#bergen_county

-------------

Sylvi is on patrol, it still happens. Folks may assume she's only the diplomat, but they forget she is the daughter of a rover, and while not sworn as he to guarding travelers, she knows the basics and damn it, she's still a troll.

It's also a good workout, a lot of the time. Sometimes she takes it at a jog, but she'll slow down and investigate if it looks like there's an issue.

And it's good ..spring is bursting in victory all around... Winter feels done.. despite some rain now and then, right now at least, it is good to walk out of winter.

It's actually a pretty wonderful feeling.

That's when she looks up and sees the whale... it's flying... the biggest non dragon Chimrea she recalls seeing.. .a humpback

She stumbles to a stop and stands, staring at the ribbed underbelly of the thing. "Whoaaaaaa......"

It plays and splashes, but like a soap bubble, it's fragile and unaware of it's fragility. And that's the saddest part. Still for a time it inspires. Mortal families walk by , wondering why the baby in there baby buggy is gigglng as she looks up and sees things with the eyes of innocence the rest of her family can'tt. Even they seem to be in a great mood as if some part of them knows they are near wonder.

"Ohhh...you're wonderful..." Sylvi murmurs, not too close to any mortals. She really should patrol more, but for the moment she just wants to watch this in all its beauty. She tries to find an out-of-the-way spot where she won't be too conspicuous as she stares up at the sky.

Siv would be so envious right now.

As the whale leaps up, and then does a splash into a cloud scattering it like spongy fluffs of joy

She laughs quietly, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

"No way am I going to compete with that" A familar voice behind her

She startles and turns to see.... ?

Sir Colton! In blue and Silver and... hey, he's gotten shaggy...facial hair and..well, it's new

"Hey! What are you...? Hi!!" She gives him a happy hug, smiling brightly.

He hugs her back, his arms about her. "Hi. Thought I would visit. Didn't expect to find yo u out on patrol. "

"Hey, I patrol," she says defensively with a slight pout. "I patrolled when you were here, too." A light punch on his shoulder. Then she looks back up at the whale. "Isn't it amazing?"

"Incredible." He grins at the light punch, "The whale too." And he looks up admiring "Playful goof isn't it?"

"It's like a giant...airborne...water puppy, or something."

"or something" He says with delight as it twirls... "Shame it has to end."

She goes quiet, and bites her lip. After a moment, she says, "I'm not sure it does...but...."

"But what? " He says

She looks at him. "I have arts that might help it...but...I'm not sure I should. I mean...chimera fade. It's what they do."

A nod "Yes. " he says Then kisses her on the cheek, "But you'll beat yourself up if you don't try to help. I can tell. Go, be a hero... buy it one more day"

She beams at him. "Wait for me... I might need you to catch me. Also...we're talking about that beard when I get back." She winks at him, then sets down her backpack and digs out her skateboard...and soon she is airborne.

"Beard? " He blinks "Oh.."Then he watches her go! "WHOO!"

And up she goes, closing on the whale... oh my, it's glorious, but so fragile now

She doesn't use the board too often, but now she crouches low over it and tries to get close as quickly as possible.

She's hoping there's at least some wisps of clouds near it as she closes in. She starts to sing: "Weave...weave...weave me the sunshine, out of the pouring rain...Weave me the hope of a new tomorrow, and fill my cup again...." She repeats the chorus a few times, gathering glamour to her purpose.

She has to close to finish it...and as it sees her, it moves towards her, but seems to be ripping in half...

Oh, no....no no no no... She tries to will the board to move faster.

And as she moves to touch she slips ..falling.. down her skate board coming loose

A shriek, but she twists and stretches as far as she can. Just the tip of a flipper....I can reach....

She's never make... and then the whale, even as it is threading apart, moves to catch her.. even as she catches it, and her glamour flows

And flowers...

spring magic to heal, to restore, to inspire

and she's riding a giant chimerical humpback whale!

Whole and alive!

A startled moment as her downward momentum suddenly stops...and then a moment to readjust to WHAT JUST HAPPENED?... and then... "YES!!!! WHA-HOOO!!!!"

It sings with what feels like gratitude.

Sylvi sings back to it, mimicking some of its sounds. It's probably nonsense to the whale, but happy nonsense!

And then something someone rises... Coulton hanging on for life to a skateboard. .. he's come to her rescue to find she doesn't need it! "You're riding a flying whale? "

"I AM!" she laughs. "Come on!" She reaches out to pull him onto the chimera as well.

He manages to get on, taking her hand, and his o ther grabbing the skateboard before it flies free "WOW!"

"RIGHT?!" Another laugh, and she pats the whale. "You're wonderful!" she cries out to it, hoping it can hear.

The whale, more solid, more real than ever woos as well, part song part cheer and they see a silver spark in the clouds.

Sylvi recognizes what it is.. a sky trod!

"Uh...Colton? It looks like we might be going on a trip if we stay here...."

"Can the skateboard carry us both?" He asks her