#elsewhere

"Hi," Flutternut says then adds "Okay" it looks about happily

"Flutternut, we do have hunting animals here; hounds and hawks. You might wish to steer clear of them." August suggests as he walks.

"We also have a library with a bookwyrm, gardens, ah... "

A faint rustle, and one of the tapestries on the wall they were passing shifts ever so slightly.

"...kitchens, of course, art galleries...."

Flutternut turns, curious "What that?"

It's nothing, of course, just a wrinkle, a fold in the fabric.

"It's a hallway where the Lady of EarthRunes has curated paintings, statues, textile arts...."

"no." Flutternutt flies towards the tapestry

"Well, no, this isn't one of the gallery hallways, it leads out towards the gardens...."

The lump squirms away from the squoth, sliding further down the wallhanging. A barely audible, "Shoo!"

Fluttternut gasps and flaps back "no shoes. Barefoot"

"Hold!" August orders.

Frozen - well, not exactly. There's a quiver, shaking.

Flutternut freezes bu says "Can't hold. too big "

August approaches and shifts the tapestry to see behind it.

The tiniest of childlings, scarcely more than a shadow pressed against the wall, trying to merge into the cracks. She covers her eyes as August peeks. "I'm sorry, lord. I didn't mean it." She whispers, so faint that even ears trained to listen to sluagh in libraries can scarcely catch it.

Flutternut tries to hover in place

"Ah." August takes a step back immediately. "Hello. You are.... ah, new to EarthRunes I think. I won't hurt you."

"no hurt" Flutternut assures

What was the childling's name? Something long and fussy.

She dares peek through her fingers, eyeing the sidhe with visible trepidation. "I am sorry that you had to see me, filth that I am. I will try harder to stay hidden."

"I am August Truthbranch." he breathes "You needn't hide from me, if you don't wish to. I am Liam and I have no quarrel with sluagh. My best friend is sluagh; Miss Zara." He -does- have almost sluagh manners.

Flutternut says "not filth. just filthY"

"You warned the little one about the hounds." She allows, peering through two fingerwidths now. "It is very wise to be wary of them." A shiver.

"No hounds" Flutternut notes

For a Sidhe, he -does- have a kind smile. "No hounds hunt Fae here. Not one. They are not trained for it, nor does the Lady here wish such hunts."

"Miss Zara brought you here to be safe. I pledge my sword to protect you, miss.....?"

Her thin grey lips press very tight together. One does not contradict a sidhe.

His expression goes a little sad, but he nods. "I understand. It's hard to trust. I won't keep you, and again, my apologies for the intrusion." he takes a few steps back.

"I flutternut. you?" the chimera asks

"Please forgive my manners." August murmurs. "Flutternut and I encountered each other at my school just today."

Her voice just a faint whisper. "They called me 'little viper', or ... other things that I am told I should not repeat. I like to be called Isephemia, though the pooka call me something else."

"Isephemia.... beautiful. Flutternut, Isephemia." he introduces.

She eyes the chimera. It's a shame it is not something proper like a rat, but Squirrels are perhaps not unlike vermin themselves, even if they are disturbingly... fluffy.

"Isempehima.." It lands next to her

She listens, and allows, "The pooka call me Izzy. It is because they are very silly and do not know how to speak properly. You may call me Izzy too, if you wish. I do like your wings. If I had wings, I would have flown away." A pause, then with matter of fact sadness, "No, they would have been torn off, for certain."

"wings torn?" Flutternut huffs "better not"

"That is why you must be sure to find small, dark places to hide in." She advises.

"yes. smart" Flutternut agrees.

The Sidhe, August, is quiet, the better to allow the chimera and childling to talk.

Olswald whispers to August "Poor kid. Emma makes her feel safe, and she likes the other pooka. there seems tto be some deal that no one pranks Izzy. Even Shallimar won't"

August, focused on the childling as he was, didn't realize Oswald was there! "Ah. Do you think you could walk her back to Healer Emma if she wishes to go?"

Oswald says "Sure, Baron"

Flutternut says "Many darkplaces?" Looking about

"Oh, ah, yes. The library." August volunteers.

Isephemia withdraws a little, going silent.

Flutternut nods "Libary good"

"Miss Isephemia, would you care to join us?" politely "Or Thane Oswald can escort you to Healer Emma, or anywhere else you'd care to go. Or if you like, you can explore on your own." he is careful not to look directly at her.

Ope. Seems like while Oswald distracted August, the tiny sluagh disappeared.

"Ah."