#rivervale_lodge

He scratches behind one ear "Well, my mentor says we was once like chimera or something... but really popular, like jackalopes, Skavader and more... " At the mention of the Swedish term, not Norweigtan but close enough to stir memories... she realizes that's the name some trolls use for 'vermin' " and more...we were in everyone's mind even if it were only in gag stores and firecamp tales. But then...BOOM... the gates opened in 69... and I guess we became real enough to become changelings... though he won't tell me about birds and bees and the changeling way. There may have been some kind of sacrifice but I don't know if it was the heroic type or the messy type or both.. but suddenly we were people too. But we were still what we are so..." He sighs "We nibble. Even just standing still, we nibble..." Embarrased "And not tomatoes."

The boy's quoting does sound like the sort of recite one would learn from a mentor.

"You mean...you must eat...like a redcap? And who is your mentor?"

Then the name, the stories, come back to her....and she FROWNS.

"His name was Smokey Joe, and no I.. when we stay at a hold, we juice up FAST" He says "But the .the fire.. it gets... tired fast" He sees her frown and backs away "Please, don't hurt me. I wasn't gonna go to the hold like they told me. I just took tomatoes. I"m so hungry"

She takes a deep breath and forces herself to ease back. "I do not wish to hurt you. And thank you for not trying to approach the Balefire here. I do not know if this will help..." she fishes a piece of dross from her belt pouch and offers it.

"It would, thank you" he takes it gratefully and sucks it down like a glamour glutton, almost as if his mere touch is a sieve "I'm very sorry. You see, I asked for Haven at place with sidhe andd a big black snake thing... and they let me and smokey joe in. We only meant to stay a day, but there were two of us, and when they saw their balefire go down.. one of them learned what we were and.." He shudders

"Smokey Joe is also a Wopletingler?"

"Yes. He..he was"

"Was. They...the sidhe...they hurt him?"

"They said he reaved the balefire, and they killed him." The boy says flatly, "'To protect the dreaming' Only it's not reaving..we don't drink it all in at once we just drink it too fast and we don't do it.. on purpose and..." the boys eyes water.

"They killed him," she repeats. Then she rests a hand on his shoulder. "I am sorry, Falko."

And she's got a sobbing wopletinger burying his head into her thigh

A sigh, and she waits, letting him cry himself out for the moment.

It takes a bit but finally he wipes his eyes "Thanks. " Falko says "Your tomatoes are really nice by the way. " Then "How'd you find me?"

"Thank you," she says gravely. "I know my lands. I followed your tracks. Falko...how long can you go without devouring Glamour like that?"

"Well, bout as long as any changeling can go without a freehold. Freeholds feel wonderful... oh... you mean can we stay in one and just drink right away?"

"Well...no. I am thinking about how to provide for you. You need a place to stay, but if you cannot control yourself, you cannot stay at the Lodge."

"I understand" And he does

"But I know a person, a boggan, who works at placing youth who need homes. I do not know if she will be able to place you in a kithain home, though." She gives him a measuring look. "Although, I have not asked....where are your parents?"

"I ran away from them so I wouldn't forget. Lots of changelings have to." he says, true, but complicating things

A nod. "This is true, they do. Where do they live?"

"Arizona. I like it better here, more trees"

That gets a bit of a grin. "I like it here, as well." A sigh, and she stands and offers a hand to help him up. "Falko, come with me. I will introduce you to Anne Marie. She may be able to help."

"She's nice?" He says, but takes her hand.

"She is nice," Brekke nods and begins to lead him there.

It takes only a little time, but it is early in the morning. The good news... Anne Marie gets up, and opens the door "Chieftain? Oh.." And she does a double blink at at the boy who is highly..unusual.

"Anne Marie. I am sorry to disturb you so early. This is Falko. He is new to Rivervale, and he needs your help."

Her face softens, "Well, of course. Come in... come in.." She motions them to follow saying "I'm Anne Marie, and I see you know the Chief... my husband is mortal but he's on a call for medical reasons."

"is he sick?" The boy says worried.

"No no, he's a doctor" She assures

Brekke gestures for Falko to follow Anne Marie, closing the door as she follows both. "Anne Marie, Falko has run away from home, and he is not in a situation where he can return to his family. They are far away, and not fae."

"Sadly, I cannot take him in at the Lodge." She waits to see if the boggan understands why.

"Oh yes, that's the sadeest part of our condition" Anne Marie says "But don't you worry, many kithain will understand." Then a confused look to the Chief , "You cannot?"

The boy gives a sigh. It's hard telling even nice fae over and over again you're vermin.

She looks to the boy as he sighs. "No. I cannot. Falko is a Wopeltinger. While he means no harm, he may drain the Balefire faster than I can allow. He was, I believe, left here to do exactly that...but instead, he has tried to avoid causing trouble."

It is a matter-of-fact recitation, said with neither cruelty nor pity.

Perhaps even a bit of admiration at the boy's self-control.

"Oh I thought they were legen..." then she catches herself and looks at Falko "Listen to me, acting surprised to meet a legend when we live in such a wonderful magical world. Falko," She holds out a hand to shake, "You are the first of your kith I have met and it sounds like you have faced a challenge with great dignity. We will find a home for you, and I know the Chieftain she'll get some of us will teach you how to muse dreamers or the like. You seem a very fine young man."

Falko shakes the hand but looks increasingly guilty "I stole tomatoes."

Nothing like effusive praise to prick a conscience.

"You took what you needed. You will repay me by doing work in the garden at a later time, after you are better settled here. Agreed?"

"Oh sure, I like the outdoors. Smokey Joe says we Wopletingers are good with natural things" He says "And I read up on it when I go to the library. did you know trees might save the planet? they drink up all the carbon... you let em grow for like twenty years and they take it into themselves."

A bit of a grin and a nod. "This is true. If you value and respect trees, Falko, I think you and I will get along very well." Then she looks to Anne Marie. "I understand that I bring him here without warning, but can you help?"

"of course, though I might leverage this into a request to see if you can help me sway the Hearth into sharing that recipe she has for Cadbury Surprise... I can't get it sweet enough. Drives me bonkers"

Even though she makes the comment, she's setting the boy down and getting Falko a drink "Juice or water or soda? The tea is for Symon , sorry"

"Water is great" The boy says

"I will see to it," Brekke nods. Then she looks to Falko again. "Have you ever attended school, Falko?"

"Yes. Smokey Joe had this tablet and gave me online courses and..." The boy sighs "They took the tablet when the..." HE does not cry again, "When they killed him."

Anne Marie 's heart melts. "ooh"