#scarsdale

*******************************

Zara and August are beneath a golden willow, her hands caught up in his, her eyes shut.

August watches her intently, grey eyes like steel.

Footsteps, not too loud, but certainly not quiet enough to evade Zara's notice

She jerks back, eyes flaring wide as she looks for the source of the sound. "Someone is coming..."

August drops his backpack and puts his hand on the hilt of what is, here, his sword, stepping in front of Zara.

Earl notices August before he does the woman he obscures, "August? I wasn't expecting you to-" the troll comes more fully into view. He's carrying a spare jacket

August immediately relaxes and gives the troll a grin. "Hey, Earl." He offers his hand, moving it away from his sword.

"Hi," He does take the hand, but looks past August to glance at Zara "Am I uhm intruding?"

She shakes her head, fading back and wrapping her arms around her torso.

"No, not at all. Good to see you. Zara's been feeling a little... hidey."

"Well, I can understand that. My family makes me feel hidey too," He says looking guiltily, "Zara, I brought you a spare jacket in case you got cold."

"Oh... that's sweet." A cautious smile, unwinding a bit.

August moves to Earl can approach. On the other hand, it means Zara's out in the open for a minute.

"Is... everybody's okay back at the farm?"

"Thanks, " the jacket is tattered but warm looking, and on the back has been artfully painted a girl using the moon like a hammock reading a book.

Another little flicker of a smile as she sees the painted back. The jacket is promptly put on.

He bends down to offer it to her after showing her the back side and smiles when she takes it, "They're fine. " He takes a spot on the ground near her "How are you two?"

"...fine." She draws the coat in close to warm up.

He doesn't crowd closer than he is. But he's there is she ever wants to lean against him.

August drops easily to the ground, and looks up at Zara, then over at Earl. "I'm ok. You made it through Samhain ok?"

The slightest moment before Zara sits - and yes, leans against Earl's side.

August glances down and away, with a little smile.

"Actually, yeah, Samhain was uhm, interesting, what I do remember of it," A smile, "We traveled a bit." He seems to expand a little as Zara leans against him, a if muscles are uncoiling.

All in the best way

August nods.

A whisper to Zara, "How much does he know bout stuff?"

"Most?"

"Fair, " He says "I'm sorry we crowded you, Zara. You know how it is, family can close ranks around you so tight that they forget you feel a bit trapped. They do the same thing to me sometimes."

An inaudible mumble, looking down.

A look to August, "My cousin and Uncle wanted to help, but sometimes the medicine comes in too big a spoon all at once." Explaining what Zara already knows but August might not

"Clem wanted to be a target."

"Clem always wants to be a target. It's why she always tried to grab the flag in king of the hill games. I honestly think her tombstone's epitaph will be "That all you got?""

"It's one thing to fool the Uncles..."

"Trolls are pretty big spoons." He agrees.

A smile at August at that agreement.

"Wait, how could Clem be a target? She's a troll.... I mean... Hey, Zara, maybe you should read that thing now."

He glances at Earl, a little worried.

"Clem has elder form, nu?" She opens the envelope, leafing through the papers.

"It's complicated," He admits to August, "But we all wanted to help with a problem that it got a little overwhelming for her. Now instead of just worrying for herself she's worried for everyone. "A pause "thing?"

"Yes, yes she does."

"If he realizes who my friends are, they'll be targets, too."

"Zara," Earl says taking a breath, " is it possible that's -exactly- how He wants you to react? To freeze, to hide, to -fear-?"

"That doesn't mean Mama and Papa aren't in danger, though."

"No, it doesn't," He agrees.

"Or you two!"

August, seated, draws his knees up to his chest and wraps his arms around them, thinking.

"Oh, we have our own enemies," He assures.

"So you don't need mine."

She fiddles with the coin at her wrist, frowning.