#rivervale_lodge

Heavy footsteps approaching at a run....

Dagmar brings her fist down on another of the snapping, slavering mastiffs... they won't get anywhere close to COnnor, not if she can help it...

"Son of a ..." Bent curses. The mastiff that was hurt looks at Conner and ..not grrow, but grouses?

Siv flings a dagger of her own at Bent

Brekke arrives on the scene, Speaker in hand, ready to attack.

"STOP!"

Dagmar stops, standing up straight - but hands still in fists.

The knife is already thrown and catches Acero in the hand he was using to throw

and it goes deep into the man's palm

He stops... and then starts again, moving forward towards the injured dog. He reaches out a hand towards it, whimpering in a calming tone. “Poor buddy...”

"Weapons down! Now!"

Cutlass down. "Yes, Chieftain"

"Who the bloody hell are you?" The not eshu but looks like an eshu snaps

"Connor, careful. Move back." Then to Acero, "Who are you?" It's phrased as an order....and as she gets a better look at the man, she scowls.

A narrow look. "I am Brekke, Chieftain of Rivervale Lodge, and you are in my territory."

A low tone - "Connor, be careful..."

"I'm looking for my property and... these girls are trying to mess with MY traps"

She shoots Acero a Glare.

"You put TRAPS on My Land?" She steps forward, axe raised.

He gives Brekke a sorrowful glance, but cannot help moving forward until he can lightly reach a hand towards the dog, ready to pull back quickly if she snaps. “He hurt this poor lady. And she only doing what he said. It’s not her fault.”

In his panic...Acero's features blur.. slightly.. he looks less like a normal eshu even than before

Oak and Edelweiss move to the CHief's feet

"what's... WRONG with him?" Siv mutters as the image becomes repugnant to ken

Dagmar lets out a low growl.

As the Thallain's features appear, she takes another step forward and swings!

The head rolls loose

The blood that comes out is not..normal color.

Dagmar stares, wide-eyed. "What the actual fuck?"

"Thallian, he's Thallian"

Siv realizes

“Swear jar...” Connor intones in a fair impression of Gerd...

Brekke strikes the body again as it falls.

Siv says "I didn't sense it be.. mum, I think you got him. Any more, and you're just making jam"

Siv may be the only one here who has ever seen her mother enraged.

The remaining mastiffs, are, shall we say, cowed.

Brekke glares at the body, wary that it may rise again.

Dagmar crouches, ready to protect Connor from Brekke, if need be...

Connor now has the head of the injured monster-er, fuzzy baby, in his lap and is crooning lightly to her, stroking gently. “Don’t worry,” he whispers to the beast. “She’s really quite nice when not making mincemeat personpie.”

"Thallian are monsters, right? The evil versions of us?"

"I knew he was a jerk."

Breathing heavily, she half looks back at the girls. "You are unharmed?"

"Connor's fine, that's the important thing. He was not on patrol with us, but looks like Oak and Edie had his back." Siv says with relief

There are some bites on Dagmar and Siv

"I saw them run," Brekke nods. "Heard the howl. Good job, Connor."

Another moment of wariness directed at the body...then she carefully cleans off her axe blade.

It's obvious that both girls gathered around the boy tight

“Headless Horace hurt the poor puppy.” He looks painededly up at Brekke. “I’m sure she didn’t MEAN to bite no one.”

Then she turns to look at the group. A nod of approval at the posture of the girls defending Connor.

"Siv, Dagmar...get Connor and the dogs back to the Lodge. Tell Frank, Kerri, or Olgar what has happened. I will...tend to this."

"I'm okay... oh, hey, one got me... shit, Jaymes is gonna be pissed I ripped my coat..."