#rivervale_lodge

"Davidson? Let me see..." Her coach looks it over "Okay. you need to see the nurse or want to give it a bit?" Suspicous but willing to give her the benefit of the doubt for now

They've now got Lucia's attention, the boggan cheerleader keeps working for now, perhaps to help provide a distraction

"Can I just sit it out for a bit, Coach? See how it is in a few minutes? I can still do the arm parts of the drill...."

"Okay..." She nods "We aren't doing too many formations today I suppose."// "Coach?" Lucia says "I'm having trouble with ..step step, step step step, or is it 'step step step, step step and step?'" the coach sighs and goes to help her

looks like Sylvi has somoene distracting the coach

A grateful nod to Lucia, and Sylvi takes a wobbly walk to the bleachers where she chooses a seat that gives her a good view of A-squad. She continues working through the arm patterns...perhaps a bit automatically...while trying to see whether anybody over there seems to be manipulating glamour.

She watches for a while, but there's no sign of glamour. She does notice that Lilian and Vickie seem to be dominant..not just athletically, but more aggressive. She doesn't know them that well, but wasn't Vickie one of the ones who tried to encourage Sylvi to keep trying for A squad? Sans Sarcasm even

There were others on the A squad that could could leap further before. That gap is closed

Wow. Well...whatever it is, she's not going to figure it out here. After about fifteen minutes, she stands and "tests" her ankle. "Coach, it's okay...still hurts, but not as bad."

"If you want to try some of the softer routines with us go ahead. " The coach says "Now, the next game maybe culled by snow so ..."

and it goes on. Sylvi does have a very curious boggan friend who 'bounces' near her going "Nadeen told me a bit of what's up. Those two? Bogdar says whatever they're doing, they're sharing a secret"

Sylvi nods and says, "Okay...I'm going to try to buddy-up after practice. If I don't text you by seven, tell my mom what's up, okay?"

"I'm always the gal in the van" She says then sjmiles "Sure."

"Hey!" Sylvi half-laughs, but sympathizes. "Can I make it up to you?" Kick slide kick kick jump jump LUNGE.

"Sure...more sword practice later? "

"Maybe tomorrow, but...deal."

"Deal" And they go back to the practice. Lucia is very good at being a boggan, but she really does want to be MORE than just a boggan. Wanting to be more than what folks expect from your kith. Surely, Sylvi's never felt that way

And Lucia offered her "bogdar" skills...but yeah, not fair to pigeonhole her.

And then there's that, yhou never can escape what the Dreaming made you..though she has heard weird stories about cookies.

(End Scene)

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On Imbloc night, after all the festivities and fuss are over, redcaps banished and bikes abandoned and claimed, all is quiet in the Lodge. Guests sleep comfortably tucked in hither and yon. The Balefire crackles quietly to itself, refreshed and renewed......

...... then suddenly ROARS into a snapping, popping, leaping rage of exultant light and heat, slapping the mantle with exuberance.....

..... before settling back into its banked comfort for the night.
********************

Sylvi has a couple of ways to nose around this. Stealth isn't a typical troll trick, but she could try.

Just engaging and talking and see what she can learn direct might work, but she needs an excuse.

Well, she's got one. After practice, she hurries over to the A-squad. "Hey, Lilian! Vickie! That was an amazing move before."

"Thanks" Liliansays "Just hard work and will power" /Vickie smiles "And good coaching" the two exchange a look as if sharing some in joke

"Wait...your coach taught you that?" She glances over at the A-squad coach...she's pretty sure that's not whom they mean.

"Figure of speech," Lilian says "look, if you were A squad maybe we'd go into details but... you know, baby steps" A bit rude

"Oh, c'mon...." An urgent, pleading look. "If I could just learn something cool like that...."

"Limited resources" Vickie says "look..it's hard to explain but we can't just share what we ..'learned' with anyone. It .."

"But...but...." She pauses, then another urgent attempt. "I could pay you, maybe?"

"Somethings are better than money" Lilian says "Come on, Vickie, let's go."

"Vickie? C'mon, please?"

Vickie says 'look..there's someone we have to ask. So.. I'll ask him. Okay?"

"VIk-ee" Lilian says through teeth

"Please, okay? Thanks!"

"Okay I just felt sorry for her" And off the two go.

Sylvi switches from pathetic to focused in a heartbeat as the two turn and go. She hurries to change, but first whispers into her backpack, "Can you follow them? And come back to me?"

"Yes..." Ears say "Or do you want to be hidden too?"

She blinks. "Yes...yes!" Almost too loudly. She hurries to change and pursue them.

"I don't tell you I can do this often becuse otherwise you'd hve me sneaking on everytiing- So much work. Pick me up, please."

She smiles. "You're not wrong," she whispers, and picks him up.

And then she..blends, like glass... as both feel the rede of hide cover them.

"Do I have to be quiet, too? Or does it hide my sounds?"

"Best to be silent as possible. Sorry"

"Okay," she breathes, and then hushes as she goes to catch up with the other girls.

And they go ...

It's freezing so she's glad it eventually goes back into a building for storage equipment.

Large and roomy, and warmer than she'd expect

And she hears voices "We'll help you get anyone you want" Lilian says around a corner of a wall

She slips in as carefully as she can.