#elsewhere

The chimerical creature skitters up and down a branch, chattering at them.

"Hello" Rochalor says "We're looking for treasures that fit the measure, could we have a cup please?"

"Oooh, treasures? Treasures!" Chattering curiously. "What kind of treasures? Can you eat them? The Big Cold comes soon, so you have to eat and hide LOTS of snackies to be nice and fat or you won't wake up, nope nope!"

Blossom says "There was an acorn shaped key over there" She points back, "Did YOU take it? Because it probably Isn't very tasty"

Rochalor is a good boy so anwers "Keys, if you please? And Joe has most of my treasures"

Connor tilts his head, ears perking at the sound of snacks.

"Oh, Frosttail has LOTS of acorns. Lots and lots!" The squirrel chatters back.

Connor is checking his pockets.

He finds a granola bar wrapper (empty), a cicada carapace, a Cool Looking Rock (tm), and... a yoyo.

"Lacks of snacks." He mutters sadly.

Blossom's eyes narrow, and she sighs, reaching into a bag. The squirrel can smell something, possibly tasty?

Connor's nose twitches too!

He looks interested, leeaaaaaning to peer.

"Whatcha got??"

"I have bird seed," She says "If he wants SOME. SOME in trade. " She does not admit she lays it out as bait so her falcons can get an easier target some days

The squirrel sits up, tail twitching. "Seeeeeeds! Give!"

Briar has voiced approval for this technique, which makes Blossom worry a bit sometimes.

Connor sits back with a huff.

"Uh uh," She stamps a hoof with a half palm full of seeds not quite in reach, "TRADE. We need the acorn that fits that hole back there"

Frosttail zips up the trunk of the tree and dissappears into a knothole.

Soon he reappears, on a lower branch, and he starts plunking acorns down at them.

PLINK! PLINK! PLINK!

"Ow! Hey!" Connor ducks and hides behind Rochallor as the squirrel laughs.

Rochallor laughs, but also kens for any SPECIAL magic acorns?

The third acorn, the one that hit him, bonks off and rolls over to rest near Blossom's hoof. It's SHINY and looks like it's bronze

And Yes! Rochallor can tell this one is special.

"Wait," Rochalor says and swoops to pick it up near Blossom, "Okay, give him the secret micro nuts of power"

Blossom sighs, and offers that bit of seeds "You can stop with the other acorns now."

"Thank you, sir flufftail," Rochalor holds the special acorn tight

The squirrel zips down and stuffs his cheeks, then loses a bit of seed blowing a raspberry at Connor as he zips back up and away!

"I knew I liked squirrels for a reason." Connor says, making a face back up the tree.

"He's a jerk" Blossom says to Connor, "I don't like him either" One last envious glance at that tail that MIGHT be cooler than hers. MAYBE. "let's go and see if this fits"

"Well, sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't" Rochallor moves with them carrying the prize