#rivervale_lodge

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Dagmar was already in her armor for the ceremony, the metal gleaming and her green-and-gold tabard proclaiming her house. Star is left to protect Spark as she rides Stormwake on patrol. She loves Star best, but Stormwake is the heavier fighter of the two.

Stormwake seems to have found out shit is serious and is as attentive and somber as his rider. Those who cross them that he does not know get a cold equine look. Evil will be STOMPED

Lut and Tig are patrolling the north... and Jordan, now-sained, has been paired with Olgar to the southern. Siv and Jonas take the east. Tove and Jaymes are at the Lodge.

Perhaps it is an abundance of caution - but better that, than to be caught by hostile forces.

Sometimes reports come in by text, mostly hourly 'all is well' sort of stuff. Of course, some of the childlings want to be out annd helping, but Jaymes and Tove keep them close to the lodge

Shadowpaw, of course, is told they are to protect the babies. CJ and Theo are secure! (Especially with Tove and Tiff to supervise!)

Margilita's suggestion to build 'stun land mines' was nixed.

Chief left her in charge. Dagmar takes her responsibility seriously.

Gerd flies overhead "So far so good huh?"

"So far." She agrees.

"Let me know if you need me to flickerflash somewhere but right nnow I figure an sky view helps. I see the winged wolves up ahead, but they don't seem agitated. "

"We should alert them to the danger. I don't think they'll be a target, but...." She shrugs.

She nods and they approach

"Greetings" Jumper says , landing on a branch

"Greetings. How goes it for your pack?"

"Not well," Jumper admits, "We feed well enough, but there is a shortage of mates for us so the pack is not likely to grow. The water of the southern stream tastes.. odd."

A frown. "Odd? We shall investigate."

"Do you think mates could be found in the Dreaming? Perhaps they could be drawn here?"

Jumper's ears prick up with interest "Would you welcome more of us? We are predators. Eventually if tthe pack grew large enough it would break into two. That is the way. But while we agreed not to hunt your hoofed ones, and the Tamed Cousins are powerful, we do hunt period. Some grow nervous of wolves of any sort"

"If the pack grows large enough, I imagine, yes, you would need to split - some would move, but not all. And your kind would expand and thrive elsewhere. Too many in one place, and you would be off balance."

A frown at a thought. "It isn't unlike us. How others are peeling off to different holds."

"Ah, the singing bird is less wild. We like it less," Jumper admits "But more fires of the Dream are always a good thing. You have grown, both of you. You do the hunting for your packs now? On horse and wind you both move. You must be quite fierce."

Gerd blushes a bit "Okay, from a sky wolf, that's flattering"

"We have scented a hunter. While we do not think it would stalk the winged wolves, you should be aware. It seems that we are its prey. Perhaps trolls, perhaps the Lodge, perhaps something else."

"How shall we know this hunter ?" Jumper asks

"Foulness.. the one we saw was Thallian" Gerd spits to the ground "The toxic nightmares"

"We are no friend to Thallian" Jumper growls "If we find them, if we can take them, we will rend and tear"

"if you can take them. I trust you know when it would be wiser to hide."

"Or... bay warning, if you can, and seek refuge."

"Farhowl's voice will carry" Jumper nods "Tell your akela we offer our ears , noses and eyes to the search"

She salutes the wolf with a fist tapping her breastplate. "Thank you, Jumper."

"And thank you, Hammerstrike and Hornshield for bringing word to the pack. the stream is southward of here, do not let your horse drink it" And Jumper takes flight "I must hunt now. Do not fear. I won't eat the monkey .We merely give her a scare for ..fun"

Gerd snerks "Snow needs some excercise now and then"

A little snerk.

"Or imagine how fat she'd be from all the pie?"

A chuckle frrom the sky as Jumper heads off

Gerd says "If they tore a thallin apart, I would not shed a tear"

"Nor would I. But I would rather they ran than be harmed."

"Yeah, you're right" A sigh "got to tell you, Dags, Thallian assassination attempt is stiring some unpleasant childling memories."

"Wanna talk about it? I'm no pooka, but..."

"It's hard to describe what it's like to be hunted for years. You were a prisoner of a mortal system. I was prey. "

"We won't let them touch you." Stubborn.

"Oh, I'm the predator now" She says jaw set "Uncle vali told me how to hunt them, taught me. Goblins tend towards placees with tech, you know that? Not cutting edggge so much as. . industrial kind of. we would want to look in chopshops, deserted facotries, that kind of thing"

"Gotcha. Though they seem like rats - might be on the watch for ogres or bogies, too."

"Yeah, not big on stealth, Ogres. Though weird fact? They DO like Bridges"

"Ha."

"I haven't fought one. Just hope I am strong enough when it matters."

"They.. they can smell you out. Relentless but stupid. Hard to fool because of the nose, easy o fool because they're brutes. They're as strong as we are though, maybe stronger."

"Sparrow could tell you how scary they are" She adds