#rivervale_lodge

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Rivervale's Beltaine has not yet started, though so many invites from others have a certain Dagmar feeling a bit overwhelmed

She's obliged, and has a nagging sense of it. She should go. She's expected. She'd... be letting them down? How would that let them down?

Oddly, there's this weird sense of... well, Olgar used the term pride, but she's feeling it's more than that, it's...right?

Yes. Going is the right thing to do, even if her stomach is twisted into knots.

A deep breath, and she makes her way through the forest, of course, she'll be way early? Or..is that on time? Anyway.. her first Beltaine, she should...

She should. That's what it is, a sense of should...

There's glamour near a stream, and a fallen pine...strong glamour.

She's learning more on what that means. Glamour, the energy that fuels it all.

She recognizes the flicker of warmth and smiles. Her feet turn from the path and head for the tree.

Her smile might fade as she sees that the tree is atop a Chimera, a great white stag, pinned under the tree

"Oh..." Distressed, but no hesitation as her long legs quickly span the remaining distance.

A quick assessment and she jams her shoulder against the fallen trunk... time to dig in her booted heels... and heave...

"You..free me?" The Stag SPEAKS?

It also gets up, carefully, tenderly, yet still looks majestic.

"Well... yeah." A pause. "You talk?"

"Clearly," The Stag says

"Are you hurt?"

"I will heal," He says looking at his back leg, "Faster than you imagine, but I will be slow, dangerously slow for an hour or two. "

A silent look, studying the stag for a long moment before... "You need protection?"

"Would you protect me against predators?" Startled

"I could. I'm strong. You're hurt."

"Yes, you could, but... " The Stag says "This is a joyous day, surely you have friends waiting for you?"

A soft grunt and a shrug.

A curious flick of the ears, "I do not speak shrug." he..doesn't appear to be a smart ass about it. He just doesn't understand

"I need to go there, Frank said for an hour at least. But I don't think I need to be there yet."

"I will take your help, if you do willingly offer it, your protection for the next hour," He says, "You may call me Bramblebrow if you like."

She nods. "Okay. I'm Dagmar." She offers out her hand, palm up, for inspection.

He places his muzzle into her hand, "I am in your care, Dagmar, daughter of Danu"

She clumsily risks a stroke of his head, cautious of her own strength. "You are a very handsome deer, Bramblebrow. Who is Danu?"

"Perhaps I mispronounce it, she is one of the Tuatha they say, others say she's older... though you know 'theys' and 'others', dubious sources" A playful flick of his ear, "But I do know that many trolls claim she created them .She is a mother goddess if a mother goddess there is. She raised the first of your kind to watch over the others. The first great dream of guardianship."

"Oh... I'm... they call me a fledge. I'm new. Frank says trolls protect, too. World needs some of that, I'd figure."

"You figure correctly, this world has need of all dreams, but Guardians are often in short ..." A wolf howls in the distance "Supply."

She nods with weary knowledge. "Most people that need it never get protection..."

"Until someone shows ..." And four wolves come into view, Chimerical, sinister, red eyes.

She frowns, reaching for her halberd.

The wolves gaze upon the stag, and the largest speaks, "Aside, blue one. We can smell the fresh wound on the hunted one, among the Dream bringer. By rights of fortune, and chance and strength, we claim this stag for our meal. Move aside, or we will bite you." //"And bite you again" ANother wolf says /"And if we bite you enough times? We may eat you" another agrees.

"No. I will not move. I am protecting him. You move. Hunt elsewhere."

"Then,we fight" And the wolves move out to strike her

A stubborn set of her jaw - no jabber, no barbs - just a swing of her halber like a great, gleaming golf club. She aims the hammer end, not the blade, seeking to knock the wolf aside.

And it flies flipping through the air with a YIPE!

The other wolves mutter "She is Strong"

"Hunt elsewhere." She resets her grip - not attacking, but ready to respond.

The other wolves pause, then "This is not worth the risk to the pack" THe leader says, then turns to her, "No malice, we respect your claim." And they turn gathering their wounded friend with them.

and off they go.

"No malice. I... hope you find food that doesn't talk."

"Well done, wolves are not stupid creatures. They hunt because they must, and they do not give their lives cheaply." A nod of the Stag. "I thank you."

She shrugs. "I said I'd protect you." But... there's a little smile, anyway. A small glimmer of satisfaction.

"So you did," The Stag bobs, proud.

Minutes later, The Stag's nostrils twitch and it jumps, but it's leg is still weak, and isntead of avoiding the arrow entirely, one grazes along its side.