#rivervale_lodge

"Downright legendary."

Brekke shakes her head. "I stood close to legends," she says humbly, "and did what I could as they needed me. You are already building a fine reputation, and I would call you a hero, but yes...I understand the craving to be more first before accepting the position of Storm."

"It's... silly. Selfish, even."

"Is it? The broader your experience, the better your service. The stronger your reputation, the easier it is to lead. I do not think either of these are silly."

"I do want to have more House connections. And... that could be useful for here, too."

"I agree." That distant look beyond the door again.

She frowns, hands pulling into an anxious twist. "I'm sorry."

"Hm?" She returns to the present and shakes her head. "I am not upset. I am merely thinking of possibilities. I wonder...I know that Rutgers itself is not claimed by a House, but a good first step would be to seek out other Gwydions there, learn their stories and where they come from."

"While you do that, I will reach out as well, find where there is the most need." A pause. "And I will envy that they have your strength and will and skills when your service is there and not here." A slight grin to show she is meaning this as a compliment, not a complaint.

"Rutgers is kind of a frontier, yeah."

"Not a bad place, but different."

"I picked a major."

"Yes? Which one?"

"Fire Science. And then, after, I can be a Fire Fighter. Save people."

That gets a pleased expression. "That is good. I think that is a good fit."

"Yeah?" Grin.

She nods. "Not only saving people, but working with others to do so."

"Yeah, I feel good about the choice. Like... like it's something I could be happy doing."

"I think you would find it very satisfying," Brekke agrees.

"I have done some fire fighting, but that was wildfires, as a forest ranger."

She nods. "Looked at that, too."

"And vet stuff... woof, vet stuff is HARD. So much science."

"And grief. There will be grief, too, in fire fighting...but somehow the medicine seems to involve more helpless waiting. I would not do well with that."

Frown, nod.

"I know that firefighting, I'm going to lose sometimes. And it will hurt."

"But is it weird that I feel like it would be worse with dogs?"

"It will. And it will seem that your best is not good enough."

She shakes her head. "I understand that. Dogs have absolute trust in their people. To fail them feels like betrayal, even when you have done all you can."

At that, there's a RUFF sound from the sauna

She nods.

"Ha. Babies."

"Yes." A pleased look towards the sound, and then it fades. "Dagmar, I must go in and join Frank and Siv in this discussion."

"Right, yes, sorry."

"I'll finish up here."

"No apologies. We will speak more on this." She rests a hand briefly on Dagmar's shoulder, gives a nod of approval, and then leaves the stable and heads up to the Lodge.

At this point, once Dagmar is gone, Gerd comes out to the stables, herding two puppies. Just two