#rivervale_lodge

As Frank Checks his text (Hopefully) Siv returns with Connor "No doubt about it, the Dawntreader is not in the area anymore"

Connor hangs back, eyes wide and mouth down-turned. Tail tucked with a look so guilt-filled, one might expect the truck to be in his pocket.

"Hmphm." Frank rumbles, and pockets his phone after reading.

"Are you awful mad, Mountain?"

"Connor." he kneels; he's still much taller but it's the best he can do "No. I'm not .... I'm not mad at -you- Connor. I'm grateful. You did your best and that's the best anyone could ask. Thank you. I'm in your debt."

"Someone texted you?" Siv is surprised

"Kerry."

"Connor, I'd like you to go with Siv, please. Siv, please take Connor home. I'm going to the Dawntreader."

"But. At the thief? Are you AWFUL TERRIBLE mad?"

"Yes, Connor, I am."

Siv nods "Aye, Mountain" She says and picks Connor up "it's going to be okay, Squire. My father is a good man and a just one"

"Wait! I can't go! It was me!"

Trying to squirm free, alas, not of sluagh blood.

"HEY, Connor we both know you can't drive a semi"

"Leave my sister ALONE! She didn't DO it!" He says despirately. "It was the bandits! The bandits and the fruitsellers! "

Frank checks his pocket for... ah, here. A stone with a hole in it; easy enough for him to crush to powder if he chooses.

Siv holds the panicking pup pooka pal "Hey it's okay it's okay.."

"Noooo!"

howl

"Connor, I'm angry but I'm not going to hurt anyone unless I must. Now you said you'd go with Siv. I expect you to keep your word."

"You can find them! I can help you! You don't know who to look for!"

Siv looks a bit misty eyed. Suddenly glad she doesn't have a little brother. It hurts to have them hurting she suspects as she feels bad enough

"Siv." Frank sends them home with the word.

"But I know who did it... I know... I really do...." He whimpers.

Siv carries the pup "We gave our word. That means something, Squire. But we trust. Okay? We trust the mountain to learn, and we trust him to be just, and we trust him to get his truck back"

He falls silent except for snuffles.

Frank clears his throat and rumblesings "Peridots and periwinkle blue medallions, Gilded galleons spilled across the ocean floor, Treasure somewhere in the sea and he will find where, Never mind their questions there's no answer for...." as he crushes and allows the stone dust to drift away as a bunk, Flickerflashing himself to his Rig.

"Dagmar would have believed me." He says softly, then buries his head in Siv's shoulder.

Siv watches her father go, then strokes connor's head "Just because sometimes we keep a distance, doesn't mean we don't believe"

He is silent.

She sighs and takes him into the lodge

He slides down from her arms when they arrive. "She would at least listen." And he darts out the door and away. Not back towards Frank, he gave his word... but out Stable, or barn-wards.

"Oh .." Siv winces "Shit" she follows.

She can try, but he is very fast, and very sneaky, and soon out of sight. But maybe for the best? Who goes looking FOR a pooka on April 1st?

Siv keeps searchinngg. She promised her dad she'd look after him. That isn't something that ends on a technnicality

Zippity zee, quicksilver is one step, and hippity hop, he's on the balcony. Dagmar is perhaps not even home - Connor may have been with her if she was! But is Dagmar's window unlocked?

Odin-guarded, but unlocked.

He opens the door, offering a pat to Odin, and carefully latches it behind him. "Dagmar?" He calls, quietly. Not wanting to startle her at any... girl stuff.

Odin sniffs, then gives his hand a head-butt before hopping off to do Important Cat Business.

"Connor?"

He looks up. "You're home!" And covers his eyes suddently. "I'm not looking!"

"Just doing homework... what's up, kiddo? You need a snack?"

He throws himself into her legs and wraps his arms around her. "Mountain's gonna avalanche onto Gerd! And she isn't even a POOKA!"

Clearly upset!

"Hey, hey... it's okay, it's okay... tell me what happened, best you can."

Dagmar is reassuringly solid.

He exhales, and tries. “A Lady named April decided to fool around with the mountain. Two of them, and they tricked and kidnapped Gerd along. And she’s the one who can light switch places, so she's gonna get whack-a-doodled with a tire stick! I knew who it was! I know, the nose knows! And shadow paws never lie, not when on the prowl! But the mountain sent me away and wouldn't listen.” He snuffles. “He said I could help but then wouldn't let me say what I found. And I don’t know where Gerd IS.”

"Shh. We'll work it out. Gerd got tricked into helping a prank?"

Dag reaches for her phone, picking up Connor if she has to, rather than break contact.

TXT: Siv here. Connor's really upset I ohpe he went to your place