#bergen_county

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It is possible that Dagmar might later see a doe scootching a fawn away from the garden. They're both beautiful, and the fawn looks contrite

"Oh!"

And they're talking... "what did I say about the gardens, EarlyDawn?"

"No eating there" Sigh "I'm sory, Moma.." A stop. the fawn freezes "Mama..someoe there. She's like the others, but different"

The Doe steps in front of her daughter

"You talk! Hello!" Hands up, showing her open palms. "I'm a friend."

that seems to relax the Doe, "I am Sunmeadow. This is my daughter, EarlyDawn. We were saved by your Chieftain. My daughter didn't eat anything in the garden though she did try. I am tending to that"

"Right, Kerri and Myrtle Ann would fuss. But there's lots of woods..." Brow furrow. "Should let the wolves know you're sentient."

At that word, the fawn hides behind her mother again.

"Yes, we have heard of the wolves andwoods." The Doe sighs "And it is alarming. We were told they do not hunt near the horses so we sttay near that area"

"Sorry! Sorry. There's chimerical wolves in the woods, winged ones."

She nods. "The horses are protected, yeah. You might be safe in Klump's turf, too."

"Klump?" Sunmeadow says "Is he a deer like us?"

"He's a rock."

"Thatt's silly" EarlyDawn says "how can a rock protect us?"

Sunmeadow however looks intrigued

A shrug. "He's special."

"He is of the slow empires?" SunMeadow says "We knew a Kubera once"

"I've met a Kubera, too! But Klump is a glome."

"Ah," Sunmeadow then says to her daughter "A glome is a dream of stone, like Aspin was a dream of the wood. Glomes are said to be very strong, slow, and they remember much. If you see him, be polite, and he might protect you. They do not often eat flesh"

EarlyDawn says "Can I meet him now?" Light bounce on her hooves

"First, meet our new friend here, properly, who Is, I am sure, about to give us her name?" The Doe looks at Dagmar who still has not said her name

"Right, sure. I'm Dagmar. I am a knight of Rivervale, so if you need protection, you can call on me."

"What do we say, daughter? " Mother to her child.

"Thank you veeerrry much" Earlydawn says eyes bright

"You're welcome."

"Yes, thank you, Dagmar. Are there others here who we can trust? the Chieftain mentioned her mate, and we met Sir Vali"

"If you want, I can show you around. You can trust anybody of Rivervale, really. Chief protects the woods, and so we'll follow her lead. Dirk might make noise, but you let him know you're under Chief's protection, he'll back down. Redcaps are hungry, but they're not stupid."

"No, the one that captured us was not stupid" SunMeadow mmm

"He was mean. I hope this Dirk isnn't mean" EarlyDawn says

"Dirk is kind of mean, I'd give him room. But, again, redcaps."

"Yes. We would be happy to make introductions" Sun Meadow says. "is that one with the child trustworthy?"

Her head directs towards Tove, who has come out with CJ in her arms.

At the sight of the young one, EarlyDawn gushes "he's so tiny"

"Oh, that's my mom!"

"Tove is safe, for sure. Hi mom!" A wave.

"Hi, Honey." She says then says "hello. I'm Tove King. My husband has hunted, but never talking beasts. And my daughter loves animals. This," she says "is my baby boy CJ"

"Hello. I'm Sunmeadow, this is my daughterr, Early Dawn. your daughter has been most kind" SunMeadow says

"I'm gonna show them that grove near the wild blackberry bramble."

"Blackberries?!" Earlydawn looks excited.

"Not yet, they'll come later."

Without thinking about it, Tove and SunMeadow say "Okay, that's fine"

Then the two mothers look at each other, and look a bit sheepish

"There's plantain and dandelions right now... shepherd's purse... mm..." She thinks through what Brekke has taught her.

"oo I love dandelionns"

"Don't glut on the sweet stuff" SunMeadow warns her daugghter.

"Yes, mother"

"Be careful about the mushrooms."

A nod from the little fawn "Specially the spotty ones"