#dreaming

"But no - anyone with a uterus and two cantrips to rub together may find it and lay claim."

"Let's not be fighting here..." Clem says "We can maybe work a ward that blocks nobles..."

"We have obligation, but no authority. Feh. I am not Grandmother's servant. I am no-one's servant."

Kenzi curses "Two cantrips and a uter... damn it, I really wish you could hear your furking self. You're treating them like some folks treat sluagh"

"Look, she's not wrong, Kenzi. The farm has had to keep it's guard up constantly for decades"

"There are sidhe I would consider. But it does not matter."

"For her entry proved that we were told false. That it is not on us to find witches."

"We fought to found and re-find this place."

there's a burst of magic and then... a hut stands near them, over where Lily has drawnn, one with chicken legs

"And she may just stroll, as if she is entitled?"

"Li... lily?" Clem blinks

In a circle, Lily wrote GRANDMOTHER.. not once, but three times

Zara quietly groans, covering her face with her hand.

"Shit " Kenzi pales

"neat" Lily grins toothlessly

A hooked nose sticks out of the hut door "Why is there so much fighting here? What is problem? Who is trying to summon me? "

"The child has summoned you, Grandmother. Forgive, she acts in innocence."

Zara might be upset, but her whisper is smooth and controlled - conciliatory. She knows the danger here.

Baba peeks out and sniffs "A delicious child? mmm , I was feeling.. peckish"

Lily's little eyes get VERY wide

Her fury, her bitterness, her sense of betrayal.... they show only in her eyes, which burn like coals. "Not so delicious. She is stringy and ill-fed."

"think it is you who are stringy, River, your gratitude runs thin. Why are you so filled with anger at me?" It is enough to distract Baba, causing Lily to dart behind Clem

"I..." She hesitates, trying to find an answer which is not a lie.

Clem mutters 'Sure, ignore me, then hide behind me. Song of my kith" then she steps closer to Zara, she will protect her friend, even from a legend

Clem was speakingg to Lily, but she moves to guard Zara too

"My anger lies not with you."

"Not.. all I think, but some mmme?" Baba Yaga hops down from the hut, and looks about

"Anger at my foolishness."

"Of all of us," Clem says "River had the stronges hope for this place, Mother of Witches"

"Oh? And how has this hope been ruined?" Baba Yaga looks about "The wards are fine if you do not neglect. Those witches in need may yet finnd it, but they will never out rank you three"

Kenzi blinks "Wait, we outrank all other witches here? "

Baba Yaga gives a TOOTHY grin at the Nocker, it's the sort of grinn that makes you realize you probably taste like long pork

Kenzi gulps "Besides yourself"

Zara is silent.

Baba Yaga looks at Zara "now now, you must whisper, but you cann speak.. what is the problem?"

"I thought this was a place for witches who had a need of it."

"And so it is... " Baba Yaga nods "Who is here who does not have need?"

Clem raises a brow

Clearly dubious that a sidhe noble needs much

"None who are here."

"it's the noble " Kenzi says "She's bent out of shape about the furking noble...prances in like she owns the place. It annoys me too but that's no reason to qu-"

Baba Yaga holds up a hand then eyes Zara, "if there is a sidhe noble who comes here, she has need. One all her title and wleath helps her not with" A snniff "Oh yes, I smell her now. Desperation masked, mistakes uncorrected but how she wishes they could be..."

A snort, "I also do smell arrogance, some of it undeserved. " Baba Yaga huffs "One can see why you are not enttirely pleased, but this one you speak of NEEDS something she hopes to find here. She is a lost lamb posing as a she wolf"

"She did not find it here. I watched her."

"Of course, she doesn't have a witch of greater rank to assist her," Baba yaga shrugs, then she eyes Zara and motions her forward, "Come little river, has your grand moher of the Rus ever lied to to you? "

Zara takes a small step forward. "No."

"Then talk to me, little many names, I am harder of hearing than I was a thousand years ago, but I am not deaf, even to whispers," She reaches and touches Zara's jaw line "Oh what a fine crone you will make, but you are too young to be inflexible to the point of not even talking. Talk to me about why sidhe should never be allowed here even when they are lost and even though their rank means nothing here. I will listen"

Kenzi, normally outspoken, does NOT open up now, signs she's a bright witch after all

Clem tenses, hoping Baba doesn't do anything TO Zara

"I don't... I don't think that. There is room for sidhe here..."