#rivervale_lodge

Definitely a surprise. She approaches, and kenns to check if the balefire is being overly drained.

it is not, thouogh the poor thing is half starved. Someone has kept it alive before this. It should have faded to nothing sometime ago

Vali is at the desk writing and copying notes

"Mountain, who is this?"

"This..." he gestures towards the bird "Is a fluff of chimera that kind hearted Jimmy ... " He checks notes "yes, Jimmy the piskie saved. He's been feeding his own glamour into it a bit every day. I've ordered him to sleep here tonight as well if we have room, which I think we do. He'll be in later if that's okay. Dagmar went to check this bird out, and apparently... when she asked what it needed, and that clue lead to balefire. I was cautious, didn't want it to drink too much, but oddly I think if it TRIED to take too much at once? It would pop and die because it was too frail to hold it. It's a phoenix,Chief. Or at least a relation to a proper Phoenix"

"Ahh. This is the 'weird bird' then." She looks more closely. "Yes, it needs help. Bringing it here was wise, I think. Mountain, you will need to do some research into how to care for a phoenix chick."

"I think if we will the bale to feed it just a little each night it will slowly grow . Other options include taking it to Fenix. Taking it into the dreaming would be too much and destroy it from overwhelming it"

He smiles "Anything on your end for the notes? " He's clearly going over them "Sylvi brought me a few of hers. I'm transcribing"

"A phoenix for Fenix? I imagine Jessica would welcome that. It is something to consider, once it is stronger."

"And yes, I have found a chimera that I think will interest you a great deal. A nine-tailed squirrel."

"Huh, that's odd. Anyhing else different about it?" He starts to write that down

She grins before continuing. "Only that, should you find it and offer fruit or nuts that it likes, it will tell you a story about a person you know."

"Okay that... sounds neat" he admits "was it a good story? And.. who was it about?"

A smile as he wonders at how nice that might be

"It was about Siv. It was not the story I thought I would hear, but it was interesting, and it coincides with some of my memories, so I suspect it is a true story."

"I think it would be helpful to find out more about those whom we do not know well, also." She's thinking about the recent chaos with Yoel.

"mm could be used against us as well... I think I'll mention in the census it's many 't a i l s' and not the 'e s'" He writes

Then he says "Chief? Piper and Jonas came by earlier.. let me tell you about Jonas' nightmares" ANd he relates that part of things, and how Piper was very upset but agreed to leaving it for a week. He then gauges the chief's reaction

"Hm. That is a good point," she nods regarding the down side of the squirrel's ability.

Brekke frowns as she listens, and she takes her seat by the fire. "I did not think borrowing the treasure from him would cause a backlash."

"Neither did he, but he seems to have insulted the dreaming in giving it up too hastily without regret. Or maybe it's Da'an. This has lead to further developments with your knight where I had to make a choice as a Mountain. Fortunately, thanks to Sylvi... it seems Dagmar is going along with it. " And he relates the talk with Dagmar, her reluctance and preference for fighting over musing, Vali's suggestions of getting aid, and then Sylvi smoothly making it happen... "And that's how they ended up with a sleep over tonight, at the lake house"

She listens and nods. "That is a good arrangement. We should be wary, in case their work with May gets out of hand. However, I believe they are capable of handling problems."

"So do I. Remind me to give your husband an extra nice gift this Yule. I am only now realizing how much he probably felt he was banging his head against a wall trying to direct folks as Mountain. Honestly, I could give Sylvi a medal"

"I will remind you," she says with a nod of agreement. Then, "She did well?"

"She was the help I had suggested, but knew how to word it so much better than I did. It had been a crazy day for me, I mean bonkers ... but I can't use that as an excuse. I was this close to ORDERING Dagmar as A Mountain, which would have worked but built up some resentment in the long term"

"This may surprise you, but troll wilders can get stubborn" He says sagely

"Indeed. Well, perhaps she had better luck because she is more familiar with Dagmar, as a peer."

"That was my hope as well. I don't care who gets the win as long as it works out" He says truthfully "May is a big threat if she blows up. And yet, that is not the biggest news I have for you" Also true "Get yourself a coffee and have a drink, please"

A blink. "I see." She goes to do exactly that, bringing her mug back to her seat by the fire. Once settled, she takes the required drink. "Ready."

"Piper's part of asking me for help was regarding the health of her pregenancy and such. I told her that I was not an OBGYN or the like... but she was ...still hoping for insight. I offered to do an omen and did so. Jonas was present"

A frown. "Vali," she says quietly. "Is there something wrong with the baby?"

"No," he says "They're fine" A sip

A sigh. "That is good." She relaxes a bit. Then a blink. "You say 'they' to mean the baby, yes? As the gender is not known?"

"Or perhaps to mean the baby and mother?"

He had hoped to get her mid sip herself, but likely that's not going to happen now Darn it. Missed chances abound

"I mean both babies showed good signs of current health" He says almost casually "I told PIper she'd still want to get frequent check ups and the like"

Wide eyes...and she sets her mug down carefully. "Both babies."

"Twins ... the omen's symbols were" And THOSE he is allowed to share

"I mean gemini constellation, two rivers.. I mean.. that's what we call omen on easy mode"

"Congrats, you are going to be a DOUBLE grandma. Just like that"

A long exhale. I think the boon I mentioned to Baron Kealan was a better choice than I knew.

"Does Siv know? You say she was not here?"

"I hope by now they've told her, but it is possible you know before she does" He says "Piper was a bit.. scared. I mean, she's a small little thing. I believe her exact cry was something like how she was going to be like that blueberry girl in Wonka. " An amused look "Oddly? Jonas was THRILLED. I.. that was a big goofy smile"

"Well, Jonas does not have to carry or give birth," Brekke points out. "I am sure, though, we will be able to help Piper."

"Hey, I was supportive. I told Piper she was more like a fuzzy peach than a blueberry" Vali says only slightly contrite "Before you tear into me for that line, My wife has already informed me she's bitten for less. I also pointed out that we had an amazing midwife in our Ally Chief Clem, and that Anne Marie was married to a surgeon who probably had references and more"

"I think you may have been fortunate that Piper was still stunned when you said that." She leans back in her chair and looks off into the distance. "Twins." Then a grin. "Frank will be glad, I think."

"That beard won't stop wiggling for an hour" He agrees. "It occurs to me I maybe in trouble with Siv. Piper said I could share the news around but she wanted to tell parents first. I thought she meant HER moms ...but..err well. You are Chief so I hope you will shield me if need be. Figured you needed to know"

"Ah. Siv may be upset if she wishes to surprise us, but we already know. Well. I will try not to tell Frank before she can."

"Oh try to be there when he finds out.. the view will be worth it" Vali says "Look, things are a bit crazy this summer, oddly in a good way for the most part. Gerd's feeling a bit cramped. I was wondering if she could stay at the lakehouse when no one else was using it? We love her, but we got a teenage nocker and Theon growing and Gerd wants to be closer to the puppies"

"Oh, I think that can be managed, though as you say, others may need it now and again."