AN: Special Thanks goes to Story's Shadow for writing this excellent chapter, thank you my good friend.
-A Few Hours Later-
Squirrel Girl looked over the city, sighing.
She ran across the rooftops, leaping from one to another as she carefully landed. Sometimes she liked to patrol alone so she could clear her head on important or complex matters. And what was going on now was both.
One hand ran through her brown hair, nails scratching gently.
'God what do I do?'
Half watching down below, there were no signs of trouble. Though she did hear dogs barking or cats hissing at her, which made her flinch at times. Shaking her head, she moved along one building. Her fingers traced the edge of it as she looked down, watching move along with business though with police and soldiers carefully patrolling. The outbreak of the forces of Imperious had everyone on edge, though people wanted life to be unchanged.
Then she saw some police waving at her then motioning her down. She smiled and climbed down.
"Officers."
"Squirrel Girl. We saw you up there and were wondering if you could help us with a case. We believe a couple of Inhuman or mutants had a scuffle with some people in the park and were going to try to find them."
"Be glad to help. Let me go see what I can do."
-Central Park, Several Minutes Later-
Squirrel Girl sat on a large tree branch, chatting with a squirrel.
"Really?"
The rodent chittered.
SG gasped.
"Oh, this was some misunderstanding then."
The rodent grunted at she scratched her ear.
"Thank you again. Enjoy your meal."
The squirrel rubbed up against her before making her way back to her nest.
SG landed on the ground, the police waiting there. Many of their eyes were wide.
"She said these folks you're looking for were actually defending a stray cat from a drunk and his friends."
"And the squirrel told you that?"
"She was more focused on the cat, but she saw them too."
"Looks like we gotta find some folks to get them written up on animal abuse, or attempted at any rate."
"I'll go scout for them."
"Best if you do, seeing how they took out so many guys with just two of them."
SG walked through the park, finding the scent of two people.
'I really wonder if exploring my inherent squirrel senses will work...I hope so...because...'
She rubbed her tail, smelling one was similar to a cat's.
'It's ok, we'll just talk.'
She followed the scent for a little while, moving into an alley. She saw a young man with quills that he managed to just barely hide behind clothes.
"There's one."
He attempted to walk away, but SG heard sniffing.
'Crap.'
He ran.
"No! Hey! Wait! Stop!"
SG moved around trash cans and other debris that this guy managed to slip around.
"Kinda fast, but not faster than me."
-Outside Of The City, Several Minutes Later-
Jacob grunted as he met with Cassie and Meta within a grove of trees.
"I was being followed...I think that scuffle we had the other night drew attention. I didn't see them, but I scented them. I think I just managed to get away."
"You tried, but she's outside the grove."
Meta' sighed, which made Jacob's head droop.
"She's a Squirrel, she followed your scent...though it took some time for her to follow you...must not be used to using her senses."
SG panted a little as she made her way through the bushes, hands on her knees and head held down.
"Ok...never had to go this far to find someone."
"Are you alright?"
Cassie's head tilted to the side at the sight of SG's tail.
"You have a beautiful tail."
SG blushed, rubbing her tail.
"O-Oh! Thanks...not many have said that."
"They should."
Cassie looked to her, a nervous smile on her face.
"Y-You're a cat...girl."
"Is that ok?"
"Y-Yeah...cats just eat squirrels and-"
SG's eyes widened at the sight of Meta. She gulped.
"Y-Yo-Y-You're...a w-wo-wolf..."
"You're not from our world, your scent and spirit is different. Where is the vixen?"
"H-How do you know Vixen?"
SG stood rigid.
"What do you want with her? Are you here to hurt her?"
"Calm yourself, our desire is not with her...it's with another Fox."
"Vulpine?"
Meta's eyes narrowed at this.
"It seems you are at least acquainted with him?"
"Where is he?"
SG's eyes widened at the sight of his fangs.
"N-Nice wolf...I don't want to fight...but I will if I have to."
Meta grumbled.
"You have his stench on you. Take us to him."
"S-Stay back!"
SG raised her fists.
"Squirrel, this is not a wise course of action."
"I don't trust you...and something fishy is going on here."
"Fishy?"
The three turned to one another.
"Doesn't matter! Something isn't right and I don't know if you're safe to be around my friend."
Cassie hissed.
"He's your friend?!"
"W-What? Uh...kinda...sorta..."
Jacob glowered and Meta's ears laid back, fangs bared. SG's eyes widened as she snatched a rock and threw it. Meta caught it right in front of his face then dropped it.
"You're outnumbered, Squirrel. Surrender and we won't harm you."
"T-Thanks, but I'm gonna have to pass."
Doreen grunted as she jumped forward, throwing a haymaker. Meta dodged to the side, pushing aside each strike before grabbing her by the wrist and pushing her to her knees.
"Do not do this."
"Pass wolfie!"
SG slung her tail up, hitting Meta in the face. He grunted as he grip loosened, which gave the heroine the freedom to slip from his grasp. She kicked out with one foot, knocking him back.
Jacob ran forward, throwing chops and punches. SG grunted as she dodged and weaved before throwing back a punch. Her opponent turned, making her fist hit his quills.
SG squeaked in pain, thrashing her hand.
"OW! That's smarts!"
Jacob turned to Cassie, head cocked.
"What?"
Doreen shouted as she jumped forward, kicking him to the ground.
"Jacob!"
Cassie hissed as she lunged forward, fangs bared and claws flying. SG gasped, eyes wide, quickly dodging the claws as they swung at her arms and sides.
"Nice kitty! Nice kitty!"
"What is this you're saying?!"
Cassie grunted as she slashed again, SG dodging under. She quickly leapt into the trees. Cassie hissed as she followed. Meta helped Jacob up before watching the two young women fight.
Squirrel Girl quickly raced along a branch, throwing a haymaker, but Cassie dodged down and latched her claws into the bark. The feline girl back flipped, her feet striking Squirrel Girl in the back and knocking her to hanging off a branch. Cassie stood over her, hissing.
"Tell us where Vulpine is!"
SG grunted as she flipped around the branch and landed behind Cassie. She struck, jabbing at Cassie's chest which Cassie dodged by leaping higher into the tree.
"Is that your answer, then?!"
Meta nodded to Jacob, who nodded back. He grabbed the younger man and tossed him into the tree. Jacob quickly landed behind SG, sweeping her from under her feet and knocking her out of the tree. SG grunted as she landed on her feet. Meta's eyes narrowed.
SG's eyes widened but then she charged and leapt forward. Meta's left foot swooped to behind him. He moved his arms to his sides. SG shouted as she threw her fist forward. Then Meta moved his arms forward, stretching out a few fingers from each hand. They hit
SG's lower torso and sent her flying. She cried out in utter shock then pain as she hit a bush several dozen yards away.
"Surrender, there is-wait...what? No."
SG groaned, hand on her head. She didn't hear the faint chanting, rattling, and the materialization of a serpent beside her. Meta's eyes widened.
"NO!"
The three rushed forward, but the serpent struck. SG cried out, having been bit on her wrist. The serpent hissed at the three approaching before disappearing as it appeared. Meta knelt down by SG, inspecting the wound. The young woman's face drained of color.
"W-What? O-Oh God...no."
Meta's eyes closed. He then picked her up after a few seconds of silent contemplation.
"We must return to camp! Come! I can heal her there!"
"Sensei, she dropped-"
"There isn't time! Come quickly!"
The three hurried, with Cassie looking back at SG's wrist communicator laid on the grass with blood on it, cut from her wrist by the serpent's fangs.
To Be Continued...
AN: So Doreen has been bitten by a venomous snake. Not just any venomous snake, but a Timber Rattlesnake. Here's a little homework for all fans and readers: Timber Rattlesnakes are in New York State (I did my research before choosing this particular serpent) but anyone who can solve... an undisclosed mystery involving this Rattlesnake, will figure out a huge piece of the puzzle. Please let me know in the comments, and I will let any reader know who figures it out...