#rivervale_lodge

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"Okay, so this is the Lodge - like we talked about last night, it's a freehold, with a Balefire, and a safe place for us." Dagmar is in full-bore Gwydion gear today, as she leads a silver-haired teenager up the path.

It's a bright, hot summer day in NJ, but once on the Lodge property there's also a breath of cool air that wisps through to ease the heat. There's also a smell of something savory and smoky coming from in back of the Lodge.

Sniff. "I think this means Kerri's home. Which is good. Kerri's great. She's safe, you'll see."

A belated return text dings on Sam's phone.

Sure, when are they? Is this recorded or live stuff? Should have some time free now

There's a bwow-woww-wooooo! -- a happy welcome, not an attack -- and a dog comes racing to meet them, to meet Dagmar specifically.

She checks her phone and lights up for a brief moment. (Tonight, but I can record and we could watch whenever if you wanted)

"Sorry, that was.. I needed to get back to that... ack! Edie!"

The piskey gapes "It's HUGE."

"Well, we have a lot of trolls..."

Edie is in a rambunctious mood, which would scandalize certain dog-breeding Ailil, surely. Dagmar gets a bounding circle, a jump, an attempt at a nose lick, and then a happy wag. Finally she settles in to more intent and curious sniffing at the piskey's feet.

"Do I take my shoes off or?" A sheepish look crosses the pretty girl's features

"Um, you can when we're inside, if you want? That's Edelweis. She's a fae hound, so smarter than a regular dog. You can pet her."

She pets the dog, "So soft" She smiles

Edie politely sits and receives the offered attention, a marked difference in formal behavior compared to her greeting to a familiar Dagmar.

"Edie is a good girl. C'mon." She heads to the front door. "HELLO?" She calls inside - if there were any doubt that Dag was still a teenager, let it be allayed now.

Edie gives a Wuff! and a wag, pointing her nose towards the smoke that can now be seen drifting from beyond the Lodge.

Following, the Piskey remains quiet

"Dagmar?" Kerri's voice can be heard callilng. "Out back by the training ring!"

"Oh, looks like we're gonna head right through, Serenity. We'll do the tour after." She tromps through the main room, and cuts through the kitchen to head out the back door.

Serenity might be VERY distracted by the fireplace with the dancing green flame as they pass.

Serenity puts her shoes back on, and... gapes at the fire. Her FIRST balefire. She almost forgets to follow . More than that, the balefire seems to sense the excess all over the Dream Dancer, and while much of Sereneity's excess is spent, there IS more...

and ANYONE tied to the balefire can feel it drinking in a glamour of newness

Some pops and crackles and sparkles from a very pleased and welcoming balefire!

"Dagmar? What have you got with you?" Kerri calls out again, for she definitely felt that.

"That's the fire. You don't want to touch it without permissions, of course. It keeps this place alive."

"FLEDGE!"

"Really!" Delighted surprise. "Come on through, I can't leave this alone right now."

"We're comin'!"

She pops out. "You smoking something? Smells good..."

"Oh," The girl snaps her self back to Focus and follows Dagmar "Sorry, it was just so... it feels GRAND and protective, and ... I don't know" She adds

"Fires feel a lot like their freeholders, as a rule. I don't... know how it feels like in the bond, but it's special."

"Smoking some, grilling some." When they get out back, Serenity sees an older troll, not as tall nor as bulky as Dagmar, blond hair shot with a few bits of silver and cut into a medium bob that complements the curve of her horns. Said troll is wiping her hands on a towel and turning away from no less than two large smokers and three grills, all cooking away.

"Shit, is all that the bird?"

Piskeys tend to blend with folks around them, so there are now similiarities to Sam! But, it is also clear this girl is , while younger, a beauty. The sort of early beauty that can be quite an advantage to a teenage girl, or a burden. There is also something oddly famliiar about her, like Kerri has seen her before

A sigh from Kerri. "So much bird," she confirms to Dagmar. She then turns to the fledge and extends a rapidly-cleaned hand. "Welcome. I'm Kerri, Hearth of Rivervale. Sorry to greet you so informally." A little flicker in her expression when she tries to figure out why this piskie seems memorable....that's not usually the case.

"An eshu dropped her off at the Barn last night."

Recognition comes in. There's an online family that has been up for years. Hard to avoid hearing of them... the Bennet Bunch adventures

A blink. "Sorry, you look very familiar," she says as it clicks...but maybe it's just a coincidence.

How Kerri feels about having your kids and family on display on the internet for patreon and more is up to her... but she's known lots of daugthers of eve in her circles who adore them

"Uhm.. I'm internet famous." A blush

"This is Serenity. She just popped yesterday, in Scarsdale. But, uh, I don't know if going back to Alabaster Hollow is gonna be the best idea..."

Kerri notes the blush and changes topic. "Well, that explains it. Are you hungry or thirsty?"

"Actually, her folks were rather nice and made sure I got stuffed" the Piskey answers, gazing at the huge bird cooking with more amazement than hunger

"Serenity," committing the name to memory. "And your crysalis is less than a day ago? Have you had a chance to rest?"

Following the look to the bird. "We had a bit of an incident here that resulted in a LOT of leftover meat. Trying to prepare or preserve as much as I can."

"She crashed on the couch. Mom made breakfast..."

"Well, any you can't get to, I'm sure Dirk'll help with."

"Very true," Kerri agrees about Dirk.

"Well, then, Serenity...come sit," she indicates one of the nearby benches, "and tell me of your crysalis."