Hey everyone. I hope you liked the last chapter.
Oh, and if anyone would be so kind, don't hesitate to tell me if I've got something wrong, my knowledge of Changed's lore isn't the most perfect ^^'
So, I guess I should say it.
Let's go!
Spoiler alert, K loves to sigh XD
Omg I realized while making this, I went on the wiki, and I saw Collin is actually Colin, now I have to edit all the chapters, thank god it's only the third one and not, let's say chapter 30, phew.
Chapter three.
Nothing?
- And after that you finally arrived.
Colin took a breath, having made little to no pause while narrating what was nearly a week.
K only raised a brow, before talking.
- And now we are stuck here until the storm has passed, am I right?
- Well duh, was his answer.
Sigh from the scientist.
He looked at the fai-Puro.
"Puro, I still have to get used to him having it-his own name… and gender apparently."
Just as he was taking a look at the black wolf, he couldn't help but remark that he seemed… nervous… more then usual.
Hesitantly, he barely prodded his arm, making Puro jump slightly in surprise.
- Ah… uh, what is it K?
- Something is bothering you? You look stressed about something, said the oldest of the trio.
The canine fidgeted a bit on is part of the couch before he finally spilled the beans.
- These… things, he began, j-just what were these… I n-never heard of some… of something like that.
Shrug from Lin, sigh from K.
- Dunno, said the younger one, from what I saw when we turned around, it didn't seemed really friendly to me.
"Still," he thought to himself, "it felt almost as if… they weren't even normal to begin with, nowhere near being sentient…"
A shiver ran up his spine.
"It's like they are even worse then animals… like they are… mindless."
Doubt surged in his mind, before he listened to what the scientist had said.
- I have my suspicions, but nothing that could be confirmed yet, declared the wolf with a sigh, I would have to get back to the tower, but with these things outside and not even talking of the storm, I would have no chance on my own. If only we had a way to contact the refuge from here…
The researcher looked pensive, before his muzzle suddenly twitched, a brief smile illuminating his face.
- Lin, you think we could investigate the town once the storm has passed?
The former human looked surprised to be the one asked.
- Uh, he blinked off of his surprised state, sure, why not? But these things we saw comes out at night, so we will have to wait until daytime to even go outside…
K only nodded in acknowledgement.
- Good to know.
With yet another sigh, he got up.
Seemed like the discussion was over.
[Later, in the morning.]
K didn't thought he would be able to sleep with the storm raging outside, even less with the thought of the creatures possibly coming back and barging in while everyone slept.
Come to think of it, the sun was shining unusually bright despite the blinds blocking most of the light. Maybe the storm had lasted not as long as he had thought?
Without a sound, he shook himself, his fur puffing with the sudden motion, getting a low mumble from him as he went to the task of flattening it, he had an image of himself to preserve, he couldn't just go around and look like some dog coming from outside in the rain.
"If they see me like this I might as well die out of embarrassment," he thought, irritated.
A yawn was heard from behind just as he finished disciplining his fur.
- Mornin' K, mumbled Puro as he went and grabbed something to eat.
Looking for himself, he couldn't help but to see that nearly all that was still edible was canned food.
- Hiya, greeted Lin as he came out of the basement and just took a can while passing next to the older canine, uh, got the microwave to work somewhat, stops midway through half the time though, he said.
The young wolf had a bad night to say the least, and he was not willing to talk about it.
"I'm surprised I didn't had any nightmare too."
That's when a sound that heavily resembled an explosion was heard, much to K's shock and Colin's annoyance.
With a low growl he went in the kitchen.
- I THOUGHT I SAID NO MORE KNIVES IN THE TOASTER! ! ! ! ! !
[A few hours later.]
- So, ready?
- All set, Puro exclaimed with renewed positivity.
- Yep, time to show you around, declared Lin as he put a rusty knife in a makeshift belt.
The belt was just a piece of tissue he had found laying around, and a small tear in the first layer of the thick curtain-like material was enough to create a place to put the blade. Lin doubted it would resist any kind of force applied on it, but the knife was still sharp enough to cut, maybe they would need it.
With a final sigh, K opened the door and the trio went out.
The storm had left the street in a poor state, mud was everywhere, the wood, when it was not tethered and threatening to hurt any that would walk on it, was slippery. The air was heavy with the odor of ozone, an odor that, despite being that of rain, always reminded Lin of fresh fish, making his face crunch up slightly in annoyance, if not disgust.
Taking the lead, the former human looked around the house.
Nothing.
Looked like the things really were nocturnal.
- Let's search the West portion of the town, proposed the black wolf, we haven't explored there yet.
Lin nodded in agreement.
- Then West it is, also maybe we could pass by the north first, see if we could find something on the way.
The others agreed, what was such a little detour going to do after all?
[Later, again.]
K was surprised as he saw most buildings were barely anything more then burnt or crumbled walls, letting foundations often then less opened to the elements. He knew the riots had left their traces, but never would the scientist have thought it could be THAT bad.
Hopefully they would find something to orientate their search towards some clues on the last events the city went through. With some luck, maybe they could even find something related to those beasts, evaluate the possible danger they may represent, how they came to be and if needed, the way to get rid of them.
First, however, they would need to know what they really were, that was the starting point to discover how to handle them effectively and with the minimum amount of risk.
He lifted his red eyes to meet Colin's blue ones. He seemed to be amused by the scientist's reaction.
- I know what you're thinking, he said with a smirk, but don't worry, the rest of the city isn't in such bad state.
- If you say so, muttered K.
Puro then caught their attention.
- Hey, what's that in front of us? I can see something over the buildings, but it's so tiny…
Looking in the same direction, K saw something too.
- It looks tiny because it's far from us, growled Lin.
Not paying attention to the thing in the distance, being so far he couldn't tell what it was, K looked around, finding nothing of interest.
He sighed.
- It's a waste of time.
Both Colin and Puro stopped talking and looked over at him.
- Why would it be, I know the northern part of the city since I lived here, the south is about where the tower is, and the east portion of the town was where we found the house we were settled in a few days ago.
Silence met his words. However, K's eyes were darting around, lost in his thoughts, as if he was trying to understand something.
- K, asked Puro, are you-
- South East North West…
The words were but a whisper as the scientist began to walk back and forth.
- What?
- The tower… Outskirts…
Lin looked over at his friend, the black wolf puzzled over what the researcher was saying.
- K, asked the former human gently, what are you saying?
As thought the question had unlocked something, the older canine lifted his head, ears right up and eyes wide.
- The tip…
In a sudden move that took the two friends by surprise, he turned around to face them, now pointing the barely visible thing in the distance.
- That thing, it's the top of the tower we see here!
- What, came out of to the two wolves as exclamations.
With a grunt he nearly shouted at them.
- Don't you understand?! Since you left the tower, located in the southern part of the town, you two found the house in the east portion of the city, yet it wasn't so far away from the woods bordering the town. A few days later you continued your search of the place, heading straight along the roads until you found Lin's house, which is barely farther away from the border of the city then the first house you found. Then, after I came here, we walked back to the north before then heading west, all the while keeping close to the outskirts of the whole city. Somehow we went in a full circle around the damn thing in barely a couple of friggin hours. We travelled many kilometers, more then we should've and this indicates at something being clearly wrong here!
The last sentence was marked by a sharp movement of him stomping his foot violently on the ground.
"Five years, and it barely took a week since Colin woke up for me to lose my cool," thought the scientist as he panted, not having breathed once during his burst.
Surprising him, Lin almost ran to him with concern in his eyes, Puro fidgeting uncomfortably from one paw to another.
- K, your foot, whispered the wolf as he kneeled, much to K's confusion.
Looking down, he saw that in his anger, his stomping had caused him to step on a sharp debris, blood starting to leak from the injury. Only now that he was calming down did he felt a sharp sting under his paw.
- Ah, the researcher softly exclaimed when Colin extracted the debris before tearing a layer of his belt in a long enough piece to create a makeshift bandage.
As the younger canine got up, K saw the tissue passing from a deep blue to a clear tint of purple.
It wouldn't absorb the blood for more then a few hours, but it would have to do for now.
- Uh, thanks, I guess, said the scientist as he examined what Colin was holding, a piece of glass with blood still dripping from its edge.
- It's nothing, really, replied the other as Puro looked around nervously in case more pieces were laying around.
- Could you stop being so paranoid, sharply asked the white wolf, startling his friend.
- Sorry, I just don't want to walk on a shard by accident.
Puro's ears had drooped down and a slight blush tinted his mask with pink, the white substance betraying his emotions once more.
K sighed, apparently he would have to get accustomed to these two arguing every now and then.
As he turned around, he grunted a bit as pain flared up under his foot, looks like he may have to limp a bit.
- You two will have the opportunity to shout at each other when we get back to the house, declared the scientist. For now, we head north to get to the centre of the city, is that clear?
Momentarily stunned by their companion's change of attitude, both Lin and Puro had to take a few seconds before silently nodding.
- Just what are you planning to find once we get there, asked the black wolf.
- *sigh* Even I don't know. For all I care there could be a prison with Godzilla in it and I wouldn't be surprised. What with all the stupid ideas that came up during the last couple of years, I honestly lost count of the number.
With no one replying to him, K began to walk, the others following closely behind.
[Later, in the earlier hours of the afternoon.]
Having barely stopped to drink and eat, the trio finally arrived at the heart of the city.
Buildings were decrepit, though they still stood up, facing the elements and time. From time to time, a building, a floor or merely just a room of one of the skyscraper would be dimly lit, the light flickering.
Only a few neon had survived and still were lit up, sign that, somehow, the city had continued to receive electric power during the last years.
The streets were cracked from everywhere, street lamps were bent in impossible angles, vegetation had either flourished or wilted on and inside the buildings while bigger lifeforms like trees had apparently lost all sense of time, some of them still growing their leaves while the others already had became brilliant masses of colors ranging from golden yellow to deep red.
It was as if nature itself had to fight to regain control of the place, and the fight was far from over yet.
- I don't understand, muttered the scientist, as his friends gazed around, astounded by the drastic changes the town had undergone.
Kneeling in front of a small bush, the canine smelled a brown leaf that should've been decomposing.
However, it all but had the scent of decay on it, far from it. It even felt like the wilting plant was growing again, stronger then before.
"Nowhere in the city as such occurrence took place," did K thought as he pensively took the leaf with him, snatching it from the weak branch it was perched on.
During all the time he had stayed locked in the tower, never had any radar or camera gathered evidence of such abnormalities.
"First these creatures, now, this."
- K, are you alright?
Slightly scared by Puro, the researcher breathed once to calm himself.
- Yeah, he said while turning around, it's just… Something is clearly wrong with this city.
The black wolf nodded.
- Yeah, something in the air is giving me goosebumps, I feel just like when me and Lin crossed the territory of the light latex back in the tower, but it feels… even less okay, more weird…
That's when Colin came back, scribbling something in a small carnet K had not noticed before.
- On my side, I can't help but think about that old horror movie, Little Shop of Horrors, I feel like any moment a big plant will come out of the ground and eat us.
He pointed at the plants all over the buildings and down to previously unseen junctions between the many plants' roots all over the floor.
- It even looks like one giant root system and I know my classics enough to NOT feel okay with that, finished the former human as he put back the book in his belt.
K sighed as Puro simply looked at Colin with a face that said "please tell me you're not serious".
- I never liked that movie, but you have point, conceded the older canine, the plants are far from normal, trees are acting differently even amongst the same essence, buds growing or leaves wilting while apparently dead vegetals are seemingly coming back to life.
At that, he brandished the brown leaf.
- I have been like this for long enough to learn what rot, wilting and death smells like, stated the scientist. This leaf here smells neither of wilt or rot, and the plant I took it from seemed to be getting stronger, without human intervention none of this would possibly take place.
Shaking his head, K put his hands in his pockets.
- Ok guys, nearly whimpered the black wolf, can't we go back home now? I swear I don't like all this "horror movie" talk, it's creeping me out.
The others simply rolled their eyes.
- Alright, if you insist, said Lin, we'll come back tomorrow anyway.
With that, he took out a slightly rusted, but functional compass off of his belt.
- We're in luck, I found it on a desk in one of the buildings, he explained, his tail wagging happily despite himself.
- Thank god we will have a much easier time navigating the streets with this, said the scientist as he sighed, in relief for once.
All of a sudden, Puro snatched the compass and began walking rapidly in one direction.
- Then I am not wasting anymore time in this creepy place!
Colin smiled and chuckled before calling him.
- Did you even looked at the directions? The house is EAST, you're going WEST.
Puro momentarily stopped before looking at the compass.
Indeed, he was going west.
Embarrassed, the wolf blushed, before coming back, passing by the others.
- Alright, east it is.
Both white canines looked at each other with an amused spark in the eyes.
- In reality he never saw a compass before, right?
- Do I really need to answer that one, countered the younger one.
Making sure he wouldn't get them lost by following a wrong direction, they went after Puro.
[Back to the house, dusk.]
As the sky became tinted with orange, yellow and red, the group finally made it back to the house.
- I. Am. Dead, declared Colin as he let himself flop down on the couch, facing the ceiling.
- Not if I have a say in it!
Suddenly, Puro was on top of him, his tail wagging as he tried to get the white wolf to get up with him.
- Please Puro, not now, I'm tired.
- But we haven't even ate supper, get up, come on.
His reply accompanied by a whimper, he grabbed Lin's arms and pulled.
With a smile, the other got up, much to Puro's happiness.
- There yo-
Only to let himself weight down on his friend.
- If you want me to get in the kitchen so bad then you'll have to drag me there, did the former human said with a small grin, chuckling.
Puro's face took on a determined expression.
- Okay then.
His friend became wide eyed in surprise.
- Wait wha-Haaaa.
Pulled over his back, Lin could only throw a pleading look towards K, the scientist clearly confused at what he just witnessed.
- I'll be searching something to cook.
The other's face told everything.
"Why you traitor!"
As the duo disappeared by the corner, K sighed.
"I hope it won't be this way everytime, I don't want to look after them like those pesky dark latex cubs, no wonder Puro took a liking to reading, they are so curious about everything!"
Shaking his head, he finally decided to look in the pantry.
Maybe things wouldn't be too bad.
They couldn't be worse then now, right?
[During the night.]
K rolled on his back, looking at nothing. Sleep had been fleeing him during the last few hours and didn't like to stay doing nothing but waiting until the day came.
"Maybe I could…"
Sighing, the scientist took out a few objects out of his lab coat.
Years ago he had intentionally ripped some of the pocked and sewed back some together, letting him carry around larger objects then they normally should've.
Now sitting in front of a decrepit nightstand, K took out a microscope out of his right pocket, and the leaf he had reaped from the bush from his left.
Carefully, he inserted a battery inside a little compartment he had to make himself, the tower having lacked power more then once during the time the virus was around.
The light under the slate of glass turned on, cautiously the leaf was put on it.
- Let's see…
K adjusted the focus, the lenses blurring the sight a few times before he eventually managed to get a clear view of the small piece of plant.
At first, the scientist squinted, not sure of what he was seeing.
Sudden realization set in and with a gasp, K stood up, fumbling around, trying to get his notepad.
"That doesn't make any sense, no serum, fertilizer, natural or artificial can possibly achieve such feat," anxiously thought the researcher as he finally managed to grab the pad, a pen and rapidly scribbled a few notes in a small, tight writing.
Just to be sure, he checked again.
His eyes widened as he recognized he was right.
Under his eyes (the one looking in the microscope, that is), the brown leaf was becoming a vibrant green, the withered parts shifting with a sliver of life in them, the borders growing ever so closer as chlorophyll flew through it, as if it was still attached to the bush it came from.
Even more incomprehensible was the fact that the new areas were an even more intense green, nearly sparkling compared to the still healthy zones around.
Nearly a brittle mess hours before, the leaf had gone back to a state that was just like it had barely grew a few minutes ago.
- What…
Shaking his head in disbelief, K sighed. This was ANYTHING but what he would have expected.
Then an idea struck him like a wall of brick.
- Lin… he said they converged…
His mind was now working at full speed, and he wasn't happy about the conclusions.
"If they act as a single giant organism, then these plants could regenerate entirely and we don't even have a clue as of what kind of mutations would lead to this being possible…"
Closing the light and putting back everything in its proper place, K couldn't help but look, in the dark, at the leaf.
His eyes rapidly conforming to level of light in the room, the scientist silently went out.
He really needed a glass of water and an aspirin.
"Oh, what mess have the others done?"
Sitting in a morose state at the table, K looked outside, the stars shining, their light enough for him to see as if the sun had never set.
He couldn't argue that having mixed DNA had no advantage, nocturnal sight was quite useful.
"This would've been even more beautiful if it wasn't for the fact I have too many questions to answer now."
Annoyed, but mostly worried at the turn of events, the wolf put his head against his arms, ears flopping as a small whimper escaped his mouth.
"What are we even going up against?"
"Are we just doing all this for nothing?"
Welp, that's all!
Uh…
Woah, shit, that's quite the number of reviews.
General answer to everyone : So sorry for the wait everyone, I know this is a really bad excuse but I had no drive to work on my stories for a while and only this week have I got to write more.
Alright, to anyone who had a question other then about the next chapter (a.k.a. the one you just read), here's your answers!
DerpPriest : Yup, not dead (I'm just very slow at writing and typing in general -.-' ).
Extreme Isolation (Wow your new profile pic is super good!) : Yeah… not the best turn of events…
Well, you're on a good way to guessing what is exactly the "things", but as you asked for being surprised, I will not give any big spoiler, I swear I won't spoil too much if you want (alternatively I could PM people who'd want clarifications about things despite possible spoilers… wtv).
What kind of experiments, that is still to be discovered, but be sure things will go VERY bad next chapter (well, more like at the end of next chapter, just have to write it lol).
Volkamon : I know I PM'ed you about that, but I have some plan for Lin to use the journal again, but because I said I won't give away big spoilers, I'm gonna make it short.
Long story short if you know Scooby-doo, then remember what 99% of Fred's plans to find clues were and you have the story (not all of it, more of a bit in the near future) in a nutshell.
So yeah don't worry, the journal style is going to play a part in all this mess.
Jokko : Thanks!
… I for sure won't even search what Rule 34 is, I fear I'll end vomiting rainbows and glitters.
Oh, it's gonna get veeeryyy interesting soon.
Guest : En fait ma langue maternelle est le français donc tu peux laisser tes prochains commentaires en français si tu veux, et sans vouloir te vexer j'ai pas compris le commentaire. Je saisis bien le compliment mais tu as mélangé tout le truc car « awful » veux dire « affreux » ou quelque chose comme ça mdr.
Aussi j'écris en anglais car c'est comme 5 fois plus simple, du moins c'est mon opinion…
J'ai bien essayé d'écrire une histoire en français mais comme mon français écrit était terrible (et encore c'est TRÈS loin d'être parfait maintenant) dans le temps, ben j'ai abandonné et depuis l'histoire prends la poussière dans mon profile… peut-être que je pourrais m'y remettre.
Ps : Je suis pas à proprement parler « Français », je vis au Québec, donc pour sûre ici sa parle et sa écrit plutôt en français qu'en anglais. Mais bon, c'est juste des détails tout ça.
Well, that definitely was more then I thought.
Anyway, here you go everyone, I answered all your questions and if there's something I missed you can always say it.
Also switching language like that felt weird *~*
Whatever, that's all for now, so what are you still there for? Go. I have things to do, chapters to write, school to stress about, life to die over (or at least faint over how shitty growing up is), you know, the usual business?
Wait, what do you mean that's not normal?
Also that joke (previous line) is like super old -_-'
But seriously, I have nothing to say… well, I could always state things like about how the sky is black… wait fuck wrong color.