#rivervale_lodge

The sound of the fridge and the soft clink of rummaging before Dagmar reappears with a can of Dr. Pepper.

Kerri makes sure everybody gets enough food (and there is plenty to go around) before asking, "So? How was it?"

Frank glances at Brekke, then eats, listening.

"We saw a bear cave! No bears, but totally a cave!"

Brekke nods, and lets Dagmar lead the narrative.

"And there was a TOAD in May's tent and she screamed like a girl but he let me hold him!"

"Symon woulda liked him, I bet."

A chuckle at that. "Somebody always finds a toad. The reactions are interesting."

"Poor guy was scared. May is way bigger than he is."

Brekke nods. "You were careful with him." Approval.

"He was really cool. I gotta remember to look up what kind of toad he was. You said he wasn't a frog."

"Siv did all kinds of knots. We had to tie up our food and trash in trees!"

She eats, enjoying the combination of Kerri's food, excellent coffee, and the balefire's glow.

A look to Frank. "The bears were around, but not aggressive. They have been feasting off the dumpsters at the bottom of the mountain."

"We saw a possum!"

Kerri asks, "Did it have babies?"

She laughs. "She looked like a bus, they were all hanging on her back!"

A laugh from Kerri at that.

Frank nods to Brekke's comment, then chuckles at Dagmar's comparison.

"Do we need to get the dumpsters moved? Or secured? Bear-proofing is....."

The Hearth glances to the door. "Perhaps I should take a plate out for Siv?"

"It was pretty cool. I wish I knew what all the birds were..."

"Siv can come in to eat." Mildly.

"There were these orange and black ones, and gold ones, and a whole bunch that would be out way early in the morning when the others were still sleeping. I'd get out of the tent to watch them."

Brekke considers Frank's question. "Here, we are fine. I will notify those near the mountain that they have an issue, if they have not noticed already."

"There are books for bird identification...we have some here you can look through." Brekke nods to the bookshelves.

"Oh, and Brekke said they were catbirds, and they do sound just like cats! Like, this 'Arr-ee!' call."

Kerri looks a bit restless at Frank's comment, but nods agreement.

"Can I?"

A nod. "Eat first."

Good thing Brekke reminded, as Dag was mid-way through abandoning her plate. "Okay."

Kerri grins at the bird call.

Brekke herself has finished her meal and directs her full attention to Dagmar. "Three things you learned." This seems to be a request for a response.

Dagmar makes remarkably quick work of her food, at least the non-squash portions.

"Um. If you get lost, find water. Water goes to towns."

A nod.

"Don't touch the weed with three leaves. Leaves of three, leave it be."

Another nod.

Frank nods. "Especially important when going behind a bush."

An amused look to Frank.

"Do NOT listen to Lucy Swope about nuthin', she lies so she can win."

Brekke clears her throat. "Not exactly the kind of 'learning' I had in mind. But learning to read people is important, so I will accept it. Eat your squash."

"It's yellow..." She pokes it.

"Kerri cooked it. Therefore, it will be delicious." Rivervale logic.

Her jaw juts out a bit. Another poke.

And in fact, it is perfectly seasoned and buttery.

Kerri doesn't seem at all offended by her hesitation. "There was some bad weather that came through...everybody got through that okay?"

"One night it was so bad we couldn't even have a fire!"

Brekke nods and sips her coffee. "About as well as one might expect. Some wet gear, but it dried soon enough."

Then agreement with Dagmar. "We were all stuck in our tents that night."