Kleo-Ra grunted as she landed hard on the ground. The tan-furred echidna shook her head, trying to make sense of what just happened. One moment she was examining a strange object simply termed, The Device, and the next, all chaos had broken out. Kleo-Ra remembered alarms, shouting, and a high pitched buzz that filled the air. Her fellow scientists running about in confusion and panic. Then the portals appeared. Kleo-Ra remembered crying out as her friend, June-La was sucked into one, before another materialized beneath her own feet. The geneticist's eyes suddenly went wide, and she rolled over onto her back. There, hovering above her was the portal she fell through. Kleo-Ra scrambled to her feet and jumped, reaching out. Frustratingly the portal remained out of reach. Through it's watery surface she caught glimpses of the laboratory where The Device was contained. She saw figures running about, and heard the muffled cries and alarms. Again Kelo-Ra jumped and missed. Quickly she looked
June-La grunted softly as she strained, testing the straps that held her down. The leather bonds held fast, and the orange echidna relaxed with a sigh. Slowly she glanced about herself, taking in the room. It appeared to be an examination room of some sort with terminals and trolleys of medical equipment arrayed around the surgical table she lay on. Off to the side June-La noticed her bionic arm sitting on a desk, and a pang of dismay washed over her. They had taken it from her when she was captured, and she desperately hoped that it hadn't been damaged by her captors. The warrant officer glanced back to the ceiling, her vision taking in the four gun turrets mounted in the corners of the room. The barrels were all trained on her, and June-La felt a small sense of excitement tingle down her spine. Her captors considered her a threat, and the thought amused her slightly. The orange echidna closed her eyes, focusing on what she had seen, when suddenly the table began to move, causing her
Adrik sat by himself in the mess hall, the warrant officer and weapons specialist stifling a yawn as he picked at the food on his plate. It was late, almost 3 in the morning, but he couldn't sleep. Insomnia, fulled by half remembered dreams of his past, kept him awake. Another yawn threatened to wash over him, and Adrik groaned. He was about to poke again at the food before him when a sound caught his attention. A shuffle, followed by a clang caused him to look up, and Adrik glanced over to the entrance to the mess hall. What he saw made him frown. June-La stood in the doorway. The voluptuous echidna warrant officer, and wife of Grandmaster Zac, was naked save for a thin surgical gown which hung loose from her shoulders. She looked around, a confused expression on her face, and resumed her advance, stumbling as though her body struggled to respond to her commands. Adrik stood up, hurrying over to the echidna. "Miss June? Are you alright?" June-La stared at Adrik, her eyes slightly
Oceania 'Teardrop' Otter looked up as the front door opened. She smiled as she saw her adopted son, Wolfen, enter. She spoke, her voice warm. "Welcome back, dear." "Is Hisspan home?" Wolfen asked. Oceania shook her head, the smile on her face faltering as she noticed the skunk accompanying the grey wolf. "She had to step out for a moment to give her mother a hand. I've put Katlin and Leon down for their nap." The otter looked at the skunk, her eyes drifting to the tiara the skunk wore. "A new friend, Wolfen?" The skunk stepped forward, offering a hand. "Greetings, Ma'am," she said. "My name is Lily, Disciple of..." "Aphrodite," Oceania said, interrupting. Lily and Wolfen both looked at the elderly otter in surprise. "You know of her?" Wolfen asked. "Are you really that shocked, Wolfen?" Oceania replied. "Excuse me," Lily said, "but can you please explain yourself? How do you know of me?" Oceania glanced at Lily before looking back to her adopted son. "Is this business?" she
The stadium thrummed with sound as The Cannibals rocked out their latest tunes. Spotlights shone overhead, periodically highlighting parts of the crowd who whooped and screamed as they vibed with the music. On stage, Les Paul, lead singer of The Cannibals, sang his heart out, his gravely voice carrying throughout the venue. The song reached it's crescendo with the thrumming bass of Alfie the lion dueling with the lead guitar of Crushank the cockatoo. Behind them, Leena Stripes laid down the beats on her drums, the tiger's cymbals ringing out as she struck them. The song drew to an end, all the band members hitting the last note together, setting the cue for one last explosive display of fireworks that gave the show it's final exclamation point. The crowd went wild. Leena stood up, throwing her arms forward to send her drumsticks spinning into the audience for some lucky fan to claim. Les paced the stage, still full of energy. He turned and addressed the crowd. "Thank you all for coming
Lily paused and wiped her brow with a handkerchief, peering at the valley walls that rose either side of her. Since entering the Valley Of Venom, the skunk had noticed a distinct rise in temperature that now bordered on uncomfortable. Lily put away her handkerchief and moved forwards. She felt a presence nearby, her tiara reacting to another artifact like it. Lily remained calm and called out. "I know you're there. I can sense you." A grey wolf stepped out from the treeline up ahead. Lily watched, maintaining her pace as she neared him. Her eyes focused on the golden gauntlet adorning his right hand. The skunk gave a small smile. "Greetings. I remember you. You're the avatar of Anubis." Lily noticed the scowl that crossed the wolf's face at the mention of the goddess. "I'm Wolfen Down," he said. "I was hoping not to see you so soon." Bitterness tinged his words, and Lily fought to hold back her curiosity at his attitude as she offered her hand. "Lily. Disciple of Aphrodite." The pair
Monica paused and looked about as the darkness overtook her. The Mobian lioness growled softly, drawing her battleaxe and holding it at the ready. Within the darkness she could sense movement, her instincts kicking in with sudden urgency. Monica reacted, raising her weapon. Sparks flew as her axe met another. Monica strained and heaved, turning her attacker's weapon aside. Power surged through her, the head of her axe charging with the buildup of energy. Monica swung, unleashing the energy in a devastating shockwave. The bright white light of released energy lit up the darkness, and the lioness froze in horror. She watched as it surged towards a powerfully built bear dressed in viking garb. The bear smiled, a loud booming laugh echoing about as it effortlessly swatted aside the attack. "Lord Odin!" Monica exclaimed. Odin approached his mortified avatar, the darkness around them fading. "Well met, my warrior," he said, beckoning for Monica to relax. "Forgive me for attacking you, Lord
Amaterasu watched the world before her, the kitsune drawn by her avatar's actions. The entity felt her jeweled necklace hum, a signal that her avatar was using the sacred artifact she had bestowed upon him. The kitsune looked on. Had she been mortal, she might have even held her breath in anticipation. Amaterasu risked a glance about herself, making sure that she was alone. Her avatar's fate sat on a knife edge, and she had no intention of missing out on seeing the outcome. The kitsune's tails coiled around her, and she whispered to herself. "Hold strong, Colburn. Let my radiance carry you to victory." The night was brightly lit as Colburn activated his necklace. A gift from the goddess, Amaterasu, it allowed the Mobian rooster to tap into her power and bring defeat to his enemies. The necklace charged up, the energies within it flowing down Colburn's arms. He threw his hands forward, a blinding light bursting forth like a raging sun. Cries echoed out as his foes were blinded, those