#rivervale_lodge

"Snow loves fruit, and fruit loves snow, and you, you give snow fruit? OH you must love Snow so!" Snow says clutching food to her.

"It's from Miss Sallie Mae. I guess she's not mad about the mess you left the other day." He comments, sneaking a blueberry for himself.

Snow looks at Connor and..."oh, this is .." She grabs an apple and munches. and tears start to form on her monkey face, "You were so brave to save snow... and Snow was brave to save fruit..." Munching and starting to cry "But Snow feels.. feels like finding a cob where a whole fruit should be when Snow things about it... like maybe Snow should have valued you almost as much as an apple, or banana! Or.. well ,maybe not a banana, but at least as much as a berry! Yes. and this is a bad feeling."

"Oh..." He reaches over and, if allowed, pulls the monkey into a hug. "It's okay, really! I know you were trying to be a good friend. And I'm glad no one got hurt except for the pineapples. And those are too hard to eat anyways unless someone cuts them up first."

Snow is so upset she actually slows her eating while they hug "Yes, Pineapples are challenging. You are a wonderful puppy boy, you were not hurt?"

"Nuh-uh, and it was a great adventure, and I got to meet a nice lady, and she gave me a doughnut. Have you ever had doughnuts? They're even better than fruit. And I wasn't even scared, and I got to be a hero, and it was a lot of fun..." He goes on, trying to reassure Snow, but then is sure to add, "But you should tell me FIRST before going next time, so I can come along and watch out for you. 'Cuz that's what friends do."

Snow hangs her head, and lowers her eyes, then with a great deal of willpower, she offers the boy an orange , "Would you like this, friend Connor?"

He accepts it and peels it, more or less messily, licking at the juice on his fingers before offering half of it back to her. "Have you ever have clementines? They're little 'uns but easier to peel!"

She takes the half back, and is SO glad he shared. She wasn't sure she was strong enough not to snatch it back, "I have! They are nice! Snow likes nice fruit. Fruit is so wonderful!"

"Puppy Boy met a nice lady?"

"I did. She was pretty scary at first, because she's a muggle, and the law says that if they see me, I go to Fairy Jail forever and ever because I'm cursed." He remarks, matter-of-factly. "But she only saw Buddy, and Buddy's just a good ol' pup, so it doesn't matter if anyone sees HIM."

"Buddy Boy is clever, oh yes. This lady seems nice. Perhaps Snow will spy on her. She is not the glow so will not see. But Snow can make sure nice lady is safe, if Connor friend likes?"

"Oh, would you?" He nods eagerly. "She seems like such a NICE lady. I wish she had a friend. Mrs. Adam's mom was going to check in, but I don't know if she did." He confides in Snow, "Sometimes grown-ups say they will, but they forget. It's not their faults, though. They have more stuff going on - too much stuff. It must be hard, and complicated. I'm glad I don't have to do it."

"Snow has noticed that the taller people are, the more serious they seem. Even Dagmar friend is VERY Serious sometimes, as she is very tall." A nod.

"She IS very tall." He has to agree. "And even taller when she's up on her horse. She doesn't get up on a high-horse, though, which is part of why I like her."

"No, the horse likes the hay not the weed, no high horse here" Snow agrees.

He tilts his head curiously, not understanding the reference, but nods along anyways.

"Snow shall look on nice lady for puppy boy, then maybe knotty belly be gone for good"

"Naughty belly?" He questions. "Does your tummy hurt? Or does it get you in trouble? I get in trouble sometimes 'cuz I am hungry." Admission, but the grin shows little remorse.

"Snow is always hungry" she admits "But when Snow thought about how Snow did not do what Friends do, Snow felt almost like fruit was a little less sweet. It was horrible" Munching again "Imagine, unable to eat fruit?"

"Oh." His ears droop a bit. "That's guilty. It's like, when you feel bad because you did something that made someone else you care about have a bad time. I don't LIKE guilty."

"But I'm okay, and the fruit is okay, so you don't have to feel bad!" A pat on her head.

"Whew. Snow is glad the guilty is gone! It was terrible! Snow will endeavour to eat her fruit without guilt ever again. We owe it to fruit"

"It must be hard in winter when there isn't fruit just out there for you to get from the trees." Then he perks up! "Oh! I know where there should be a lot of fruit. At the end of the silver road to where a King is a Countess. I've seen pictures, there should be palm trees, and.. and... mangoes and bananas and goo-avas."

"Go ooooon" She says

"I haven't been there... but it's a tropical land where the sea meets the sand, and it's always warm so fruit can grow all year."

He tilts his head to one side. "Maybe Hearth Kerri should go there to get better. I bet if she was in the warm sun, it would help a lot. I wonder why no one thunk of that."

"Hearth Kerri will be well soon" Snow assures " Snow ahs heard noises from bedroom."

"Maybe we should have gone THERE to get her fruit. They have the power of the sun in them. Grocery store fruit is GOOD, but it kinda tastes sad, like the sun in winter - like teevee but on mute."

Snow ponders, "Perhaps. Perhaps Snow can be most amazing. Yes. Thank you, puppy boy. Snow has a clever plan"

He tilts his head to one side, ears flopping over that direction. "I don't know... is it like your last plan? I'd better come with you to keep us out of trouble."

"Then, Friend Pooka, we go to ...quest! Get a backpack...and fruit! Much fruit!"

"Oh, yes! I have my bag I used to bring the fruit here... and the stuff you didn't gobble down yet. Um... blueberries, and three bananas. Is that enough?"

"It is never enough, but it will do! " Snow poses, holding her paw up and pointing "now is time time, Rover is busy with wife! Trod is open! We are the rush!"

Then a pause "Leave note letting them know Snow will be safe! Snow is much loved and maybe missed" She advises

He nods, and searches around before finding some paper and leaving a note. "Buddy the Valyent and Snow the Quick and Smart are on a Quest. Will be back for DINNER (Snow likes pork chops best)"

Shouldering his backback, he grabs a box of cookies as well - it's a good sign, perhaps - he went for the Lorna Doones and not the Milkbones - and is ready for adventure!

And off they go to the trods! Vanishing on the Silver

(Dun Dun DUUUUUN)