated.

Kerri follows a couple of paces behind.

"Last one was a month and some weeks ago. I hadn't told Buck I had finally gotten pregnant by him. Lady Evergreen's blessing almost guarentees it for most women. Didn't seem to take for me... then... suddenly it did. The baby was going to be glorious, him, her, centaur, troll, kianian or plain old son or daughter of adam or eve. I would have loved em. WE would have. " She says "Then... the miscarriage. It about broke me. What is WRONG with me that in a hold where MAGIC promotes life and growth, that I.. .I can't birth a child?"

Kerri listens, and as they approach the clearing she has a question, but she waits to see what she can discern. How many are buried there if Clem is describing the "last one"?

"Only two, and years apart" Clem says "I .. talked to a friend about it. She's always been too clever by half" A bit of resigned annoyance but still affection "She told me that that didn't mean I'd NEVER have achild... and mentioned adoption. I thought about it. I reall ydid want to have something of buck in a baby, his eyes maybe? His kind strong hands? But... then we found Chase and I.. I love her. Da'an sent. Who's to say I'm not allowed to be a mother to her?"

Kerri bows her head for a moment on seeing the two little graves. Then she turns to Clem. "I wish I'd known, but I know it's been none of my business. And yes, Clem, please believe me, you will be a wonderful mother and make a beautiful family with Buck. But it can't be based on a lie. That's not fair to Chase, and it's sure to come back to you in a negative way. If you find she has no parents, or that her parents are banal, then it's absolutely your duty and right to rescue her. But if her parents are dreamers or fae, then you know you have little right to claim her as your own unless they've mistreated her."

The graves aren't marked per se, Clem was too ashamed for that, but she can tell by the shape of the earth whree they likely are

The lack of markers is troubling. "Do others on the Farm know?"

"it's NOT a lie" Clem hisses "Buck loves her too. I..." her eyes threaten to darken "If her parents are alive THEY Can have more. Possibly HAVE more."

Then asking if otherss know "Buck knows, now. He... he grieved with me" Grateful, ashamed she let him "But no... Why would I want the lodge to know their Chief was..defective. Ill omen, a broken chief in the lodge of life and growth. I wouldn't want me as chief after that here."

Which explains why Kourtney was baffled

"You aren't broken, Clem," she says gently. "There are some things your body is having difficulty doing. That makes you different, but not broken, and NOT an ill omen." She tilts her head. "If a child were born to the Farm who could not walk, would the Farm consider it a bad omen?"

"Course not, I had a cousin who was lame, legs deformed at birth but t he man pulled his weight. SOME worried, but in the end, wasn't a better fisherman here"