#bergen_county

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Connor had enjoyed seeing the puppies, almost as entertained by how much Gerd doted on them as by the puppies themselves. The 4th of July was also wonderful, as usual, having eaten copious foods and watched the fireworks with delight.

Today, however, is a quiet day, some sleeping off having stayed up very very late. Connor is very much awake though, and on a mission.

He checks the places where a certain moody wilder Centaur is known to hang out, hoping to find Jordan.

Jordan is near a trod entry, stepping off of it, and into the Autumn World. He almost steps on the small pooka "Hey, careful

"

"Hey, Jordan. It's pronounced 'Connor', though. CON- NOR'." He says slowly, enunciating, with a tail wag.

"Okay, before you ask, I don't have any snacks on me"

"Got any wisdom in your pockets?" He asks, as he offers Jordan a granola bar.

He looks suspicious "Depends on what kind. "He takes it "Wait, are you looking for ME?"

Connor turns around a couple times, looks up, looks down, then shrugs. "I found you?"

"Riiiight" Jordan says "Well, thanks for the granola bar, kid." And he starts to walk off

Connor trots alongside him. "How did you find it?"

"Find what?" A blink

"The way."

A brow lift, not trollish, just confused "What way?"

"I'm stuck in River Vale. Only trolls know the way to Rover Vale. But YOU found it." His expression solemn and eyes hopeful. "Will you show me the way?"

"Wait, are you talking about trods? Don't you take a trod to go to your dad's place often? The path between the trees?"

A small pout. "Not a here to there. An out and about and everywhere, seeking and finding like a mountain dog with a barrel on his neck. Like Olgar."

A chuckle "I been there. Sorry, the ROvers only take trolls. I am working on... well, I don't think putting hcildlings in danger will make friends. Your Knight AND 'sis' would pound me if I had you join in. Side,s you even know Dream craft?"

He frowns. "I'm not a kid. I'm almost as old as the Night and older than Vergard-again. Maybe. Close?" He considers. "No one tells Gerd where to pop, pop."

"Oh yeah, the whole Neverland thing you got" A frown "That WOULD suck. YOu know... I feel you. I hate I couldn't join the rovers, so I'm making a support group for them." He considers "Some folks don't much like me and I don't blame em. I'm a negative person. " Considering "YOU, everyone likes. I.. mmm " Thoughtful

"I've traveled lots of trods. I can jump like Toad and run like Pietro, and a little bit of Professor X except I don't have a cool chair. I can talk to things that talk back quietly, and walk throug walls like Shadowcat, if I remember my chalk. I know lots."

A look left and right, "Fine. You're in. BUT... YOU have to protect me from Gerd and Dagmar."

Connor spins in circles chasing his tail. "OhBoyOhBoyOhBoyOhBoyOhBoyOhBoyOhBoy!"

"Hey, also, I get it, you're powerful in arts, but you still have to practice Dreamcraft, learn the rules of the Silver, and FOLLOW them. We are saving lives, it's serious shi... stuff. And... you need to make sure that Shadowpaw cult of yours doesn't try to get in full blast. Unlike you they don't have decades of experience"

He stops, wobbling a little from the dizzy-spins. Then a nod. "I am the leader of the Shadowpaw. That means I have to look out for them."

"Okay. Now, come on, you want to hit the trods now? See what each ohter knows about it?" An offer at the trod behind them

His eyes LIGHT UP. "I wouldn't dream of it."

"Okay, one of the laws of the Silver is you should go on it , with Purpose. SO... let us quest for...." he ponders "You like ice cream?"

"Only on days ending with Y?"

"We go with purpose, to get the ice cream" And gone

(END)