#rivervale_lodge

"No."

"Good. I don't want to make people tell me to go to the cold because I was a jerk" The boy says, then adds "Not that i'm afraid of regular cold. The wind swept steppes are very freezy... and my ancestors did great there" He ponders "They did have yurts. Yurts help"

"What's a yurt?"

"OH! It's awesome" the boy explains, "It's like this BIG Tent, but a circle! Some so tall centaurs and trolls can fit in fine. The ancient mongols could break them down in one area then set them up in another"

And if she wants, and is wiling to google, he'll show her

Dagmar agrrees that yurts are cool. Time is spent looking at various styles.

Oh, Dagmar has definitely made a friend.

(End Scene)

*******************

The sudden influx of visitors has made an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Hearth, assistants, and Embers.

Kerri has brought a supply of food (thank goodness for the Cauldron) to the picnic table outside on a regular basis, reminded the centaurs that they're not being kept out there, and they're welcome to come into the Lodge whenever they'd like, and asking if they're in need of anything.

Connor trots back and forth, playing fetch... and carry. The centaurs need a lot of things, and they are more comfortable outside it seems... so Connor takes them things! Soon it seems there might be more supplies outside the lodge than in?

"Oh, a radio." He comments, and heads back to where he is sure he saw one in the lodge.

Dagmar helps, even if she is a "clash" and not an "ember."

"Connor," Kerri says, "don't volunteer things, please. If they need it, they'll ask."

Kerri gives Dagmar a grateful grin for her work.

His expression is pathetically hangdog, like she had kicked a puppy. "Oh."

"Oh, now, none of that," she says. She's not quite proof against the puppy dog eyes, but she tries. "You could ask them if there's anything they need. But what they don't need is clutter."

Fawn comes in, the gray haired Cenntauress smiles "Pardon"

"Miss Lady!" He pops up. "I found the radio you asked for..."

"Yes," Kerri says, "Fawn, right?"

Dag is tending a mix of beans and corn and bell peppers - it smells sweet and SPICY.

"Fawn yes, I was noticing a lot of hustle in here and.. Gerd runningg about too. Do you folks need help? "

"Well...to be honest, it would be helpful, but it's not right to impose on you right away, after your captivity. How are you feeling?"

"Skree!" Dagmar shushes the baby, and sneaks it a piece of beef.

A glance over at the sound that still comes as a surprise.

The gryphon seems to be getitng used to Dagmar - or at least, to the steady food supply. Rather than creeling earsplitting noises constantly, it cries once, and then actually will wait for nearly an entire minute before the shrieking starts.

"Healthy as a horse, if you pardon the terrible phrase" Fawn says "And frankly having nothinng to do isn't going to do much for us either, mentally. Some of us are getting cranky, about Leech that is. Getting a touch bloodthirsty and we don't need to dwell on that in my opinion"

And the troll is attentive, so it rarely needs to wait a whole minute.

Connor tugs at Dagmar's arm for attention, too.

She is POPULAR today.

"Hey kiddo. Sup?"

"Well, if you're sure," Kerri considers. "The trick is, to some extent, how to manage things without stepping on each other...." she ponders a minute.

"We do take up a lot of space" She admits

"When -I- get bored, sometimes someone will take me out to ride on the trails. If only someone knew the way to the good places where there are no people to see people, but people can see things people might like to see. Like monkeys and those rude squirrels with the rainbow tails and them wolves what fly around."

"Too bad no one HERE has a horse."

He sighs mightily.

"You do all need fostering, starter lessons in the Escheat...."

But then she overhears Connors suggestion. "Oh. Now, there's a thought. Dagmar, Connor's being brilliant. Would you be willing to give the new arrivals a tour of the surrounding areas?"

"I GUESS if you wanted to do lessons in the boring parts of the trail, you could. but that's like homework."

He ducks his head a bit, but grins at the praise.

"A tour? Well, if you like. Young Jordan is already ahead of us I suppose"

"Ahead of you?"

"I saw him head out with a prety full pack" She explains

"He has certainly been here a few days more, yes."

Kerri blinks. "Really? Did you happen to see which direction?"

Huff.

"He's going to go run off because I didn't care to hear him bitch again about being a centaur."

"Did he go to go undo himself?" He asks, and then covers his mouth. He didn't MEAN to say that.

Kerri turns to look at Dagmar, both brows up.