OCC: Just a open continuation of my other solo post

Rico almost did not want wake up. The gentle feeling of being rocked in water soothed the pain and aches of the body. Stirring he found himself partially washed up on a beach coast. Like the other things experimented on plum island Rico had washed up on the shores of Montauk. It had been a few hours since the plum island research facility exploded. The wyvern found he was not alone. There were some locals taking pictures of the dragon like creature with a body harness and breathing mask of some kind covering its entire head.

Grunting through the mask system he stood up and stumbled out of the oceans gentle waves and collapsed on the beach. Again more flashes of cameras. You would think seeing a creature like him would make the locals run away. But common sense did not appear to be so common. Forcing himself back up on his feet the black scaled beast the size of a large draft horse moved towards the crowd and they parted to both sides out of his way like the waves of the ocean that had washed him here.

He was confused and moved as such. Darting his head here and there and breathing with labored breaths through the mask. Entering onto a road a car came to a screeching halt and beeped its horn at him. His reaction was quick. Rico swung his muscled tail and slammed it into the drivers side of the small car causing the side to cave in with a explosion of glass and sending it flying onto its side. With the perceived threat taken care of he continued to cross the road in the general direction of the residential areas of Montauk.

The world was like a ghost to Rico in his dazed half drugged state. He walked through the residential area leaving a easy to follow bath for any wishing to follow. Picket fences were mashed apart from yard to yard in a clear path. Even a few cars were mashed as he walked over them. The wyvern ventured through the residential area and doubled back towards the coast and finally arrived at the fish market. With Montauk being a fishing community, fish was a ready commodity. A young man who had heard the news of Plum Island was talking to his dad at the stall.

"I told you that island was up to no good. Remember those mutated creatures that washed up on shore a few years back?" He told his father as he emptied a bucket of fish in the stand on a fresh layer of ice to keep them cool. His father had grey whiskers on his face and the leather like skin of a man who had spent years under the sun with reel and rod in had on the ocean scoffed at his son. "Again with the conspiracy's boy. Thinking about those kind of things is for them college kids who's folks are rich enough to send them."

"Get your head out of the clouds and down here to earth in the present." At that some trees parted as Rico appeared and walked over to the stand. Time seemed to freeze for the elderly fisherman but for his son he was in the present. Looking over the dragons body it was clear to the young mans eyes Rico was some kind of escaped experiment and as news of the plum animal research facility exploding traveled fast the man only connected the dots. "You hungry?" The young man asked.

If Rico understood he did not reply and lowered his head to the fish on display on the ice and nudged them with his mask to no effect. Who was to say what possessed the young man to do what he did. But there was sympathy in his eyes. Reaching up he unbuckled the straps of the mask over Rico's face on one side and it fell free to hang limply at the right side of his torso still attached to the body harness. At being freed Rico dove his head into the pile of fish on display and started to eat away.

The dragon like creature showed little interest in the lowly humans as he ate away but that did not stop the sons father from picking up a meat cleaver ready to strike. The son put a gentle hand on his fathers hand and the meat cleaver lowered. After that the young man put out the hand slowly to reach for ricos muzzle as he ate the fish in front of them. Rico stopped to look at the young man for but a moment but continued to eat. With a great deal of bravery on his part the young man put his hand on top of Ricos long snout and started to rub it as if it was a horse. "What have they done to you?" The young man asked with a voice full of emotion.

His father who had been holding his breath the whole time crept forward and extended his hand to the dragons long snout. Only after resting the callused palm on it did the elderly man release his breath with a smile. It was a amazing feeling hard to describe. Almost like a scene out of Jurassic park. This was no monster. Just a poor creature half starved.

Rico's mind had gone feral a good while back. But this young human had the special animal touch. The gift to tame him. There was no other explanation why the dragon had just not devoured him like it had so many others in the past. But a dragon walking its way through a residential area and leaving ruined property in its wake did not go without attracting attention. Police car alarms could be heard in the distance and with police reputation about shooting first and asking questions later the young man could not just stand by. Grabbing fish off the ice near the dragons jaws and throwing it into a bucket he watched as the last of the wish was eaten. "Dad, help me." He said and the elderly man walked out from behind the stall to go ahead and open there personally owned shed large enough for a horse sized dragon.

Shaking the fish filled bucket Rico let out a rumbling purr from his chest and followed without question as they led the large mythical reptile to the opening sliding door of the shed. Halfway in though Rico got stuck with his ass and tail still hanging out and the elderly man struggled to push against it in attempts to get Rico inside the large shed and out of sigh of the rapidly approaching police that they feared would kill him without any other reason then they could.

What started with wisping tendrils of ghostly smoke became billowing clouds of rolling fog. It rolled up seemingly from the coast but truthfully like magic it descended upon the beach and up into market. More than a mile of sand, rocks, docks, and small shacks were lost in the haze. The clouds had come down to earth.

---

Earlier...

Tempest loved the natural simplicity and open space of Montauk. He was getting out here less often lately in part due to the weather and also he was rather busy between work, Sanctuary, and school. Winter meant less tourists though, which gave even more leeway for free walks, introspection, and of course letting off steam.

He’d arrived earlier, taking a long walk along the beach, and quickly heard about the previous night’s explosion out on Plum Island. Wasn’t there talk of government activity out there? It was worth looking into but maybe not as yet considering whatever explosion would likely draw attention. Hopefully some locals would have an idea. There was a guy that he usually bought lunch from that might know something, knew the fishermen.

Shortly thereafter he came upon a group speaking of the Montauk Monster that had washed up and then lumbered away. They didn’t really think much of Plum Island until he asked. Was it related? Devon wouldn’t have believed it save for the pictures the eager locals showed him and the destruction that had been left in the creature’s wake. Large swaths of sand had been displaced by its lumbering. There was a destroyed car with a tow truck up on the road…

Needless to say, Devon followed. Soon he found broken trees, broken fences, and more car parts than cars… He didn’t know what this thing was but more appropriately: whom. Mutants were born every day. Mutant abilities manifested anew for people every day. This could have been a kid out for a cold suit surf and then all of sudden: shapeshifting.

Clinging to a couple turned over trees Devon watched as what he could only describe as a dragon was eating fish. A young boy was helping feed it; a man, clearly the boy’s father, was in awe. The dragon had a harness and a mask on. Was that scuba diving gear? No, that didn’t seem right.

Sirens started whirring in the distance and darkness crept in. Quickly, Devon’s eyes took on the cloak of night. In the black he saw everything. The air was filled with moisture, cool. He swept up the temperature slowly as he urged a new front to build in the heavens.

What started with wisping tendrils of ghostly smoke became billowing clouds of rolling fog. It rolled up seemingly from the coast but truthfully like magic it descended upon the beach and up into market. More than a mile of sand, rocks, docks, and small shacks were lost in the haze. The clouds had come down to earth.

Minutes later as the father and son tried to hide the dragon in the shed, a rumble of thunder echoed off shore and a heavy sheet of warm rain fell. It would quickly subside to drizzle and mist, adding to the mystique of the fog. A few gusts of wind tossed some stands and blew over a trash can in the opposite direction, creating a false lead. Tempest surely hoped this would be enough to hide the tracks and buy them some time.

Devon, clad in jeans of dark denim and wearing a water-proof black running jacket, stepped through the fog and held his hands up in an open show of faith. His eyes had returned to a friendly blue and he smiled warily, “Hey, I’d like to help.”

The older gentleman narrowed his eyes at the unfamiliar young man. “Who are you?” he asked quickly.

“My name’s Devon, sorry. I’m from the city, but I visit often enough for some fresh air. People on beach were calling it a monster but it looks like that creature is in trouble. Glad someone is helping it rather than attacking it,” he tried to explain quickly.

“Yeah, he’s not a monster,” the boy said.

“Agreed. If I can, let’s talk in the shed?” Devon asked.

"This is taking to long." The older fisherman grumbled. "C'mon you silly creature. Inside." The humans pushing on the animals backside seemed to do little if anything. "I said git!" At barking that remark the man gave the large reptile a strong firm smack on the rump like one would a horse and the creature finally squeezed its way through the large sheds doors. "Inside." The fisherman said to Devon and looked both ways before closing the door and locking it from the inside.

It was dark inside and the sounds of some metal being moved could be heard. Out of the pitch blackness a match was struck casting light in a flash. Pushing the lever to raise the glass of a lantern the old fisherman lit the wick and waved out the match. "We should be ok in here." He said with a tired voice and hung the lantern up from a metal chain hook on the ceiling.

The shed was full of  various tools one could expect from anyone in the business of fishing. Nets, rods, various lines of tension strength. More importantly a table with more buckets of fish from there days catch. The dragon was on the far side with the younger man hand feeding it. For the moment at least the creature seemed content and not as ravenous as before in its need to eat.

Rubbing his left knee the old fisherman pulled up a wooden chair and sat in it. "Tis a unnatural fog out there. Some kind of weather is moving in. My trick knee is acting up something fierce." Taking out a pipe and filling it with some loose tobacco he struck another match and puffed on it. "The names Bruno. And that there is my boy. Lance. Been living here all my life and never seen weather like that come out of nowhere. I wonder if it was caused by the explosion on that there island."

He paused and listened as the sirens started to grow weaker. It seemed the path of destruction was leading them elsewhere. "Or do we have you to thank for it?" Bruno's voice did not hold any type of venom to it. Just a curious old man that judging someone by the honesty of there words. When you got to be his age mutant and human rivalry seemed stupid and petty like a lot of things that folks got all riled up about these days.

"Your a mutant?" The other man Lance asked. "I wonder if he is a mutant as well." He as in the dragon. Giving the creature another fish from out the bucket he leaned over to get a look between its legs. "I think its a he anyway. I cant tell."

Lance tugged at the straps of the body harness and then looked to some kind of small brass plate with words on it attached to the mask jawline that was hanging off to the side. Níðhöggr. "Can you speak?" lance asked the creature. If it could it did not do so. It just finished swallowing another fish and turned its long neck and head to examine the room and flicked out a forked tongue so its olfactory senses could analyze and memorize the new smells.

Its yellow piercing eyes were wild. But yet there seemed to some kind of dulled down intelligence behind it. It made some deep noises and garbled words that could not really be understood. But there was one word that came out clearly. "Lost."

Devon hurried in as ordered by the fisherman. He was comfortable in the darkness, perhaps eerily so. He had excellent night vision and that’s without his eyes matching the night. Maybe it was all that experience being outside in his late teenage years or even the late nights outside practicing like here at Montauk. Either way, he waited patiently for the light.

After a quick perusal of the shed – nothing sinister looking – Devon turned his attention back on the dragon. This was definitely someone in trouble, and evidently quite hungry. Was that harness his or was it something put on him? Maybe that explosion on Plum Island was related after all.

Those who lived by nature knew it. Fishermen knew the sea and storms. Devon wasn’t surprised by the man’s comments. He nodded as Bruno gave his name and that of his son. He let the man consider his hypotheses and then there was a pause as they listened to the sirens leave.

>> "Or do we have you to thank for it?"

“Yeah, that was me,” Devon nodded. He wasn’t one to ignore the truth and clearly these two could deal with something out of the ordinary. Obviously.

Devon nodded to Lance’s question and nodded again at the dragon. “I think he probably is a mutant, agreed. I wondered at first if it might have just been someone out swimming and their power manifested. It happens to teenagers… But now I’m wondering if this person was trapped or something. You never know what kind of abilities someone might have. Shape shifting is certainly possible,” he nodded again, slowly.

When Lance found the breast plate Devon leaned in and read it. That was a familiar name. He loved his mythology though Norse wasn’t one he read much. Still, he’d read it before. He’d look it up later. Seeing the dragon react to the boy Lance was encouraging at least.

Hearing it speak a word even amidst the guttural sounds of its throat was encouraging too. Pete’s Dragon this was not. It was seeming all too sad. Had someone on Plum Island been holding this person there? Devon’s eyes narrowed in the deep anger he felt rise in his chest.

“Lance, you’ve a kind touch,” Devon grinned and nodded at Bruno as well. The man had raised a fine son. “I actually run a homeless shelter and community house back in the city. A large portion of our guests are mutants… You’d be amazed how much a friendly voice can really help some people who find themselves lost.”

Devon bit at his lip, “If this is a mutant, one question will be if he can shift back to a humanoid form or if he is forever a dragon now. Helping him eat and relax is more important anyway. Hopefully we can get this harness off once he feels safe.” He gestured to it, “I’m guessing it’s not his and someone put it on him.”

“Lance, you’ve a kind touch,”

The young man just smiled at the compliment as he rubbed the creatures head and got a low rumble from its chest at the touch. "The lad always had a way with animals." Bruno said as he puffed at the pipe. "Even people at times. A gift he got from his mother." With that the man touched his forehead and chest followed by the shoulder in symbolic gesture.

At the words of the shelter the dragon stirred and spoke in a deep voice. "Golden doors........ sanctuary...... left...... not safe....... always hungry.........always eating...... meat is meat." With the drugs wearing off at least he was speaking a bit more clearly. Sadly those words were probably not something any of them wanted to hear. It was broken. But understandable enough to paint a unpleasant picture.

Other words Devon spoke triggered more memories. This time more unpleasant. He grew agitated and pulled free of Lances hold on the chest harness. The muscled tail even lashed for a moment thankfully not striking anyone. "They promised! Never forgive!" As quickly as the fragmented memories of his captivity came they washed away like the sea that washed him onto shore. "Lost my past. I....I lost my name."

"We cant keep him here." Bruno said as he watched his son grab hold of the chest harness again and rub the creatures neck this time giving it a few good pats. Looking to Devon the old fisherman added. "But neither can we just go walking down the street with a flipping dragon in tow." The old man puffed in thought as he tugged on his beard. "I have a old horse trailer we might be able to put him in and hook up to my truck. I think the most important thing is get the mutant away from here. The more distance the better. At the rate he eats we would never be able to support ourselves."

With that the man looked to his son. "So no, he cant stay with us." The young man had not said anything but his father already knew Lance was thinking it. "Its for the better boy. We cant help him. This man can I think. Or at least know how to." With that he emptied the pipe well and stood up with a grunt. "Lets go boy. I will need your help hooking up the trailer." Reluctantly Lance did as his father said but not before putting down another bucket of fish for the giant lizard to eat. "We will be back in a little over a hour."

Rico ate the fish ignoring Devon for the moment but finally let out a low hiss. Turning its neck and head to look at the other mutant his nostrils flared and sucked in some air. As if the smell was not good enough a forked tongue came flicking out. It did not say anything. Just stared at him with yellow eyes that mutated to human eyes for a brief moment before returning. In zoos one could look into the eyes of a apex super predator with no fear. There was always something exciting about being so close to something so dangerous and wild. But this was no zoo. There were no bars.

In truth few souls really ever looked deep into Ricos eyes and lived to tell the tale. For many save a few you could count on one hand. It was the last thing they ever saw. As if losing interest the dragon mumbled a thought. "Little flesh ling." And resumed eating the fish.

Tempest quirked a brow at Bruno’s words. Maybe Lance had a way with animals or maybe he had a mutant way with animals. You never knew. All the talents in the world and through history, what was luck and what was power? What was skill and experience and what was inborn ability?

Those idle thoughts left him as the dragon spoke. It knew Sanctuary. It was disturbing even. Meat is meat was not a phrase you wanted to hear when trapped in a box with a dangerous shape shifted, struggling person. Was he drugged? He was talking more. Maybe he’d been hungry or the mask had kept him from eating in general? Fatigue too was a possibility but-

>> "They promised! Never forgive!"

Tempest inhaled, ready to strike if necessary. A few gusts would get the family out and pin the dragon but losing an arm sure seemed likely. Meat is meat. Heh, this was not what he’d ordered for the day. The dragon said he lost his name; how long had he been like this? Plum Island…

Bruno went on about keeping the dragon. Clearly he couldn’t. This was a person, not a pet. Devon merely nodded and gave a quick nod at the plan. “Eventually he’ll shift back,” Devon hoped. “And then we can move him somewhere safely. I and I’m sure he appreciates your care. I’ll wait for ya.”

They left and the dragon went back to eating. Devon wondered if he could spare any money to throw Bruno. That was a lot of fish to give away. What a kind, good dad. Man, if only a guy like that could run the country. Eventually the dragon was full enough to be distracted by a smell, however.

Tempest worried someone was approaching but then the dragon looked at him. It said nothing and neither did Tempest. He merely held its gaze. It wasn’t the first time he’d been eye to eye with a dangerous beast. He’d also been taught to keep eye contact with dangerous sorts you were counseling. Of course, you don’t provoke those with psychotic or violent tendencies either.

Thus, Tempest lowered his head, chin to chest, but kept his eye contact. His head went to the side slightly, a quite normal move for the weather warlock but also one of question. It mumbled at him and went back to its food.

“Fleshling?” Tempest queried. “I’m a mutant too although not with a power like you. I do help mutants. Sanctuary like you said. I’m in charge there now. Sounds like we have to help you though.” He paused, “No name though? I’m Devon. Any idea what you’d like to go by til we figure out your name? It could be anything.”

“I’m a mutant too although not with a power like you. I do help mutants. Sanctuary like you said. I’m in charge there now. Sounds like we have to help you though.”

The creature did not really know what to think of that. That he was even thinking was good progress though. "Like me? I don't know what I am. My head is not as foggy as before. Some things are coming back to me. I left sanctuary. Was a danger to myself and others. Had to learn control." Taking a wing joint Rico tapped his head with it, and not gently at that. "I don't want to remember. Its painful. I can still hear them."

“No name though? I’m Devon. Any idea what you’d like to go by til we figure out your name? It could be anything.”

"My name...." The reptile grumbled and bumped the side of his head against the wall. "My name....." He banged his head a few more times and then a look of realization dawned. "After I fell out the tank there were others like me. But different also floating in tanks. There were bodies everywhere in strange orange suits with tanks on there backs and masks. Orange flashing light. Alarms. I remember one who was still alive. He called me Níðhǫggr." It was a strange word and felt alien as he spoke it. "I don't think that is my name. But is all I have."

The creature grew restless after letting the name linger on his mind. "We must go and leave the humans behind. Academi will never let me go or anyone that knows." Pausing to look at the ground the dragon raised his head slowly to look at Devon. "They are coming."

"I can feel it inside of me. Get it out!" He barked. "I want it out!" If it was memory or just his mutation on the cellular level telling him was left for interpretation. There was something in his right leg. The flesh started to move as if worms were wiggling around under it as if trying to expel a foreign object. Out of nowhere the creature turned around his long neck and started to bite away at his leg producing quite a bit of blood and gore before ripping something free from the bone. Just as quickly as he chewed away the flesh healed and returned to normal as if no damage had ever occurred. Opening his mouth a chunk of tissue fell free and hit the ground with a wet smack. Lifting the very same self healed leg he stepped on the fleshy mass and was rewarded with a metallic crunching sound and a few sparks. The medically cemented tracking device attached to his bone being destroyed.

That was one less problem to worry about and probably for the best it was discovered now then later. But still the dragons words would ring true. "They are coming."

>> "Like me? I don't know what I am. My head is not as foggy as before...

Okay, that was a start.

>>…Some things are coming back to me. I left sanctuary.

Had he been at Sanctuary recently? How long ago. Devon couldn’t remember a dragon shifter specifically.

>>…Was a danger to myself and others. Had to learn control."

Control was important, especially if endangering others. Devon was proud this person, whomever it was, considered that.

>> "I don't want to remember. Its painful. I can still hear them."

Devon frowned, “I’m sorry. We don’t have to think on it and talk about it you don’t want to.” Instead he inquired as to the creature’s name but that bore some frustrations from the creature. The barely certified to assist under supervision psychologist recognized all the signs of amnesia. He’d have told the dragon to stop but something came back to him.

This reeked of a private organization or government agency. Tanks? Bodies? Serious concerns were rising in Tempest’s mind, especially if this did turn out to be something from Plum Island. By the suited people and the alarms he had to consider what they’d said of the night prior. Damn, he’d have to look into that.

The nickname was troubling. That’s the name on the tag. It was a dangerous bit of mythology.

>> "They are coming."

Devon nodded slowly, “Academi? Sounds like you’re remembering some important name. But I agree, we don’t want to get these two in danger’s path. If he could sense anyone’s approach or if he was simply paranoid, Devon had to agree.

Then the dragon started shouted and thrashing, biting at himself. It healed quickly but was wisely done considering a metal object was revealed and smashed. This was a serious ordeal. “They’re probably tracking that,” Devon said urgently. “Agreed we have to go. If you can’t shift back to a human form, it’s going to be hard to hide swiftly.”

He gestured to the wings, “If you can fly I can produce fog as we go to cloak your moments, but I can’t fly along with you. You could follow my car maybe? I know of some abandoned warehouses in the Red Hook area, not far from Sanctuary, where we can hide you.”

“Agreed we have to go. If you can’t shift back to a human form, it’s going to be hard to hide swiftly.”

Again words seemed to trigger more memory. "I can turn back. But it is very painful and takes a lot of energy to do. I will be weak and powerless to defend myself against any threats except for healing. I will be as any other human, beautifully flawed." Sure being in human form would allow him to blend in to crowds. But that came at the sacrifice of the power his dragon form provided.

“If you can fly I can produce fog as we go to cloak your moments, but I can’t fly along with you. You could follow my car maybe? I know of some abandoned warehouses in the Red Hook area, not far from Sanctuary, where we can hide you.”

"Yessssss." The dragon said lowly with a long hiss. "I want to be in the sky free of the troubles of the world. To be free once more. I can follow and provide help if trouble occurs." It is said he who hold dominion over the sky rules the earth. Devon would have some air support. A bit of the unconventional kind, but still no less valuable. Perhaps even more so.

"Please release me." The reptile asked and lifted up his folded wings a bit so Devon would have easy access to the buckles and straps keeping the body harness attached to him. While flying with it on probably would not trouble the dragon much. He just wanted it off. It felt oppressive.

This again was progress. The dragon already remembered how to turn back; that was good. He’d need to eventually but maybe not now, especially if it’d hurt and he’d be weak. Beautifully flawed? The dragon was a poet too. It would figure Devon got the poetic man-eating confused dragon and not the cute puppy serpentine dragon.

And he liked the flying plan. Great. Devon was jealous; he wanted to fly. However, even suggesting riding on this guy didn’t seem like a good idea. One, Devon didn’t have a saddle, and two he’d been kidnapped and harnessed and… It wasn’t Devon’s place to even suggest it. The dragon liked his plan and that was enough for me.

>> "Please release me."

“Okay, Falkor, with enough luck we can do this,” Tempest said eagerly. He ducked a shifting wing and got to work undoing the harness. “You can get to the sky and I’ll keep the fog and storm going. It’ll spread out about a mile so you should be okay. I’ll clear the area around me if I need help, get some thunder and lightning if I really need something. How’s that sound? You’ll have to follow me first to my car.”

The straps fell away and Devon pulled back the harness so it could drop off. “Alright, how’s that feel? You ready to fly?”

He was not sure what the Falkor reference was centered around. But it sounded familiar and he could only guess it put him at the butt of some kind of joke. So that left him only one appropriate response. "Smart ass." The reptile said to him with a monotone voice devoid of emotion indicating if he was amused or angry.

Feeling the harness fall free from his body was liberating. It would be even more so when he left the world and its problems far down below. "That is a sound plan. I just hope I don't end up like a bug in a zapper." Walking over to the door the creature bumped it with the flat of his head  and pushed the door open. Squeezing back outside the reptile was lucky not to get himself stuck like last time.

It was still foggy and rainy outside and Rico took a moment to look up and close his eyes to feel the drops hitting his face. "God is in the rain." It was a strange memory of a woman's voice. Was it a lovers? Perhaps his mothers? Whoever it was the memory of them was hazy and already fading away. "Ok..." The dragon said. "First things first, I need to stretch."

Balancing on one leg instinct took over and he kicked out the other leg with the outstretched bat like wing to stretch almost exactly how birds do. Afterwards it proceeded to do the same with the other wing and leg. Puffing out his chest the dragon beat his strong membrane wings that caused powerful gusts of air. "Yes, I am ready!" The creature said proudly. "Lead and I will follow."

Cover or no cover from the fog and storm the creatures pursuers were already setting up a outer and inner cordon in the immediate area. Anyone driving would run into a traffic control point with black SUV's and barricades at some point on the roads no matter what direction they went. A TCP being manned by black operations looking mercenary types with the words Academi on there vests and vehicles.

>> "Smart ass."

Devon grinned at the dangerous dragon before him. While the creature’s tone said nothing, the words were plenty. If he could remember such a reference and reply in such a way, or at least recognize the attempt at humor that was a good sign.

He was also concerned about the plan but agreed to it. “Great,” Devon said in reply. “I won’t be firing off at you. I’ve more control than that. If it gets too stormy in general, I’ll peel that back.” Straps down and plan agreed to they headed out into the fog.

Watching the dragon stretch was interesting. It was like watching an awakening. You could see the power in the creature’s movements and it was inspirational to hear it cheer him cheer it was ready. Devon smiled though he kept an eye out on the area around him. He’d come back and thank the family later.

>> "Lead and I will follow."

Devon nodded, his eyes dark, as he checked on the weather around them. Those orbs returned to a normal blue as he gave another nod and then started jogging back to his car, ensuring he didn’t follow any path of chaos. The rain had demolished the tracks and the fog made it a mess to see more than ten feet ahead of you anyway. None of that stopped the weather warlock of course. He couldn’t see any farther than a normal person of course, so knowing how the dragon was fairing above would be difficult.

First he went across the fish market and the other abandoned part of the shopping area. Montauk was a pretty quiet area anyway; it was over an hour to the nearest hospital. Down through a side park he went and then to the parking lot. He climbed into his zip car and started home.

It wasn’t long before he reached a line of a few cars headed west. Black SUV’s emblazoned with the word ‘Academi’ were parked on other side of the road. Clearly military trained agents were talking to drivers one by one. This was pretty serious if they were trying to barricade all ways in and out. Plum Island, certainly.

Devon rolled down his window as a man and a woman approached. “Good morning,” Devon said, eyes wide. “Is it true then?”

“Your name sir? And is what true?” the agent asked, brow knitting in frustration.

“Rory Monroe,” Devon said offhand, but then ticked up the anxiety and curiosity in his voice, “About what they’re saying. I heard some people on the beach say the Montauk Monster was prowling around! I mean, if you guys are here, it must be true…”

The woman cleared her throat, “Actually, Mr. Monroe we’re looking into anyone that might have caused the arson on Plum Island.”

“Oh,” Devon frowned, seemingly crest-fallen. “Well that wouldn’t be good for a story.”

“Story?” both agents asked.

“Yeah I’m trying to get hired as a journalist,” he smiled. “If you guys are able to pass me any details it could work in both our favor… Can you imagine the fame of those revealing the Montauk Monster was real? Some serious daytime talk show money!”

The male agent grunted with frustration. The woman merely shook her head, “No, sir. Though if you hear anything about the arson on Plum Island please reach out to us.” She handed over a business card for ‘Academi Associates’ and Devon took it eagerly.

The name on it was Joan Smith. Riiiiiight.

“Sure will! Maybe I’ll call just in case you heard something too…” Devon winked.

“Thank you, sir. Please move along,” the male agent waved as Joan was already looking to the next car.

Devon headed off and quickly pulled onto the main road that’d connect to the highway. Not ten minutes later when the grasses were high and there weren’t any cars next to him, he tossed the business card out the window. Joan Smith. Seriously?

Now to head for Red Hook and get the dragon into a warehouse. Hopefully there wouldn’t be an aerial search too…

Watching his ally jog off into the fog and disappear Níðhöggr's predatory instincts took over and a milky lens that existed among many crept over his eyes like a eyelid. The world lit up in color. The deep red of Devons body heat clearly visible. Another milky lens went over the other and Devons body appeared spectral and ghostly. The spidery red lines of his body's artery's now clearly visible. Finding his heat vision more preferable the second milky lens pulled away. It was no secret that some reptiles could see in different light spectrums. Including heat vision. But this dragons sight could see beyond the flesh. It was a advantage and made him a more effective predator.

Taking off at a jog himself Níðhöggr opened his wings and started to beat them until there was enough lift for him to rise up into the sky. He felt more at home up here with the world and its troubles below. He took to flying like a baby takes to water. As big as the reptile was it glided through the air with a rare elegance. Smooth in movement and silent. Only flapping his wings from time to time to help adjust to the air currents. If you were to ask him what it felt like when flying he would not be able to answer other then. "It was like swimming in a river, you could not fight it. Only let the current take you away."

Níðhöggr circled around lazily for the most part high up in the sky. Keep up with his new friend in there vehicle proved a easy enough task. Especially with his predatory vision that allowed him to see the vehicles heat signature. It was all going well until a road block of sorts appeared below. Seeing only heat signatures was limiting as the dragon could not make out any specific details. But after circling around Devon and his vehicle resumed its course.

While Academi did have a government lackey vibe about them the fact of the matter was that they were a PMC. A private military corporation. Mercenaries for hire. Or private security contractors as most in the public generally called them. Once upon a time they were once called black water. That was until there dirty secrets became known to the public. They changed there name and kept doing private contracts not only for the government. But private entities.

If they were working for the united state government was left for speculation. It could easily be said that they were working off the books in things the government did not know about, or would approve of for that matter. The company had a history of doing that in the past. Of course the that could be what the government wants people to think. Plausible deniability. There would be no aircraft in the air involved in the search. Working on the ground information could be controlled. But putting birds up in the air with there company's name attached to it from flight plans and ATC records would risk getting the government involved.

For the moment Academi was no longer a threat to either of them. But that could change in the future. Níðhöggr did not know how much time had passed. The ground below changed from open grassy lands to more populated areas. All the dragon knew was he was hungry and needed to eat again soon. His body was always hungry. Still following his ally below dark thoughts crept into his mind about how good his bones would feel crunching in his mouth.

Shaking his head and the thoughts from his mind the dragon kept gliding along lazily above. Soon enough something would present itself for him to eat. Perhaps some birds, or a deer? A jogger on the side of the road in the worst case scenario.

Hours later, Devon got off the high way. He stopped at a building, though this was clearly a populated residential area with a myriad of small businesses. He didn’t get out of his car either as it slowly went around the building. It was only a few minutes before his car was dashing along again.

Soon the buildings were large, brick and concrete dark fortresses. No lights twinkled from within them. Most of the streetlights flickered or were dead. More than a few of these fortresses hadn’t endured the harsh winters and raging summer storms as well as others. Roofs had collapsed and walls had fallen in. Few walked the streets but one car drove along.

Devon parked near the subway entrance under a collection of street lights. It was one of the few places people around here did park with some hope of getting their car back. He hefted some additional weight as he dashed down the street, through a fence, under some old broken walls, around a closed off alley and into an abandoned warehouse.

The front doors were barred and besides there was a collapsed building next door that blocked them. Devon had done his urban exploring though and found more than a few places he could practice in piece. The ceiling was almost completely collapsed, easily allowing the fog to drift in as the dark eyed Tempest willed it.

He dashed back to a small table he knew was sheltered from the elements and set down his gift for the dragon: a week’s worth of salary in cheeseburgers, fries, and nuggets. With a glance skyward, a column of air swirled gently clearing to the skies a way down to the ground and into the old hideout. If this wasn’t a dragon’s den, Devon didn’t know what was.

Well, aside from an old cave in England or something.

The dragon was hungry. Terribly so. But it was not surprising considering how fast his body broke down energy to maintain his dragon form and healing. But that was really something only a scientist could understand. Or at least someone who was familiar with that downside part of mutation. It was not exactly unseen in the world of mutation.

He did not really pay much attention to the surroundings and thus could not appreciate it. The dragons eyes had mutated for hunting purposes. Níðhǫggr fought against his feral nature and the grumbling of his stomach to the best of his ability. Better then anytime he had done so before in the past. He was slowly mastering self control, but it was far from perfect.

The dragon landed on a old brick building and watched his comrade dash through the rubble and enter a warehouse with the collapsed roof. But at that moment Níðhǫggr blacked out as the scent of blood came within olfactory contact. The sweet scent of rich blood that made his mouth water thin tendrils of drool. It was the last thought he could remember before he attacked a homeless man with a wrapped up cut hand and snatched him off the ground as easily as a eagle would a fish from water with his talon covered feet and just as elegantly.

Níðhǫggr did not land far from the warehouse on top of a old brick building with no roof access. He stepped on the humans chest to pin him and prevent the escape of his prey before devouring the man alive bit by bit. It was not a silent affair and the humans high pitched screams would carry through the still fogged air until it was finally silenced. Finished with the meal and leaving the bodies remains on the roof of the building that had no access and would probably not be discovered until years later the dragon took flight.

A column of swirling air was clear as day. Almost like a tornado in shape. But more gentle and served as a beacon. Níðhǫggr flew into the spire of swirling air and flared out his wings to allow the air to carry him through the hole in the roof to land on the ground heavily kicking up dust in the old building at the force of his impact. Still accepting he had resumed control of his body the wyvern rested his wing joints on the ground and trembled for a moment before allowing his chest to sink to the ground almost in spiritual defeat. "I'm sorry." The dragon said lowly with panted breaths of stress. His muzzle dripping bright red blood softly onto the ground in rhythmic taps. The ragged cloth of human cloths dangling from out the right side of his muzzle having been snagged between his serrated teeth. "I lost control...... The hunger was, to much. I really am a monster. I deserved to be locked away in those labs. At least then I would not hurt anyone"

He felt truth was in order. Níðhǫggr could have lied. But the mutant deserved to know just how bad his hunger was. That was if he did not already know. But how would he react? Most humans when confronted with a "man eater" hunted down the animal with extreme prejudice for the greater good as they called out. Man eating animals was a threat so they killed it. But his friend was not human. Would he understand? And if he did. The mutant should realize as much as he wanted to help the dragon. Níðhǫggr was the kind of mutant that was a threat not only to others, but himself. The mutant school specialized in helping those like him. The sanctuary? Well, they specialized in helping mutants in other ways. The dragon said he had left the sanctuary because he was to dangerous. Could his new friend who was the leader of the sanctuary really be able to help him? And if not, would he be willing to show the dragon to those who had the money, resources, and the facilities to help Níðhǫggr learn control.

Or was he willing to bring the dragon through those golden doors and risk it devouring all the life that lived in supposed sanctuary. The creature echoed a low thoughtful rumble in his chest as he looked to the table with about a weeks worth of fast food on it. "Seems so meaningless now....." The creature grumbled at the gift. Seeming to realize how he had come off the dragon added. "Thank you none the less. I did not mean to come off as ungrateful. You risked a lot to help me. I have little to offer you accept my gratitude."

"The world does not seem  so bleak now knowing people like you live in it. Rare are the souls that shine so brightly."