*AN* The character "Katie Knight"- does not exist in any of my stories (at least for the time being.) Any mention of "Katie" is an OC based off me.
Just a heads up, I will be changing the titles of some of my stories soon. As I mentioned in a past AN I was trying to make a series and then use only one word to describe the story as a whole and that word would also be used as a revelation or opening/closing line. I got a little bored with this one and it was getting hard to come up with clever names.
This is going to be longer than I thought, only because the plot is starting to come together and I want to try my luck at throwing in some clues/twists/turns/cliff hangers. Bear with me as I take a slow stroll through this story. *
*NEW* The annual summer festival is starting again and this week will be full of work and I am on call. Updates, and new stories may begin to slow down until after the festival is all done and cleaned up which will go into early next week.*
New spread quickly and plans were made; filming was put on halt to finish this job that everyone so desperately wanted to take part in. Kendall, Logan, James, Carlos, Camille, Lucy, the Jennifers, and Dak suited up, garnered their weapons and lead additional help from some staff members and even parents. Wasting no time, they made their way to the base of Hollywood mountain and quickly spilt up and took a different path quietly as they snuck up past the barricade, that kept everyone out. They knew it was up here or at least this was where it lived and it was the first place to start.
It was dark going up the mountain and they did their best to make their way up without the use of flashlights. The sign was lit up and it was just enough to help guide them and completely lit up the landing on which the sign sat; however the space was barren of the animal. Instead, a large fenced in area stood on most of the ground along with various pieces of equipment. As the different teams found their way up, Logan took the initiative as he figured out all of the equipment which appeared to be mostly surveillance tools.
Next to a large telescope, equipped with night vision, lay a GPS that was displaying a moving target. Dak looked through the scope after getting directions from Logan and spotted the target. Despite it's sheer size, the beast had no problem sneaking through the city nearly undetected.
"More victims, looks like 4 this time." he said. The group sighed and looked disheartened. "Coming back this way!" he announced. Everyone panicked for a moment before taking cover behind the sign and in the bushes. In seconds the beast was back in the hills, it's movement unparalleled. It walked over to the cage and lifting its head over the inside, opened its mouth and regurgitated the 4 bodies it had just presumably eaten. The bodies quickly began to move and were alive and well. Sighs of relief came over everyone who saw it but were still baffled at what was unfolding.
The superior hearing of the animals detected the sighing with little effort and it looked towards the hiding spots, everyone tried to camouflage themselves into. It smelled the air and took a step forward before pricking it's ears, looking up, past them, and then in the opposite direction. It slinked over to the side and the group could see a large unmarked van pull up to the enclosure, open it with a key and remove the gentlemen inside, handcuffing them and putting them into the van.
The animal sat in wait on the edge of the flat and waited for the signal and the van to drive off. It waited for a minute before it got up and made it's way over to the brush.
"I know you are there, I can smell all of you. It is safe for you to come out for the time being." a voice said. Its direction was coming from the animal but no one could believe that an animal just talked, plus it didn't move it's mouth. When no one moved, it became slightly angered and called them out by name.
"Why do you fear me? I may be different on the outside and a little bit on the inside but I can assure you that I am the same as I always was. I wish you hadn't stuck your noses into this business, that way we could have kept things between us as they were. Like I am not hated enough in this world" it continued, turning away.
"Katie. Wait." Kendall said. The beast stopped, not turning around and just waited to hear him out. "We did fear you in the beginning but only because we didn't know the truth."
"And now that you know?" she retorted. Silence came back at her. "I see. Nothing has changed even after all these years."
"Years?" Logan spoke up. "how many?"
"Let's put it this way, each year I exist on this earth, the more power and talents I receive. I'm sure you have witnessed my unmatched speed and strength. And then there is this telepathy, which is how I am able to speak, one of the most advanced powers available." she explained.
"Why couldn't you just tell us?" Camille asked
"I've kept it secret so long, its become natural to hide it. In the beginning I wasn't readily accepted either; keep in mind, I've lived through the Salem witch trials. Granted I am immortal until my job is done but still." she explained
"But we're your friends!" Carlos said
"I've been told that many times and still nothing changed; I was outcast, chased and threatened each and every time." She said
"This is a different time and we really do like you; in fact I think it's cool. Its going to take some getting used to but we can all make this work." Kendall assured; the others agreed.
"You can honestly say, you are not repulsed by the monster at which I have become?"
"What monster? All I see is parts of different animals coming together on a faithful companion." James spoke up. Katie wagged her long winding tail and pricked her ears in happiness. "You may not look it now, but you are human on the inside and it is what we have come to love."
"We arent going to outcast you because of this, you're too much a loyal friend, plus you have been helping the world out for so long, I think it's time someone returns the favor." Dak said.
"Not only that, I think it'd be pretty damn cool to have a best friend with super powers. I cant be the only one thinking that can I?" Lucy asked.
"I love animals, just as much as you, although I know I'll never have the knowledge that you do, it brings me one step closer on learning all I can. Despite your powers and abnormalities about you, you really are just an oversized dog." Kendall noted.
"True, I am. Canine is the base form, it is my soul animal, my spirit animal is a tiger."
"What's the difference?"
"My spirit is like a tiger, alone but powerful. I cant transform into it. My soul animal is what I can turn into."
"Out of curiosity, what other animals are you?"
"Like I said, Canine is the base form, it is what I resemble most, however my tail is that of an anaconda's body, prehensile yet strong, my paws are large like a lion's so there is more impaction space, plus claws of an eagle." she said outstretching her paw and extending the claws. "Other animals arent all that visible, my intelligence has since risen to nearly 200 IQ, I have the speed of a cheetah, stamina of a horse plus many other attributes and personality traits of one, strength of an elephant, movements and agility of cats both great and small and the ability to swim powerfully like a dolphin. But these abilities have multiplied over the years and I have become the ultimate 'machine' I guess you could say."
"Wouldn't the ultimate machine be able to fly?" Kelly asked. Katie stood from a sitting position and in a flash without so much as a pin drop, 2 large wings protruded majestically on either side. "Well alright then."
"You know, I'd hate to ask this, and feel free to say no, but can I ride you like a horse?" One of the Jennifer's asked. Stunned at the question it was quiet before anyone responded.
"Anyone else want to go for one?" Katie said "I can carry up to 6 people at one time although I recommend only 5."
"Seems dangerous…" Logan said, declining the first ride.
"Not when I'm wearing the saddle" she replied. She walked to a tent and nudged it with her nose to flip it over. A mechanical saddle, complete with 6 seats lay on top of a catwalk. It was easy to see that it was specially designed for her with cut out for her wings and shoulder blades to allow full movement. She walked under the holder, stepped through the harness with care and to the catwalk where Carlos, James, Kendall, Jennifer #3 and Lucy were waiting. One by one they each climbed on and took a seat, there were no belts but there were handle bars and stirrups. James took the lead, grabbing hold of the reins around her neck. She bent down, grabbed the bit and with the help of Logan and Camille, they slid the band over her snout, it was a simple bridle and only had the one loop.
Once everyone was set, James tested the reins out of habit from when he used to ride and Katie looked back. She instructed him noting that it wasn't necessary to guide her, she knew where to go but the reins did serve the same purpose in case the directions were different. She began to walk around in a circle to allow the riders to get a good feel for what it would be like then a quick jog. When everyone was fine and set to go she cantered off towards the edge of the flat, with strides of nearly 100 yards, it didn't take long for them to reach the edge and in an instant she took off with force as she jumped from the cliff and soared.
No one noticed her wings shooting out as the flew above the streets of Hollywood, the view was magnificent. They flew for several minutes, the only sounds they heard were their own as they marveled at the sight and the experience. Katie wasn't flying that high but she was flying fast, On the ground she was faster than a cheetah with her long strides but in the air she could fly almost as fast a diving hawk. 200 mph would be a little too much for the mortals she carried on her back so she often flew at only 100 mph or less. After 10 minutes she came back in for a landing, years of practice had nearly perfected the art but sometimes it still proposed a challenge. She took a wide swing in the open and began to slow down her speed, using her wings as a bit of a parachute. She came in slow but still heard a few whimpers as she tilted to land. She took a few steps in a trot before turning to walk back to the platform and take the next group.
*AN* Bear in mind this story is different than things I have written before for this website. This story could be considered an experiment on my own behalf. I'm publishing it here just for a safe place so to speak. whether readers like it or dont, doesnt matter to me, at least not on this story. I'm trying different things on this one so it really is for my own benefit. Feel free to leave feedback thoughts opinions, foreshadowing, let downs, changes etc. I'm not going to go back and change what I wrote but I can always use suggestions in future stories but no promises, sorry. This is also a reason as to why the grammar, spelling and overall outline and setup are the way they are, I'm treating this as a rough draft story, published for safe keeping/feedback. No need to leave comments on the bad spelling, punctuation, capitalization and what not, I'm aware of it but like I said, this is just a rough draft story since I am trying something new.*
BONUS: Additional Dialogue:
"I've witnessed countless moon cycles and orbits around the sun. I've seen land turn to populous places and many wars to make this land what it is today. Much of what is written in today's history text, book I have seen for myself."
"But why?"
"Why? It's simple. People fear change. My job is to change the world somehow, I must make a difference for the greater good of humanity before it wipes itself out of existence. Until that day comes, I am cursed to walk this earth as I am."
"is that why you've been devouring gang members?"
"Part of the reason, although I do not kill them. Part of me wishes that I did; it would end much of the crime but alas I would just be continuing the cycle. I do not know, what change I need to make that keeps me here, I have tried everything in my power but yet I come up empty handed. Each time I fail, I become more demonized and must find a new way but alas I have run out of ideas."
"What's with the gang members then?"
"I was found roaming the streets by police in my home state. Once they realized my potential and that I meant no harm, the world order of police assigned me to help them make the world a better place. It was supposed to be an even give and take but that was over 75 years ago. Over the past few years, my talents were used less and I had more time to focus on just being normal for a change. No one was any the wiser and I for one was happy."
"How were you able to be human?"
"My curse wasn't made to make me suffer, although it is all that I have done. I am able to retain my human form for much of the time, it may not look like it now but human is what I am, it is my main form. I was born human and cursed late in life. However like many curses, it has to do with alignment of space; once a month, when the moon begins a new cycle, I transform into this form to gain power for the month, much like a recharge but also, it is when I gain all my features that I have collected. Often it is a night of pain. I can change into my form at will day and night although I am most powerful/agile at night."