#odyssey

"I think we better secure that boat" Gwen says meaning it "In case that's a litteral one"

Seamus offers, "You got a boat? I can have her battened for you."

Aoife comments, "Omario is a volcano that's all smoke and no pop. He thought when Saoirse stepped down, it was his time. Didn't much like it when she took the Redfin title back up. He won't admit it was never going to him."

"Yes, please , Seamus." A look to Aoife, "Omario would be a bad chief. He doesn't think of the tribe first"

"Little Luis helped us bring it in - she saved us. We do worry what happened to her captain."

"Volcano smoke can still do a lot of damage, though."

Seamus nods, and whistles up Little Louis to show him the ship. Little Louis starts to hold out his hand towards Gwen, and Seamus picks up the lad over his shoulder and carts him away! "Nah gwan with that. You made enough off them a'ready."

"Don't worry about your ship, we'll see her safe to dock." He calls.

Art has sat down with a cold glass of juice, and has a distant look on his face - tired out from the exertion, even though all he did was stand there - hours have passed! Even just TALKING, that is a lot, and his brain was running at least.

"Niamh, you know that there's a real blind bookwyrm, right? His name is Fornax."

"Oh! I know! I know his name." She grins, and doesn't offer an explanation. "Maybe you can show me a picture." She is beckoned by one of the elders, though - and excuses herself to be fussed over.

Gwen chuckles

"I swear, that kid."

"Hard not to root for the little entrepreneur"

"Luis? Yeah."

A nod then she admits "didn't expect to like most of the redfins and other locals"

"Right? I thought more would be like Omario."

"..... I don't care ofr him at all."

"Omario's an asshole, no, worse than that"

"He doesn't care about her. He did this for himself."

"If he believed his story? Maybe I could forgive him. But nah."

"This is the play of a guy scrambling for power and prestige" Agreement

"Exactly. And she deserves to be loved, not a pawn."

"Not that I don't think Saoirse won't love her."

"Sairose is.. i respect her" A nod "Good CHief, could be a great grandma. But man is she.. uhm tenacious"

"She has to be."

"But... you know how the Baron is?"

"It's one thing, that Janice can't ever wear a skin again." She frowns.

"Well, Janice would have to live near the shore if she did have a skin again"

"Which might not be terrible but then... the redfinds would insist she live here"

"Yeah. And that means losing Dad and Frankie, too."

"Ugh. Sorry, Thistle. I dont know what to say.I just know it's got to be frustrating for you.. one thing for sure though, Omario does NOT win"

"Maybe. I don't think two-out-of-three is enough. I am pretty sure I still have to win tomorrow, or this was all for nothing."

"I worry you're right' she nods "About the sweep making it clear ... other wise they'd have told us it was done, right? But i have faith in you. When you fight for someoen you love, you're as stubborn as an Ailil and as fierce as a redcap"

"Exactly. We need it to be decisive."

"I have an idea."

"Good" A nod "Might want to not say it out too loud . Wouldn't put omario past sabatogue"

"I intend to have my work stand for itself. I'm a nocker, ain't I?"

"You must be , no other kith gives so much sass"

"Compared to Willy and Wudlig I'm a marshmallow."

"Maybe, maybe not, but .. I like you best of the three. Don't tell em. It would crush Willy"

Snort.

A wolf grin

"I do... I do feel different."

"It's hard to explain."

"Was for me too. I mean, I could talk about feeling like I was finally, it was al lthe same, but finally all the tabs and slots matched up right?"

"Yeah. Like when a gear clicks in place."

"Yeah, " A nod "Kind of like that I imagine. it's... satisfying to feel it"

She nods.

"I hope Art gets to feel that "

"He will. Surely, he's proven himself already."