Ulysses Dusett's Story

From somewhere in the concrete jungle a roar echoed out into the night, as much man as it was some primal beast from the Earth's primitive and violent past. A shape lumbered into view at the end of the alley, easily taller than Sable was and wide enough to fill most of the tight corridor. It was hard to make out exact details without direct lighting but looking at the horn and the overall shape some Dinosaur-man might come to mind.

As he charged forward Sable could be forgiven for thinking it was after her. It's horn shattered a few of the lights the lit the alley and tore clotheslines free of the alley's brick walls. One wolf was simply trampled by a large, three-toed foot. Two more were grabbed and simply flung through the air to an almost comical distance. One turned to bite at the beast's leg and had its head smashed into the concrete for its troubles.

After another wolf is swung by its tail and dropped in a dumpster her savior, looking unharmed, turned his attention to Sable. He gave a snort, steam streaming from his nostrils as a rumble built in his chest.

Blight stood stock still her mouth agape. "You see the future?! What harms come to my children what-!" She was cut short by the sounds of gunfire and a bestial roar. "Why did you not tell me sooner!" She screamed as the yelps of wolves echoed out through the still city. It was growing darker by the minute and since the plants had cut power, soon it would be pitch black. Blight Reached out her hands towards the sounds. "The Wild Ones...I can only hear one over there." She almost seemed ready to cry. "Come back to me sweetheart. Come back to Blight and reunite with the Others."

The one remaining wolf stopped short as the human leaped from the building and onto the fire escape. It could have caught her, it really wanted to, but the Alpha called. It growled softly but turned and ran down the stairs and back out of the building the way it had come.

Blight reached out and called the other Wild Ones around the city to her. She felt another presence that was very wild, probably the one that had roared, but she turned her attention first to the Psychic. "My children were hurt as you say. What more do you see? Tell me and I will spare you!"

Sable

Sable fell backwards and dropped her guns as she tried to scramble away from the giant monster that was tearing apart the wolves. It was throwing those creatures around as if they were mere play toys and not predators that had, a few seconds ago, been ready to tear her limb from limb. She even saw one bite the monster and not even leave scratches on it's scaly hide.

She looked at her own bloody mess of an arm. It was useless now, and she was starting to feel a little light headed. She doubted she'd be able to put up a fight with the giant dino-man. This thing was out for blood and it looked like it wanted to kill her too. She fumbled around for a weapon, anything, forgetting about the virtual arsenal in the ink on her body. When the beast was done destroying the wolves it stopped in front of her, rumbling and breathing steam. She hefted a lead pipe with her good arm to block any attack. "What the fuck are you?" The small girl asked, not really expecting an answer. She looked for a way out of the dead end, but it seemed hopeless. The monster was blocking the entire alley and backwards was not an option. At this point, Isabel was certain that she was going to die.

The High Schooler continued to watch the television, the teacher has yet to turn it off and commence class. Mostly because he was ushering out concerned parties. The broadcast of the situation seemed to grow worse. When all things seemed it's bleakest a new development has arrived. The Chopper Reporter announced she heard a large roar, something that could not have been made from a wolf. The helicopter pilot was told to ease over to where the roar had originated. All the while the camera continued to watch over the vine's handiwork. They continued to crush the building and the power in the area was fading out. The reporter made a comment that the damage is extensive as power lines are failing, cutting off electricity in the area of interest.

When the pilot hovered over the area he believed the roar originated; what they saw they couldn't believe. The reporter almost shrieked, "Are you getting this Tony!?" The name of the presumed cameraman with the reporter. While Orlando could not see anything clearly, he could make out something big....real BIG. It was hiding in the shadows of the alleyway, so a clear shot of whatever it is couldn't be made. What could be made out was several mangled corpses of wolves. The reporter commented that Animal Rights Activists should avert their eyes, over the carnage these wolves have suffered. It wasn't hard for Orlando to understand that the big thing is responsible.

Orlando wasn't sure what to make of all of this. It seemed like shit has hit the fan, double time it seems. Not only is the Urban Jungle converting to a real one, there's wolves and now some giant thing. Not to mention the bit of gang violence going on over the bridge. These are one of the times the teen began to wonder, Why the fuck did we come to this city for?

The large creature's attention was taken off the injured Sable briefly, head lifting as its gaze turned skyward to the chopper in the air. It's voice came out in a low rumble, eyes turning back to the woman and more importantly her injured arm. "You really should see a Doctor about your arm." With that it started to back out slowly, big horn denting a fire escape ladder along the way. It may have even muttered, "Oops."

Once out of the alley the dino-man turned slowly and started in a run down the street. He was going to need to get out of sight before he could change back. Being so large he knew being caught in his hybrid form would be an issue one day but he really wanted to keep his identity a secret. Can't work in a mail room when people know you turn into a large monster. With a grunt and all the strength he could find in his legs he took off.

The window to the outside world was threatened to be closed, for the sake of today's class. At least that's what would have happened, if it wasn't for the gigantic creature. Orlando's classroom was still, as the occupants inside where frozen, flabbergasted at what they saw. The Chopper Cam continued to watch the alleyway; hovering in wait to see if what's hidden will come out. Sure enough it did, and what could be described as a gigantic lizard, perhaps a dinosaur had rushed out. Or at least that was what the Reporter said. The pilot and the cameraman where frozen in place as they watched the dinosaur like creature bolt down the street. The Reporter had to snap her crew out of their daze, as she ordered them to keep up with it. She didn't want to lose it.

Suddenly the helicopter was in pursuit of the beast. Yet, it's head start covered considerable distance between him and them. The camera zoomed in as far as it could to at least catch a glimpse of the beast. "Can't this thing go faster!?" The Reporter shouted at the pilot. The pilot said he was giving it all she's got. The helicopter was trying to catch up, but the further they chased it, the deeper they entered Blight's territory. What could amount to blind ambition, may potentially put the chopper and it's crew in danger.

Back in the classroom, Orlando and his classmates continued to watch the news. Even Mr. Kincaid was stunned. Some people whispered about what they saw. Some thought this was some stunt, a special effects prank to promote some new movie about prehistoric times. But that wouldn't make sense because wolves didn't exist when the dinosaurs did. Some thought it was more like a movie about the future, a post-apocalyptic event that caused the Earth to head into a throwback. Some thought it was more like Godzilla, a lizard that mutated into a giant monster. And some thought it was about time traveling, as a dinosaur accidentally enters the present. But this can't be a film promotion, it just can't. The danger felt all too real. They're just in denial, he thought. Shit is going down and it's gonna get worse, I can just tell.

Sickle

Hannah sat in a lofty black limousine as she rode through the city, not exactly the smartest mode of transportation in a place with a crime rate higher than a mountain, but it Hannah was one to flirt with danger. She enjoyed the thrill, and she couldn't say she was scared of many of the "thugs" in the city.

However, she would admit that she was highly annoyed when the limo came to a stop. She had been out at a club the night before and was still recovering from a hangover after staying at an acquaintances place, so she was simply not in the mood for everyday annoyances. "What's the hold up?" Hannah barked to the driver. "Traffic jam..." the driver said before turning on the radio, there was talk of a gang war, a vegetation attack, and, to top it all off, a dinosaur spotting. All of which greatly peaked the excitement and interest of Hannah. "Now this, this is interesting," she said with a glow in her eyes. "I think I'll take the rest of this trip on foot," Hannah said, exiting the limo and running off through the traffic, towards the havoc, rather than away from it like many of the others were.

She continued running, noting vines and vegetation growing, and eventually as she ran quickly down a street, she saw...what appeared to be the dinosaur that she heard the radio channel broadcasting about. She put the hood of her black jacket up, a red smile on her face, as she hid, deciding it'd be interesting to stalk the monster and see where it went, and she could elect to take it on then. But the creature was running fast, and she was unsure if she'd be able to catch up, but she'd try her best, and would take drastic measures if she had to in order to see where the dinosaur looking creature originated.

He ran for as long as he could, weaving through streets and back alleys in an attempt to escape attention. Easier said than done of course. He really needed to rethink the entire approach to doing superhero work inside of the city. This was clearly going to be a constant issue. In one last effort he ducked into a parking garage. By the time he was inside the small concrete structure he felt his body changing. He was still running but he was stumbling as he went, body taking on awkward shapes and angles as it tried to change back into a Human form.

By the time he was back to 'normal' the man was stumbling and shaking, holding the tattered remains of his clothing to his body for some amount of modesty. So he was back to normal. Now what? No change of clothes and a partly naked man of some good looks might still attract more attention than he wants. "Well dang, didn't think this through too well at all, eh Ulysses?"

Blight focused on the psychic intently as the wolves and other creatures of the wild began to fill in the clearing that was once an intersection. She waited as he seemed to stare off in space, hoping that he might be able to help her keep her children safe while still furthering her goals. What she got instead was disappointing cryptic nonsense.

"I do not know a man with a scar!" She said, the nearby plants beginning to twist and wind towards the psychic slowly as if responding to her anger and not a direct command. "You have told me nothing! How does a single man stop Blight? Where? When? Why?" She was almost screaming now. "You may not leave until you tell me answers and truth!"

____

The chopper followed the creature as best they could as it ran through the streets and alleys. When it ducked under a parking garage, however, they lost sight on it. They hovered over the garage, waiting for the beast to exit.


Sable
“You may want to have a doctor look at your arm.” The monster said in a deep rumble before leaving. Sable just dropped the pipe and stared open mouthed as he walked towards the end of the alley and then ran away. She stared for a few more minutes before a throbbing in her arm caught her attention. She was still bleeding.

She looked around for something to stop the bleeding but couldn’t find anything that wasn’t disgusting. She sighed and tore a piece of her shirt off, exposing her midriff, and tied it tightly around the bite marks. “Orale. What have I gotten myself into?” She muttered.

When she finished, she saw a girl at the end of the alley. The girl was looking towards her. “Hey!” Sable, shouted as she stumbled out of the darkened alley. “Are you okay?”