#elsewhere

New York City .. wear black, don't make eye contact,don't look up.

Dagmar DOES. She's been there once or twice on a field trip - but not very often for as close as Jersey is.

Buddy trots by her side, staying close enough to brush her leg. He carries a small bag with an egg with the strap in his jaws, unless she has retaken the burden.

Gargoyle Chimera , Superheroes, the New York Sky is filled with dreams

and nightmares...

She has entrusted her squire to carry the egg, and she won't deny him that now.

SO many things to look at!

And it is because they looked up they notice, and just in time, the swooping swarm of darkness flying down like insects, like locusts

And it's going for the egg!

Yes, but mission! Dagmar threatens the swarm with Flyswatter!

He grits his teeth and a puppy growl bubbles up, fluffy hackles raised! He is not letting go!

Flyswatter is powerful, but in truth cleaving a swarm is.. not too effective. One or two things die the rest just flow around it, grabbing at the pouch. Connor however, is a master of the game of tug! And does not let go

Cold might hurt the egg... she frowns.

Well... Connor has the egg, but SHE can hold Connor! She scoops the pooka up in her arms, protectively, and takes off in a run for the goal.

The swarm buzzes, pulls.. but cannot over come the might of Dagmar, nor the terrible teeth of the heir of Silverwoof!

And so.. the chimera speaks "We out number you... we swarm, we are too many.. you are few.. give us the knowledge bearer.. or be stung, again and and again, byt what we are... "

Knowledge Bear? He thought this was a bookwyrm! Either way, he whimpers encouragingly to Dagmar as they dart and weave!

Grunt. ("Nuts.") Dagmar perseveres.

then Dagmar sees.. no senses a different form of glamour.. on that street over there. A glimmer of something metallic shining with glamour

Plaques are touchstones, right?

A zig-zag running path - she might not play football, but man, she COULD.

Oh, LIBRARY Way, they're on thewrong street they have to get to the... OW! Stinging begins

Grunt.

She'll take the stings, making sure Connor and Eggy are protected by her broad arms.

Buddy digs his nose into Dagmar's pockets - looking for... snacks? What does she have in there??

He searches for something... round.

Apple? Roll? Did she bring a ball for fetch?

As it happens, Dagmar often carries apples for Snow, should she meet her, and Buddy finds one!

He pulls one out, snuffling and drooling on it, and Dagmar may feel a sparkle bloom where the pup is held. His Collar gleams and the tag glows for a moment, as he activates the fuddle on his treasure so seldom used....

the venom in her system, Dagmar is having trouble remembering things. What's Flyswatter again? A .. glaive? No.. it's an axe of some kind right?

Not forgetting.. so much as not knowing! What's the capital of New Jersey? She.. she doesn't know

Carefully, delicate snoot and jaws, making a sneaky swap and taking care not to crunch the egg with his teeth... and... oh no! He drops the bag behind him, and the "Egg" rolls free....

Dagmar falters a step, a momentary slowing... but trolls and Gwydion are stubborn things, she doesn't stop...

Connor wriggles presses his COLD NOSE and slurps his tongue against her skin! Keep going!

And the ignorance chimera fly towards the decoy! Leaving Dagmar free. Already on her way, she (And Connor, AND the egg) get to the first plaque.

Dagmar's got a head full of the venom... but the plaque's shine seems to be.. helping. For now. Holding it off.

She touches the plaque, deep breath. Persevere!

A paw lands on the plaque too. They've got this.

And Dagmar has an egg safely in her pocket.

The swarm has figured out the decoy and grows angr, buzzzing. Ignorance.. ignorance cannot thrive in the face of knowledge! The bookwyrm egg must be crushed before it can share stories of other people, knowledge of places, things and worse those different!

They might have realized, yes, but Dagmar hasn't stopped going!

They'll have to catch up.

The plaque recharging them, Dagmar moves from the haven of this plaque and races towards the next. Egg and squire in hand.

And again Buddy calls on magic - he can't do much here, but he can do this. His paws flip flipping in the air like a corgi being held about the water but not realizing that he's not yet swimming, as he casts Quicksilver!

the quicksilver proves to turn the already incredibly gifted athlete into a Uisan Bolt like figure! Running is NOT Dagmar's speciality, but damn all that booking down the Basketball court has paid off! The swarm chases after, and makes a high pitched cry, calling for others!

Knowledge bad! Understanding bad! Empathy bad!

Dagmar sees more coming up ahead, but here on THIS plaque she has moved to, the next one, she is safe.. but they can't linger. Keep booking? or hold here?

BOOKING.

"Hey jackass, wear a mask!" SOemone yells at Dagmar another person says "She's keeping her distance" "it's Manhatten, her distance IS our distance..." Unaware mortals.. .however well meaning