#rivervale_lodge

Her smile falls. "She's gone, isn't she?"

"Not forever. She will be back this evening. If she is not...we will seek her."

She chews on her thumb and nods.

"You were brave, but that was not a moment to protect her. She needed to meet her family. And Sam...they will need to be able to control her, until she can control herself. It will be harsh sometimes...but she will need to learn."

Much to the Chieftain's surprise, they soon come upon Vali waiting half way

"...Sorry.."

An eyebrow. "You followed us." She does not sound pleased.

"Not exactly" He says, not a lie "My own gifts have their advantages. Is it done? is she with the others?"

Dagmar looks back, staying quiet as the adults talk.

"She is." Brekke nods. "The one we met remembers me from his young years. He has sworn to protect her. They will bring her to the Lodge at sundown."

"I do not want the location of the Caern known by many, Vali. That is a respect I offer them."

"So that's done then" A deep breath of relief "Thank you, Chieftain. And honesty, I don't know where the Caern is. I only knew to be here at this time. I have ideas of the location, but I've got no reason to pry now."

"...You knew that was gonna happen? At the dance?"

"Hmph." Brekke doesn't seem pleased with the notion of his prying into the Caern at all, but... "Come, let us go back to the Lodge."

Vali looks at her "I knew enough to know that you were crucial there , that you needed to go. That you would be the key between saving many, or a blood bath. There's more, but I won't tell you about that." He says then nods "Yes, Baroness"

"Right." Subdued, and she follows.

"There are limits to what he can say, Dagmar. As, it should be obvious, there are limits to what you can say. The Caern is not to be spoken of."

Vali moves quietly.

She nods. "I can keep secrets."

"Spiked punch. Fire alarms."

"I believe that is true." Brekke nods.

"Quick thinking" Vali agrees.

As Brekke scouts ahead, Vali glances over at Dagmar as if expecting..questions, comments?

"I've gotten soft."

"you wrestled a werewolf to the floor and lived. HOw is that soft?"

"Because... I.. I dunno. Got close?"

"And now I'm scared of losing her."

"And scared of losing Jaymes and Tove. And lots of things. Having stuff to lose sucks."

"Having stuff to lose means you've had some wins. Only those with nothing to lose have never feared losing something precious." He says "And you have to remember, in the end, the good is stronger. Even in this world of darkness, light can be stronger. A candle can hold back a whole room of darkness. And the love you give ? That's a light. "

She scoffs, though it's half-hearted. Teenager trying to keep cool. "Vali."

"You think it's one sided? Do you know how lost Jaymes was before he found you and Tove ? Guy was a blast from Frank's prior life. he may not show it, but he was lonely in a crowded room. No one needed him, and he needed no one or so he told himself. Truth is. He did... and recognizing that he needed others made him stronger. "

"Jaymes is great..."

"And thanks to you, he's greater. And thanks to him, your'e greater. Caring isn't a sign of weakness. it is a display of profound and amazing strength of the heart. Weaklings don't care. Cowards don't care. Fear's greatest slaves are the ones who say "I'm looking out for number one" "

"No, it's people that survive..."

"Survival isn't living, love is living. Caring is living. Survival scuttles like a rat from the rubble. Love lifts the rubble off others and helps even more see the light again. Trust me on this. I've lost those I care about. If you could wipe from my mind he regret and memory of each one of them? I wouldn't go for it. I'd fight to keep it, because even with regret, Love is worth fighting for. Love, Honor and Duty. They might get us killed, but without them? We're not really living anyway"

"...like... yeah." She sucks on her bottom lip and nods. "I wouldn't give up the past year for nuthin'."

"Good. " a soft smile, "See, here you are caring, and you could still punch out a buick. Not soft."

"Still. I'm different."

"Well, don't let Olgar get a swelled head about it, but while I'm not always sure it's good, change sure ain't always bad. "

A snort.

"You should have seen me as a childling. I was very different. My god I had pinchable cheeks. "

"Ha. Like a boy Gerd?"

A laugh "Little bit"

"He did." Brekke says as they catch up to her.

"I believe the word Kerri used once was a 'moppet.' "

"Oh lord" He says "I'd forgotten bout that"

"You are welcome."

"Ha! Man, maybe I'm lucky I was late, or you'd all have, like, "Mini Dagmar" stories..."

"Wait a few years. " A smile "We're collecting now"

"Twenty years from now, Dagmar, see what stories people tell of your younger self. And trust me, there will be stories. There always are." A slightly rueful grin.