Mint Road
The soft gurgling of the Mint River melds with the breezy susurrus of swaying leaves on the opposite side of the well-worn road. At this time of day, the water sparkles and reflects brightly, making the shadows of the woods and orchards seem darker in contrast. The side road leading into the Blacktail Clan territory shows signs of recent traffic, but here on the edge there isn't any sign of activity.

Zahnrad, still rather bored from being banned from any work on the dam or other activities in the Wingnut area, has been spending much of his time walking, exercising, and generally trying to accelerate his recovery. He still walks with a slight limp, as his knee is still a bit stiff. Both his hands and forearms are wrapped in cloth bandages, as he's spent all morning trying to work on the rope netting in the compound to middling success. At least with the bindings, he hasn't rubbed anything raw. In any event, here he is on another walk, heading down Mint Road. He notices the path to the Blacktail territory and seems to remember something. "Oh, yes, I was going to head over there, wasn't I?" he mutters to himself.

A 'thunk' sound, barely heard, comes from further down the Blacktail path.

"Hopefully, that wasn't someone's head," Zahnrad mutters. And down the path he heads, making sure to stay readily visible, so they don't think he's trying to sneak in, or something.

The path never seems to go straight for very far, before turning in one direction or another. It takes a few turns before Zahn comes across the source of the noise: two Kadies harvesting plums with 'tree hoes' – long staffs that end in a curved chitin blade, with the outer curve serrated for sawing. The larger Kadie is gray with the signature black tail of the Clan, while the smaller one is reddish brown with only an outer fringe of black on its tail. Neither seems to have noticed Zahn yet, as the smaller one maneuvers the basket to catch the next falling fruit.

"Uhm, hello there?" Zahnrad calls out tentatively and in a tone he hopefully won't startle anyone with. "I'm sorry for interrupting … but I was wondering if you could offer some directions … ?"

The two Kadies turn and look at Zahn, the larger on resting the hoe against his shoulder. The smaller reddish one turns out to be female, from the fit of her overalls. The male says, "That depends. The road only goes two ways, you see – in and out. Where are you trying to get to, exactly?"

"Well, I'm looking to talk to someone who knows Amelia Blacktail really well. Perhaps one of her brothers?" Zahnrad says, shifting his weight to the leg which isn't stiff. "So, I was wondering if I could get directions to one of them. As long as it wouldn't cause any clan problems, of course."

The red-furred one grins, and the big one says, "Ah, well, I'm one of her brothers actually. Caddel Blacktail." He gestures to the other Kadie and says, "And this is her cousin, Elsbeth. Are you Zahnrad?"

"Guilty as charged, I'm afraid," Zahn admits, looking a bit sheepish.

"You seem a lot more polite than your brother," Caddel notes. "Oi, has he got a mouth on him! So what it is you want to know that you can't ask Amelia herself?"

Zahnrad sighs and shakes his head. "Well, yes, he does. He's always been one to shout first and think about it later," he notes. "As for asking her … well, that would give away I'm trying to plan something. She's been a great help with all the recent mess … and I wanted to find some special way to thank her for it. So, I'm looking for ideas on things she likes, but doesn't necessarily talk about much."

"She likes strawberries," Elsbeth offers, a bit shyly. She holds the basket high against her chest, as is she's trying to hide behind it.

Caddel looks thoughtful, and offers, "And having her hair and tail groomed. You know… girly stuff."

"Gah, I'm being rude and stopping your work," Zahnrad remarks as he notes the basket. "I can help with, well, something … maybe. My one knee still isn't being very co-operative, but I can try to help you finish filling the baskets for the day?" Zahn pauses, then blinks, commenting, "She likes girly stuff?"

Noting the basket, Caddel nods and goes back to cutting free plums, without really interrupting the conversation. "Well, yeah! She's a girl, right? All that flowery, flattery stuff gets to her. Oh, you're so pretty and whatnot. She just doesn't get treated like a girl very often, I suppose, except by Dad. Sorta."

"Sorta, really? How does he treat her?" Zahnrad asks, curiosity a bit piqued.

"Eh… well, he dotes on her and such, in private," Caddel explains while he works. "It's just that with Mom gone and the witches and other things, it's only been recently that he really sees her as a daughter."

"The witches ruined her," Elsbeth offers, then looks around nervously as if expecting a witch to pop out from behind a tree.

"Huh. How recent?" Zahnrad asks again. He then looks at Elsbeth and asks, "Why do you say that?"

"They raised her to be a witch, not a woman," Elsbeth asserts, and Caddel mildly chides her, saying, "Don't be disrespectful, Elly." To Zahn, he explains, "Isolde taught her to always be confident, and to never ever appear weak or timid. Then she stopped with that training and threw herself into the militia, and that's when Dad started to worry about her, I suppose. So he did a lot of her training himself, and when they're alone together… well, I don't know. Spending time like that is 'doting' for Dad."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with being confident. People need to to do things in life and make a difference. Going with the flow is … dull," Zahnrad notes, then shrugs. "I've never met your father … though I think my father has. He never says much about him, though. Oh, hmm, I guess I really don't know that much about him."

"Dad's like that," Caddel says, cutting away at stems. "They call him Stone Face because he never gives anything away. I sure can never tell what he's thinking, or what he'll do. I suppose that could make people nervous."

"I think he just hides his sensitive side," Elsbeth argues, deftly switching to a fresh basket without missing a plum. "Amy is like that too. They probably open up to each other though."

"Heh. I make people nervous too, but for … other reasons," Zahnrad admits.

"Because they think you're crazy," Elsbeth says, matter-of-factly.

"Insanity is a matter of perspective," Zahnrad replies, not looking at all concerned or bothered by the directness of the comment.

"Yeah, a crazy person would say that, if they were smart-crazy," Caddel says, grinning and turning to give Zahn a wink to show he's kidding. "But anyway… uh… you want to do something nice for Amelia, right? Something personal, fun, romantic, what?"

"Well, preferably all three," Zahnrad notes, "Romantic and boring … well, I want to avoid that." He then flexes out his leg a few times to keep it from getting worse while he's remained motionless. "That's why I wanted to know things she liked, but never talked much about, so I could figure out something. And really, probably something that doesn't involve me building anything too … complicated. I've noticed she gets a bit nervous around things like that. So, an automatic fur groomer is out of the question."

"Err, I think you're missing the point, Zahnrad," Caddel says. "She likes being groomed. That doesn't mean she wants a comb. She likes that someone else is doing the grooming, because they want to make her feel good."

"Right, yes. Sorry. I usually think of automating any task. Habit," Zahn admits. He rubs his chin, thinking. "That actually does give me a few ideas. Hmm."

"That's awful," Elsbeth says. "You shouldn't think of such things as tasks, Zahn. They aren't like chores. You do them because you want to."

"It's not exactly like that. I'm not sure you'd understand the mindset unless you grew up around it. It's common policy to automate everything where I live, so it's a habit to just think along those lines," Zahn notes, shifting weight again. "I wouldn't even be here if I wasn't wanting to do something. This place makes me nervous."

Both of the Blacktail Kadies look around at the plum trees, then back at Zahn. "You ride in dangerous machines that crash and explode, but plum trees make you nervous?" Caddel asks.

"No, no, Blacktail territory," Zahnrad explains and waves his hand around, "Head of the militia, armed with nasty weapons. That sort. I just had multiple bones broken and a several inch thick beam broken over my leg by some sort of monster. I'd rather not repeat that sort of experience again by making a mistake and getting thumped."

"Oh, is this about the incident where some otters blew up a tree with the Piece Maker?" Caddel asks.

"No, no, er, never mind. I guess the events weren't told to everyone," Zahnrad says with a shrug.

"We don't keep monsters," Elsbeth says, trying to sound reassuring. "Not live ones, anyway."

"No, Amy just brings back their heads," Zahn mutters.

"You can't play with the heads though," Caddel explains. "Kids like stuff you can climb on and whack with sticks. What does your family have for kids to play on?"

"Heh, a huge interconnected network of ropes and nets throughout a portion of the compound," Zahn notes. "Good for agility. Also good for learning to dodge flying parts."

"See, now that sort of thing would make me nervous around your compound," Caddel says, chuckling. "Plus, I've run into Deirdre Wingnut in town. You're a lot safer visiting here."

"Her. Heh, uh, I'm sorry?" Zahnrad offers in apology.

"It only took the one meeting to train me not to smile at her," Caddel explains. "I hope they aren't all like that over at the dam?"

"Hmmm," Zahnrad says, rubbing his chin. "Probably wise, that. She'd probably like you," he notes, "As for others, no. She's probably the strangest in that respect. Others are odd, but not so … her."

"I always liked how she can get away with wearing a fishing net and not get pinched by otters," Elsbeth says quietly.

"She could probably help you out there, if you'd want to dress like that," Zahnrad offers Elsbeth.

The red Kadie's ears blush even brighter red at the notion. "Uh, that's okay, really. It's not about what she wears, but… oh, never mind." Elsbeth ducks behind her basket by holding it up higher to cover her face. It doesn't help that Caddel laughs so hard he nearly gets his hoe stuck in the branches.

"No? Then what is it about?" Zahn asks, peering at Elsbeth. He's doing his best not to grin and laugh himself too, which makes his ears twitch.

"Respect," Elsbeth manages to squeak, then kicks Caddel in the shin.

Zahnrad shakes his head, grinning now. "Remember your comment earlier about Amelia being ruined? Well, having confidence can get you respect," Zahn points out. "You really shouldn't be so shy."

Elsbeth peeks over the edge of the basket at Zahn. "I shouldn't? Why, do you think I'm pretty?"

"You know, those sorts of questions are dangerous," Zahnrad notes, grinning and not answering. "Why should you be shy?"

"So that I'm not put on the spot," Elsbeth answers quickly. "And because my brothers will embarrass me by glaring at guys who show interest."

"Hey, it could be worse. My brother attacks anyone who visits the compound and accuses them of being a horde. Recently, he jumped a group of giggling, gossiping, girls in the town center," Zahnrad points out. "I wish Gunther only glared. And you should realize something … being shy makes you stand out more."

"Is it true your brother made all the girls' clothes explode?" Caddel asks. He ignores the resulting kick in the shin from his cousin.

"Lots of girls are shy," Elsbeth counters. "My parents will arrange to introduce me to someone though, eventually."

"Yes, but wouldn't you rather find someone who you like?" Zahn inquires. He looks to Caddel and says, "Well, I don't think it was exactly him. I think that was simply magic gone bad. An accident."

"Magic?" Caddel asks, brows furrowing. "You don't mean Morgan did that? I'd heard he was snogging a gypsy though."

"They'll pick someone I like," Elsbeth says.

"No, he didn't do that; I think it happened when someone tried to fix my knee. And yeah, Morgan was spending a lot of time with a gypsy. Though I don't have any real details on that, other than I hear he was tired a lot," Zahnrad notes with a shrug. He glances at Elsbeth and grins, asking, "Really? Well, who do you like? I'm curious now."

Elsbeth retreats behind the basket again, and says, "Didn't you want to talk about Amelia?"

"Hey, you made the baiting comment," Zahnrad points out, grinning. "But I should probably be going. I hope I can actually find her today. I haven't seen her much recently."

"She's been here, either talking to Dad or helping move stuff back into the armories," Caddel notes. "And I think she was looking through some of other militia supplies too. And that reminds me… " The Kadie gives Zahn a more serious look now, and asks, "Is it true that you two have been sharing the same bed?"

Zahnrad looks a bit uncomfortable at that question. "Well, it depends on how you define sharing. If you mean sleeping in the same bed, yes. If you mean something more intimate … well, no," Zahnrad says nervously.

Elsbeth peeks up over the basket again, and asks Zahn, "Why not more intimate? Are you shy?"

"About things like that? Yes," Zahnrad says flatly.

Caddel seems satisfied with the answer, but does grin and tease, "Fair enough… but please, please don't think about automation when the time comes, okay?"

Zahnrad's jaw drops. "Ah, er, heh. You can't exactly automate that," he points out.

"Good," Caddel says, and cuts down a half-dozen more plums in quick succession, to keep Elsbeth occupied catching them.

"Right, heh, anyway. I've occupied enough of your time. I should be going," Zahnrad says quickly. "Pleasure meeting you!"

"Okay, come up with something nice for Amy," Caddel says, smiling in a non-threatening manner that looks very practiced.

"Right, I have some ideas," Zahnrad notes. He looks down the road deeper into the Blacktail territory, then decides he probably shouldn't bother her around her father, given how nervous she seems about him. So, Zahn turns and heads back out along the path.

Just before the junction with the Mint Road, Zahn hears a psssst psssst from one of the nearby trees.

Zahn stops and looks up at the tree. "Either someone wants my attention or we have a new species of flatulent trees," he comments. "Yes?"

"I'm down here," whispers a voice. Sure enough, someone is seated at the base of the tree, having escaped notice until he spoke. The Lapi's fur matches the dark bark, and his clothes have the same tones as the ground and underbrush. He holds out a cloth bundle to Zahn.

Zahnrad reaches down, then stops before taking the bundle. "What's this and who are you?" he asks, eyeing the Lapi suspiciously.

"Fresh strawberries," the Lapi replies. "And I'm just someone who is fond of Amelia, and is good at eavesdropping."

"You're the one who visits her a lot," Zahnrad observes and takes the package carefully. "Which makes me wonder why you'd be helping me… "

"Why wouldn't I help you?" the Lapi asks. "I like her. I want her to be happy. You should feed her these while you brush her tail. Then brush her hair and nibble on her ears. She'll melt if you nibble on her ears."

"Well, uh, jealousy?" Zahn suggests. He then shrugs and says, "Sorry. I'm always over-examining everything."

The Lapi flaps his ears, and asks, "Jealousy? I'm not a Kadie. It's not like we're in love or anything. She's nice to me and doesn't treat me like a dishcloth."

"People shouldn't treat anyone like a dishcloth," Zahn observes, "But then a lot of people are rude, and I could name a few easily." He smiles, then says, "Well, thank you for the strawberries and advice. Hopefully, I won't pass out."

"It helps to take deep breaths," the Lapi advises. "Oh, and is Deirdre Wingnut looking for someone to help clean up and do her hair?"

Zahnrad blinks repeatedly. "I … have no idea. You'd have to ask her, I'm afraid. Not sure how she'd react, but … you seem like someone she might like. Not going to continue to help Amelia?" he asks.

"Isn't she moving in with you now?" the Lapi asks. "She isn't messing up her cabin anymore."

"I'm not sure what she's planning. She stayed with me to watch out for some sort of prophecy. I don't know if she intends to stay or not, now that it's past," Zahn admits.

"But she's taking care of you while you recover, right?" the boy asks, pointing to Zahn's still stiff leg. "She likes taking care of injured things."

"Yes, she's still taking care of me," Zahn agrees, flexing that leg instinctively. "It's … nice having her around."

The Lapi nods. "Well, if you want her to stay, give her a reason before you're all recovered."

Zahnrad nods. "Well, I'm not sure what would be a good enough one. So … I'm at least going to treat her like a queen when I can," Zahn admits quietly. "She took care of me … I'd like to return the favor."

"That should do it," the bunny says. "Just show that you appreciate her, and ask her if she wants to stay around."

Zahnrad nods again. "Right, well, we'll see, then," he says, smiling. "Thanks again for the strawberries and advice."

"Take care," the boy says.

"You too. Stop by my shop sometime and I'll give you directions to Deirdre's place," Zahn notes. He waves, then once again heads down the path, humming quietly to himself.

Once he reaches the main road, Zahn is nearly run over by two otter girls, one of them clutching what look suspiciously like a pair of Gunther's pants. "Faster, Nene, faster!" the unencumbered one keeps yelling.

Zahnrad … just rubs his temples. "Great, just great. Gunther should be by right about … " he says … and Gunther goes running by … sans pants. "Get back here you two! How dare you steal my pants," he yells! Zahn shrugs and heads on homeward, commenting, "Well, I can say that the Kettenrad males sure attract the unusual ones."