#rivervale_lodge

Yes. The stoic young man is mildly embarrassed at this.

"Up to now, well, recently, she never had to worry about being judged or hurt by people."

"I don't think she ever learned that kind of manipulation. She just hares off and does what she wants, full speed ahead, no thought for consequences."

Another eyebrow. "You might keep that in mind. Thane."

"I have noticed some of that, sir. It's... an enviable and worrisome trait." A low mutter "stresses me out a bit sometimes"

"Wait till you have kids of your own." The statement -could- be a warning, or a command. Hard to say.

"Thank you, sir" is he taking that as a blessing?

"I thank you for hearing me out. I should probably leave you be."

Frank shifts the bag on his shoulder. "Come up to the Lodge. We'll see if the Chieftess is there."

"Thank you, sir" he readies to follow "I'll try not to get in the way"

"Oh, I think she'll make time for you...."

'mmm" he says, revealing nothing but Frank would like to imagine the boy has sense to be aware of possible risks.

(End Scene)

———————

On a cool and sunny afternoon in mid-November, a boy is wandering the woods outside the lodge. He knows that school must be out for the day, and wanders the trails that head in from the direction, looking for the kids who must surely be returning soon to bring an end to what he calls, “the boring times”.

Footsteps! The sign of people...he hears them! Crunchy leaves!

He brightens up, and then disappears... a pounce, away, behind the bushes- and lies in waiting, only the slightest stirring of leaves from where he can’t quite stop his tail from swishing.

Gerd comes into view Looking a bit bored herself, a wistful sigh on her face

He pokes his head back out, and waves over at the other youngster. “Psssst. psssst! Hi! Gerd, hi!”

She nearly squeals with surprise.

"Hey!"

But she smiles

He beams joyfully and pops out of the bushes. “It’s me! It’s Connor! Did I scare you??”

"YES," She admits, "but only a little" She clarifies "Just enough"

He hurried to give her an anxious hug. “Well I didn’t mean it! I was just hiding from...” a pointed glance around, “the MUGGLES”. Do you think they come this far in?

'Sometimes, but not the worst of them" she assures "most muggles prefer cities, not that cities are bad, but muggles stay in gray lines"

And she hugs back

He nods. “I do not LIKE if they were to come here. ... but, I thought maybe the pretty one would come again.” He glances at the paths from the school again. “I was ‘posed to introduce myself to her proper, but then she went home.”

"The pretty one? Oh, you mean Nadeen? " Gerd says "She goes home on the bus to her parents well, her body's parents? It's complicated"

He ponders a moment. “Doesn’t she need to warm up by the fire? Or is she not blue ‘nuff to visit? But Biter and Crawler and me are allowed here too. And we’re not blue.”

A moments thought, and he adds. “And Lump, who is pretty too, but Mountain doesn’t seem to like him.”

"Oh, Bancroft's okay, he's very handsome. Uncle Frank is just worried that he's prince charming for Princess Siv, and that she'll be carted away for her happily ever after and she'll forget to visit for yule. Fathers are weird. " A wistful sigh "I wish my dad were still alive so that when I grew up to be a fair maiden he'd be all 'grrr' I don't like that guy' and I'd be 'but it's LOVE' and he be 'grrr' and make me feel protected even as I got all eye rolly like Sylvi does or stompy like Siv does. "

"And Nadeen can still stop by the fire, the Chief has to give her lessons"

“Oh.” He remarks, and is quiet a moment. “Where is your dad? I mean, why.. what happened?” His head tilted to one side, ears canted.

"My parents were killed by bad guys" She says sadly, "Uncle Vali saved me, and took me to places to be safe, and then here, where I guess I'm safe, only I get bored because no one wants me going anywhere. But I AM small." A whisper "But they won't be able to that for long. I'm getting close" A nod

“You’re bigger than me.” He offers helpfully. “And together we’re... we’re...” He holds up a hand above his head, stretching tiptoes to indicate a much taller height. “Pretty big.”

“I guess Mattis was my Vali, but now I don’t have one anymore. I had a Boss that would have been my momma but I have one of those already and she didn’t understand. It was sad times. But we can adventure together if you want.”

"Ah, you're nice" she says "ANd sure... oh, watch what I can do..." SHe takes some leaves and throws them in the air "Thing of some wonderful things, it's the same as having wings. Think of Kerri's tasty snacks. Think how clean messy olgar keeps his axe. Think of all the laughter vali's bad puns bring! You can fly you can fly you can fly..."

And suddenly, she's floating

"Come on up, I cast it on you too. Just think 'up'"

He blinks at her curiously, head tilting the other direction. Then his mouth falls open! “You’re up! Up up pup up pup UP PUP!” He jumps in the air hopefully.

There is the smell of glamour about him. It smells like blueberry jam on the top shelf, which as we know, is tastier then blue berry jam on the bottom shelf

AND He shoots off like KRypto!

THe troll laughs and follows him "Yup! ANd one day I'll just be able to flicker flash and go anywhere"

“Up up... yipe! Yipe!” He flails in midair, suddenly frightened by this development. “But what if the strings break and we fall d.... fall d.... go that way?”

'You'll feel a tingle when it starts to wear off, just go down... when you do, it's okay. I won't let you smash into the ground" A firm jaw chin jut "Trust me. I'm a troll"

“Yes you are! But Valky-rees have wings don’t they?” He leans back. And then forward, and slowly turns a flip in midair.

"Well, there are birddogs and they don't have wings" She counters

Gerd knocks some leaves loose playfully

He snaps playfully at the leaves, tail swishing joyously behind him. “What happens if a muggle looks up and sees a bird dog and a Gerdkyrie?”

"Uhm .I was told to avoid that"

Another slow spin. “But what if?”