#earthrunes

Siiigh.

Earl raises a curious brow

"Oh, just... a longing, nu?"

"We should swim in my river while the sun is yet warm."

"Have a last sip of tea, and we'll go." he offers

"Excellent." SIP.

And so it is planned

(End Scene)

The mortal enters the freehold weighted and heavy

only, she's not a mortal at all, tis Dame Temerity, banality so thick about her she has had to use a lot of glamour to bake it away

The pooka's tail hangs liike a shadow. Her mouse ears half faded

Only now in the hold does she show as a pooka at all

As she approaches the fire and holds out her hands to warm her soul, she glances over hre shoulder remembering the banal barrage and snorts "Verily, thy better run!"

A young mortal crosses the room with a few arms full of equipment and supplies.

He notices a woman, not to tall but with strong muscles, swaying a bit before the balefire

He notices, then does a double take. Should she be here? He crosses to her. "Excuse me? Can I help you?"

"I have no need of thy religious pamphlets" She says stubbornly, and looks at him. Her whiskers flicker. wait, she has whiskers? If he squints, or closes just one eye, then yes

He does both, then closes both eyes and puts a hand on his abdomen. He focuses.

"You.... there's something there. I can't..... but...... Please, can I help you?" There's a difference in his tone now.

"Art though about to have an alien come out of thy belly?" She sounds..concerned.. and now he sees her mouse ears and armor "Nay lad I am invincible"

"Wait, no, I've heard of you. You're.... a Dame. Pooka. Why can't I see you with my eyes?"

"A hazy shade of winter has over taken my Salvation army band{" She shrugs "I am a woman of action, Lad, not a girl of emojis so communication is of the boring blhah blah blah"

"Not that I spurn THY kindness, Adam of Viverrale"

"I don't.... I don't understand but how can I help? I should go get someone!"

She lifts her chin "My parking is not invalid. I need only thyme and a hint of oragnio.." And then she wobbles

Adam drops what he holds and moves to catch her.

"Herbs? But ... wait! The healer, right? Em.... Emma? Ok!" He scoops the smaller woman up in his arms to carry her.

And he gets shoved "Damsel me not"

Emma is in her "office," humming as she waters her succulents.

She's strong, for her size and now offended... and yes, she's wobbly again "I am.. not a .."

"Sorry! I just.... I want to help. I can get you there fast."

"Just an arm.. I will not be shamed in the home of the Lord of Marches..." She takes his arm, though she looks embarrassed, Just one arm, and walks beside him

"Oh.... okay. Sure." Adam walks with her, carefully.

"I have never been defeated in joust or parchesi" the woman says "I am a knight alight. AH, here we are, Emma's enclave, the Cajun Cove, the Possum's trot"

As they come to Emma's healing hut

"Bonjour?"

"Yep, we're here... oh, hey, Miss Emma, right? I'm Adam. I think I've been here but.... I don't know if we've met?"

She pads out from behind her plants - barefoot, with her whiskers softly a-quiver.

"Oh! Son of Man! Oui! Though I was a mouse at the - sacre bleu! What is this?" Wide eyes at Temerity.

Emma can ken and tell that the poor mouse has dangerous levels of banality. She needs glamour to fight it, which will be provided if she stays in the hold for days

or someone can give her some but that's a gamble

"Can you help her? I don't know how but.... my gut says it's wrong."

"She has brain freeze. Too much cold cold ice cream all at once."

"You should see the other varlet" The mouse informs the healer with pride

Adam looks from pooka to pooka.

"What happened?"

Gentle hands guide Temerity to the bed, and a glass of juice to her hands.

The boy fidgets.

Temerity sits down and tries to explain "There was a crooked man on a crooked street, and he threw the renters out who could not his crooked price meet."

"Ohhh. A foe to face."