#rivervale_lodge

"Ooo.." (Cocoa!)

Oh well, it's going to be a good warm sleep after this!

(End scene)

-------------

Dagmar's winter break (after Dadeen shenanigans and other adventures) has been pleasantly routine. Basketball is over for the season, track has not yet started. But there are dogs and cats and monkeys and horses and wolves...

It keeps her busy. At the moment, she is exercising Oak, Edi & Brown Dog - that is, being a Good Human who Throws Ball.

A troll approaches. This is not atypical. It is the troll in question taht's new. The Grump is not yet sained, and indeed, did not have an ordinary dream dance. Kyle Thomas, Mr. Thomas is a bit more gray than blue, but he has classic troll features and is a strapping sample of the kith.

Dag tenses - she's heard about the change, but hadn't seen them yet. A good squint confirms it's Adam's dad - but would he recognize Sam in blue?

"Hello" He says "I.. don't think we met. I'm still new to this. I'm Kyle Thomas? You look familiar but I understand this is a feudal sort of set up so if you have a title?"?

She rubs the back of her neck. "Hi Mr. Thomas. I'm Sam. Just... y'know."

"Sam? My wife is right, I think we were the only mortals in the whole darn neighborhood. My gooddness, This explains a lot. I was wondering if the Chieftain or Mountain were here? I was looking for advice?"

"Um. They might be, we can check."

"Need help with the dogs?" He asks

"And you aren't, but, like... a lot of Adam's friends are? We sort of claimed him when he showed up."

Brown Dog is excitedly sniffing the new troll, but Oak & Edie are more standoffish.

"Brown Dog! Don't jump!"

Mr. Thomas seems to interecept the jumping, not with force, but firm gentlity, "No, sit. " A voice of command, and a hand motion . "Good boy" He then pets once Brown Dog complies, even if it wasn't a long compliance

"I appreicate all youv'e done for Adam," Mr. Thomas says

"Well, being friendly." Shrug. "Chief might be at the stables, this hour."

She starts that way - the dogs follow.

A familiar whicker from the stable area may indicate that Star is being amused while Stormwake is having his mane and tail groomed.

"Yes well," Mr. Thomas says as they approach the stables "Horses? Adam never mentioned you had horses"

"CHIEF! YOU HERE?"

"Oh yeah, there's Stormwake and Star, they're the best..." Foot on the bottom rail, hands on the top, and over the fence she goes.

"Here." Brekke's voice carries clearly without yelling, and she steps out of the stable.

"Hey. Mr. Thomas is looking for you or Frank."

"Ah." She nods a welcome to the older troll. "Mr. Thomas. Good afternoon."

"There y'go." Dag nods to Brekke, and moves past to go check on the horses.

Stormwake's mane has been carefully gathered up and tied into neat loops. His tail is also bound neatly.

"How can I help you?"

"I'm sorry to trouble you, Chieftain. I was... well, I had questions about my new condition and... that of my family and more. Is this a good time?"

Stormwake shakes his mane for showing off to Dagmar

She greets the stallion with friendly noises and neck-pats, what a handsome boy! And Star is such a lovely lady! Pets for her, does she need brushed?

Despite her earlier amused nickering at the grooming, she now is eyeing the braids a bit enviously as Stormwwake is being admired.

Star could use a good brushing, likely.

"Oh, yes, you're right. I'll get on that." She snags the currycombs.

"Straaaanger! Woof-WOOF-woof! Alert! Alarum!" Connor yelps from his position sitting on a fence rail - quite belatedly. A friendly wave to the new troll.

"Of course, and it is of no trouble. You have an unusual situation. Please, ask whatever questions you have."

"Hello.." Mr. Thomas smiles at the boy.

A chuckle. "This is Connor. Connor, this is Mr. Thomas, Adam's father."

His tail is a flashing flag as he beams to the elder. "I'm your new buddy if you need any showin-round, it's my job practically, I know these trails like the back of my paws."

"Nice to meet you, Connor." Then Kyle looks back at Brekke "AH, mrs. King.. pardon, Chieftain...I have a 9 to five job... but there are new urges in the family... and I find myself looking for more to do. It's crazy, but I.. feel an intense dislike of not tending to matters. Is that normal? "

"You feel a call to duty, beyond simple obligation." Brekke nods, her eyes bemused. "Normal, certainly for a troll. Do you feel called to particular work?"

A nod to Connor "Much obliged, Conner. With scouts like you , I feel better about the risk of getting lost in the wilderness" he says it very seriously indeed.

The sun may as well have just dawned on Connor's face, as happy as he is at the comments.

To Brekke , Kyle says "Exactly and.. not particular, and that's part of the problem too.. the soul merged with me, it had a past life, more than one I'm told, but I am lost on the details. I feel aimless, and while I've never been a flake, I now find that aimlessness offensive on some level that I didn't before. It nags at me."

Brush, brush, brush - Star certainly can't feel neglected now. Currycombs, hard brush, soft brush...

"Mm." Brekke nods. "Part of that is that you are as yet unsained. The old soul inhabits you, but you are not yet fully combined, not yet fully known to one another. It will take some time to prepare, and you will feel uncomfortable during that time, but when you are sained, you will feel more complete. Less aimless."

"You are also without any oaths," Brekke adds, considering the man.

Star is pleased as punch at the attention. Though she does cast a wary side eye at the new troll from time to time, she mostly is dedicated to the well-deserved (and needed!) grooming.