#rivervale_lodge

May rolls her eyes

"Seriously, though, you want help, we can try - right Gonzales?"

"Thanks, but I think the best help is what you've been doing, my game agressiion and such" May says "I won't let you two or the team down"

"Oh, totally. And just wait until NEXT year, right? Sophomores get to be starters, sometimes."

"I need to buy one of those big number one fingers I guess" Tove says

Something flies past the window

She laughs. "Don't you dare!" Amber eyes flick, catching the movement.

It was chimerical, she was sure of that, but it didn't buzz or clatter like the bug man's creatures did

Feathers, it had feathers. A chimerical bird?

She keeps an eye out.

There's an owl out there! But she's never seen an owl of these colors. Silver and blue

"Something weird outside?" Gonzales asks noticing, and peeks "I don't see anything." But, of course, she wouldn't

"Oh, thought I saw something..."

"oh. Mmm.." the girls talk basketball and tv shows. And they geek out when Tove shows them some wood work she's done , a flute.

"I'm gonna take Twobit out. Be right back..."

Twobit hears 'out' and bounces

"Right! Business time, short stuff!" She grabs the lead and hooks it on the terrier's collar.

The yorkiepoo with the messy do, is ready to number two! bounce bounce

Out they go!'

It takes her a bit to find it, but the owl's colors are wrong for blending against trees. Even if the owl is trying to SCOOT to the opposing side

"You're a chimera. Do you speak English?" Direct and blunt, as TwoBit is allowed to sniff around the tree.

"No.. I mean, whoooo?" The owl says

A laugh. "You aren't a good liar. Okay, who. Who are you?"

"Whoot whoot.. uhm.. hoo?" One last try

"Yes, you. This is my house, I live here, you don't."

"well, yes ,uhm.. clearly.I would need a nest. Lovely home, Dutchfarmhouse style isn't it?"

"I asked first." Stubborn.

"oh.. uhm yes, " The owl kind of bounces on it's Talons "I'm Wooster. Well, I'm called that. "

"Hello, Wooster. Yes, it's Dutch."

"It's very nice, like the balcony. Nice touch. So..are you all trolls and mortals here?"

Twobit looks around, not enchanted, she's not sure what's going on

"Why?" She bristles. "It's defended."

"oh just curious, not collecting information or anything..." Ho hum

"Who are you collecting information for?"

"Well,what's your name? I think it's my turn"

"Why do you need my name? I live here, you don't."

"Well, you won't tell me if there are non trolls..is this place friendly or.. ready to atack innocent folks?" Hrumph feathers up

Twobit isn't sure what's going on, but the girrl is upset, when it doubt, bark at the air

"Not attacking, defending."

"oh.." the feathers relax "So you'd never mistreat a guest?"

Her brow furrows as she considers. "Trolls protect the Dreaming. So... no? It's not right to mistreat a guest. If they're your guest, it's your job to protect them."

"Yes, oh, well, thank you, that's what I wanted to know," Wooster spreads his wings

"Why would you want to know that?"

"to make sure somoene else isn't walking into danger in this area" WOoster says "Sorry to interude on you walking your snack sized dog"

"If they would hurt my friends, they'd be in danger. I'll protect them."

"Oh he'd never , he's a good man, he's just wanting to die in something meaningful, not waylaid and I thought I could help him with..oh pinfeathers, it's hard to explain"

Another frown. "Is your friend hurt?"

"Yes, by time's arrow" and the blue and silver owl flies off, his wings not making a sound

"An arrow? I... wait, we can help? Tove knows lots of first aid..."

but the owl is gone