#rivervale_lodge

A pause. "A Fae thing?"

"Not teasing."

She frowns. "I do not understand."

"I mean....... Like, people talk smack all the time? People .... challenge each other? But... Fae don't?"

"Some Fae do. Many, in fact. I have experienced it. So has the Mountain and the Hearth. And Olgar, I believe. But if you wish to train with me, or earn my respect, you will not do it in front of me. Also...I happen to believe that not doing so will benefit you in the long run. You learn to respect the skills of others, and they will learn to respect yours."

An eyebrow. "I believe you and Dirk have had conflicts. Is that correct?"

"He's... yeah." carefully.

"He challenges you, I know. You each need to recognize the other's skills, talents. It will come, with time. Now...pell-work."

Adam shifts, frustrated... but nods. "Yes Ma'am."

A nod, and she leaves the practice area and heads out on patrol.

And Adam does his pell work. Tap tap tap.

Horse trots by in the distance, back to the stable.

Adam glances.... perhaps with some longing.

"Hey, Dagmar" Nab says From near Adam

"Nab!" Happy. "Hey!"

"Hey" Nab says, then calls out "how are the horses, Dagmar?" Then a look to Adam "Ask her about the horses. I'm betting on ponies sometime in the next year"

He almost does. "Dag.... doesn't want to be around me." With regret.

"What? why?"

"Dunno. I mean...."

'I see her and.... she leaves."

"I'll go talk to her" Nab says and starts to fly after Dagmar

"NO! Nab....."

Nab wings towards the stables, flying faster than Adam can run

Adam chases her, to catch her.....

"Heeeey, Dagmar, long time no see" Nab says

Dagmar is brushing Stormwake. A scowl at the surprise chimera. "Hello, Nabuni."

Adam bursts in. "Nab!"

"How's Raindrop?" She asks of her fellow Chimera "She's happy?"

"Raindrop's really hap-..." Brow furrow. "Adam."

Brush-brush-brush, looking at the horse.

"She's happy , great. " A nod

"Sorry. My bad." He leaves.

Scowl. Brush.

Nab sighs, then looks at Dagmar "Okay. Are you mad at him? Because he thinks you're mad at him"

"Why would I be mad at him?" BRUSH BRUSH BRUSH.

"I don't know, but he thinks you are. Because you avoid him, or seem upset when he is there... so he backs away to give you space again, and that probably looks like he's avoiding you."

"HE left. I'm working."

"Yeah, THIS time, but you seem to be out of your way to snub him, and I know he doesn't say it, but he misses you as a friend. ARE you mad at him?"

Grunt. "We aren't friends anymore. What does he want?"

"What? You're not dating so now you can't be friends? Who said you wren't friends anymore? Because he still wants to be"

Nab seems stunned

"And you're mad at him because you're not friends? That's your answer to the question? or were you avoiding the question?"

Scowl.

"What do you want?"

"Me to go running after him to make him feel better, so you feel better?"

"That would be great, thanks!" She says "Oooor... you could tell me why you're mad at him..llike I've asked FOUR times now"

"I'm not mad at him."

"Okay. Thank you. " She says "I am still confused, but at least you gave wht I hope is the real answer there." A tilt "See, with you dating Nadeen, and him Dating piper I thought maybe bot hof you were cool now... friends after it all? But... it's like you two seem unsure what to say around each other. You avoid him, or frown when he says hi so he runs away... "A sigh "I guess he could be braver, sure, but he doesn't want to be 'that guy' either you know?"

Snort.

"When is Adam anything but perfect?"