#rivervale_lodge

Wood is gathered for Bonfires ready to be lit for Beltaine... Frank himself is helping.

Squire Valter, works by his side

Deadwood is perferred

Easy enough work, even if it's overcast and cool.

Valter eyes a log "YOu know the woods better than I, Sir Franklin. This old log has some moss on it, would tht make it less deserable?"

Frank nods. "What I know I learned from Brekke. Chances are good that log is a home; we can take deadwood but we need to be careful. Deadwood has it's purpose in a healthy forest."

"I've grown to like these woods but I do need to learn more of them. PErhaps then , if is a home, I should gather smaller fallen branches and leave it be"

"I would, yes."

He leaves it be and moves to gather branches. Meanwhile, Oak is gathering rather large sticks with glee... getting him to give them up is a bit harder

"Oak, if you put it down you can go find another even bigger stick." Frank point out.

You promise? Oak's eyes seem to say

Frank nods "You'll take the biggest one you find home yourself." he promises "The little ones we'll use for the bonfire."

Oak promptly puts the stick down where directed, and bounds off to go get another.

Squire Valter's lip twitches in amusement, "I knew fae dogs were intelligent, but I had not realized how much"

"Well, Oak'd be smart even without it." Frank assures him.

"You seem very fond" Perhaps stating the obvious "Do you ever worry that if you need to send him off to die to save another, you won't be able to give him the command?"

"Of course."

A nod at that

THen Oak comes up carring an even bigger stick

"There you go, boy! See?"

"Can you find another?"

A Bark of confidence, and off he goes

Valter raises a brow "Well, he's going to collect more than the two of us combined at this rate"

"Maybe, but he can only carry one at a time."

"A fair point" Valter says and gathers some himself

Soon they are all heading back with more fuel for the bonfire. Sally Mae greets them outside with some cold drinks!

"Thank you." he takes the drink after he gets the wood settled as needed.

Valter does the same, "Thank you, Sally Mae."

"Least we can do with you folks hauling all the wood" She sees Oak trot up withe largest stick yet "Lord love a duck. If it gets any bigger he'll be uprooting small trees"

"We had a talk about leaving homes for the forest animals." Frank confirms.

"Well, I brought him a treat for his part in things. Did you want to give it to him or shall I?" SAlly Mae inquires

"Oh, you can."

"Here boy" She says. The dog sniffs and bounces "Ah, Sit. Wait for it. " She tells him

Oak obeys, dutifully... and TRIES not to drool

"Wait for it..wait for it" She puts it on his snout. "Not yet... not yet"

She draws her hand back "Now"

As soon as she geets to the "N" sound he pops it into the air off his snout and catches it happily

"Good boy" She says, then looks to Frank "And I suppose I should get you two some snacks as well. "

Frank rumbles a chuckle "I'd prefer if you did not pose them on my nose." he asks.

She breaks out into a smile "Pretty sure the Chief would take offense if I tried, sir. Would you prefer sausages or pork chops? We've got extra of both"

"Valter?" checking in with the other grump.

"Either sounds fine by me" The squire admits

OOC AFK 🚗

"Could we get both?" Frank asks, and one might see where Oak gets it from ....

A smile "Sure can. I need to get rid of them while they're still good anyway"

"You two shower up, or at least wash your hands" And she darts into the kitchen to eat up a mix of both

Frank washes up.

Soon, the two fellows are both cleaned up, and come down the stairs to see Siv laying plates out "Apparently I'm not allowed to start until you two do"

"Hello Siv." Frank gives her a one-armed hug.

"Hey, Da" She smiles, "Squire" nod to Valter