#elsewhere

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The Silverwolf stables are a lively place, filled with the earthy aroma of hay and the comforting sounds of horses shifting in their stalls. Sunlight streams through the gaps in the wooden walls, casting a warm light over the space. (Much different from some other, cold and underground and ominous places. but that's not HERE!)

Today, Rochallor is helping Dolph with the chores, moving old hay bales and sorting through various pieces of stable equipment. As Rochallor shifts a particularly dusty pile, he uncovers a large wooden crate that had been partially hidden behind the clutter. The crate looks old and weathered, its surface covered in a thick layer of dust.

"The Arc of the Convenient" He gasps and , knocks on it, to see if someone knocks back

The cratet creaks and the lid half caves in, rotted with age (and perhaps bugs, but what little boy doesn't like bugs?

Within, revealed are a jumble of old harnesses and forgotten trinkets, mostly stable gear. ... Amidst the clutter, something catches Rochallor’s eye—a faded, rolled-up parchment tied with a ribbon.

"If Only I could read ancient boomerglyphics" his face falls, "Oh wait, words on paper are just like text. That's what mom says" He rather did like that book with the boy who got others to white wash that fence. Cheered up, he undoes the ribbon and looks.

As the parchment spreads out, Dolph steps over, still spry in his grump hood, grey-haired but strong from years of fresh air and invigorating work.

His weathered hands rest on his hips as he peers at the map. Rochallor was half right, the parchment is covered with lines and symbols, but it's not a code.

Dolph blinks as he gazes at the... map!

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen That old thing,” Dolph says, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “A very long time...”

"Wait, what is it? I mean, it's a map, Joe told me it was a map, but what is it a map too?"

Dolph chuckles at Rochallor’s nods. “Yes, Joe is right this time. It is indeed a map!”

As Rochallor examines the map more closely, he notices that it appears somewhat crude or... childishly, drawn. The map is adorned with blocky, uneven letters that spell out “NO GROWED UPS” and, in a different hand, “NO VEGETALS!” scrawled to one side.

The drawings and symbols are not particularly precise, but it seems to be leading somewhere! There are a few spots he immediately recognizes "HORSE HOUSE" "PEOPLE BARN" that seem to be landmarks around the barony.

"Oh, Grandpa Dolph, this is a treasure map!"

"Can I have the day off? I've got Union"

Dolph's face crinkles up into a smile. "Of course, my lad. Now, you might want to tell your friends about this. Briar is off at ... ah... Pork Lessons." He says diplomatically, "But I saw Connor and Blossom out in one of the gardens."

"Blossom doesn't always do these things on accouhnt there's no blue ribbon, but I'll try" He assures "ANd Connor's cool.. he's my poochy pal sworn to another gal"

Connor has been fun, though trying the 'puppy dog eyes' with a horse's form is hard

Dolph beams at him. "Oh, and if you do follow the map? Have fun, and... if you meet anyone there? Tell 'em "Dodo" says hello."

"I thought Dodos had an Egg stink?" He gasps in surprise, then hugs Dolph "I will"

A pat on the back, and Rochellor is shoo'd off with a promise that Dolph will finish the chores.

As the boggan watches him go, he smiles. "About time that was found again." Then, he goes about the cleaning - twice as fast without Rochallor there, the boggan works, but it's a bit less... fun!

Rochallor chases off, calling out "Lord Howlington, the call to Adventure isn't a robocall this time!"

He finds them in a garden, as Dolph promised!

“Daisies are the best,” Connor declares, his mischievous grin wide. “They’re bright and full of life, just like me! Though, I wish we had some snap-doggins.”

He sticks his face into a patch of flowers and inhales mightily!

A neverlander that was sleeping there buzzes out with a chime of complaint, only to be met with, and mollified by, Connor's giggles.

The pinkish fairy flits off to find another spot to nap.

"Lord Howling ton, look what I found" he says "it was all hidden in a clever spot disguised as a BOX" He waves the map

"I was just telling Blossom that roses are boring and silly." He winks at Rochallor.

Then leans forward and SNIFFS at the parchment. GASP! "Smells like, Adventure?!"

"ROSES have class" Ahrumph goes the centaur

"It does have the distinctive smell of adventure" A sniff, though his nose is not as good "And sawdust." He opens it up

"Does it have a treasure at the end of it?" Blossom trots over curious

Scattered across the parchment are landmarks drawn with simple shapes and symbols: a wobbly tree marked as “Big Yeller,” a crooked hill labeled “Tumbletop,” and a small pond depicted by a blue swirl, named “Splashy Place.” Near the map's edge, a meandering path is drawn with little footprints, leading to a shaded-in area circled in red, marked with a large “X.”

"Ooooooo." Connor whisper-howls in awe.

"You think that's where Xavier comes to play?" He points to the X

Blossom sighs "Pooka. It's an X marks the spot situation, EVERYONE knows that"

"I've never met this Erryboddy guy. Do you think he knows the 'They' in that's what They says?"

Blossom sighs, and discards her plans to marry Connor when they both become wilders so she can rule behind the throne and have nice things. It's just not worth it!