#rivervale_lodge

"She isn't, not really. But I can see why she'd feel that way."

Kick kick, fidget. "I don't think so, either. Dagmar is GOOD. But it happens, sometimes. Sometimes you're not good enough or made wrong or cursed and they have to go get a new one that works better." A solemn nod. "So you can't be sure, ever. I understand that."

"It is possible to love many people." Frank points out. "Sometimes in different ways, but it's love all the same." He pauses, then says "And sometimes people are given great gifts of love and potential, and those people aren't able to appreciate those gifts, and they lose them. That's cold, and sad. I think."

"Yeah. But that doesn't mean it doesn't happen." A sigh. "And it's all ones here. One for the Mountain and one for the Hearth, and one for the Storm before he moved away. But two for the Ironhawk and maybe that's too many. Oh, but the Thane has a dozen, but she understands how litters work, and they're not all staying there probably?"

"And I belong to the lodge so it's okay. I wouldn't steal nobody's place, never."

Frank tilts his head..... parsing pooka.

"Connor, you belong -with- the Lodge. You are -of- the Lodge. You don't belong -to- the Lodge. Do you understand the difference?"

He tilts his head. "...yes?"

"We want to protect you and care for you until you can do the same for yourself and others. But we don't own you. You don't belong -to- us, but we want you and we want you to be with us and be a part of our Lodge family."

"Oh." He grins and reaches out to pat Frank on the arm, as though trying to reassure the much larger person. "I know -that-. Everyone knows that." A pause. "Even if it's hard to remember sometimes when something happens to shake things up. I think she still KNOWS, even if she doesn't know she knows."

"Do you think it would help if her parents reminded her?"

He thinks about this. "...I don't think so. I think you just have to find a way to understand it. Words don't always work. Words are just words sometimes. Even if you can tell a lie, it doesn't always mean it's true."

"Actions speak louder than words." Frank confirms. "That is true."

He thinks for a while. "Is there a family oath? Not just one-to-one but for an entire house? Like, There is a New Batch of biscuits coming out of the oven soon. And I swear, and Oak and Edie both swear, that we all love each other, and protect each other, and Protect the Biscuits too, even though the biscuits are new and fresh and they don't understand, we understand that we need to be One in protecting them, otherwise brown dog might eat them all."

"There's an Oath for everything under the Dreaming, Connor." Frank says. "They are important, though. Forever, maybe. But yes, there are Oaths like that."

"I don't know a whole lot about a whole lot of things. But if you have a Job and someone else comes to do that Job too, you might be let go if they don't need two people. But maybe there's a promotion. Or a new job. Not just pet dog, but Guard Dog too. Then you know that just because they brought in a puppy, they're not tired of the older dog now." A sigh. "But this is all big stuff, and I'm just small."

Frank's beard moves; a smile? "I think you understand just fine. Dagmar is getting a promotion to big sister. "

He nods solemnly. "You're pretty smart!"

"Dagmar is pretty smart, too. But it can be hard to see things when you have Big Feelings. And the leaves fall down and it gets distracting when the sun comes up later and goes down too soon." A sigh. "At least there's candy, even if most of it is poisoned?"

"Yes, it is a difficult season."

"Do you get the weeps in the fall? Or the glooms? Or the grumps, or the growls? It's hard to see how someone might change." Thoughtfully. "Rover is good at being fall because he does it all year. But it's hard when you bottle it up for just a day or a few. Then it hits real hard."

Frank stills somewhat. "Yes. I get.... snarly."

He reaches over towards Frank for a hug. "That's okay. I know you won't mean it."

Frank hugs him back with immense and tender care. "I am glad you are with us, Connor."

"Me too." Hugging back, and then adding hopefully, "And after I finish putting out these treats, maybe there's some cookies? You've been talking an AWFUL lot about cookies this morning. It makes my stomach hopeful."

"Tell you what. Let me help with the horses and then we'll get milk and cookies."

"Milk AND cookies!" He crows with delight.

"Sure." He helps with the equine treats.

And they finish treating the horses, and head for the snacks that await!