#rivervale_lodge

"Yes'm. Thank you for showing me the hoof stuff."

"Thank you for learning it," she says as she turns to go.

"Love you, mom" Siv says. She has always been less reserved, but now she seems to be making up for lost days with affection.

A pause, and a grin. "I love you too, my daughter," and reaches to give Siv a hug.

A soft chuff.

Siv returns it fiercely then smiles when they release.

"I dislike that shirt," she adds with a raised eyebrow, but also a bit of amusement, and off she goes.

"Seems an okay shirt to me." Dagmar opines.

She looks down, "Well, darn it she shouldn't have said that. Now I really like it."

"Heh."

"Oh, Dagmar, it's SOOO Good to be back. "

Dag nods. "Glad you're back, too."

"So how has everyone been doing while I was gone? WHat have I missed if anything?"

"Missed? Not much."

"Yeah? Huh. Well.. to hear Mackerel bitch about it I was gone for a MILLION years and am the most ingrateful two legger EVER"

"Well, that's cats."

"That's true enough...threatened to cut me open, then demanded pets... then got em and ignored me for an hour and a half...like she was doing a whirl wind tour of what she thought i had missed. Was... I..." A cough "Speaking of beasts that aren't fully domesticated.... was Bancroft any trouble? Mom says he gave dad a hard time? Though I suspect that might have been two way"

The sound of footsteps.

Siv turns to see who it is

"Mmpph." Noncommittal.

"Well, that's just.. your opinion, man" She jokes lightly at the response

Frank, long of face, trudges up towards the back of the Lodge from the woods.

"Dad!" Siv calls out

He lifts a hand in acknowledgement.

Not good enough, she races towards her father and lays a big hug on him.

He hugs her back.

"Hey? Dad... what's with the frown face? You okay?"

"Yes, Fishie, I'm fine." He looks off into the distance, distracted. "Have you seen your mother?"

"You just missed her. She was with Dagmar and the horse..." A glance to Dagmar to confirm, then she looks back, "I went up, said hi, gave her a hug... and then she went on patrol" adding 'She doesn't like the shirt Aunt Clem gave me." nose wrinkle

He reads the shirt, frowns, shrugs. "Ok. Thank you."

"You hate it too? Guess I better change it sometime before we all gather for dinner tonight"

"Hm? I don't.... shirt's fine but make your mother happy." He releases her. "I, um, I'm going to work on the Rig."

"Okay? Do you need help? " She asks

He nods at the other troll in greeting. "Dagmar." Then to Siv. "No, I got it."

"Frank." Nod.

"Your niece there is to be honored tonight for saving my and Vali's bacon" A smile at her dad

"Good. That's good." Distracted. "See you then." And he heads out to the parking lot.

"I..." She watches her father go

Siv looks at Dagmar, "I didn't imagine that right? Dad just tuned us out? Or at least me out?"

"He's been tense since you got hurt."

"Shit" She sighs

"This is SO not his fault"

"Well... trolls?"

"oh nuts. Something.. I think something is going on more than that and .. I don't like it" Lamely

"Mountain's usually grumpy?"

"Not distant though" A shake of her head 'Not like this"

"Dunno. He and Chief... I mean... they're your parents, so... but for most of us, they're kinda hard?"

"Well, there's nothihng they can't face when together"

"Well, sure. They're Big Damn Heroes."

"But they still hurt.. they... mum and dad are more vulnerable than they let one. It took me a while to see dad's weakness..and oddly, to see past one weakness for mom..but they both have it you know?"