#rivervale_lodge

Dag smiles. "Cool. I'm glad."

Oak bounds up to frank. Where's room for him?"

"Mmph. We'll see, Oak. You might need to guard the Lodge."

A wag. He understands, but it's not as HAPPY a wag

Connor gives him a pat, then leans in to whisper to Oak’s ear.

Oak tilts his head an listens

“... and do your homework.” He finishes aloud.

'WUFF" oak says in response

Nadeen blinks and whispers to Dagmar "he can't really 'talk dog' can he?"

His ears twitch and he grins. “Oak can talk peoples.” Proudly.

Jaymes looks at Frank "Your dog is pretty smart"

"It works." Agreeably.

Oak wags more so. Yes. Attention of the positive sort

“I’m learning French Poodle, which Vali knows. But don’t tell Miss Sniffany, she’ll think he’s being prissy.”

"He is." Frank agrees.

A last tug of the rope, and the truck is PACKED.

“Yes he is!” Connor erupts in giggles. Meanfully misunderstanding

"This one, the jeep.....where's the wagon?"

Connor checks his pockets and shakes his head.

“Oh!” He wags his tail! “My tail is a waggin!”

Frank's beard moves. "Excellent, Connor. That's one."

Tiffany pulls up with a second pick up "Yo?"

“Lo!” He hollas back.

He nods. "Hello Tiffany."

Connor hops into James‘s truck. “Dagmar, can buddy ride on your lap until we get there? I want to stick my ears out the window but without the lookie-loos.”

"Damsel told me you needed wheels, I told him your legs were sturdy so we wouldn't have to put you down" The thane says "But hey if you want"

"Thanks for that. You and yours planning to come along?"

"Well, that seems fair."

“Woot!”

Tiffany nods "Gerd will be taking us by the flicker flash egress..."

"Alright. Anything you want us to carry for you?"

"A tune?" She offers

"More Tove's area than mine."

“BEE AY Bay, bee ee bee, bee-eye bicky by, bee-oh boh....” he starts singing. They better get going...,

"OOOOOOOO" Oak howls

"Why don't you go get Buddy, Connor?"

He leaps into the bed of the truck. “BARK-KOUR!”

And Buddy pops back out. Ready for road trip!

"All right, folks! Grab the last of the gear and get it in here. Dagmar, time to load the horses. Jaymes, check the trailer hitch one more time for safety. Buddy, good job but get in the cab. Need a hand? Oak, up!"

(Frank also remembers to get Brekke; she's driving the jeep.)

And they get to work!