(Next update is here. A detail in this is inspired by something used in the His Dark Materials franchise with the Panserbjørn. Hope you all enjoy it.)

Death Fury: Thanks. Trying to write when I can.

Chapter 35: The Jaguar and the Doctor

(First Pack's home, a few days later)

Drew ate the steak in front of him, savoring the flavor. He chewed slowly, not wishing to rush.

"How is it?"

Drew sat across the table from Ulva and swallowed before he answered.

"Delicious. Thanks. This is-"

"While we do hunt for food in wolf form sometimes, we also enjoy food made in human form and by humans too. Steak is unsurprisingly one of our favorites."

She took a bite from the steak on her plate as well. Drew nodded and continued to eat. Ulva took a sip of the water next to her.

"We have another mission for you tomorrow. And you will need to work on an ability we haven't discussed yet."

Drew stopped eating and waited, Ulva nodded.

"I'm not entirely sure if you've experienced this…but we know when we're being lied to. It's not a matter of detecting one's heartbeat while they lie or the smell of certain pheromones. We sense both those, however one can lie as easily as breathing. With us, it's the mystic matter of being able to sense the truth. Vampires, who are amongst the greatest of charmers have been unable to trick us. Though this is a matter of our spiritual nature. I'm hoping with your training so far you may have acquired this."

"Ok."

"I'm 40,000 years old."

"Lie."

"Correct. I'm actually older. Now: We are the chosen of the Red."

Drew didn't respond at first, his eyes studying her aura.

"...Uh…Truth and a lie?..."

"Correct. The Red has many different chosen. The Therians are among the first. Now: I know who and what you will become."

"L-Lie?"

"Half-lie. I don't know the full extent to what your gift will lead you to. While you are of our blood, the DNA of countless animals flows through you and your potential is only limited by what you feel in connection to those animals and our blood."

Ulva continued to question Drew, with some answers he guessed correctly and others he didn't. The first werewolf rubbed her chin.

"Hmm, we will need to work on this as well. But for your mission, you'll be sent into a remote area of Mexico, in the Lacandon Jungle. One of our allies will be there waiting."

Drew nodded.

(Mexico, the next day)

Chaos Chimera stood in the jet with all his ninjutsu gear on. Ulva, Frida, and Konrad were there once again. The young shifter turned to Ulva.

"What's the mission?"

Ulva pulled out a tablet. She pressed a few buttons and a video pulled up. What showed to be footage of Poison Ivy in a ruin tending to plants that she had changed.

"Pamela Isley has been recording interacting with plant life in this region deep in the rainforest. Our allies tell us she's trying to guard the flora in that area from a mercenary group trying to clear it and build a factory there to overharvest the natural materials there. She's deep in the jungle and my contact said the humans will be targeting the ruin soon. She asked to send you early to meet with Poison Ivy and fill you in on a few things."

"Gotcha. I'll meet up with your contact and we'll go from there."

Ulva nodded.

"From what we can tell from the Watchtower computers, they haven't discovered her yet. So you may have more time to deal with the situation. Despite what Poison Ivy did some years ago, perhaps she could be an ally for what's to come?"

"Perhaps. Though once she sees me, things could go bad fast."

"We'll keep track and wait in case you need back up. Though my contact should be more than enough to deal with the raiders the company hired and Poison Ivy."

The ninja nodded. Ulva opened the door to the jet. Chaos Chimera looked out over the rainforest, they were hovering a few hundred feet up.

"I'll be in contact."

"Good luck."

Chaos Chimera nodded and leapt out of the jet. He fell towards one of the great trees, his arms spread out to either side of him. His falling speed increased as he got closer and closer. Then he was upon the tree. His eyes narrowed. He backflipped and landed on one of the large branches. Chaos Chimera sniffed the air. All the scents of the earth, the plants, the air, and the animals came to him. To smell the fresh air was always good. Though he picked up the smell of something toxic. His eyes narrowed. He put his hand to his earpiece.

"Where do I meet your contact?"

"She's close. She'll know you."

"Understood."

He leapt from the great tree, landing on another. Without a sound he moved from tree to tree until he leapt onto one of the smaller yet still large trees. On the opposite branch lay a jaguar. The big cat grunted as it stood up, eyes on the ninja. Chaos Chimera and the beast's eyes met. The jaguar grunted as it lowered its large muscular head. The ninja walked across the tree to the jaguar and stroked its chin. The big cat grunted in satisfaction, its eyes closing and rubbed its head against the ninja.

The shifter smiled.

From the trees emerged a black jaguar. The beast was larger than the jaguar beside him, closer to the size of a lion yet still held the striking form of a melanistic jaguar. The beast's deep, brilliant golden eyes stared directly into the shifter's. The jaguar beside him grunted and approached the larger beast, rubbing its head against the black one's. The jaguar grunted as the black one gently pushed its head against the side of the common jaguar. The spotted beast grunted as it leapt from branch to lower branch before making its way onto the rainforest floor.

The black jaguar turned to Drew and chuckled.

"You bond with any great beast, good. That is good."

A strong feminine voice came from the black beast. The beast soon became covered in shadows and from the darkness emerged a striking Hispanic woman in her 40s with a build similar to Ulva's. She ran a hand through her long black hair, her golden eyes never leaving him. Chaos Chimera bowed. The woman raised an eyebrow at this and chuckled.

"Dear boy, there's no need for that. I know Ulva told me about your training in ninjutsu, but bowing is unnecessary. I am Balam."

"Drew."

"Yes, Ulva's told me a lot about you. How is it amongst the wolves?"

"They treat me well. Closest thing I have to a family here. Just it's about getting me ready for when Apokolips comes."

"Yes…we're all preparing for them."

"Are you-?"

"Yes. I'm a therian, the first of the werejaguars. We're one of the younger therian bloodlines. I'm also a werepanther, obviously."

"Where's your group?"

"Like our kin, we're not as social as the wolves though we do remain in contact with one another and others. It's why Ulva called me to guide you on this mission. The doctor is protecting a couple of rare plant species where she's at. Come."

The ninja nodded.

Balam leapt through the trees, the young shifter behind her. Balam effortlessly moved through the trees, almost as if she was running on air rather than the branches. Drew continued to follow her for several minutes before they landed on a large branch on a cliff. As they walked to the edge of it, they looked down and saw an ancient Mayan temple. The plant life around it grew and expanded. Drew's eyes narrowed. Balam crossed her arms.

"The doctor's in her element. The plant life around her has given her a greater connection to The Green than she ever had in Gotham."

Drew turned to the first werejaguar.

"I'm guessing The Green is the mystical force connected to all plant life."

"Yes. The Parliament of Trees is the guiding force behind it. Despite her not being bonded to The Green through mystical means, she feels it and believes herself their champion. While she obviously cares for all plant life, the true champion of The Green has been summoned to come here."

"Who is this champion?"

"You'll see. For now, let's pay the doctor a visit."

Drew nodded. The two leapt from the branch and fell to the rainforest below.

(Inside the Mayan temple, several minutes later)

Poison Ivy gently stroked two different kinds of plants. A warm smile was on her face.

"Easy now babies, Mama won't let anything happen to you."

"Then you know that they're coming for you."

Poison Ivy gasped. She grunted and turned quickly, balling one hand into a fist. Vines in the room thickened and enlarged, swirling around and poised to strike like a snake.

"Who's there?!"

Balam and Chaos Chimera leapt from the shadows. Poison Ivy's eyes widened, directed on the ninja.

"You're the-"

"Easy, we're not here to hurt you or the plants."

Poison Ivy slowly lowered her hand and the vines receded.

"I know you…Harley told me about you."

"How is she?"

"Better. Thanks for asking. What are you doing here? Why aren't you with the 'heroes'?"

"I'm not with them anymore…I don't think I ever was."

"Because you kill?"

"That…and something else."

"Who's she?"

"A friend."

Balam smiled. Chaos Chimera smiled under his mask then turned back to Poison Ivy.

"You're aware of what's coming?"

"A group of genocidal bastards who won't stop till this beautiful rainforest is torn to the ground? Yeah, I know. And I'm waiting for them."

"They know you're here, Ms. Isley. They have chemicals that will kill every plant here and in the surrounding area."

"To be clear, it's: doctor. And you don't mean-?"

Balam nodded.

"Dicamba, which kills legumes…which means the Lennea viridiflora you're protecting will die. And the Hesperalibizia occidentalis is also in danger. Not to mention you. And what you did with the 'Injustice League' years ago, certain members of the local government have secretly funded this incursion."

Poison Ivy's hands clenched into fists which eventually relaxed. She sighed.

"I should've known something like this would happen…why did I agree to that stupid stunt?"

Chaos Chimera's arms crossed.

"You did it to support the Green, I believe?"

"Of course."

Balam approached Poison Ivy, who tensed up. The first werejaguar sighed and stopped walking.

"Well the men coming have no concern for plants, animals, or people. I've been tracking them, studying them. This group has aided in the extinction and near extinction of several species of both plants and animals, not to mention silently taking out anyone who stands in their way. So when they come, they'll have no issues of destroying everyone and everything in their path. So when they come, we're taking them out."

Poison Ivy's eyes widened then turned to the young shifter.

"Wow, you really did change crowds."

"The League and the team I fear would've done it eventually…surprised it took them this long. Regardless, I'm working on some things with my new friends. Which includes…preparing for an invasion."

"Another invasion? Wow, never thought I'd say that."

"Yeah, we'll explain it more after we take care of these guys."

"You're…helping me?"

"If that's welcome."

Poison Ivy nodded, a small smile on her face.

"Thanks."

The shifter nodded. Balam crossed her arms.

"Alright, now it's time to plan so the plants, wildlife, or this temple aren't destroyed."

Chaos Chimera and Poison Ivy nodded.

To be continued…

(Hope you all enjoyed the update.)