#rivervale_lodge

"My niche is in danger" Layne gasps worried, then goes back to sleep

********

"What's in it for them anyway?" Daria snaps distrusful at the picnic table sans benches that the centaurs are eating around. She wolfs her food down like it was going out of style

"Apparently they do it for ANY type of changeling" buck reminds "All I know is Symon came through"

"Our lords of the lodge are very generous" Tiara says. Of all of them, she seems to fit into the feudal mode most easily

And what troll or other RV member is obseving this meal, well... could be anyone

"Skreee!"

"Yes, yes, I have snacks...."

"Does it bite?" Ganbold asks

"It does, but not to be mean. You want to help feed it?"

"CAN I? Mongolians are great with hawks falcons and gryphons!" the boy enthuses

Music is playing softly, as Zane loaned Linwood a used keyboard.

Piper showed up looking for Siv, but was drawn aside by the sound of the keyboard! Fickle wench...

"Sure, you just need to be careful you don't get nipped..." She plunks down on a bench by the table, and adjusts her bundle. "So.... you hold it like so, and..." Demonstrating.

Linwood is lost in the zone, meanning piper can sneak close

Ganbold listens attentively and does as directed, "COOOL" As it is snapped up

Indeed, she slides in under the radar - centaurs making her feel even shorter than USUAL and listens for a moment... before reaching out and playing along side Linwood, on the edge of the keyboard in the style called À quatre mains, or four handed playing. Easily picking up the tune and continuing on in the higher register, a complementary music.

Linwood blushes, and almost rears back! PEOPLE! But.. oh.. musical people

Piper quickly steadies the keyboard!

and panic embarrassement fades and the lower keys resume

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you..." A smile up at Linwood. "I don't know anyone else around who can tickle ivories like you do."

"So , do trolls have ALL the cool animals?" Ganbold says stamping his hooves "You've got dogs and horses and gryphons!"

Clearly he has decided Dagmar is pretty cool!

Linwood coughs "it's okay I.. oh the ivories, my grandfather was a concert Pianist. Kept in the family. "

"Oh, there's lots of cool animals everywhere! There's a dragon at Earth Runes..."

"A tiny one."

"I KNEW Dragons were real" Ganbold says "In your face, Sensible Sara from home room!"

Snerk.

"Yeah, everything's real - the scary stuff, too, mind."

The childling makes a fierce pose "I AM the scary stuff" then grins

He could only stay fierce so long

"My parents play jazz sax and bluegrass respectively, and have a LOT of musical friends, so I learned a bit of everything!" A grin to the centaur.

"Jazz has some amazing pieces," Linwood seems to loose shyness, that hair (mane) that covers eyes parting a bit

She passes him some scraps for feeding.

Then the chldling sobers "Scarry folks like Leech you mean?"

"Some like Leech, yeah. But - heroes will fight and beat the scary folks."

"Or brave childlings will survive and escape."

"I totally SURVIVED" Ganbold exclaims realizing his triumph, "i'm not even a LITTLE dead"

"There's a satyr lady back at my digs that plays amazing electric guitar. She shreds." Proudly. Though, she scans the edges of the clearing, looking for Siv.

"Exactly!"

"When I begin my conquest, I will totally remember the good folk who made itt possible" he promises "We'll ride rigght around the lodge area, or wipe our hooves if we visit!"

"I. I wouldn't mind meeting her" A blush from Linwood

Then Siv comes up looking over the centaurs with a look of pride

A grin, and she asks Linwood, "Do you know 'Heart and Soul', duet on the piano?"

LInwood nods "Of course! " and the music starts

Piper plays the upper register, and sings along. Not the gift of pan, but her voice is light and cheerful, and raises the spirits.

Even if her gaze is on a certain troll that she sings to.

Heart and soul, I fell in love with you
Heart and soul, the way a fool would do, madly
Because you held me tight
And stole a kiss in the night!

Heart and soul, I begged to be adored
Lost control, and tumbled overboard, gladly
That magic night we kissed
There in the moon mist...

Oh but your lips were thrilling, much too thrilling
Never before were mine so strangely willing

But now I see, what one embrace can do
Look at me, it's got me loving you madly
That little kiss you stole
Held all my heart and soul!

Siv gives that smile that lights up a room! And bounces a bit as the music goes!

And when it ends, Siv grabs Piper and throws her into the air and catches her in a hug!

"Eeee!" A delighted squeal. "You guys really don't do things halfway, do you?"

Looking over the centaur herd!