#earthrunes

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In the garden, rows of card board boxes have been spray painted and magic markered black, and reinforced expertly so that childlings may stand on top of the wall. "The north remembers!" One boy calls out/"We are the watchers o nthe wall" Another lad says/ Enri says "Winter is putting on its galoshes" // Further down and away from the wall, Isis fumes "Girls can too join the Watch!"

A hand juts out through the hedge, holding a cardboard wrapping-paper tube. "Have a Needle, girl! Go show them!"

Isis grabs it "HA!" /The boys say "But uhm.. no girls?"

It would appear needle disagrees as it bonk bonks on boys heads and butts!

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Leonora is walking along grunting as she carries the deer, "Do not look at me that way. It's called hunting, what was I supposed to say? No? And I'm not going to shoot less well than I could, and I hve a permit." /Thistlesnort raises brow/"I did not kill Bambi's mother."

((Time bubbled to the weekend))

"Just..make sure the childlings don't see me carting this to the kitchen" She looks left and right as she makes her way

In the bustle of the kitchen, August sticks out like a sore thumb, but a kind one. He's making a sandwich to the consternation of the staff.

"Okay hey don't telle... " She looks mortiified "August." Only sidhe beauty is saving her. Blood stains, gut stains, and mussed hair and a dead deer.

He looks up, blinks. "Leonora? Are you ok?" He puts down the mayo and goes to her.

"Just.. uhm... I hunted a deer." A blush "And.. I'm messy and you shouldn't see me like this." that a whisper

"What? Why... why not?" Confused as he helps heft the deer onto a prep table.

"Because I don't know, I don't want you thinking I'm like some animal hater and this is ... unfeminine? Is it? I meaan, yes I use a bow. But that's Katniss level stuff"

Still puzzled "Unfeminine? I -know- you're not an animal hater, Leonora. Animals have to die so we can eat them." He explains.

"Well, YES, if you word it that way" Despite her time in Hibeernia, she is clearly a city girl and dealing with some culture shock "I ..just, well... I try not to think of where my leathers come from."

August grins boyishly. "Well. Now you've earned them."

Yup, blushing "Also.. I'm a mess."

"I'll let you get cleaned up them. Although, I'd like to talk with you sometime this weekend, when you have a moment." He steps back, to give her room.

"Sure, Shower shouldn't take me long" She says

He nods. "I'll wait... can we talk in my study?"

"Sure..." She grins, then says "I'll make the water extra hot and speed it up" She moves

August chuckles and gathers up his sandwich, then goes to wait in the quiet simplicity of his study.

Not too long in the future, there's a knock at his study door

"Come in." He calls, sandwich long since done.

Leonora enters and is dressed in a robe, ,nothing fancy, her hair a bit wet "Sorry about that."

"Not at all!" He smiles charmingly, genuinely please do see her. "Please, take a seat.... can I get you anything?"

"Something to drink ? Doesn't have to be fancy" She takes a seat and crosses her legs'

There's a carafe of water handy, of course. He pours. It's not fancy.

He takes a seat across from her. "Leonora, I've talked with Coradel. You know Samhain... it's a difficult holiday for me to reconcile with."

"Yeah, I know" she says "A shame, your unseelie side , what little I know of it, has it's own charm."

He shakes his head. "I disagree. But, that's not the point. I'm going to be here, on Samhain. I'm going to be seeking answers for some questions I have about what to do with myself, with my life, what I should study, what jobs would be best... things like that."

"You're going to be here seeking answers? In the library or study?"

He nods. "And from the Soothsayers, I think there will be some here like last year."

"Okay. I guess this means you want me to ..wait, what is it you want me to do during this? Help Coradel? or is she studying with you?"

He chuckles. "No. She has her duties that night. I just wanted to touch base with you, explain what my plan is, and apologize in advance, I guess, for not being... available that night."

"I know you don't depend on me for company, and you shouldn't, but I didn't want you to anticipate me being ... I mean, I'll be around but not, ah, around."

"I did look forward to it," she smiles, "I like you, August, and I adore Coradel. I worry sometimes you two are.. .not in a bad spot, but still getting your footing. And I wishI could help more when you stumble."

"Thank you." Sincerely. "It might be one of those things we have to figure out for ourselves. Suffice to say, we're in accord on this choice, for Samhain. I will get answers, and I will be here.

"What if the answer is 'fiona ways are fun, let your hair down'? it's the one I'm rooting for. I'm biased."

"Well...." wry ".... I'm not sure how to use that in terms of college studies, a job or jobs, and life but..."

"Isn't there someone who said the road of excess is the path to wisdom?"

"Yes, and I believe he was wrong." Mildly.

"Spoilsport." She says "Fine. Just trying to impress you with the fact i sometimes listen to the brainy stuff you and Bachdion trot out."

August grins. "I know you have a brain in there, Leonora, and you use it. So does Coradel."

"Well, sometimes I feel like I'm in the slow lane compared to you guys, but I get by." her eyes sparkle, "Okay. May I suggest you spoil Coradel on a night for just you two sometime after Samhain? "

"I have an idea about that, yes. Thank you. And Leonora...." He takes her hand. "I'd like to do something special with you, too. Before, or after, whichever you like."

"You're doing it now. I think."

A boyish grin. "I mean something more."