ic Moonshine Madness

[Supercape]

GM

 

17th October, Early Afternoon

 

Freedom City Zoo

 

Arctus and Slipstream had formed a friendship of sorts, and had, on a brisk and cloudless afternoon, found themselves in Freedom City Zoo for fun, japes, and perhaps even entertaining the chimpanzees and gorillas (of which there were both). 

 

Halloween was still a week or two away, but the hints of festivities to come were there. Adverts of special halloween events, pumpkins on sale, and so on. And, with this being a full moon night on a cloudless day, there was a certain ambience. 

 

The sun was low, and setting. In a half hour the stars would be twinkling. The moon was already in the sky, and full to the brim. 

 

The mysterious spirit Sunshade, a shadow who fed on repressed anger, had not bothered Jack since their first encounter, with Jack leaving him bloated and obese, so stuffed he could hardly move. And yet, like an itch, or an inkling, Jack knew the spirit was there. Sunshade himself had said that he had never, in centuries or millenia, had such a feast as Arctus - who was repressing the bear rage within. 

 

But! for now, the snakes were hissing, the wolves were howling, and the chimpanzees were going "ook" in a delightful way!

 

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

Lynn had been rather quiet during the Uber ride from Claremont to the zoo, something that was not necessarily atypical for the blonde teen, who often had a rather downcast demeanor on campus. While she had been quick to accept Jack’s invitation to go with him to the zoo, the sixteen-year-old had been experiencing some…uncertainty about the outing.

 

It had nothing to do with Jack, at least not directly, but was more to do with Lynn's own issues related to her home timeline, particularly her feelings of guilt. But by the time they had arrived at the zoo, she resided herself to not dwelling on those feelings and doing her best to enjoy the moment. Jack deserved nothing less.

 

The blonde teen was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, a red sweater, over which she wore a light-grey windbreaker, a pair of white tennis shoes rounding out the outfit. As was typical of her wardrobe, her entire outfit appeared brand new (as it in fact was).

 

Looking up at Jack as the pair walked into the zoo, Lynn managed one of her faint smiles. "Thanks for inviting me to come along Jack. I'm not sure how long it has been since I have been to the zoo." She said, though in the back of her mind she was wondering what differences she might find between the zoo in this timeline and the one from her own.
 

[Jack]

Jack shifted uncomfortably in the Uber's back seat, the silence heavy between him and Lynn. His fingers traced patterns of frost on his thigh as his mind replayed the chaos at the art gallery. The memory of transforming into his bear form in front of everyone gnawed at him. He glanced at Lynn's reflection in the window, catching glimpses of her distant expression.

 

She'd accepted his invitation to the zoo, which had surprised him. After witnessing his wild side, he'd expected her to keep her distance. Most people did. The zoo felt like a safe choice - he'd always found peace among animals. Though that thought made him pause. Was choosing the zoo just proving how different he was?

 

The car pulled up to the entrance. Jack unfolded his large frame from the vehicle, his worn cargo shorts and sleeveless hoodie a stark contrast to Lynn's put-together appearance. 

 

"Yous look nice today," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yous outfits, they always look amazing." 

 

The Uber pulled away as Jack dug into his pocket, retrieving some crumpled bills for their tickets. Lynn's quiet thank you for the invitation brought a genuine smile to his face.

 

"I yam happy you vanted to come," he chuckled, "after disaster of last time ve vent out." His expression softened as he studied her face. "Everything okay vith you? You seem... quiet today."

 

They entered the zoo proper and Jack noticed the festive decorations. In all the commotion of starting school, being a superhero and moving to Clairemont, he had forgotten what time of year it was. A refreshing breeze swept across the zoo grounds, though he found it peculiar how other visitors appeared to shiver and huddle as if chilled.

 

 

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

At Jack's comment about her outfit, Lynn blushed slightly as she looked down at her new, and somewhat expensive clothes. The blonde teen never particularly thought about her clothes, but knew she had grown up in very privileged conditions (which had not changed since this timelines version of her mother had taken her in), so she always had plenty of options in terms of clothing.

 

"Thank you." She replied. "But, to be honest, it is not hard to look good when you have the money to spend on clothes." She then added with an almost dismissive shrug.

 

She had another of her half smiles when Jack mentioned the events of their visit to the art gallery during the summer. "Well, not an uncommon situation for people like us. My mom told me plenty of stories about having to duck out of dates and parties in high school and college."

 

Her smile faded as he asked her if she was okay, mentioning her being quiet. "Sorry…I…just have a lot on my mind." She replied, while inwardly she chided herself for letting her issues overly cloud her mood today. 

 

"I promise I will try to stay focused more on the present." She added as they moved into zoo, taking in the Halloween decorations that had been put up.
 

[Jack]

Jack chuckled at Lynn's modest dismissal of her fashion sense. "Nyet, is not just money. You could vear things from thrift store and make look like runway show." The bear spirit rumbled approvingly inside him at her easy acceptance of their chaotic art gallery adventure.

 

"Is nice, having parent who understands this life." He felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Finally someone who got it, who didn't need everything hidden or explained away. His smile faltered slightly as thoughts of his own family surfaced. His parents were good people, but they lived in careful denial of what he'd become. To them, he was still their little Vanya who they'd left in Siberia with his grandparents. And while babushka and dedushka had helped him understand his shamanic heritage, they were now half a world away.

 

Jack noticed Lynn's smile dimming as she mentioned having a lot on her mind. His heart ached seeing her try to force herself to focus on their outing.

 

"Hey." He stopped and turned towards her as he tapped his temple with one large finger. "Most times up here, is just bear thinking about fish and honey. And sometimes chili..." His lips quirked up hopefully, trying to coax back her smile. "You don't have to try be anything vith me. Is nice just being around someone vho understands. If you have things on mind, is okay too. Ve can talk, or not talk. Both good."

 

He looked up at the signs for exhibits. "I yam partial to bears…obviously, but also love see de monkeys." He let the statements just float in the air, letting her take them where she wanted to.

 

[Supercape]

GM

 

"And the wolves?"

 

One of the Zookeepers was just by them, feeding some snakes. He was slightly on the small side, wearing a yellow high- visibility jacket and a sour face. He looked, not precisely sleepy - but tired, burnt out. Haggard, harassed. Somebody who was doing something because they were cursed to do it, rather than chose to. And yet he did not seem cruel or angry, just, well... tired. 

 

His face was of brown complexion, maybe native American, but hard to tell. His eyes were dark, and he had not a single hair on his head. HIs scalp was a shiny as a billiard ball. 

 

"Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt your date," he said, voice soft to the point of mumbling. "Bears and monkeys are good. Don't go by the wolves - something wrong with them here. Mean spirited, you could say."

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

Lynn glanced away for a moment as she once again blushed slightly at Jack's comment about her ability to make any outfit look good. It was not that the blonde teen was unaware that she was attractive, but she did tend to not put much thought into her looks or her outfits. Certainly not as much as her mother did (or this timelines version of her mother), or someone like their classmate Estelle.

 

When Jack mentioned having parents who understood having powers, Lynn tensed up for a brief moment. While she certainly agreed with the comment, what Jack did not know was that Lynn parents were gone, lost with the rest of her timeline, and while it was certainly true this timelines version of Megan Howell and her husband understood being involved in the superhuman community all too well, the reminder of her parents stung. Lynn somehow managed to hold back tears, glancing away again and brushing her eyes slightly.

 

Thankfully Jack gave her something else to focus on, as he mentioned some of the thoughts generally going on through his head, causing her to chuckle slightly and manage a faint smile. "It would be nice to just have to worry about the things most teenagers or people think about." She said. She was going to add a bit more, when the nearby zookeeper spoke up about avoiding the wolves.

 

Lynn glanced over to the man, before giving a small nod. "Thanks for the heads up." She stated before looking back up to Jack. "So maybe avoid the wolves. Guess we can start with primates?"
 

[Jack]

Jack felt his jaw tighten as the zookeeper interrupted their moment. The bear spirit inside him growled softly - this had been the first time Lynn had started opening up. Still, the man seemed genuinely concerned, if a bit odd. Jack forced his features to relax.

 

"Spasibo, thank you for warning." He gave the tired-looking man a polite nod, though his massive frame couldn't help but loom over the smaller zookeeper.

 

As they walked away from the snake exhibit, Jack studied Lynn's profile. The ghost of a smile still played at her lips, and some of the tension had left her shoulders. That small laugh she'd given at his bear-brain comment had been worth more than gold to him. 

 

They came to a split in the path, one direction leading toward chattering sounds and colorful signs for the primate exhibits, the other toward a more densely wooded area. Jack's eyes lingered on the latter path, where he could just make out the wolf enclosure through the trees.

 

"Ve could go see monkeys..." He scratched his chin thoughtfully before breaking into a mischievous grin. "But truth is, now I really vant to see vhat makes wolves so mean-spirited." He raised an eyebrow at Lynn. "Unless you think ve had enough trouble for vun week already?"

 

The breeze picked up again, carrying the distinct scent of predators. Jack's heightened senses caught whiffs of wolf, making the bear spirit stir with interest. There was something else there too - something that made his shamanic instincts prickle - but he couldn't quite place it.

 

 

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

Lynn followed alongside Jack as they left the zookeeper and moved further into the zoo. They had not gone far when they came to a fork in the path, with one direction leading towards the primates and other exhibits, the other towards the section of the zoo that housed the wolf enclosure.

When Jack stopped at the crossroad, the blonde teen stopped as well, turning to regard him as he seemed momentarily lost in thought before admitting he was a bit curious about what might be going on with the wolves. Lynn shrugged slightly at the suggestion of trying to avoid more trouble. "From all the stories I have heard over the years, the one thing I am pretty sure of is that there is no real way to avoid trouble." Even as she spoke, the teen felt a pang of emptiness as she thought of her parents again.

 

Thankfully she was able to quickly push past that thought before it made her start to cry, instead turning to regard the path that led to the wolf enclosures. "So, I guess we might as well head straight toward potential trouble."

 

"But, if we are lucky, it will just turn out that zookeeper is a bit overworked and seeing things that are there."
 

[Supercape]

GM

 

The zoo was thinning by this time, the number of pedestrians becoming progressively scanter. A combination of the time of year, the cool weather, a touch of rain, and the darkness all conspired to make it a rather miserable time to see the animals. But the cloud cover was spotty, erratic. Stars and a full moon lit the way, only slightly marred by light pollution. It had a nice ambiance. A few couples were canoodlin' by moonlight. 

 

The wolf pen was large, and well designed, with plenty of wood and flora to scuttle around, and a faux-cave constructed in a mound in the centre of the pen. Lynn and Jack could see a few prowl, and no doubt a few more were inside the cave - they could catch glints of wolf-eyes in the darkness. 

 

Red meat, jagged, raw, lay outside the cave entrance, along with some bones. There was no doubt about it, these wolves were carnivores, hungry - and yet the meat was only half eaten. They craved something sweeter. 

 

Jack caught the smell of the restless ones. Something sickly, angry in their scent. They growled, they drooled, they looked at Jack with hungry eyes. Their build was remarkable - a mixture of skinny and muscular, with each paw raking the ground like nails across a blackboard. 

[Jack]

Jack's brow furrowed as he took in the scene before them at the wolf enclosure. The large, raw slabs of meat and gnawed bones strewn about the cave entrance should have been a wolf's delight, yet the food lay only half-consumed. It was as if the predators craved something more than mere sustenance, something that made Jack's bear spirit stir uneasily within him. His enhanced senses picked up their agitation - the way their muscles twitched beneath matted fur, the sharp tang of aggression in their scent that reminded him more of rabid beasts than the proud hunters these wolves should have been.

 

A low rumble emanated from deep within Jack's chest, an unconscious response to the unsettling sight before him. The bear spirit's unease resonated through their shared bond, making his muscles tense and the temperature around him drop several degrees. Frost began to crystallize along his exposed arms as his instincts screamed that something was deeply wrong with these wolves, something that went beyond normal predator behavior. Jack shook his head slightly, trying to push back the primal urge.

 

As he focused more on the wolves themselves, a sense of unease washed over him. Their scent carried something sickly and angry, a wrongness that set his teeth on edge. The bear spirit recoiled at the putrid smell - like decay mixed with burning chemicals and raw hatred. Even without his enhanced senses, Jack could tell these weren't normal wolves. His nostrils flared as he tried to process the unfamiliar odor, fighting back a surge of nausea that threatened to overwhelm him. The wolves prowled restlessly, their lean muscles rippling beneath patchy fur. They raked the ground with each step, leaving jagged furrows in the earth. 

 

When their hungry, bloodshot eyes locked onto Jack, he couldn't suppress the warning growl that rumbled up from his throat, a sound that was equal parts human and bear. The feral intensity of their gaze stirred something primal within him, making the bear spirit bristle beneath his skin. His muscles tensed instinctively, and he shifted his bulk to stand protectively in front of Lynn, his broad shoulders forming a barrier between her and the agitated predators.

 

"Someting tell me ve not so lucky…" Jack muttered, his words tinged with a mix of concern and suspicion. He was starting to regret not heeding Lynn's suggestion to visit the monkey exhibit instead. The bear spirit within him bristled, ready for confrontation, sending waves of primal energy coursing through his veins like arctic wind. But Jack knew better than to provoke the clearly disturbed animals further - his years living in the wilderness had taught him that cornered predators were the most dangerous kind. He could feel his own bestial nature yearning to answer their challenge, but he forced those instincts down with practiced restraint.

 

He looked behind him to gauge Lynn's reaction

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

When the pair reached the wolf enclosure, Lynn looked out at it, trying to get a sense of what might be going on within. Not immediately spotting any of the wolves, her gaze instead fell on the meat and bones strewn about the cave entrance, her nose crinkling slightly in disgust.

 

And the Jack was standing defensively in front of her, blocking her view of the pen. There was a part of the blonde teen that felt a slight sense of irritation, but overall she was not bothered by his protective nature, having gotten a sense, it was part of his general nature. 

 

"We rarely are." She commented quietly to his comment about them not being lucky that it was nothing. When he glanced back toward her, Lynn looked up into his eyes. "I mean, besides the ominous state of the enclosure, I am not seeing much to be concerned about, do you sense something more?"
 

[Jack]

Jack turned his back to the wolves, fighting every primal instinct screaming at him not to expose himself to predators. The bear spirit's agitation rippled through him like ice water in his veins, but curiosity won out. He wanted to see if these unnatural creatures would react to such a clear display of vulnerability.

 

Looking down at Lynn, Jack met her bright eyes with an uncharacteristically grave expression. The usual playful glint was gone from his gaze, replaced by something harder and more focused. His massive frame cast a shadow over her smaller form as he spoke in low, measured tones.

 

"Ist not right, any of it." He gestured behind him without looking. "Wolves should fight over meat like that, should tear apart, should eat every scrap. But look - barely touched. And smell..." He wrinkled his nose, struggling to find the right words to describe the wrongness his enhanced senses detected. It was a scent unlike anything he had encountered before - sickly sweet and cloying, with an undercurrent of something rotten and decayed. The odor seemed to coat his tongue and throat, making him want to gag. Even worse, it clung to everything around them, saturating the air and ground as if the very earth itself was tainted. "Is like... like something sick and angry mixed together. Not natural predator smell."

 

The temperature around them dropped a couple degrees as his agitation grew. "They move wrong too. Too skinny but still strong. Like they starving but not for meat." The bear spirit's restless energy made his muscles twitch and spasm beneath his skin, like a caged animal pacing back and forth. It was growing increasingly agitated, feeding off Jack's own unease about the unnatural creatures they faced. He could feel the spirit's primal urge to lash out, to tear into these twisted abominations with fang and claw. Jack clenched his fists, willing the spirit to settle. Now was not the time to let instinct override reason, no matter how much he longed to unleash the beast within. "Nothing about this place feels right."

 

Behind him, he could feel the weight of multiple predatory gazes boring into his back. The wolves' attention felt different from any wild animal he'd encountered before - more calculated, more malevolent. It made his skin crawl in a way that even facing down an angry grizzly never had. The sensation was deeply unsettling, an instinctual warning that something was fundamentally wrong here. Every nerve ending tingled with the wrongness of it, setting Jack further on edge. He'd stared death in the face before, but this... this was different. Unnatural. It took every ounce of his willpower to keep his breathing even and his mind focused on the task at hand.

[Supercape]

GM

 

The moonlight glistened on the wet pavement of the zoo. Everything seemed still, too still, like the deep breath before the plunge into icy sea's. 

 

"Told you..."

 

It was the Zookeeper, behind them, leaning on a broom, face as sour as a bag of lemons. "Something ain't right."
 

He looked left, looked right, then leant towards them, tapped his nose. "Listen, kids, it ain't safe here. These wolves been infected. I gotta put 'em down. And it won't be pretty."

 

A shadow slinked over the moonlit wet pavement, almost invisible. Lynne did not spot it, but Jack did - he knew it too well. The shadowy spirit that fed of repressed anger, who saw Jack as the biggest feast that ever lived. 

 

The spirit known as Sunshade. Living Shadow. Until, of course, he fed...

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

Lynn looked up at Jack as he spoke, noting the change in his demeanor as he explained what he was sensing from the wolves in the enclosure. The blonde teen had little reason to question what Jack was saying, while she was not entirely clear as to the extent of his powers, he certainly seemed to have insight into the animals. "What should we do? What can we do?" She asked quietly, while rather unsure if there was much of anything she would be able to do with her powers.

 

And then the strange zookeeper from near the entrance was near them again, Lynn glancing over as he spoke up. If she was slightly surprised by his sudden appearance, she was even more surprised as he casually talked about having to put the animals down.

 

"That seems a bit extreme." She commented, still very uncertain about the situation she had found herself in. "Haven't the veterinarians considered isolating them and seeing if there is some treatment before just deciding to destroy them?"
 

[Jack]

Jack's heightened senses screamed danger as the zookeeper's words hung in the air. Something about the man's scent was wrong - it carried none of the usual human markers of sweat and skin, just an empty void that made his nose burn. The bear spirit within him tensed, hackles raised.

 

A familiar darkness crept across the wet pavement, and Jack's muscles coiled tight like steel springs. The air chilled sharply as delicate ice formations spread in lacy designs across the damp asphalt beneath him. He knew that shadow, knew the hunger that drove it. The pieces clicked into place - the wolves' unnatural behavior, their half-eaten meat, the wrongness that permeated everything. They'd been touched by something similar to what had marked him.

 

Without taking his eyes off the approaching shadow, Jack placed a steadying hand on Lynn's shoulder. His voice came out in a low rumble, careful to keep any hint of the growing rage from bleeding through. "They need exorcism, da? Is spirit sickness." The bear within him paced restlessly, wanting nothing more than to tear into the darkness that dared intrude on their territory. Jack could feel the spirit's agitation thrumming through his veins, an icy fury that threatened to consume him. It took every ounce of his willpower to keep the beast at bay, to maintain his tenuous grip on his humanity. The wrongness that emanated from the encroaching shadow set his teeth on edge and made his skin crawl. Every instinct screamed at him to let loose, to unleash the primal power that surged just beneath the surface and destroy this abomination before it could do more harm.

As Sunshade's familiar burning smile materialized in the growing darkness, Jack felt his lips pull back in a silent snarl, his heightened senses picked up the acrid scent of burnt ozone that always accompanied the shadow's presence. Ice crystals began forming over his veins and up his forearms, intricate patterns crackling softly in response to his rage. His voice dripped with barely contained fury as he addressed the shadow directly, each word emerging as a cloud of frozen breath in the still air.

 

"Vhat you doing here, demon? You interrupt wery nice date..." The last word came out as more growl than speech, ice crackling beneath his feat as he shifted his weight, struggling to keep his more bestial nature in check. His gaze flicked between the infernal shade and the zookeeper, whom he suspected might be infected too.

 

[Supercape]

GM

 

Sunshade slinked over the wet tarmac, until it resided - as a shadow - just by the feet of Jack. The pair could see the faint orange eyes, the faint orange grin of the spirit. 

 

"A date? How romantic. And irrelevant. But please to meet you, all the same," said the spirit, giving a two-dimensional bow from the floor to Lynne. "You don't have the anger, do you? Its more... well, I don't really know other feelings very well. More of a fear from you, I think. Or regret. I don't understand these things. Other spirits might, but that's a tale for another day. Maybe I'll let them know of you. Superheroes, well, everythings dailed up to eleven isn't it? All those delicious fatty juice of emotion..."

 

He turned his attention back to Jack. 

 

"You really are a once in a lifetime feast, Jack. All that corked rage. And here we have something to really needle your nerves. The wolves! you can sense it, can't you. Something wrong. Something sick. Now... what sickness to wolves have at a full moon? I wonder..."

 

Something clinked. 

 

"Did you hear that? It's almost as if the locks to the pen have opened...."

[Thevshi]

Slipsteam

 

Lynn had a concerned look on her face as Jack seemed to stare into the distance at….something. She did not flinch when he placed his hand on her shoulder, but she was a bit surprised when he spoke, mentioning an exorcism. "An exorcism? I…that is way beyond my experience." She replied. While growing up in her home timeline Lynn was aware that there was magic and even had met heroes that used magic, that was about the extent of her experience with it. 

 

And then Jack began to have ice crystals form as cold began to emanate from him, causing the blonde teen to step slightly away from the chill. She looked up at him with growing concern as he began to look increasingly angry. "Easy Jack…it's okay." She tried to say, hoping she could somehow reassure him everything would be okay.

 

And then he began addressing a demon. For a moment, Lynn could not see any sign of who or what he might be addressing, other than the zookeeper, but then she saw the faint orange eyes and grin in the shadows that drew closer and closer to Jack. As the voice spoke to them, the blonde teen did feel a bit of fear grip at her, mainly because this was so alien and beyond her experience. A part of her wanted to run away, even if just to be able to change into her costume to allow her to more freely act at full speed.

 

But the zookeeper was still nearby, watching the pair and oddly quiet. The last thing she could do would be to effectively disappear and come back in costume as if nothing had happened.

 

She focused back on the shadow and the chilling voice coming from it. While she fully did not understand what it was, it certainly sounded as if it fed on emotions, more specifically rage. It certainly did not seem to understand the many emotions swirling through her, but it seemed focused on Jack and his anger.

 

"Don't give it what it wants Jack." She said, looking over towards the wolf enclosure as there was a sound of something clicking, possibly unlocking.
 

[Jack]

Jack's thoughts spiraled frantically as the situation deteriorated, his heart pounding against his ribs like a caged animal. He could feel frost beginning to form along his arms, a physical manifestation of his growing unease as he struggled to maintain control. The primal urge of his bear spirit pushed against his consciousness, demanding action, demanding that he protect what was his. His mind raced through scenarios - should he change now? Get Lynn away first? He'd brought her into danger. Stupid, stupid. The wolves would be loose any second. Had to protect her, had to-

 

Lynn's steady voice cut through his mental chaos like a knife. "Don't give it what it wants, Jack."

 

The ice instantly began to melt away. Jack looked down at her, really looked at her, marveling at how this tiny woman could ground him so completely. Fear flickered in her eyes, yes, but behind it burned something stronger - determination, courage, a fierce resolve that reminded him of the steel-willed hunters he'd known in Siberia. The sight loosened the knot in his chest, melting away the last traces of frost that had threatened to overtake him. His tense muscles relaxed and a small smile tugged at his lips, grateful that she could pull him back from the edge so effortlessly.

 

"Good thing yous got my back, da?" Their eyes met, and he gave a slight nod. Every protective instinct screamed at him to get her far from here. But he remembered how she'd handled herself at the art gallery - her speed, her strength. She wasn't some helpless civilian to shelter. She was a hero, like him.

 

Jack positioned himself between Lynn and the wolf enclosure, he would take the brunt of this mess, as it was his mess after all. The bear spirit still prowled restlessly within, but its rage had cooled to steady resolve. Let Sunshade go hungry tonight. They'd face whatever came together, protect those who couldn't protect themselves. And maybe, if they made it through this, she'd still want to hang out the next time he asked...

 

 

[Supercape]

GM

 

"Awww! What have you done with that fury, my friend?" said Sunshade, slinking in the shadows before them. "Its like a chocolate sundae, right before me, then snatched! Wicked!"

 

To their side, Lynne and Jack heard the cry of a child - well, more a teenager. And being a teenager, it was more of an awkward whelp. The teenager was maybe fifteen, tall gangly, awkward. He sported long ragged hair and some almost-stubble. His face was erratically constructed, his most defining feature a wide, large mouth. He wore a faded t-shirt with a "Pac-Man" logo. 

 

And then, behind them - the sound of falling clothes. 

 

Where had the zookeeper gone? Vanished. All that was left were his clothes in a bedraggled heap on the floor. 

 

"Interesting!" said Sunshade. "Oh! It's all about to kick off, isn't it! Haha! Who let the dogs out?"

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

Lynn felt a slight sense of relief as Jack seemed to heed her words about not feeding this….demon that seemed interested in him, even if everything else seemed to be going to hell around them. She gave a faint smile in return.

 

And then she quickly turned toward the teenager that cried out nearby before turning again to where the zookeeper had just disappeared, leaving his clothes behind.

 

Okay, things are certainly going bad. She thought to herself as she stepped around Jack so he was between her and the teenager.

 

And then in a blur she was gone for a brief moment, a *WOOSH* of air behind Jack at her passing. And then another *WOOSH* as she speed back next to him, now in her red and black costume, her goggles in place, giving her much expanded view of what was going on around them.

 

"Don't want to feed that thing…but we might need the bear." She said to Jack as she stood beside him, bracing for the appearance of any threats….
 

[Jack]

Jack's mind raced faster than Lynn could run, which was saying something. The bear spirit within him prowled restlessly, eager to be unleashed, but Sunshade's presence made him hesitate. The shadow demon fed on his rage, and transforming would give it exactly what it craved. Yet Lynn's words about needing the bear echoed in his ears, mixing confusingly with that stupid "Who Let The Dogs Out" song now stuck in his head.

 

Bah! Stupid song! Stupid shadow! Stupid everything!

 

Frost crackled across his skin as his internal temperature plummeted, responding to his agitation. Ice crystals formed delicate patterns up his arms and across his broad chest, the thin sheen of frost giving his tan skin an ethereal blue glow in the dim light. The bear spirit's restless energy thrummed through his veins like arctic wind, ready to burst forth at a moment's notice.

 

The familiar whoosh of displaced air told him Lynn had changed before he even turned to look. He couldn't help but steal a glance at her sleek costume, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the tension crackling in the air.

 

"Always looking good in black and red, da? Even vhen facing crazy shadow demons and disappearing zookeepers." His accent thickened with amusement, though his eyes remained sharp and alert. "Is nice to have fastest fashion model in vorld on my side."

 

Jack felt the familiar surge of cold energy coursing through his body as the thin layer of frost coating his skin began to thicken. The bear spirit's restless power manifested in jagged crystalline formations that sprouted from his joints like frozen armor. Sharp spires of ice erupted from his elbows and shoulders, reaching skyward like the spears of ancient warriors. Each crystal caught what little moonlight filtered through the clouds, casting prismatic reflections across the wet pavement.

 

The ice formations weren't just decorative - Jack could feel the raw power contained within them, ready to be unleashed. His connection to winter itself seemed to pulse through the crystals, making them vibrate slightly with each beat of his heart. The temperature around him plummeted further as more ice formed, creating intricate patterns that resembled the sacred patterns his grandmother had shown him in old Ket artwork.

 

The bear spirit's presence grew stronger with each new crystal, its primal nature bleeding through in the way the ice formations mimicked claws and fangs. Jack fought to maintain control, knowing that giving in completely to the spirit's urges would only feed Sunshade's hunger. Still, he couldn't deny the rush of power that came with letting even this much of his abilities manifest. The ice armor felt right, felt natural, like an extension of his own body.

 

"Is getting bit chilly, da?" he muttered to Lynn, trying to keep his voice steady despite the surge of energy coursing through him. The crystals continued to grow, creating a mask of ice that gave him an animalistic appearance. Each new formation added to his imposing silhouette, transforming him from merely large to truly intimidating.

 

Jack felt an icy calm wash over him at Lynn's presence, drawing comfort from having a trusted ally at his back. Whatever Sunshade had planned, at least they would face it together.

[Supercape]

GM

 

It was a dim night, but the moon and stars shone, and Lynne - now armed with her costume and goggles - could see perfectly. The whole zoo was lit up with ultravoilet, 'twas as if the city was in broad daylight to her. 

 

Wolves. A dozen of them, creeping out of the zoo door. Yes, it was unlocked. But how? why? Each wolf looked sick, diseased, hungry and mangy. Ribs showing, gums receded, drooling. And for all their sickly look, they looked ferocious too. They had the strength of fury and desperation, the way a hungry lion was more dangerous than a full one. 

 

The Zookeepers empty clothes rustled on the floor. 

 

"Sheesh! Whats happening?" blabbered the teenager in the pac-man t-shirt, rubbing his thin arms. "I mean, seriously, what's happening?"

 

He looked seventeen and scared out of his wits. 

 

"Who are you guys? Why's it so cold?"

[Thevshi]

Slipstream

 

Lynn felt her cheeks redden slightly as Jack commented on her costume and compared her with a fashion model. "I certainly try." She managed to say in response. While the blonde teen knew she had inherited her mother’s looks and figure, she was still not fully comfortable wearing something as form fitting as the costume her adopted mother had arranged to be made for her. She still felt a bit…exposed wearing it, at least when she was not moving at high speed and thus a bit harder to clearly see. But at the moment, she certainly appreciated the high-tech goggles that were part of the costume, as they were providing her plenty of information on the area around them, and cutting through the moonlit darkness.

 

"There are a dozen wolves creeping out of the enclosure." Lynn said quietly to Jack as she stayed near his side.

 

As the teen spoke up to ask them questions, the speedster turned her attention to him. "I am Slipstream. We need you to start making your way calmly towards the zoo entrance please."
 

[Jack]

Jack couldn't help grinning at Lynn's modest response to his compliment, warmth blooming in his chest despite the arctic chill emanating from his frost-covered skin. Having her close felt right, even if their evening had taken an unexpected turn toward the bizarre. Her presence helped anchor him, keeping the bear spirit's more aggressive urges in check.

 

"Beautiful and modest. Ist gud combo," Jack murmured in his thick accent, a gentle rumble in his chest as he watched Lynn interact with the teen. Even with the chaos unfolding around them, he couldn't help but admire how she carried herself with such grace and humility. The bear spirit within him stirred contentedly, appreciating these softer moments amidst their duties as heroes.

 

The wolves' approach set his teeth on edge. Their movements were wrong - too jerky, too desperate. The teen boy stood far too close to the emerging pack for Jack's comfort. The bear spirit growled its agreement deep within his mind.

 

Jack exhaled slowly, his breath crystallizing in the night air. He raised his hands, feeling the moisture around him respond to his will. Water droplets condensed from the humid air, swirling down his massive arms in elegant spirals. As the water reached his palms, the temperature plummeted. The liquid transformed into ice and snow, launching forward in a controlled blast that struck the pavement with precision.

 

The first snow brick formed instantly, roughly the size of a cement block. Jack's mind worked quickly, directing the flow of ice and snow. More bricks materialized and stacked themselves neatly, creating a steadily growing barrier between the frightened teenager and the approaching wolves. The wall extended outward from where he stood, its construction accompanied by the soft crackle of rapidly freezing water.

 

The ice wall grew higher and longer with each passing second, giving the boy a clear path toward safety while blocking the wolves' advance. Jack kept his movements controlled and precise, not wanting to feed Sunshade's hunger with any display of anger or aggression.