#rivervale_lodge

Gerd has a trunk, not an elephant's truck, which is possible in the dreaming, but a huge immense bulky trunk. She also has a full backpack, and two bags that didn't fit in the trunk. How she got it all through the trod is hard to say.

"Come on, little help. I just got glamour back, don't make me flicker flash this stuff twenty feet!"

"GERD gerd GERD!" She is tackled from behind by Connor. Helping!

Gerd gasps, tackled from behind....

And things fly, bags fall and spill, food eveywhere, the trunk rolls over and over.... fortunately Connor came from behind so it doesn't stomp him.

"....Gerd?"

Sheepish grin.

The Wilder looks at the mess for a moment. Whatever is going in her head, she keeps to herself, then with an almost resigned sigh, "Little brother, I love you. You know that right?"

"Riiiiight?"

"When people are carrying extra bulky loads or the like, you might not want to surprise them. Okay?" She bends down to give him a huge hug, "Now, you gather some of the food on the floor that's still good and go put it on the counter okay? I'll drag that trunk. It'll be alright."

Edelweiss isn't as agile as she used to be, but she is a fae hound and apparently saw it coming, despite her added bulk, she avoided the rolling trunk... just in time.

"It's ALL still good." He says, and starts tidying up briskly.

Some of the more squashed pastries might make their way towards Edie...

...or into his own mouth.

You know? She earned them! Chomp

Helping! Chomp

Gerd breaks into a laugh at this form of 'help'. "Why didn't I think of that?" Truly there is a wisdom of Pooka. "So, little brother," She drags the trunk to safety and finds a spot "How's it feel to be back at Rivervale? Dagmar was delighted to see you I bet?"

"Turrible!" Through a mouthful of some sort of meat-stuffed turnover. He considers another, and puts it on a plate on the counter instead. 5 second rule!

"Whur whur yur?"

Apparently, the Connor seal of approval on these goods.

"I was at Fenix, had an adventure with Jessica one day, and went hiking with her the next on top of this BIG ole red mountain. We saved a bird's eggs from a BIG frog. Oh here..." She reaaches into her back pack and pulls out a lovely feather full of color, chimerical of course, "This was my reward for helping. It's almost peacock green but with red touches"

"Not as good as an omelette, but it's pretty!" He admires. "Gosh. I like frogs!"

"Well, I admit, I didn't like this one. It was poisonous and smug too. And ate folks eggs without permission. The feather is yours if you want it?" An offer

"Oooh." He tucks it behind an ear!

"Very Dapper, My Lord Howlett" She approves

Connor feels oddly lighter on his feet err paws, no feet.

He blinks, and gives a little hop, curious.

Now, trained athletes, and little boys have one thing in common, besides a love of sneakers. They are rare in that they actually keep track of how high one can hop. When you're just a little pooka who has a GIANT for a knight, well, you have to know these things. So Connor is sure he just jumped a full inchworm higher than he normally would have. A WHOLE Inchworm!

A delighted giggle!

Soon he is much busier hopping than cleaning...

"Boingy, boingy, boingy...."

"Okaaay..." Gerd clearly missed this important inchworm difference. It is a tragedy of wilders that sometimes they forget important things like hop measuring, or the wisdom of boingy boingy. So we can't blame Gerd for not knowing why her little brother decided to begin bouncing "Too much sugar" She surmises. As if there were such a thing

Eddie watches Connor with a curious expression

"How -" "Are..." "My..." "...Friends?" He asks, punctuated by Hops.

"Nellie, and Zelma, and Murial!"

Gerd's brow knits, trying to translate

"You know, they live at Big Bird with Count Jennifer!" A bounce off the couch cushions - his shoes are off, so surely this is OK.

She blushes "Oh, right." mental note, never forget where i came from. We grew up on the street... Seseme that is "Well, I have been there myself in a bit. I can tell you Jack Flap is looking for you. Layne is fine. She's learning more cantrips. Lilly says she misses scaring you."

He nods, listening, though his brow furrows just a touch.

Then she ponders "Oh, pardon, you were asking about the kids at Fenix, weren't you?"

BEAM. "Nuh-UH!"

Gerd ponders this, "Well, I know the books I took with me, the ones you reccomend? VANISHED mysteriously. No one knows where they went, the only clue was a burro hoofprint. We may never know what came of them" A wink, "Ariel has declared with confidence, that while she respects your right to have an opinion about your favorite muppet, HER Favorite Muppet is still superior. I warned her this could lead to a shadowpaw battle ... she says, and I quote 'she fears no water balloon'. As for Ellie, well, she works hard, as she plans to be a good ruler, but I can tell you, she is actually getting really good with that sword of hers. I told her you reccomended at least silly dance a day to keep the gloomies away. She thanked you for your medical expertise"

He nods sincerely. "It is known. Dr. Doggie Howser, MD."

"Well, there you go" A smile, "So not taking the bait for Ariel's muppet trash talk eh? Good man. Satyrs will rile folks sometimes"

"Well, she is WRONG." He chuckles. "I'll send her a letter!"

"Good" The mess is all cleaned up now

(Fade to Big Sis little Bro bonding time)