#rivervale_lodge

"No wounds..."

"Star, are you hurt?" She doesn't willow-whisper, just asks.

She is patted with evident enjoyment, though her head raises to regard the other trolls for a moment, then to gaze past them. The hoofprints in the snow show a pattern beat along the fenceline, a wary pacing. Ears prick up with interest as she turns to regard Brekke again, this time with understanding. "Lead Mare Chieftain. No, those would-be-wolves were just pups under our might."

A whicker, and a stamp, posing proudly for the others.

"I called, and Sweet-hands Hayheart galloped to the fore. As it should be! She is worthy of your herd."

A constrained chuckle. "I think she is fine. In fact...I think she enjoyed herself"

For the non-horsespeakers... She poses, snorts, and shows off. A buck, a deep hoof pawing at the earth, and a shake of her mane. Then, she nuzzles Dagmar once more.

"I told them you were brave." She strokes Star's neck, then scritches the one spot she knows itches.

Her tail whisks, and she leans into the scratches. Gaze traveling over to the stable where Stormwake is... sulking? Hiding? Napping?

She watches this, and nods. "Dame Dagmar...I have a suggestion to make. I believe that it is only right that we consider Star to be your steed henceforth. Would this be acceptable?"

Stormwake peeks out, he's still sheepish but when he sees Brekke he trots out, rady to face the music. He will not cower despite the fact an unworthy one (The Eshu) managed to ride him

A soft, encouraging sound. Ears twist around. Poor thing, it wasn't his fault. (Better him than me - so embarassing)

"But.. I mean.. she's yours?" She bites on her lip. "We can't... I... we can't afford..."

Star doesn't understand the conversation, really, but she buts at Dagmar with her head, seeing her human looking uneasy. A soft stamp. The sun is out, and the hay is sweet, and the wolves were trounced. Why be unhappy?

"She belongs to the Lodge, under my authority. You are a knight and serve the Lodge. Her needs will still be supplied here...but you will have the right to ride her at will, and you will have the responsibility to care for her as you already do. I will expect you to ride with her in service to the Lodge and barony, at need.

She chews on her thumb, nervous.

"Consider it. Excuse me."

She steps aside to meet Stormwake a little further along the fence.

Her head is a heavy weight on Dagmar's shoulder as she leans onto her, though the fence in the way takes most of the weight.

Stormwake takes a huge breath and comes down casting his eyes only briefly

She folds an arm around the heavy head, a kind of hug.

Brekke speaks low to the horse. "I am sorry. That should not have happened to you." She rests a hand on his mane. "I have heard how it was. There was nothing you could do. You are not to blame."

"I...I'll ask Dad?"

It was embarrassing, and he was sullied. He'd like a scrub soon

A puff of warm horse-breath in her face, sweetly scented of grass and apple.

Dag lets out a little laugh at that.

"Yes." Brekke says to Dagmar. "See what your father says. And we must consider greater protections for the stables."

"Yes." Vehemently.

Then she pats Stormwake's neck. "A good wash and brush down for you in the morning."

Connor comes barrelling up the pathway. "Wooo wooo! Woo woooo!" He almost crashes into the fence, pulling up just in time. "Danger, alarum, alert! Fishmen tried to steal the flowers?!"

Ears up, tail swish, yes!

"Connor?" Brekke looks alert, hand on Speaker. "What is it?"

Vali says "I think Dagmar wanted land mines..horse proof ones. How much security do we need ? Seems like we caught it..well, Dagmar and Eddie"

He looks at the horses, then to the Chief, then turns around in a circle. "I missed all the excitement?"

"The horses are okay." She reassures.

Tattered with rivet holes in her clothes, Siv walks towards the lodge looking like someone who fought lovecraft "I turned my back on her for two minutes... how'd she even..." And walks past her mom to go into the lodge.

Brekke nods to Connor. "The worst of it is over."

"Oh." And he squeezes under the bottom rail and runs over to pat Stormwake.

Then, "Siv...?" She turns to escort her tattered daughter back into the Lodge, expecting an explanation.

A sigh, and she speaks softly to Star. "I'd very much like you to be mine, y'know."

Something muttered about how a child that young shouldn't be able to get a riveter up on that high a shelf.. and... mother and daughter gone

Stormwake snuffs the little two legger.

He pats the large horse carefully. "I'm glad you didn't get rustled."

Star nibbles at her fingers and the edge of her sleeve - tasting the salt on her skin, and nipping lightly at the jacket as though to groom.

Stormwake shoots a look at Dagmar and Star as if to say to Star 'That one is worthy.'

She nickers back and taps a hoof on the ground. A nudge to Dagmar, and she paws the bottom rail of the fence. Why stay over there, when we could be out riding?

Connor, meanwhile, has sought out the curry comb and is running it along Stormwake's side. He will leave a well groomed area, up to about halfway up the horse's flank...

Stormwake holds a noble pose. He will look FAB for his lower half

Dag plants a foot on the bottom rail, to get up and over.

(Gates? Pah!)