#rivervale_lodge

Sylvi goes back into her room to gather her things. She feels a strong pang that she’d really, really like to have Kelby by her side right now.

Frank paces a bit.

"Yes, " She turns "Dad.. uhm Mountain, I guess I've got the Kestrel after all, at least for this part. The Narwhal can't fit in that little stream at the DeBukes."

He grunts.

Jonas enters "I've got at least five families ready to evacuate here if need be and carpooling.. here's the list," He offers it to the hearth

Kerri takes it, and goes off to make further calls

Frank glances... or glares.... out the window and continues pacing.

Siv walks by her dad and kisses his cheek. "I got to go."

"Me too." He goes with her.

"Dad?" SHe stops "WHere are you going?"

"With you."

"Dad, I got this. I'm here, and we're only using one ship so I'm good. Really. Remember, I was going to handle one ship and yo ua nother But we're only using one so I'm good. I don't need help."

"Going with you."

"I.." She sees Kerri is gone, then says "What if Kerri needs help?"

"Olgar."

"You are the mountain here. Someone might need the Mountain."

"Going."

"Fine, but on the ship, I'm the Captain, okay?"

"Yes."

Connor slinks out of the shadows, tail down and ears drooped, but slips a hand into one each of Frank and Siv. "You're the Captain." He nods.

Frank looks down at him, then to Siv. "Connor too."

"Connor has to help with the new arrivals. Hearth's orders"

A frown, but he grunts and nods. "Stay." to the little guy.

An almost inaudible whine, and he drops his hands, gazing at the ground.

"Kerri has cookies."

A sigh and he sinks to the ground. "Sit, stay." tucking his tail up onto his lap.

"Listen to me, " Siv bends down, "Today, Connor. I need you to be Harbor master, Okay. Lots of folks sailing in, some sailing out... you need to help the Hearth with them coming in and out as she directs. Especially kids who will be scared- you have to be there for them."

"Her squire helps her." Twining his tail in his hands. "I'm not scared, too."

Frank kneels, and even so, is a mountain bigger than the pooka. His massive hand is gentle as he lifts the boy's eyes to meet his own blue ones. "You can do this. I have to go. You stay, for me. Ok?"

Jonas says "I can stay with him when I'm not on other duties, Sir."

Frank nods. "Thank you."

Jonas looks at Connor, "If you like, I can turn into a hedgehog and guard you with pokey pines.. or a skunk and spritz them. Or an Eagle, and look very patroic indeed."

"no one will hurt you while I"m around" Jonas says in what is for him low vocabulary

He sighs, and nods a little. "...kay."

Siv smiles at Jonas her eyes quite large and pleased, then taking a breath she refocuses on her duty, "This way Dad, to the ship."

Frank nods gravely to Connor. "Good. Thank you." And stands to follow Siv.

And Siv and her father head to the Kestrel.

Jonas looks at Connor, "So, Harbormaster Connor.. we need a collection of stories."

A soft whimper once they are out of earshot, still watching them go.

"to cheer up other childlings.. do you have favorites?"

He shakes his head, then hesitates, and offers, "'credible journey. Gerd was reading it to me. ...in the end, they all come home."

"That's a good story" He says

"And in our version? They 'll all come home safe and sound"

A nod. "...you said cookies."

"Cookies were mentioned" He agrees, "let's get some."

He reaches up a hand towards Jonas, tentatively.

His big hands takes his, "I like Peanut butter ones, but I don't mind sharing. Should we get milk so we can see if our cookies swim?"

A small wag of his tail. "Yeah. Then we know that they are fish." And he accompanies Jonas to this experiment.

ANd gone