#rivervale_lodge

Siv comes in with a case and other goods, making a bee line for the room she uses

And soon heads back down again "Gerd?"

A huff, and she texts

"Wait, at Fenix? Argh"

"I should go tell her then in person... " A pondering "Oh I bet Piper is at the apartment. No point in bothering her. Not like anything has changed for us since we last talked" That assured, she heads off

(End Scene)

((Continued from Bergen))

After texting Siv, Kerri goes back inside and sets up another pot of tea.

Siv rushes in from the trod door to Fenix "PIPER???!"

"She's not here, Siv," Kerri calls out from the kitchen.

"Damn... too slow" She says and pops into view "Do you know where she went? The appartement or... what's wrong?"

"I'm not sure where she went. And I'm not at liberty to say a lot. She wasn't feeling well when she showed up here, I can tell you that, but that had passed before she left."

"Would you prefer coffee, tea, or soda?"

"I'd prefer Piper here in my arms" A pout "I... you can't say a lot? I... damn. I.." A deep breath "Is... is she leaving me?"

"No, not unless she jumps to some very stupid conclusions. But she's very upset, and...you might jump to some stupid conclusions on your own. I'm going to ask you to do your very best to stay calm and listen and think when you speak with her."

"I... " A breath "Ok. I .. just not used to..." She taps over her heart "I .. I love her and ... it sounds silly but I forget what fear feels like, then THIS comes up and... oh goddess"

"She's fine, and she loves you, and you two need to talk."

Nod nod nod , eyes still a bit wide

"Not sure you'll be able to catch up with her just now, but...she's certain to come back to the apartment sooner or later, I think."

Nod nod nod!

A kind look. "Tea now? Or apartment now?"

"Tea I think. I need to ... I don't want to run her over"

"Good plan." And she is served a cup of calming herbal tea.

"To get your mind off that for a minute...I understand you and Sylvi were off on a trip? Did it go well?"

"Sylvi? Oh! Yeah. She was a great decoy" A nod "I got what we needed from that lodge. Gerd knows now. She's off the hook"

A blink. "Sylvi was involved in the Gerd situation? As a decoy?"

"She's safe?"

"Oh sure. She didn't know the full details, wasn't mine to share... but she was a sport and helped anyway. Distraction more than decoy really" A shrug "your daughter has charms. The fellow was a tough nut to crack but she got hit his attention and... oh yeah, sure she is. At least she was when I brought her back to Bergen. Probably at Goldfinch but she'll be here for dinner"

"Well...that's good, then," Kerri says, her voice tightened with a bit of motherly protectiveness.

long sip "Piper... she maybe mad about Jonas being away. Bothers me too but I thought we were facing it together "

"Well...I think it would help if Jonas were here, yes, so you could all talk."

"He's on a quest" A bit of a lament

"Have you heard from him recently?"

She shakes her head "Piper has been away a lot , looking after her dad because of the drag thing... but we try to take time for each other now and then. I swear, only thing that keeps me sane is her these days. I haven't told mom and da how high strung I've been. Don't want to be a burden, and I'm not telling Piper and Jonas... they'd ffeel guilty. Fortunately some adventures have helped distract me."

A slow breath. "Siv...when you speak with Piper, and I think you should speak with her soon, if the conversation gets too troubling or confusing...please come talk with me. I promise you, she is still very much in love with you, but she's got a lot of distress right now, herself."

She puts the tea down "I'll head to the appartment now and talk to her. " Reassured "Thanks. I... I don't know what's going on, but I'll be strong for her. I will"

"Be strong, and listen," she emphasizes again. "And think."

"Yes, yes, strong listening, strong thinking" A bit of a rush... "I won't let her down" And with that, she heads out, rather quickly

Leaving Kerri hoping she heard

Kerri sighs and mutters to herself, "Satyr panic and Fiona temper. What could possibly go wrong?" Then she tidies up the tea cups.

(End Scene)