#odyssey

"Though, man, if Grog has littermates out there..."

"Don't taunt me, I'm going through dog withdrawl around here and he's starting to look like one"

"He's basically a dog."

"Pugmill."

"He's part dog, he's like.. a Centaur isn't a horse?"

"Exactly, he's part dog."

"And, well, centaurs have human heads. But hippogryphs are basically horses. Or hippocamp... usses? Hippocampi? Sea-horses."

"Hippocampoi?"

"A museses?" She's not sure, "But sorry, the pugmill is not a dog. Dogs are my niche. I get to decide on those." And she sticks her tongue out

"Well, I think he's a dog."

"And that's cool" SHe says "And he IS Cool"

"SO cool."

"Thistle, your art for the challenge , it's probably the most heart renderingly beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life"

"Should we leave it here or try to get it to Silverwolf?"

"I... I dunno?"

"Like, I still need to meet the Bes Din... earn my Mark."

"Well, guess it's up to you and the Red Fin, but... wow. The Bes Din are going to love you. The Spriggan sniffer, then this?"

"It might want to live here, but we might be able to do somewhat better transport than Flicker-flashing blind..."

"Oh yeah, imagine if your art work fell in the ocean, that would SUCK"

Grimace, nods.

"Well, which ever you decide. I wonder, is the Bes Din thing like your Fior?"

"I really don't actually know."

"I mean, there's Willy and Wudlig and Zelda..."

"Yeah?"

She shrugs.

"I feel a lot better about myself, but I'm still not sure how I fit in with my kith, exactly."

"Try living with the Thanes as your role model sometimes if you're a troll. they're super ..trollish."

Snort. "And you ain't?"

"Compared to them? For the longest time? I felt small, in more than height. Worse, seeing the tragedy they faced I almost didn't WANT to be a troll. Saining helped"

"Saining helps." Agreeing.

And they watch Art as he seeks out the namer

Art comes back around. “Niamh was speaking to Janice and the Chieftess, but we can speak to them now.

"Gotcha. Let's while we can"

"Cool."

They are seated outside at a gathering spot with chairs and pillows to lounge - not next to the shore, but there is a trickling waterfall that puddles into a pond where chimerical rainbow-scaled fish swim. They swarm towards the edge when Thistle comes in. Niamh smiles. “They must think it is feeding time.”

Janice is there as well, sitting next to Saoirse. The older woman has a hand on Janice’s arm, and they were in conversation as the trio approaches..

Saoirse sees them, and stands to greet them. Art bows as he would to any noble.

Thistle raises a hand in a low-key wave. "Hey."

A troll salute of respect

“Come, sit. We have much to discuss.” The Chieftess ensures that they are all seated comfortably before speaking. “Normally this would not be the subject of outsider knowledge, but I believe that Thistle, and by extension, her champions, have earned the right to some information, and explanation.”

"We're honored" She says

“We have been following our policy of strict isolation for many years. Please understand that we cannot change the policy of generations overnight. Even as The Redfin, I do not command all. However, there will be some immediate changes.”

Janice folds her hands in her lap.

“Firstly, we will loosen the restrictions on leaving the island for both Fin and Kin. Sained and trusted Redfin have previously been able to travel, with permission, to the nearby islands. Moving forward, they will be allowed to travel outside of our local seas. Visitors… approved visitors, will be welcomed. That, of course, includes family.” Janice gives a small smile.

She holds the wee baby in her lap, wrapped in soft linens hand-dyed in island patterns.

"Better to do controlled change than have things... burst, yeah? I think this sounds like a good step, for what one fled-... one nocker's opinion is worth,"

Gwen gives thistle a hopeful smile and nods

“If your Nocker technician you have spoken of is able to create a satellite connection for internet and cellular service that maintains the veils over the island from plane or drone, then we will also invest in such services. We have a vocal proponent in that corner, I suppose she would be your step-cousin, as such things are reckoned. Kin Dayana.”

"Wudlig is a furkin' savant at hiding things magically. And Dayana is furkin' brilliant, too."

“As for Omario…” Saoirse glances back over to Janice, who nods slightly. The Chieftess hesitates.

A crease between her eyebrows. "Yeah?"

Gwen recalls the woman's talk of showing her son mercy, and doesn't begrudge her that, though she might hope differently, she knows family is powerful.

“I will not outright banish him…. On Janice’s request.”

The mother speaks up. “Despite his actions, he is still family. Family… is messy, and flawed.”

Saoirse adds, “If he was raised to be cut-throat, selfish, and self-centered… who is it that raised him? What example was set before him? For all his doing… perhaps Fate had a hand as well. If he had not acted, my family would still be shattered across an ocean.”