#rivervale_lodge

"Need anything from in here?" she indicates the kitchen.

He lifts the bottle. "I'm good."

"We're good. I'm on big sister duty tonight, but..."

"Actually, 'big sister,' I have news to share with you. You too, Frank."

"Mmm?"

She has his attention.

She comes in and does a bit of tidying as she speaks. "I'm just back from a quick visit to SilverWolf."

"Everything ok?" with a frown.

"Yeah?"

"Well, the reason I went, I'll get to a bit later. But first, I think you should know that somebody tried to steal the puppies." She watches Dagmar's reaction closely.

"They're safe," she clarifies quickly. "But the thief got away. The DarkGate folks say they think it was a Spriggan."

A scowl.

"Thaillan."

"Glad they're safe. But.. Spriggan? Thallian?"

A nod. "More often known for stealing children, not animals."

"Yeah... would you think it was money, or something else?"

"Fae hounds can't be cheap, but.... puppies that young are hard to care for."

"I don't really know any more about the motivation. But Nadeen wanted me to let you know that there's a bounty on him."

"Good."

She nods. "I imagine more than a few people will want to go after that."

"Well, I'm no fan of animal-harmers..."

"Mm. More than a few people would do it without a bounty."

"Exactly." She straightens out the books on a shelf. "So...other news...Dagmar, what are your thoughts on your squire visiting his father on Christmas Day?"

"Oh, I bet he'd like that. He hasn't had that... I'll ask him."

She nods. "Good. Nadeen says specifically that he'd be welcome."

"I was going to take him to the mall, so he can see Santa and maybe get gifts."

Gerd comes in, covered in snow and looking tired but happy

"Perfect! Hello, Gerd. Where did you find snow?"

"Northern Califorrnia... Connnor..." She flumps into a chair "really wanted snow. So I blinked us to where a place in pacifica that i knnew had snow ... more than I realized, bout a foot deep, but he had SO much fun... there were Snow Angel Chimera there.... he must have played for hours" A bit happy but also TIIIRRED

"This sounds like a job for hot cocoa. Where's Connor now?"

Frank chuckles.

"Connor is now at Dagmar's house... either finally unconscious or having some hot cocoa himself. And yes, please. I'm normally a Tea girl, but yes." A look to Dagmar "He made a Snow Dagmar there..."

"Excellent. Be right back."

"Kind of like a snow man but taller, and with a dead branch called Flywhapper... I had to ggive up two pennies for the eyes because it was closer to the right color"

Kerri returns to the kitchen.

A quirk of a smile.

"Quite an homage." Frank approves.

"I tried to just put some pine cone bits in, but NOOOO too wrong" As amused as she is eye rolling "Yon squire can be paricular. So... what did I miss?"

"Someone tried to steal the silverwolf pups."

"The fu.." She catches herself "the fudge? " A frown "Why didn't Wudlig tell me that?"

Dagmar shrugs. "Who knows?"

Oak... has been pacing inside..as if filled with anxiety

"Oak. C'mere boy."

The sounds of food prep in the kitchen.

Oak moves towards Frank, tail unwaging for once.

But he looks to Frank for reassurance. But.. the pups? Do they need him? Are they okay?

Gerd says "Oh geez, poor Oak"

"Oak, the puppies are fine."

"Kerri said they are safe. There is a bounty out on the one who tried to take them. All is well."

He looks straight at the hound while speaking.