#rivervale_lodge

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Flyswatter feels good in Dagmar's hands. This is the kind of homework the young Gwydion likes as she swats and strikes at the veritable obstacle course of targets set up for her maze like.

Snow cheers her on from a tree "Swat swat swat!"

"Swat swat BOOM!" She agrees!

"Do not lose your focus, young padawan, you must rescue the damsel at the end of the guantlet of mooks ... in time, or it will be too late. Hurry hurry" It is Sir Vali of course, who has set this 'knight class' test up for her.

A short grunt and she refocuses - her "style" is not very showy, preferring efficient and powerful strikes over flourishes.

At the end of the maze of targets sits a barbie doll in a princess dress. She must be rescued. And the clock is ticking.

Tromp tromp tromp

So Dagmar knocks over buckets, and stuffed dummies...

Swat, smash.... HEY! WIRE ... it almost tripped her!

Growl, kick, persist.

Well, kicking the wire actually causes the path to almost be blocked but she bullrushes through to make it further before it does... Vali comments "Your shoulders now count as wounded, young Padawan. But carry on."

"They.. what? What hit me?"

"WHen you pushed through the path as it closed it banged against you...counts. my knight course...my rules. But carry on... the Damsel has less than a minute to live"

"Hmph." tromp tromp SMASH tromp

She gets to the damsel.. just as the Pool noodle of DEATH comes down... she can block or dodge or duck...

Block!

She takes the hit, moves on, and there's the Damsel

"Thirty seconds!" Vali says

"Save the lazy Damsel!" Snow bounces

She grabs the doll!

Snow has commented that it would be nice if the Damsel could contribute a bit ot her own rescue

The barrel the damsel was on...begins to speak "10, 9..." Like a movie bomb count down

But the doll is in Dagmar's hand

Grumble, eye-roll, and she starts booking it AWAY from the "bomb."

Confetti spews from the top but by then... Dagmar has gone several yards and behind a tree

"Have you been reading old Batman comics?"

"I can tell you're impressed" Vali says

"Well... something like that."

"It's stupid" Gerd's voice says "All she did was knock a bunch of things over and rescue my old doll I dont' even like any more"

Vali turns and blinks "Gerd, what the hell did you do to your hair?"

The girl has painted her nails black, and .somehow gotten her hands on hair dye of black.

"Hey Gerd. Nice hair."

"Thanks" A bit of a smile, under black lipstick

THen she looks at her uncle "It's MY head"

Vali sighs "Yes, yes it is. And to answer your question, it's not stupid... it's a test of her speed as well as strength." And then to Dagmar "And you are getting quicker."

"Not quick like Siv..." She shrugs.

"True, but Siv isn 't as strong or durable as you...you each have your own gifts and talents." Vali says, "There was a time you would have smashed the whole course, but not made it before the clock ran out"

A shrug. "Learning."

Gerd says "I want to go out."

Vali raises a brow at the demanding tone, "Where would you like to go out too?"

"Not the farm... so lame" Gerd sniffs "I want to shop in New York"

Vali looks at her like he's wondering who this is. "You love the farm"

"That was forever ago" She waves it off.

"It was a month ago." he says

"Dunno about the city, but bet we could get Siv to drive to the mall..."

"I guess... but the real indie music is not found at the mall, just hte sell outbands" Gerd says in that tone she has discovered something none else knew

Vali looks at her, "Tell you what, you bring me your finished book report, and I'll drive you there"

Gerd rolls her eyes "The book report is stupid!"

"Of course, but you ain't gonna go shopping until it's done. So what's more stupid?"