#rivervale_lodge

Buck looks at him "You want to find a shoe box to bury the litle guy in?" Understanding "We could give him a good funerral I bet"

"You know better." Go ahead, try to out-stubborn the troll.

Stormwake snorts.

Connor nods solemnly m, not trusting his words to say yes. “The wolves didn’t mean it. But I don’t want the squirrels to think... I LIKE to chase them. But I never catch them. It’s just a game.”

"We don't risk hurting children."

Stormwake looks contrite at that. He did't HURT the boy. Connor Slid off, not FELL off

still he does seem a bit more apologetic there

"Yes, it worked out well this time. But that wasn't acceptable behavior for a rider that was treating you well. You know better."

"I trusted you to carry him."

Buck nods "Chasing is fun, and it's good for the squirels as it makes them faster. Don't worry, they know you're not into them as food I bet." Buck sets the boy down "But if the wolves ask I'll say you ate it, and then a badger too"

Hoof stamp of protest! He has ONE rule. Warriors. She knows that. And he carried a nonn warrior long enough. Stormwake looks a Homidheads (Centaurs to non horses) , have them do it

Eyes widen. “Yeah? Yeah! If they know I'm hunting badger, then they won't think they have to help me catch food.”

"We were on the way home. You took him, and had a duty to him. No, you're being a diva and a brat."

Stormwake nickers in protest. Harsh words !

He's got feelings oo

too*

"I'm very disappointed in you."

Oh geez, not that!

He bumps her wih his snout

And so she leads Stormwake back to the stables, dispassionately. It's a cold anger, not an explosive one.

And Buck whispers "Connor Badgerbane. " And puts him on his back "I got him"

Stormwake sulks a bit. The silent treatment. Darn it

With Buck's help, the squirrel is carefully buried deep enough that nothing should dig it up, under a big oak tree. He pats the ground after spreading dried leaves over it.

Buck mutters "Ah, we should probably pray or something or send off with words. Want me to , little guy?"

Dagmar has Tiara come up "Don' be too mad at him. I think we spook the horses just a bit. "

Then she whispers "Even if he IS being a prima donna"

"Um. I have something to say." He ponders, and then says, "Plethora."

After a moment, he grins at Buck. "That means a lot."

Buck breaks into a big grin at that 'Yes, yes it does"

"I can walk, though." He nods. "It's important to sent boundaries. Like, people can scratch my ears if they're my friends, but they shouldn't tell me to sit and roll over. At least, that's what they tell me. Because I'm not a dog anymore. I was once, for a bit, almost, but I'm a pooka now. And you're a centaur but NOT a horse."

"I am not" Buck nods "But I do't mind ggiving a friend a hand up. However, i should have asked before I hauled you up. And I'm sorry if I damaged your ah. .Shadowpaw pride"

"Don't worry! I don't have a pride, that's cats. But I don't mind GETTING a ride, it's just like piggy-back, and even the Mountain sometimes gives rides, and he's IMPORTANT."

"But it's important to have, um." His brown wrinkles. "Auto-mommy."

"Auto-um." Ah! "Au-to-nomy."

"That means, you get to say what is done with you."

Nodding.

Buck ponders then nnods "Well, if you ever take my back for granted we'll have words, but you have a right to walk on your own four ..or two feet whenever you like. Deal?" He offers his hand

to shake

"Shake! I know that one." A big grin, and he shakes the larger hand.

Limber for a big guy to bend down like that. Hands are shaken

And they walk back together!

As for Dagmar? She gets her favorite flavor milk shake from Gerd! "Thought you might like this"

And Gerd offers an ear to her friend if it helps, or gives her space with her milk shake if it doesn't.

And Connnor? he gets a milke shake too. Seeems someone can flicker flash and pick them up

(End Scene)