#bergen_county

Brown Dog noses Dagmar's pocket. Where she keeps her cellphone

"This? This is just a puppet, and the dog? Fell down the steps"

Dagmar quietly pulls out her phone, concealing it, but letting it record.

"Right. You're gonna make big bucks off that dog?"

"Spent big bucks on a purebred, and it plays with puppets and falls down stairs?"

"FIne, my parents are cutting me off sure, but I got a chance to make an easy living. Can you blame me? Sides it's not like I want the dog to die. I want it to win. That's a Cane Corso, supposed to be a bad ass.. I'm just teaching it what it needs to win when I slap it around a little." he says "See, iI'm doing the mutt a favor"

"Doing it a favor? How does she benefit from this?"

"So the dog doesn't DIE, stupid, that's plenty of favor"

"Well, if you want to make sure the dog doesn't die, give her to me. Because she's dead meat in the ring."

"I'll make her tougher" He says, "Cane Corso's are a naturally agressive breed. My parents are gone till New Years. I got time"

"Do you really want to be responsible for killing a dog?"

"Look at her, man."

"You put her in the ring, you are responsible for what happens."

"I paId like 800 bucks for her man, well, my parents did. They thought a dog would teach me responsilbity, but I got to pick the breed"

"And you wonder why you got cut the fuck off?"

"Your brilliant idea is to take a gift, beat it to make it mean, and then throw her into a pit to kill or be killed."

"LOOK at her."

"Cane Corsos are protectors - bodyguards, yes, because they are loyal to family. They aren't monsters, they're fuckin' dogs. Dogs, who care about people who sure as shit don't deserve it."

Dagmar doesn't have Nadeen's gift for manipulation, or Sylvi's inspiratiohnal skills, but she is powered by sincerity, and , while few give her credit for it, she's smart enough to make her point logically as well as eloquently "i... " A frown " I guess.. shit. Fine. You got ANY money on you so I can sell her to you?"

"I..." She calculates. "I got about 200, and a sweet pair of Jordans. You can sell the sneakers."

"That's like not even half..." he says then catches himself "Just give me the 200.. sec. I'll get her papers"

"There goes Christmas..." She mutters to herself as she counts out the cash in crumpled tens and twenties.

He rolls his eyes but...when it's paid out. he hands over a paper.. apparently, once she signs it she, or whoever does sign it, will be the proud owner of Warrior Princess Holiday Victory aka Xena

"I hope you do come up with a hustle. Try not to involve other living things, next time."

"Fine fine.. I... you actually mean it, you hope I get on my feet?" surprised "That's.. weird. You don't get anything by it"

"I actually do, yeah. And I don't want to see you so desperate you start thinking about innocent lives as things."

"Xena, c'mere girl."

Xena nearly pisses herself

"I know. Shh. C'mon." Soft voice, soft hands. BrownDog and TwoBit at her side.

Dagmar understands critters. She knows what it's like to feel cornered, judged, where every open hand is just a fist in disguise. She got better, with help and love. But she will never NOT understand. So she calms Xena, and the other two dogs..well, it's odd. Two Bit doesn't bully her or do alpha stuff, not even a little. And Brown Dog acts like a puppy even though he's not one anymore

Setting Xena a bit at ease. Maybe other dogs aren't enemies?

And.. Dagmar surely isn't

Patient as the earth, our Dagmar.

And she comes back to Wolfenoot with the little one , and you would think Xena would FREAK at a canine that big, a wolf dog spirit no less, but... in Wolfenoote's presence, she stops shaking, she looks up, surprised

And .. free of anxiety

"Well done, Champion Dagmar, called She of the Steady Ear Scritching Hand by some. Meat dribbler by others. " Wolfenoote says "Fear not, Xena. People can be cruel, but that is not who they are meant to be. We can make them better by showing them loyalkty and love "

"Yeah, he's pretty cool, right?"

A dog wag tail from Xena, a bit bolder

"I owe you a boon, I think, Dagmar. Is there something you hoped for?" Wolfenoote asks

"Could you help me find a place for Xena? Maybe..." Guilty look.

"I mean, a place where she could be the kind of dog she can be. Safe and loved and part of the family. A place that will be patient with her and treat her right."

"Close your eyes"

She does!

And finds herself.. at the Farmhold

(To the Farmhold)

And When Dagmar returns... she sees her dogs waiting for her faithfully

"Hey guys. What good doggos."

Wag city!

And, a voice "Dagmar?" Her father says "Everytiyhng okay out here?"

"Yeah Dad! I'm coming!"