#rivervale_lodge

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It's been a busy time in the kitchen.

Mackerel went away with Siv.

And with the mouser in the house gone, well, a hole got in the cereal box where a rodent had nibbled. Some small mouse terds weree found

And then? the mouse itself was found.

Dead.

Only the skeleton.

It was posed to look like itw as pointing to the midnight hour on a clock.

Kerri has extremely mixed emotions upon finding this.

However, she also knows the value of resources. Once sterilized, those bones will likely make somebody very happy as bits and pieces for artwork or bunks.

With a sigh, she puts on gloves and gets to work with the bleach.

Connor walks in, and starts to look for food when he sees Kerri with mouse bones "Are we having stew?"

A brief shudder at the notion. "No, but I may have some tools for one of our spookier people to work with." She looks over at the pooka. "Hungry? I mean, for something other than mouse stew?"

"Yes, please..." he says looking her over, particularly at her face, Then he seems to ponder what he'll say next "I would like strawberry moo juice and maybe a burger?"

"A burger? You're usually fond of hot dogs...." A careful look as she tries to unravel the pooka speak. "Well...I tell you what, I'll make one of each, and you eat what you like, okay? I'll happily snack on the other, unless you want both." She sets the mouse bits aside and washes up before getting to work on his drink and food.

Connor gives a cautious smile and nod.

She grins back at him. "So...what's one thing you've learned or discover this week, Connor?"

Talking as she's busy preparing food. She demonstrates an easy efficiency.

Connor swallows a bit nervously then says "People expect you to bath even when it's a rainy season"

A chuckle, her back to him. "Well, yes, but that's hardly a new revelation for you. Of course, we're about to get into plenty of mud as the Chieftain starts working on spring plantings in the gardens, so that might mean more baths. Worth it, though, right?"

He ponders this, then smiles "With flowers and trees and green things?"

"Mm-hm!"

The boy smiles "I've always hoped to see green things. " then he adds "Though it probably looks red to me"

A puzzled look over her shoulder at him. "Well, did it look red here last spring? Hm. I'd never noticed a color-blindness about you, Connor."

"Well, because I'm a troll, I always tell TALL tales" He says with an almost sheepish grin.

Another chuckle. "Of course." Ohhh, she's even heating up the hamburger bun, toasting it on the grill with a bit of butter.

The tail wags as the food is cooking

And soon he has strawberry milk, a hot dog, and a hamburger set before him, with options of ketchup, mustard, and relish available. "There you go."

And the boy descends like a wolverine on fresh game upon the food.

Apparently, this is not out of keeping with the norm.

Stuffing his face as if the food might vanish if he leaves it be.

Though she may be surprised with his enthusiasm. "You are hungry. Didn't you eat breakfast earlier?"

"Maybe?" He says , but he does spare the hotdog, though he eyes it then says "You gonna eat that?"

only a third of the milk left and all the hamburger gone

She glances at the hot dog, then at him. "You seem like you've still got some space to fill, so go ahead."

he takes the hot dog and wiggles it "Oh no, the people of hot dog land are being attacked..." And he says "Don't worry, I will hide you, in my belly"

That earns a laugh. "Not sure how reassuring such a rescue would be."

"Too late" He says having chomped quickly "They're safe now"

"For a certain value of 'safety,'" she notes. "Have room for a cookie?"

"YES!" He booms, then says "No?" Nervously

A blink, a curious look, then a shrug. "Well, we'll see what happens. Just don't make yourself sick." She sets a sugar cookie down in front of him.

Buddy eyes the cookie, licks his lips then says "If I puke i promise to take it all the way outside" And then eats it

"Well, that's reassuring." She gives him a somewhat more direct look, a hint of a frown line between her eyebrows. "Is something the matter?"

"I..." His eyes grow large "I got the tub dirty"

There was a huge mess in the bathroom, it was like he washed off two weeks of soil

But it was tended.. well, he clearly tried to mop it up some himself with towels

"Well..." That line grows deeper, but her tone is gentle. "That happens. And you tried to clean up. Just remember to put the towels in the hamper, next time. What were you doing, that so much dirt washed off? I mean, even for you, that was impressive."

"I started gardening too early" Sage nod

Her grin returns. "Just be careful to stay away from the roses." She says it as a reminder that is almost too obvious to be mentioned.

"Roses are red, touch em you're dead. Or at the least you get smacked in the head" He poems..kind of. And rises "Thanks for the meal"