#rivervale_lodge

Nadeen ughs "Cute? I don't see it"

"It is." Sylvi agrees, grinning slightly. "Okay...we'll carry the cheese, so you've got to trust us. And maybe we can get you more cheese for later. Do you have a name we can call you?"

It takes a bite out of the mortal cheese wheel, somehow begins to chew, and then swallows "Caseus ,.,,yes yes, you may carry the cheese. I eat the cheese."

A short laugh.

"I can't even look at it," Nadeen shudders as the thing masticates

"Deal." Sylvi agrees, and reaches down to heft what's left of the cheese wheel. As the Willow whisper fizzles out, she asks, "Caseus, can you still understand me?"

Squeak. It flutters up and flies out of the cellar and circles.

Then it lands on Sylvi's shoulder, perhaps wanting to watch the cheese wheel

"I'm going to assume that's a yes. Let's go." And the Parade of the Cheese Wheel Migration has begun.

"Did you kill it?" THe old woman calls out as they come up

"I wish" Nadeen says

"We're relocating it now, Mrs. McGillicuddy. Better stay clear. It's...um...an endangered species."

Dagmar shrugs and follows.

ANd out they go... into the cold.

Caseus wraps wings about itself to stay warm

"Are patrols always so..lively here?" Colton asks

"Not usually."

"Not always. Sometimes. But this is a kinda rare double-header. Now...where to leave him and his cheese...."

"Don't want him to get too cold."

Nadeen frowns "Word is getting out..has gotten out, folks realize Rivervale is lacking manpower. Am I the only one this troubles?"

Sylvi frowns. "We had one woodwife who was already here, and one ratty-bat. Hardly an invasion, Nadeen."

"mm " Nadeen says then "how about the kestrel? The ship should be warm enough and if it deserts, Siv will know there's trouble?"

"Isn't it a bad idea to have rats near ships?" A thought. "Hey...we can bring him to the supply shed out back of the Lodge. The one where Vali keeps his stuff?"

"Ohhhh, that shed..."

"Dunno if I'm allowed after the bubble incident."

"Or maybe...that's a good point about the rats and deserting as a sign of trouble."

Nadeen says "Just keep the ugly thing away from the lodge AND me"

"I just worry about him eating the ropes."

"Nadeen" Colton says "Are you one of those girls who is afraid of rodents?"

"Maybe Symon would want him?"

"I won't dignify that with a response, Squire" Nadeen says

A bit of a smirk at Nadeen's response, but she doesn't comment on it. "Well, let's show him the boathouse, at least...see if it's good enough. There's plenty enough to eat around that he probably won't go after the ropes...?"

"Sounds good for now."

"Safe from the dogs, too..."

"As long as we give him cheese" Nadeen says "And... we can alwayhs tell Symon I suppose" A sigh "He probably WOULD Like it, or that heathen cat would"

"Well, it helps that he can fly."

"Yeah, Symon should definitely meet him.

"Wouldn't the heathen cat eat it?" Colton says

"So where's the downside?" The Varich inquires

"Dunno, Lovecraft can be picky."

"Again, he can fly. Lovecraft would have to work to catch him."

"Lovecraft does seem to hate effort" Nadeen says "Fine. Just.. into the boat area"

"And then cocoa?"

"Cocoa, for sure." In the boathouse, Sylvi finds a nice corner in which to prop the cheese wheel, and she adds a note: Property of the rat-bat chimera, don't touch! "There, this okay?"

"Maybe let Kerri know?"

Squeek! And it actually looks... well, grateful..taking a small bite out of the wheel and it's wings fold content

Caseus seems to think this is very fine

"Doesn't your mom dislike rodents?" Colton asks Sylvi.

"A sensible woman" Nadeen mutters

"Well, I don't think she'd want him in the kitchen, but...well, look, I sent her a zombie hand in the mail as a joke, and she gave it a terrarium. She's not real squeamish."