#rivervale_lodge

The next day brings a new layer of snow that is perfect for the requested lessons. Layne gets coaching not only in how to throw properly, but in how to form a snowball that will hold together in the air, yet break softly upon hitting the target. "When your opponent is not trying to damage you beyond what you can bear, then there is no honor in attempting to harm in return."

"It just needs to make that sweet BIFF sound" She says "And spray all over them"

"A fine goal." And together they work on perfecting the technique, using tree trunks as targets.

"Do not throw at the target's back," she instructs.

A mutter "Jack threw at MY back" humph

"Did he?" She frowns. "I will speak with him."

"Try taking a step as you throw," she advises after a wide miss.

She does... of course, she doesn't want to quite stop .. "Whoops" however, it has more power!

A small grunt, not quite a chuckle. "Control that. A foot forward, then back again, just a shift in weight as you throw. Try without throwing. Forward...back..."

she does, "Oh.. I can feel it in my legs and belly"

"Yes?" A nod. "Balance and control. Now try."

THIS time, she does much better, GOOD solid hit, not a bullseye, but it didn't go wide.

Given the girl is her own chairiot, she might make a good thrower of spears or javeilins in time

"Hmm." A measuring nod. "You will need practice still, but this is good improvement."

"Thanks! " She beams "I've been studying the Escheat like you and Rover olgar said. " a beat "he says I'm nnot ready to go on the silver. Can I go on the silver?"

A brow. "Why do you want to go on the silver?"

"I hear there are UNICORNS in the Dreaming" She sighs happily

"But Rover Olgar says I have to get sained"

"There are unicorns. There are also giant poisonous insects. You are about as likely to meet one as to meet the other, at this point."

"oh.." She goes 'eew.. bugs"

"Rover Olgar is correct. Layne...think of it like this: coming to Concordia is like climbing down a steep slope, using a rope to help you down...but the rope is too short, and the last bit is long jump. Now that you are at the bottom of the slope, you cannot safely climb back up without the guidance of the rope, but the rope is out of reach. When you are sained, you will be better able to reach the rope. Then you may explore the places you cannot reach now."

"You must be THIS tall to see unicorns?" A pout

"Each time your soul reawakens, it needs to learn how to reach that rope again." Then a grin at her comment. "It will happen. It takes time, but you are learning well."

"I feel a definite pout going on. My dad says it's cheating. My mom says she's not going to let it work and encourage me. But it's gonna happen. Fair warning" Yup. Pout

Brekke regards the pout...and is unmoved. She merely nods. "That is a pout."

A sigh "yeah, tthat's what mom says. Sometimes if I push it, she puts a number 1-10 on a card" Nose wrinkle

Brekke nods; she likes these parents, sight unseen. "If it is an art form, feel free to practice it. But it will not get you to the silver any faster."

"I guess not, but.. can I hear stories of Unicorns, and learn about them?" Hopeful "Oh, and dragons.. earlier you said something about a dark dragon that was the doom of lodges?"

A brow. "That...is a sad and frightening story. I do not know if you are yet ready for it."

"is it scary?" she asks

A pause. "I suppose it depends on how I tell it. But...yes, it was scary."

"Are you okay? " Layne suddenly is all concern for the nice chief

A hint of a grin. "I am. Thank you for asking. And I will tell you that story sometime, but not today. Now...would you like to try throwing left-handed? That will likely take much more practice...but think how quickly you could overwhelm your opponent."

"One of my friends is a lefty, she has to use special scicosors"

"CAAAAANNOOOOON BEAAAAAAAAAGLE!" A cry comes, and with a flick of Glamour, Connor is up in the air, and careens down to land with a SPLUFF in a mound of snow that showers both centaur and troll - well, up to her waist at least - in a gout of snow.

Sigh "Boys"

then she smirks, rolls up a ball, and make sure she is NOt aiming at his back, and hurls a snowball

He jumps INTO the path, laughing uproariously as it explodes on his chest.

"I am Dogmar the Just! And I will rain lightning bolts down!" Handfuls of puffy snow tossed into the air. "PEW PEW!"

Brekke doesn't seem startled by the sudden appearance of Connor, merely amused.

"Well, I am Princess Amaphilia and I shall smack you with my power of Heart!" Throwing balls with a laugh

"Princess Ama... Amamama... Princess Amy, are you a GOOD princess or a wicked one? Are you sure you're not an Ice Queen?"

"Chief, this is my Friend Princess Amy. I found her before she found Jack and me. But I let her thinks she found us first because that's POLITE."

"Well NO..." a sigh "And Amy is .. um"

"Very generous," she nods to Connor, then asks Layne, "Have you learned about the speech of pooka yet?"

"Yes.. they say the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. They always have to fib a little"

"I never fib, I'm just FAB." He strikes a pose!

Maybe he has been watching Sylvi....

"Sometimes there is greater truth in the fib than you might expect. You will need to keep your ears clever to keep up with Connor's meaning."

"You have nice ears." He says to Layne with a grin. "And, and chief, she's almost faster than Jack maybe? But NOT as fast as the Shadowpaw."