Slowpoke (Guest): I was too, thanks, and I think he learned not to fall into ponds LOL.

As always, R&R

"Here we are, don't turn away, now." -Warriors

"Here's your story, let's begin, the water's fine, come on, dive in." -Larger Than Life

Chapter 2

Erika groggily tried to sit up, but she was tied down. Her acidic green dragon eyes flew open. She was being held down by some kind of iron restraints. Her wings were soooo cramped...

"Glad to see you awake," said a voice dryly. It was Iron Man, she realized.

"Let me out."

"Why so hasty?"

She growled in pain as she tried to move her wings to a more comfortable position. "My wings," she gasped out. "Hurt..."

"Oh..." the restraints popped open and she jumped off the table she had been tied down to.

"Owwwww." she stretched her wings to full length, and wiggled them. Erika did a few experimental wingbeats. "They're not broken, at least." Then she turned to the silent Avengers and Spider-Man. "Well, I have a lot of explaining to do," she sighed, flicking her tail like an irritated cat.

"Yes, you do." said Black Widow.

She looked around and saw she was in some kind of glass confinement tube. "Where AM I?"

"Avengers Tower," said Spidey.

Then her stomach growled. Hawkeye raised his eyebrow. "Sorry, I haven't eaten for about three days."

Cap and Falcon looked sympathetic. "Hey, It's fine. I can survive a week without food."

"Well," said Iron Man, "Let's eat then." Spidey tapped him on the shoulder, and he raised his eyebrows as Spidey whispered in his ear. "I understand you eat fish?" he said. She nodded eagerly. "Okay."

An hour later, a big basket of fish was brought to Avengers Tower. Iron Man almost cooked one, but she snatched it. "Why do you humans cook these?" she growled. "It takes the taste out!" Then she proceeded to swallow it almost whole. Then she tackled the basket. The Avengers and Spidey watched in facinaton and slight disgust as she ate all the fish quickly- until she stopped, Pupils narrowed to slits. She growled dragonishly and backed up a step. Spidey looked confused and reached in the basket- pulling out an eel. She roared, wings flaring, face covered in terror.

"Hey, hey, it's okay..." he threw it out the window, and she calmed down. "What was that about?"

"Eel." she shuddered. "Eels give dragons a sickness called Eel Pox. It can kill us."

"Well, that makes sense."

She shuddered again and ate the rest of the fish. She licked her lips with her forked tounge. "Ahhhh, that hit the spot."

"That was a whole basket of fish!" said Thor. "Your appetite rivals Hulk's!"

"It takes a lot of energy to have plasma fire in you, ya know!" she retorted. "And not to mention flying!"

Cap shrugged. "It makes sense."

Iron Man looked intrigued. "How did you support yourself?"

Erika smiled. "Do you want me to show you?"

"Maybe later... first we need to ask you some questions."

She sighed, and nodded, following them to a comfy living room. "First, Nightfury-"

"Erika."

"What?"

"My real name is Erika."

"Oh...okay, Erika," Iron Man said, testing the word on his tounge. "Where are you from?"

"Montana."

"How did you get here?"

"Flew. Duh. That's what wings are for right?"

"Er- I guess."

Captain America looked concerned. "Where have you been staying?"

"An old warehouse by the docks." then she slapped her forehead. "I just remembered my special things are in there!"

"We'll get them later." said Iron Man. "How long have you been here?"

"In New York?"

"Yeah."

"Oh. About a year."

Black Widow huffed. "How did S.H.E.I.L.D. not find you?"

She smirked. "How did I dodge you when you tried to pull down my hood?"

"I have no idea."

She rolled her dragon eyes. "Draconic senses. That's what I call them. I can sense if someone is lying, or if someone is behind me. Speaking of which... Hawkeye, you don't want to pull my wings. That might not be the best idea." she said without turning around.

Hawkeye raised his eyebrows. He had been silent! Not even Black Widow had seen him or heard him. "Impressive."

"Anyway," she continued. "I could always sense if S.H.E.I.L.D. was getting close."

"Why did you leave Montana?"

She growled. "My foster parents. They abused me. See this scar?" she asked, pointing to a jagged scar on her throat. "That is from them trying to get me to make dinner when I was three."

Hulk wrinkled his nose.

Iron Man got up. "Stay put." then he turned to the rest of his team. While they talked, she yawned and fiddled with her tail, flapping her wings lazily. Only Spider-man wasn't in the converstion, so he watched as she yawned again.

"Toothless? I thought you had-" she popped her teeth out of her gums. "teeth." he finished lamely.

Erika grinned at him, scratching her neck. Then the Avengers came back. "Erika. Welcome to the Avengers." said Cap.

Her pupils became round. "YES!" she yelled.

"We can't keep calling you just Erika while in battle, though. What do you want to be called?"

"Toothless?" suggested Spidey. She glared at him. "Or maybe not." The Avengers looked confused. "She has retractable teeth." he explained.

"I like the name Nightfury."

Iron Man nodded. "I'll tell JARVIS."

"And I'll show you to your room." said Black Widow. Erika grinned at Spidey. He grinned back. Then she followed Black Widow to a spacious room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a large bed. She smiled. "It's perfect...except for the bed."

Natasha looked confused. "I need to sleep on a peice of stone, preferably obsidian." she explained. "I breath plasma onto it, and it's sooo warm..."

Black Widow frowned. Erika continued. "I have a peice in the old warehouse."

Black Widow nodded.

An hour later, the peice of obsidian was placed in her room, where the bed once was. She smiled contentedly, and breathed plasma onto it. As she settled down to sleep, she felt a slight tug in the back of her mind. A voice, sweet and soft, echoed through her brain. "Erika. Come. Spread your wings, dragonling, and come join our conquest."

Erika shuddered at the sound. It was weak, so it didn't have a big hold on her, but she still felt it. And somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized that the Red Bewilderdeath was coming. Yet no one knew it.

CLIFFHANGER! So what did you think of the monster's name? Yes it's a Red Death and Bewilderbeast mix. Was it good? Bad? Tell me if you have a better name for it. It has to be a combo of those two names though. And as always, don't forget to reveiew.