#rivervale_lodge

In the latter half of March, every windowsill that gets sunlight has been host to racks of seedling trays, and the little sprouts have broken through. Transplanting comes soon, and Brekke is pleased with the process so far.

Annd Jack pouts.

Normally she would expect the little satyr to offer help, and she would give him a task to do, though she has certainly asked him not to use any arts on her plants. That is for his own corner of the garden. "What is wrong?" she asks now.

"The jelly bean stalk is closed off from me. Hearth Kerri threatened to cut it down, but i'm named Jack. I almost gotta climb it"

"Mm. A quandary. I understand that it is a great temptation, but it is also a great danger. One Jack climbed the beanstalk...but remember that he needed to cut it down to protect his family from a threat. If that is what must eventually happen, then you should want to delay it as much as possible," she points out reasonably as she waters some seedlings.

"But I haven't even gotten the golden harp" he sighs, but he notices the windowsill "The seeds look nice"

"Yet. You have not gotten it yet. Patience. And in the meantime, you have a fine harvest from that plant." She turns a tray to give different seedlings more sun. "They do," she says to his observation. "You will help me plant next week?"

""Of course! I've been waiting for spring FOREVER" he says and believes it

well, in that boy way

"Hmm." She nods. Then after a moment, "Jack...how skilled are you in your Spring arts, now?"

"Pretty good, I cann make cookies now, Sylvi helped me learn some"

She nods. "That is good. I am wondering...I know that some Spring casters can help sprout not just new life, but new hopes. Have you attempted this?"

"I'm best with plants " He admits "I don't like messing with humans..." A bite of his lip "That's what my old place wanted me to do"

"No, I am not suggesting using your skill with mortals. But you heard what happened at Hackensack, yes?"

'Not entirely.. but you fought fifty foot tall killer robots right?"

"I did not measure them," she says, hiding a grin. "But the fae there, the ones who were victims...they are very sad. Hopeless. They may need some help to find hope again."

"Skald Tove is working on a song about the event. I am thinking perhaps you could work with her, perhaps in performance, to help create that hope."

the boy looks worried "You should get dad. torin's a skald... he.. he's good at singinng without hurting people or cheering them up I.. I don't know if I can do that right"

She looks down at him, pausing in her work. "Jack...he does not have the art you have. I know you have bad memories of what was...but perhaps it is time for you to try to make new memories that are better."

"that's what mom says.. she says that I can bring a lot of beauty to everyonne and plants are only a part of it:"

He sighs "Is ..will it help the lodge?"

"Dad says we are a community and we look out for each other" He soundns as if he wishes he didn't remember but will not forget

"I think it will help others beyond the Lodge, which is our larger community."

"But for the Lodge...it is better for us to have neighbors who are hopeful rather than neighbors who are depressed, for that can lead to desperation."

"Oh, like when a gang gets pressed out of an area by gentrification so they swarm into your gang's turf?"

She considers this analogy for a moment, then nods. "I think so, yes."

"Okay. I'll help " He says "Connor says Shadowpaw clan members always help when they're needed if it's not past 10"

And he seems to gain resolve

She nods solemnly. "I appreciate this, Jack. I will let Skald Tove know of my thoughts."

"Now...how is the jellybean harvest?"

"OH we got like two buckets!" he brightens! "We got a LOT of green ones. I wonder why that is? Maybe too much green thoughts on the spring magics I used? BUT there are actually blue and red ones and yellow... "A whisper "Some black ones .. I don't like licuerice flavored ones"

"Mm. Perhaps Symon or Lily might like them? I do not know."

"Lane took some pink ones" he sighs "Girls don't have to like pink. I TOLD her that. She just smiled and ate another. Mmm Lily might like the black ones, though I might need to leave them out in the sun. Okay" A nod "OH... I saved your favorite flavor cuse the Captain Siv asked me to. Hold on.. I'll get them for you"

"Oh?" A curious look, mostly because she's not certain what Siv might have said is her favorite.

"Oh come on, I'll show you" And he takes her hand ot show her his prize and a special bag with jellybeans marked 'Chief ShackleBREAKER' with the last part in large caps so he gets it right

"I see! Thank you, Jack." She is still a little puzzled. "Should I open it?"

"Sure" Jelly beans await. But alas, we mere mortals will not learn tonight just WHAT the Chief's favorite jelly bean flavor is.

(End scene)