#bergen_county

When they find her, they begin to bark and spin, wanting to show her something

Brow.

"Okay, you two seem upset about something. What's wrong? Can you show me?"

"YIP" WAG goes 2 bit and Brown Dog woofs and they both guide her, coming back to encourage if she falls behind

Dag follows the pair.

"Ah, the Champion," Wolfenoote says "Hello again, Dagmar"

"Oh!"

There is Wolfenoote, towering, and grand.

A bow to the great wolf.

Near her ,Brown Dog wags furiously and shows his belly to Wolfenoote. Twobit begrudgingly.. does NOT snort. High respecct

"I thank you for coming, Dagmar , beloved protector of the ShadowPaw leader and friend to all canines. "

"Twobit and Brown Dog have picked you as the Champion I need for a task"

"I..." She blinks. "Sure. Of course. What do you need me to do?"

He bends down his great head, "Tug on my left ear, and listen, hear what I have heard and kept for you"

She reaches out to give the ear a tug, though the quizzical expression lingers a bit on her face for the nonce.

Like hearing some one call from inside a cave, she hears A yip of pain, a whine and somehow she knows what it means-'My master hits me... I.. I don't know what I'm doing wrong'

GLOWER.

ANd Twobit growls just as angry. Browndog looks miserable

She rumples BrownDog's ears. "You're a good boy."

Wolfenoote parts "You see what I ask of you? Somewhere, there is a dog, mistreated. Near within five miles. Will you seek out this pup and bring help?"

Grunt. Nod.

"THen use your boon, keep on the look out. It a young dog. I can feel that. Perhaps barely past pup hood. Male." the great yellow eyes close for a moment "Yes. Look a tree that bows on a yard surrounded"

"BrownDog, Two Bit, come along."

Two Bit barks at Wolfenoot, a request, or a demand? Hard to tell with terrier mixes

"I see.. that is more magic that I care to expend, Fangheart Doomfierce who some call Two Bit" Wolfenoote says "It is loaned, but use it only if you must"

A nod /snort and then Two Bit seems moves to Dagmar's side. Brown Dog already heeling

"Fangheart Doomfierce?" Amused.

Wolfenoote confides "It is somewhat self bestowed"

Two Bit scratches the Earth and snorts again as if to challenge anyone doubting it

A quiet grin. "Of course it is."

Dagmar moves on in the direction the call for help came from. There are not many houses at first, but it is too close, too soon, to be here so they go about 3 miles and now they see more housing, still somewhat scattered.

There are signs of Wolfenoote's influence everywhere. An aged gray muzzled labrador , who no longer moves like the young fellow he used to be, 'scuffles' with a teenage boy who pretends to be 'defeated' as they wrestle.. and by wrestle mostly the lab head bumps him and he falls down "Oh you got me, Rascal. You're still the tough one"

The old lab wags, and licks his person, the boy he's raised from puphood

The girl's mouth tugs a bit to the side, pleased.

another house has an English Bulldog wearing a dress in a chair at a short make shift table, a little girl, no older than 8, is on the other side. Between them, several dolls, and on the table, a tea set "Now, Miss Helen...remember, I got you water, but treat it like tea. Make clink sounds."

Miss Helen plunges her face into the cup to lap messily causing the girl to laugh "Oh Miss Helen"

Yes. Maybe the holiday is enhancing it, but Wolfenoote is not wrong to say that Rivervale barony, not just the lodge, is full of those kind to dogs

Maybe Lily needs a mortal friend? Dagmar notes this for later.

She sees two more houses, one close has a tree laden yard , a bit messy and run down.

Clearly this house has seen better years

But the other house further off, has a privacy fence of gleaming pristine white

And.. there are red and yellow leaves peeking above the fence.

"Tree that bows on a yard surrounded... okay..."

Yup. That might be the place. Only someone as tall as her would notice the leafs peeking over the fence line

She heads that way.

And runs into her first problem. They actually have a gate! Wrought iron bits incorporated in it. She... the wooden fence is fine, but that gate gives a bad feel

Frown. She pauses to listen.

She hears noises.. from the back yard? Muffled?

Whatever it is, Brown Dog doesn't like it. His ears are very good, and he doesn't like what he's hearing. A soft whine

She stretches, peering over the fence.