#rivervale_lodge

...that awful towel with macrame trim given as a wedding gift to Kerri by some crotchety elderly aunt...

"Hearth" Clem says "We had a bit of a spook. Turned out to be false labor. No harm done."

Tove sighs "FELT real"

She has set the groceries down carefully in the kitchen, and comes to Tove with a grin. "You're basing that on what for comparison, Tove? Clem, glad you're here, sorry I wasn't. All's well?"

"Kerri!"

Tove makes a rude face

"Tove can stay in Siv's room, right? She needs to stay here."

"All's well... Tove just feeling a bit ganged up on is all" Clem says

"I do suggest she stay near home or the lodge for the next day or two" Clem does admit

"Hi, Dagmar. Almost time, huh? Hi, Torin. Yes, and Connor, and Jack, and whoever might be lurking in the rafters," she adds with a grin.

"Oh, I think that's a good idea. Listen, Tove...you're tough, and this is natural, and women have been doing this for aeons, yadda yadda yadda. But trust me, you're not going to want to be caught someplace uncomfortable when it happens for real."

"I feel like a prisoner" Oh my,discomfort and such has made her a bit petulant

TOrin whispers to Kerri "Her mother was the same way adctually, last week she was just about stir crazy.. but don't tell her I said that. She'd use it as an excuse to go for a hike"

"Hmm. I suppose we could get an eshu in here to distract you with stories for a few days..." Kerri suggests.

"We could binge movies."

"Or that."

"Stories or movies, as long as they involve an angry woman shooting or stabbing things" She doesn't add Preferably men

"Eshu would be great, but we don't have but the one locally..."

"Oh, don't worry...you'll feel like that but moreso, soon enough. Hmm..." Kerri considers. "You're welcome to stay here at the Lodge if you like, but would you feel more comfortable at home?"

"I think I know where to find one," Kerri says to Dagmar.

Connor is curled up near Tove's feet, knees drawn to his chest and leaning on her legs a bit. "She's comfy here too." Apparently he is comfy.

"I know stories. I'm a skald" Torin says

"Dad. I know all your stories but.. well ,maybe" Tove looks down at Connor and ..smiles "Glad someone is"

"I think the Lodge is safer..."

"Of course, Torin, I'm sorry, meant no insult!" Kerri looks ashamed at herself for overlooking him.

"not always safer." He whispers, but then covers his mouth.

A reassuring pat. "Not with me and you guarding."

"FIne. I'll stay at the lodge..." Tove says and then looks at Connor "Oh Connor, " She says "Now now.. it's okay.You see these folks? They're HERE now. "

The front door opens and Brekke strides in, swiftly but not urgently. "What is going on? I...." She takes in the scene a moment, "Ah." A nod.

He nods, and leans.

Kerri sighs. "Not always, Connor, it's true. But we do the best we can."

"Hi Chief!"

Clem says "False labor.. but I suspect the real deal in the half week ..maybe the next two days" She explains to Chieftai nBrekke

"Hello," she says back to Dagmar, then a nod to Clem. "Good then. We have warning and can be ready. Tove? I expect you are feeling...awkward."

"Like a display animal at a zoo with a dozen faces near the railing" Tove admits "But I suppose I love them anyway"

"We're worried."

"Well, I suppose so was I" Tove relents "But it's all natural"

"Wait until they start tossing bread crumbs at you," Kerri winks.

"Lots of things are" Jack says "Poison Oak... snake venom..."

Tove groans

but not in pain. Just wanting it over

"Natural," Brekke agrees, then gets a distant look for a moment. "However...I think I am glad it happened to me in the Dreaming. My memories of it are...distant. Softened." Another moment...and a slight flinch. "Hm."

"Chieftain?" Clem asks noticing the flinch "Old injury I need to look at?"

"Ah. No." She clears her throat. "Some memories the Dreaming does not soften entirely."

Then a look to Tove. "You will endure," she says with an encouraging nod.

"But Tove is going to be okay..."

"Dagmar," Kerri says, "How many people in this room know how to heatherbalm?"

Her hand drifts to her mouth and she chews on a hangnail. A pause. "Three?"

"That's the count I get, unless somebody's holding out on us. So even if things go wrong, which I don't think they will, she'll be okay."

Dag nods, somewhat mollified.