#rivervale_lodge

Dagmar gets up one morning, does her chores, wolves down breakfast, and then...

well, the stable is empty

Dagmar swallows down panic - after all, Stormwake is CHief's horse....

Yup. Saddle and gear is gone too.

No sign of foul play?

Nope.. and Stormwake wouldn't let himself be taken by just ANYONE. He would cave a skull in if it was someone he didn't like putting hands on him..well, at least nip a chunk out of them.

She will double-check with the Lodge, just in case...

She finds Siv about ready to go on Patrol, "Morning Dagmar."

"Siv, you know where Stormwake is? Did Chief take him out?"

"Oh shoot! Dagmar, I'm sorry, I was supposed to come by and tell you... Stormwake is over at the Farm... for studding. Mom had a talk with him, and he's good with it. So with luck, there's going to be a foal or two on the DeBuke farm." A smile

Nose-wrinkle.

"Sorry" Siv assumes that's for her, "I really was going to make telling you part of my patrol.. .but I know how you love that stallion so if you're mad at me. I"ll make it up to you"

"Mad? What?"

"Well, your nose wrinkled. I figured you were upset with me for not telling you sooner?" Siv says "Or is it something else?"

"AIn't mad at you. That's dumb."

"So..what's with the nose wrinkle then?" Curious tilt of her head

A wave-y gesture.

"Just needed to know Chief took'im."

"Okay, well, the Chief took him to the farm to drop him off for the day.. see if the mares like him. Hope Cinder doesn't bite his balls off"

"Siv! Stop!"

"Oookay" Confusion

"I was joking? I'm pretty sure she wouldn't..." Still confused

"Can we not talk about horse sex? Uhg, GROSS."

"Oh..sorry" She covers her mouth to hide the smile then when she's got it, nods "Apologies. I thought.. " A breath "I thought the idea of little colts and foals in the future would delight you to be honest"

A pause.

"Little Stormwakes?"

"Yup" A nod "Well, part stormwakes"

"I mean, the mother might leave her mark.. imagine a horse tough as Stormwake but sweet as Blueberry?"

"...oh..."

"I wonder how much it'd cost to keep a horse..."

"I don't know," Siv says "All I know is we have a flying SHIP my parents seem to want to rot from disuse If I didn't tend to her anyway" hmmpy

A sigh and look to the ship

"Well, it is dangerous here - but what about in the Dreaming?"

"It's a matter of 'my parents won't let me' " She says "or maybe they will"

Thoughtful, "YEah. Maybe I'll tell mom and dad I'm taking the ship for a spin and see what they say"

"well, it'd be in the Dreaming. Maybe even just the near Dreaming, right?"

"Like - don't ask for a quest, ask for an afternoon sail off the coast?"

"Build up to a quest."

"I don't think that's whey they didn't want me to do it, Dagmar."

"They were on this really paranoid thing for a time, but that was. .months ago. I Guess after my last adventure, this is small potatotes" A grin "I should trust them to be fair about it."

"Can't hurt t'ask, is all."

"You're right" A hug "And maybe that's a good policy for horse care too? "

"Like.. no shame in ASKING."

"Oh, man... I wish. It's too expensive, for sure."

"I'm not sure it is... if we work some advantages" Siv says "Part of it is food right?"

"Food and medicine and farriers and stabling..."

"Food we can cover... pretty cheap. The DeBukes can give us grains at a discount."

"Yeah, but..." Sigh.

"We couldn't even keep Brown Dog."

"That's why Chief took him in. Which I appreciate!"