#rivervale_lodge

Zane sits down near Adam as if he misheard him, and keeps singing mellow and easy

and buying Dagmar an excuse if she doesn't want to without her having to SHOW she doesn't want to.

YAAAWWWN......

and finally, Adam falls asleep. Zane yawns too "Night, Dags."

"Night you guys..."

Adam cuddles up, big spoon.

SHE heads upstairs, leaving the boys to their fireside sleepover.

Zane rolls his eyes but soon..zzzzzz

(End scene)

--------------

The Greening, called by some the Festival of Crocuses. Celebrants weave these early spring flowers into their hair and clothes and wilders participate in a morris dance while each childling receives a crown of woven grass. It is considered to bode ill for the coming year if no grass can be found for the weaving.

And yet, the grass and growth is plentiful! And childlings seem in abundance. Malcolm the Eshu, still unsained, looks about excitedly. Jack Flap grins wildly! Lily and Lydia talk over tea.

Margilita is bossing LucJan and Lauge but the boys are happy for direction as they help set up some chairs.

The Chieftain has designated a large outdoor table as her instruction space for teaching the weaving of grass crowns and other spring nature crafts.

Decorating egg cartons, then filling them with soil and planting flower seeds in them, for example. Each childling gets careful instruction about how to care for their seeds at home, and is promised a bit of the Lodge garden to plant the seedlings, if they wish.

And at some point in the afternoon there is the building of a "tee-pee" frame for climbing beans.

The children are excited, of course, this iiis THEIR day...so far

Kerri has, of course, provided light, sweet treats, but is only putting out a few at a time -- she knows that childlings are velociraptors in disguise, and will lay waste to whatever refreshment is available, no matter the quantity, as soon as it appears.

Squire Brogan, himself a childling, tries to assist her.."You are my knight, Hearth. Besides, Sidhe can be above these things"

"Are they? Interesting. Squire, are you concerned about your duty, or are you shy about playing with the other childlings?"

A pause, then "Yes"

Kerri looks at the boy, then crouches down and rests a hand on his shoulder. "Squire, I am officially and happily releasing you from duty for the day, but I'll need your help twice as much tomorrow. Now...would you like me to teach you a game that you can help me teach to the other childlings?"

"I.. will they like it?" Startled

"Some will. Some might not. But either way, you can play with them, and if any don't understand how to play, you can be the one with just a bit more knowledge to help them out. You might even get some adults to play -- I know the Chieftain has played a time or two."

Teenage wilders are also rapacious. Dagmar, meanwhile, is happily at the stables, weaving flowers into Star and Stormwake's manes... convincing them as they are primped that Just Today they can bear some little people.

And if Brogan agrees, Kerri teaches him the basics of hunker-hausen.

There appears to be one Sheltand pony that wasn't there the other day

Stormwake protests! Only worthhy warriors may ride him

Brogan listens "So it's like tug of war with boxes?"

"Essentially," Kerri agrees. "But it's not a matter of strength. It's a matter of balance. I've seen tiny people defeat trolls over a matter of timing and forcing an overbalance."

"Well, mmm " He nods "yes. I can do that"

Eyebrow at the protest.

Brogan turns "Hey guys, want to try a game?"

"Today is their day. 'His might upholds the weak.' - you are a knightly steed, are you not?"

Stormwake snorts and huffs, oh Sure, throw THAT in his face

But he abides, and endures

Kerri grins and watches Brogan brave the social milieu that is the childlings.

And soon Lydia is on top of Stormwake "Yay. I'm a rider"

As this once proud stallion goes in circles with flowers in his briddle. Hurumph

Dagmar has a lead rope - this way, the childlings cannot yank on the stallion's head.

Brekke gives Stormwake an approving nod. Warriors must serve the people, even the smallest of them.

Star succumbs to flattery, of course.

And the new Shetland Pony, where did he come from? Is definitely a favorite for more timid children or those that just like small things

Brekke does spot the pony and gives a puzzled look...and scans the surroundings for Jonas.

There is no sign of Jonas anywhere, she does see Anne Marie, of course.

Brekke beckons the boggan over.

And of course, Star gets to be the prettiest mare and petted and adored and... "No, no more sugar cubes. You can give her some grain, hold your hand flat, like this...."

"Wonderful greening so far I think" she says "makes me wish Symon was a childling" A pleased look

"AnneMarie," she asks quietly, "would that Shetland Pony happen to be young Jonas?"

"But she LIKES the sugar cubes," Jack says