#rivervale_lodge

"Not sure..I mean, I can TRY hard to be nice about it but when it happens I might forget to be" she says then "uh... can I go to you and Hearth Kerri for advice on the girl stuff? Might be better on his heart"

She mimes a minor cardiac arrest

A bit of a chuckle at the mime. "I think that would be wise, though the Hearth will likely give you better advice than I. Also, Sylvi and Siv and Dagmar might all be of help as well. And should it be necessary, I will attempt to help your Uncle Vali remember that you are no longer a childling, when you are no longer one." Then a measuring look. "I do not think it will be much longer now, you know. Especially if you are so concerned about it."

She does look worried, "yes... one day the puberty fairy will get me. I hope she's kind... but well, I hear she's not always. Thank you for looking out for me and Uncle Vali. I know you always do. "A pause "how come the closer I get to it, wilderhood, the more nervous it makes me? It didn't bother me last year."

"You had more time, last year. It is closer, now, and it is the unknown. There are some parts that you have learned to expect, but there is no way to know exactly what your journey will be. And Gerd...you will make mistakes. Do not think that you can avoid that. And you will have to make amends for those mistakes. How you do that will determine who you become. I do not blame you for being nervous about that."

"Yeah I don't want to be... I don't want it to take away from others. Connor needs help, and Sylvi isn't as grown up yet as she thinks, and Siv doesn't always consider things and when she does she gets a bit spooked, and Dagmar still has a temper and is scared house Gwydion won't like her and Nadeen thinks she's getting soft and her father won't approve... and Mountain Frank feels frustrated Jessica is so aloof from him and worries he's the one who taught her to be aloof, and you worry about ..well, things too. It's all very important. I don't want my doing this to keep others from the important things . It's like the opposite what trolls should do, right? "

Brekke stops...and she lowers herself to one knee, resting a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Gerd...you are one of the important things. Do not ever forget that." She looks very, very serious.

the girl looks down at her shoes, then hugs Brekke with both arms

Momentary surprise, but she carefully returns the hug.

"We will all help you as best we can. Because we want to."

"Thank you" She lets go of the hug and then says "I should leave you to important … well ,OTHER stuff" Realizing her stuff is important too now. "The gardens look lovely, but I still like your touches better than Bancroft's. It's more us."

A grin and a nod. "Thank you, Gerd. That means a great deal. Go on." She stands again, and returns to her gardening work.

And off Gerd goes

Brekke pauses and watches her go, thoughtful...then a sigh as she looks about the garden beds. "Planting tomorrow," she tells them. "So you prepare yourselves, too."

Brekke watches Connor in puppy form, rolling and making a mess of himself. Another thoughtful look...years spooling back...

A bit of a chuckle. "Good spring dirt, hm, Buddy?"

"Whoof." He agrees, giving a hearty back-scratching wriggle through the rich loam.

"Well, I will need you to help plant tomorrow, whether with hands or paws. Agreed?"

"Come now, let me brush you off, and then inside for a bath."

There being no objection, Brekke manages to corral the pooka puppy, brush the loose dirt off of him, and give him a thorough washing, whether as puppy or boy.

*end scene*