#rivervale_lodge

"No. I'm not" He admits troubled "That's important"

"He's okay, just new." Reassuring the horse as she works on her mane.

The Dogs hurumph as the horses get all the attention

"It is," Brekke agrees with a nod. "Tell me...what do you think of this land you call home?"

Connor drops down to the ground and scratches ears and bellies!

"It's lovely, we moved here partly because it's lovely.. a patch of green most folks don't expect in New Jersey" He admits

"It is," Brekke nods. "Sometimes it is threatened. Sometimes those threats come from mortal sources...and sometimes from forces you have never considered in this life. What are your thoughts about such threats?"

"My first thought is I won't let them harm my family" He says "it's such a strong thought I can feel myself tense in readiness for it. "

"Mm." Brekke nods. "You may wish to consider taking an oath of protection, to defend your family from harm. Be aware: to break an oath brings trolls great weakness."

Star, the jealous little thing, will ALSO get braids in her mane. Tail too.

"I was informed. There are other matters regarding my family," He admits

While Connor pets the pooches, and Dagmar spoils Star, Stormwake trots to show off

"Other matters." Brekke's tone invites him to explain.

"Well, my daughter hides a lot, and seems to enjoy odd things. sahe's also having trouble eating"

Brekke grins slightly. "She is sluagh. Interactions with her will be difficult. We have other sluagh in this barony. Have you met Symon?"

"I think I've seen him once, skinny Asian American boy?"

Dagmar has something pull on her pants leg

She looks down.

"Yes. I will ask him to look in on your daughter. He may be able to guide her. And his mother, AnneMarie, may be able to help you determine how to provide for her."

Snow looks up, "Do you have fruit?"

As she asks Dagmar

"Snow! Why are you so far from home? I... there's apples, yes. You can take ONE."

Kyle says "Yes, but the eating? What's.. is that typical for a sluagh? She gags on it one day, then we see her drinking the milk past expiration"

"Thank you" Snow takes the apple and bites "Dag friend is good friend, she shares ."

"And Snow is a good friend, too."

A snort and nudge from Star at the smell of apples.

Siiiigh.

Snow says tsks "Greedy horse. You should teach her lesson by giving me HER apple too."

"She cannot eat food that is fresh," Brekke explains. "She must have that which is spoiled, or aged, or sour. Although tea seems to please most sluagh that I have met."

"Oh my." Alarmed "Okay. Yes, we'll make note of that."

"Ah, soft foods, as well...her teeth are gone, now."

"No, One apple for you, one for each horse." She pats Star's side and goes over to grab two - Stormwake certainly won't let himself be passed by!

She accepts her apple with delicacy, teeth just barely brushing Dagmar's hand... then reaches over, to snatch Stormwake's if she can!

A low whisper to the Chieftain, "And there is the matter of my wife"

As a lesson not to show off when food is on the line, Star steals Stormwake's before he can bite it!

She crunches gleefully, and it's unclear if she is more pleased by the apple itself, or that she managed to steal it.

If a horse could hurumph, Stormwake would

Half of the apple is dropped as she crunches. Perhaps an oversight, though it falls in range of Stormwake's grasp.

"Ah." Brekke nods, frowning seriously. "Let us walk." She indicates a direction that will draw them further away from the childling and the menagerie. A nod for Dagmar to continue to hold court with the beasts.

Stormwake dips and gets his half of HIS apple. Mmm mares

Siiiigh. "You're all hopeless."

"Your wife...is a satyr." Brekke points out the obvious as they get some distance from the stables.

"Satyrs can be very wise...but they also have powerful urges."

Connor looks up at Dagmar as the grownups wander off, and wags his tail at her. "Can we go meet the new sluagh? I know where Miss Kerri keeps the freshest snacks."

"Tell me about it" Kyle says "She's ah, very amorous. It's like newlywed time all over again." blushing "I .. she's most impressed with my size increase"

"Um, we could. I know she has stuff for Symon, yeah?"

Snow agrees "Snacks are important! Even for smelly folk"

His tail wags. "Yes, and my Big Sister has lots of tea that I'm not 'apposed to touch, but there are dusty-crusty teabags in the corner that no one likes."

"Oh, tea is important."

"But yeah, let's not take Gerd's tea without asking."