#fenixtj

Clem frowns , but it's a sad sort of frown "Oh girls. That thing is one way and once a month , for emergencies most like .. or sometimes when Coy or Ariel need to visit. We're gonna have to get you home another way...and I do wish we knew you were coming. I could have prepared a nicer reception for you"

"Is nice nicer than honest?"

That tightness around her mouth and then she shakes her head. "I won't come back here again."

"But maybe Salma can, please?"

Reaching over she takes Ellie's hand and holds it firmly.

Clem looks at the girls "Well, that was a fair dig, Salma." Then she says "Shall I have Pert punished? I can't punish the Hearth, but I can give a hard time to Pert for the bad way SHE treated you"

"No!"

She catches herself.

"Princesca, I only have the spanish. Please, you can explain?"

"Chieftain, please, do not punish Miss Pert because I came here uninvited."

Pert looks surprised but whehter it is from the childlings responses or Clem's question is hard to say

Afraid to get the nice lady in more trouble by trying to help...

"Well, I was gonna punish her for being mean to you and narrowminded against sidhe" Clem says

"Please?" Her eyes are wet, but she's trying.

"Please don't punish her. I.. I... if you please, Chieftain, I promise... I'll oath not to come back?"

"No no, we take Oaths serious here. " Clem says and sits down "Answer me. Was Pert mean to you ? or was she kind ?"

SNIFF.

"She shouldn't get in trouble for being nice!"

Clem will nod "She should not. And will not" Assurances

"It's not fair. And I'm the one who shouldn't be here."

Clem says "Cmere." And offers a hug "Please"

"Both of you" To Salma too

"I want to go home now, please." She's still not crying.

Clem sighs "Well, I ain't gonna beg. Can I explain where I was going with that first?"

Honestly, it would be better if she did cry instead of her distress trying to escape all around her sidhe-mask, too sober and somber for a child.

She looks like she WOULD like a hug, but is holding on to Ellie first and formost.

Pert ruins EVERYTHING, by coming up behind the girls and hugging them protectively "For the love of Soil and sweat, Clem, just tell them. Can't you see how close they are to tears for being treated this way?"

"These poor girls just.. well when I was seven I would have broke for less than that"

She hiccups.

Salma was very carefully examining her hem, through sniffles.

"I see, " Clem nods "See what i was tyring to point out that judging all DeBukes here by Hearth Agnes wouldn't be right. We also got our Perts see. Hard and soft. It's like when Hearth Agnes can't see past your sidheness, Ellie. You ken what i mean?"

Softly. "Ariel didn't want me here, either."

"We should have listened to our amiga - hermana."

"If she would have told us."

"Ariel adores you" Clem says "And was worried some of our old timers wouldn't treat you fairly, but she didn't want to have you think her family was mean or evil. you might not be her friend anymore" \

"She did, just.. politely. And I didn't listen."

Pert says "You're just little girls, mistakes will happen. Happen for adults too" She assures

"I'm a countess. I shouldn't make mistakes like that."

"I'm Chief, I make mistakes all the time" CLem says "Important thing is admit em, fix em, and learn from them"

"I should make the mistakes. It was my idea." Rubbing at her nose with a sleeve, and wiping fogged glasses. "Fenix, maybe she is bad for me. It makes me forget to listen about other places."

"Salma, no... I.. I wanted to go. It was my idea."

"I'm sorry I spoiled it."

Pert says "Oh goodness you two are so sweet and way too hard ohn yourselves. Chieftain" She looks up "If need be I'll drive them to a safe trod"

She swallows. "We're very sorry. And I guess we don't need the lemon bars."

"I think we'll say that the grown ups blew this one. " Clem says "We're sSUPPOSed to be wiser. So this is not on you so much, Ellie, and Salma. And you wil lget some great food. I know Hearth Agnes seems mean, but she'sproud of her food and will only send her best. "

"And Pert, we got a way to get them home safely. In fact," A look up "You two are gonna like this"

Clem says "We're going to drop off your ffood later We won't be able to carry it as birds"

Mournful. "What about Ramona?"

"Can you make me a donkey with wings? Like in my book of poems?"

"Then I can carry the basket. I am GOOD at carrying."