And voila, the appearance of the team! Yay! Sorry for the wait, but I only see my Beta's on Wednesday's and every other weekend and I have to read in the car! It sucks! good news is, tomorrow's Wednesday! So the next chapter might come a little quicker!
Shout out to the awsomess that it: Jasmine Nightshade, Aslgyrl, Anonymous, SilentStorm 1999, and Guest! It is so encouraging to hear from all of you! You have no idea!
ENJOY!
"So who's on the loose?" Wally asked, excitedly peering over the rooftop wall at the city laid out below them. "Joker? Catwoman?"
Robin shook his head. "Yeah right! If Joker was on the loose none of us would be allowed out here on patrol, individually or as a team! And Batman would've never left Gotham!" He switched on the holo-computer in the wrist of his glove and began pulling up a list of villains currently on the lam from the law and their corresponding folders.
"Why? Doesn't he think we're good enough to handle one stupid clown in a purple suit?" Artemis grumbled, crossing her arms.
The rest of the team watched her from their various positions on the rooftop. While they all felt the same way to some degree, no one dared be so open about questioning the Batman.
No one but Robin, that is, and they sort of got the impression that being the man's son and apprentice gave Robin some protection on that front.
Robin raised his head from the holographic computer screen and key board floating over his wrist and sent a mini Bat glare in Artemis' direction.
He might not be scary in the so-scared-you-wet-your-pants way that Batman had, but he was someone to be feared nonetheless.
Robin was usually scary in the I-will-blackmail/revenge prank-you-in-the-worst-possible-way-you-can-imagine-and-I-will-FILM-it kind of way.
But tonight, it was a you-know-nothing-of-me-and-I-am-no-one-to-be-messed-with sort of look he sent flying at Artemis.
"The Joker has an IQ of 175, while Einstein is believed to have had an IQ of 160. And he's got the twisted mindset of an April Fools prankster turned sadistic serial killer. He's very nearly killed us both on more than one occasion, and he's nearly killed me more times than I can count. Apparently Batman's more fun when he's angry, and nothing ticks him off more than an injured Robin."
His glare sharpened, making Artemis shuffle under the intensity of it. "He does this because he enjoys it. Fame and fortune are just a side bonus. Living in Gotham Artemis, I would've thought you of all people would know that the Joker's nothing to sniff at."
Artemis was silent for a long moment, then nodded. "Sorry. You're right."
Robin grinned and waved it off, and just like that the deadly, grim atmosphere was gone. "Totally 'traught'." He returned his attention to his computer, bringing up a few mug shots.
"As it is, Joker's locked up at Arkham. Riddler and Two Face have only been out for a few days, and Killer Croc escaped early this morning. They'll be laying low, none of them are quick enough to get their act together that fast. So the action tonight will be from lower level hoods. Nothing serious." He added nonchalantly.
"So what exactly are we doing here?" Zatanna asked curiously, peering over Robin's shoulder to see the mug shots of the villains he'd mentioned.
"We are sitting on a roof. I am monitoring the police band frequencies for our target through my computer program. The vigilante's only started his new career within the last month, he's not comfortable out in the open yet. When he does come out to play it won't be in the line light."
"Just testing his wings huh?" Wally teased, elbowing his friend knowingly.
Robin rolled his eyes. "Rolling my eyes Kid." He answered, using an abbreviated version of Wally's superhero title since you never knew who you'd find on a Gotham rooftop! "But true." He added, laughing.
"So, until Robin gets a lead we're just going to sit here on this rooftop?" Conner asked, clearly not thrilled with this plan.
M'Gann slipped an arm around her boyfriend's waist, rubbing his side soothingly.
Robin shook his head. "Nah, just long enough for me to get a lock on the police band." He clicked off the computer and climbed to his feet. "And then we hit the streets till we get a lead."
"And do you have the police frequencies?" Kaldur asked, rising from his seat on the wall. The bird nodded, and Kaldur continued. "Then we shall set out on patrol. If you would care to lead the way, you are our host this evening."
Wally chuckled. "Kaldur, you're making it sound like he's hosting a dinner party!"
Robin grinned. "He's right though, Gotham's my beat!" cackling madly, he suddenly threw himself off the side of the building. "Race you to the first bust of the night!"
The team watched as their youngest member landed on a gargoyle several stories below and turn back up to wave at them, a cheeky grin on his face.
They couldn't help but smile and shake their heads at him.
He lived in one of the deadliest cities in the world, a place one journalist had gone so far as to call it 'Hells Armpit'! And yet he was by far one of the most hopeful, happy go lucky people they knew!
Wally shrugged. "When in Rome!" he darted straight over the edge of the building at super speed, running down to the ledge his best friend in and out of costume was crouching on.
Artemis shook her head, glaring over the edge after them. "Those two are absolutely incorrigible!"
Conner frowned. "Why would you want to encourage them? Don't they get into enough trouble?"
M'Gann giggled and reached up to brush some hair out of Conner's eyes, subtly tracing the tips of her fingers against his skin. Conner frowned for a moment, listening as M'Gann quickly and silently explained the difference between the two words.
He nodded his understanding after a moment, shooting her a grateful smile.
"Come my friends." Kaldur called. "I think it would be a good idea that we catch up with our teammates. They are not the type that one leaves alone for long if one is wise!"
Laughing, the others agreed.
One by one they leapt off the roof, each in their own fashion or with the aid of a friend. Conner carried Kaldur. Artemis used a grappling hook arrow. And M'Gann flew and carried Zatanna with her mind.
They did their dead level best to keep up with the bird and his best friend, and they gave them a run for their money! But they could never quite outdistance the two boys.
The team answered several calls that night, everything from stopping a convenience store robbery to braking up a bank heist. They even ran down a pair of purse snatchers! Or rather, Wally ran them down. The rest of the team sat back and tried to guess at how far the crooks would make it before Wally caught up with them.
Not surprisingly, Robin had the closest guess!
Robin heaved a sigh.
It was nearly midnight, and they had yet to hear so much as a squeak about their mysterious new vigilante. "Sorry for dragging you guys out here tonight. I guess this isn't his night to hit the town."
Wally slung an arm across the smaller teen's shoulders. "Are you kidding? I had a blast! Best night patrol I've had in forever! Gotham never seems to disappoint!" As an afterthought he added, "Besides, Bat's wouldn't have let you come out to play if we didn't come to keep an eye on your tail feathers! We couldn't just let you sit at home and rot on a Saturday night! What kind of friends would we be?"
Zatanna nodded. "It was fun!"
Artemis smirked and added her own agreement. "Yeah, despite the hundreds of idiot thugs trying to kill us. Same time tomorrow?"
"Yeah. We'll meet on the same rooftop." Robin answered, gratified to see that Kaldur, M'Gann, and Conner were all nodding their heads in agreement. They'd had fun too, despite the job the team was here to do. Considering the number of crooks they had bagged that night, at least Batman couldn't say it was a total waste!
"We'll…"
His wrist computer let off a warning beep, alerting him that there was something on the police scanner that he'd probably want to tune in on. He clicked the holo-screen on and scanned the bulletin hurriedly, shaking his head and clicking it off again when he'd finished.
"Look's like we've got one more bust to make tonight! And we'd better hurry!"
The team took to the rooftops after their youngest member. As they ran, he explained. "It's the red knuckle gang! They're a street gang that broke up into two factions about a month ago. They've been tearing up Gotham's streets ever since arguing over who the real gang leader is. They decided to have a smack down tonight and someone called the cops!"
He threw himself across an alley and somersaulted seamlessly back to his feet on the other side. "They holed up in an old theater called the Monarch. And they took several hostages! Police band says there're at least eight, probably more."
The team nodded grimly.
Arriving at the old theater, they found just what they expected. Police of every rank and description were swarming over the place. Flood lights had been set up and directed at the building. A van marked with the GCPD S.W.A.T. logo on it was just pulling up, the back sliding open to disgorge several men dressed in black uniforms and holding rifles. Barriers had been set up, and the inevitable crowd of civilian onlookers were craning their necks to try and see.
It was always the same story, just a different city.
Kaldur eyed the theater thoughtfully. "Robin. Can you pull up the blue prints to the building?" The young ninja nodded, immediately setting to work, and Kaldur turned to Conner. "Superboy, search the building for our quarry with your infrared vision. Until Gotham's S.W.A.T. team enters, they should be the only ones inside the building."
The clone nodded. Moving closer to the edge he crouched, his eyes narrowing slightly as he focused on the building. It wasn't long before he and Robin both returned to Kaldur with what they had found.
"There's twenty-three people in there." Conner stated. "They're all in one room near the back. I can't tell for certain, but the way they're standing I think ten of them are hostages and the rest are the bad guys."
Robin projected the Monarch theater's blue print with his holo-computer and held it up for Conner and Kaldur to get a better look at it.
The Atlantian motioned to the schematic. "Can you show us which room?"
The clone pointed one room out and plans were quickly made. They would enter the building through the air shafts and split up there. Kaldur, Robin, Wally, Artemis, and Zatanna would head directly for the gang members and their hostages. Conner, and M'Gann would be checking the rest of the building. Conner's infrared hadn't turned up anyone else, but it was better to be thorough.
His infrared could be fooled, and the last thing they wanted was to be suckered.
They made it into the building without difficulty, immediately splitting up into their assigned groups.
M'Gann, please set up the psychic link. Kaldur thought grimly as they parted company.
Link established. M'Gann answered a moment later.
The team split up and quietly made their way through the dark corridors of the Monarch theater, eyes peeled for signs of their quarry. They found the gangsters and hostages right where Conner said they would be.
Ok…now what? Wally thought at the others.
They stared through the slightly open door at the room beyond. It was one of the screen rooms, the multitude of chairs set up in rows clear across the room and the massive screen at the other end making that rather obvious.
The ten hostages were all gathered at the far end of the room in the first row or two. They were all bound and gagged. The heroes felt sorry for them. With their hair mussed and their faces pale with fright and some of them sporting bruises, they looked a little the worse for wear sitting there in the dark maroon seats.
Standing over the frightened hostages were the gangsters, guns of all descriptions in their hands. Some carried rifles. Most had hand guns. All were dressed in grungy jeans and dark t-shirts, the knuckles of their fingerless gloves dyed brilliant red.
Hence the name The Red Knuckles.
Several sported brilliant red bandannas and silver chains around their necks, wrists, and anywhere else they could attach them.
Jeeze! Could these guys be any more stupid? Artemis asked over the psychic link. They don't even have a guard posted at the door!
Robin shrugged. I never said they were smart! They're more known for beating their victims into unconscious with their bare hands. They recruit fighters, not thinkers. The only real intelligence in the gang was their boss Dan Tucket.
He shook his head. Ever since Dan got killed in a street fight a while back the gang's pretty much gone down the toilet. It's like a big vicious fighting machine with a busted control panel. They're just going at anyone who happens to get in their way.
Kaldur's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the situation beyond the door. We need to distract them. They are too close to the hostages for a safe extraction.
Robin suddenly grinned. If I get their attention, do you think you guys could get to the hostages before they realize what's going on?
Kaldur considered it for a moment, then nodded. I believe it is doable. What did you have in mind? He turned to look at Robin, only to find that the young ninja had inexplicably disappeared! He was nowhere to be found!
Robin?
Good thing this whole conversation is mental, otherwise it'd echo like crazy up here! Robin thought grimly back. Give me a minute or two, I'm almost there!
I hate it when you do the ninja thingy! Wally cocked his head, peering into the room and flicking his goggles down over his eyes. Almost where? Dude I can't see you at all in there!
Robin cackled over the psychic link. Um…Wally? That's kind of the point of stealth! You're not supposed to see me! He fell silent for a minute. Ok, I'm in position. You guys be ready to move!
Inside the theater Robin's trademark cackle suddenly rang out, echoing off the walls and ceiling. Those gangsters who had been sitting leapt to their feet, heads on swivels looking for the source of the laughter.
NOW!
A barrage of smoke pellets suddenly came flying out of nowhere, enveloping the various gangsters. Robin dropped from somewhere in the ceiling above them, hitting the hostage takers with everything he had.
The team threw the doors open, Wally racing ahead to get to the hostages before it even occurred to the gangsters to use them! Kaldur, Zatanna, and Artemis were hot on his tail. At Kaldur's orders, Artemis immediately moved forward to help Wally fend off the gangsters not currently fighting Robin.
Zatanna held back, helping Kaldur untie the hostages, and guiding them out of the room and out of the building while Kaldur covered their escape.
Robin cackled gleefully, back flipping over his opponent.
His laughter was cut short however when a hand grabbed his ankle from behind, abruptly reversing his direction and slamming him into the floor. He yelled at the impact, but there was no time to take stock of his injuries. He rolled, desperately trying to avoid the steel toed boots coming at him!
But he wasn't quick enough!
A well aimed kick caught him in the gut. The kick was so hard it actually lifted his body up off the ground, propelling him back several feet! He gasped, trying to regain the breath that had been knocked out of him. He had to get up! He had to move!
Um, guys? Totally not feeling the aster! Little help here? He yelled over the psychic link. The man who'd managed that lucky kick was coming at him again, huge boots ready to tromp him into the ground!
Like now!
Dark blue grey eyes watched the team from behind their mask, hidden away in the projection booth above the room and the fight it was currently hosting. He shook his head.
The team worked well together, like a well oiled machine.
They seemed to have come up with their strategy before hand, as they didn't yell instructions or questions to each other over the din. In fact, they didn't seem to converse with each other at all!
Oh for God's sake, they're not that great!
He ignored the comment and leaned forward, watching with interest as Artemis fired off arrow after arrow, Kid Flash ran circles around the gangsters, and Aqualad used his water bearers in the shape of a shield and mace to fend off his attackers.
Put simply, they were amazing!
Beside him his companion cackled, leaning out the window to watch the action.
He grinned. "Told you it'd be worthwhile to watch them!" Gazing at his companion, he shook his head. "You're enjoying the show aren't you? Come on, own up!"
His companion merely pulled lips back into a grin.
He chuckled, leaning out the window beside his friend. "The smoke bombs are clearing a little. You can see more of the Boy Wonder. I've seen him fight before, you watch him, he's quite the acrobat…"
He trailed off, eyes widening as he watched the boy wonder get caught by the ankle and slammed into the floor.
Hard.
Oh no! No, don't you dare! Don't even think it! the voice exclaimed.
He smiled. Yep, that clinched it! "I think it's time we came off the bench…!"
Little help here? Like now!
Wally whipped around, eyes frantically sweeping the room for Robin. Horror swamped him in a cold wash at the sight of his best friend lying on the floor, a man twice his size moving in to finish him off!
The speedster bolted for his friend, taking the thug down in a sliding tackle that smacked him against the wall and knocked the breath out of him. A couple super quick punches made certain that he wouldn't be waking up to go after Robin again anytime soon.
Rob, you ok?
Robin grimaced, having hauled himself to his feet, and pressed his back to the wall for support and to make sure he wasn't ambushed. There were only a few crooks left standing, and Kaldur and Artemis could certainly handle them. But still…
Not whelmed. He thought back at his friend, his arm pressed against his side. Totally not whelmed! That is going to be one nasty bruise tomorrow. Agent A is going to have kittens!
At least you're still in one piece. Artemis commented dryly over the psychic link. Sloppy tackle though Baywatch!
I'm not complaining! Robin answered with a silent laugh, forestalling the bickering match in the making.
"Hey, you missed one!" Wally exclaimed aloud, pointing.
All eyes followed his pointing finger, quickly finding the thug he meant. Missing his gun and sporting several bruises, he'd apparently decided to cut his losses and make for the exit. He was almost to the door!
"Kid Flash, capture him!" Aqualad ordered.
"On it!" Wally exclaimed, scrambling to his feet.
The thug flung open the doors at the back of the theater and stumbled out into the hall. He was so close! He could make it! He took a few steps down the hall and stopped with a startled cry.
No! It wasn't fair!
"I'll get him!" Wally skidded to a stop halfway up the aisle, his jaw dropping open in surprise. "…or not…" The speedster actually took a step back.
A tall lithe figure entered the room, hauling the escaped gangster at his side by a handful of the back of his coat. The instant he was fully into the room he dropped the unconscious man to the floor at his feet and took a step back, as if to offer the captured man to them.
Dark blue grey eyes gazed warily at them from behind the skinned face of a coyote.
The animal hide mask covered the upper half of his face, the rest of the pelt going up and over his head and falling along his back like a sort of cape with the animals forelegs draping over his shoulders. Long, coal black hair peeked out from under the coyote pelt. At his throat he wore a flat, black piece of leather, like a choker. What skin was visible was a deep tan color.
The strange teen was dressed from head to toe in fringed buckskins. A worn leather belt wrapped snugly around his waist, and a deer horn knife hung in an old weathered sheath at his hip. Dark fingerless gloves covered his hands, and his feet were shod in a pair of knee high moccasins.
Oh, he has got to be that new vigilante you were talking about Robin. Artemis thought at the others, never taking her wary eyes off of the newcomer. She had an arrow strung on her bowstring already, but for now it was aimed at the floor.
She could bring it up, aim, and fire in the matter of a few seconds. There was no sense scaring their quarry away straight off the bat and starting this little egg hunt all over again.
He'd been hard enough to find the first time around!
A huge grin spread across Wally's face. He's definitely not what I was expecting! You said a there was a new vigilante I was picturing some kid in a homemade cape and tights, not the last of the Mohicans! Wally laughed over the psychic link.
An eerie cackle suddenly resounded through the room. A dark, heavily muscled shape slunk from the shadows of the dark hall, coming to a stop at the vigilante's side.
Not for the first time that night, Wally's jaw dropped. "Dude, what is it with Gotham and pet hyenas?" he exclaimed aloud.
The stranger smiled. "You do speak! I was beginning to wonder…" he looked fondly down at the hyena by his side and gave it a good scratch behind the ear.
It certainly wasn't a typical hyena.
While it had the dark, tawny brown coat with black spots characteristic of a hyena, the daubs of paint on the fur was something new entirely!
Red rings had been painted around the eyes and rimmed the animals nostrils. A bright red left hand print decorated the animals right hip, and a crooked, bright yellow arrow adorned it's right shoulder. Two brilliant blue downward facing arrow heads completed the animal's war paint, having been daubed on it's left side about midway down it's body a few inches below the spine.
"As to Gotham and hyenas…" his fingers wandered down under the animal's chin, earning a pleasured groan as it leaned into his touch. "..let's just say that my dear friend here is a treasured gift and leave it at that."
He fixed piercing eyes on Robin. The boy wonder had come to stand at the front of the group and was very carefully scrutinizing him, noting the specific details of his costume, equipment, and bearing.
"I am well aware of the Bat and his little bird's search for me over the past month." The vigilante stated, his smile turning a little smug at the way the team stiffened.
Robin was young, and small for his age. It was understandable that they were a little protective of him. It amused him to no end, the knowledge that their youngest member had been at this work longer than they had, and was probably better able to look out for himself than any of them could possibly ever dream.
"While I appreciate the attention, and I am sure that they only have the best of intentions, I'm not yet ready to face the Batman. I'm sure he'll contend this intrusion into his territory. Maybe I'll come out to play when I am more certain of my standing." The way he talked about their intentions, he made it clear that he doubted them.
Artemis arched an eyebrow, slowly raising her bow. "Big talk coming from a guy who's facing four to one odds."
"Seven to one if you count the rest of the team." Robin added smugly.
The stranger shrugged, making a soft clicking sound with his tongue. The hyena gave him a look, then gave a long suffering huff and left his side, trotting back out the door. "As much as I hate to send you back empty handed, I don't think I'll allow you to take me into custody just yet."
Wally rolled his eyes. "Dude, have you been paying attention to anything Robin and Artemis said?"
Kaldur put a hand on Wally's shoulder, silencing him. He addressed the stranger. "It is not solely out of an infringement of territory that the Batman seeks you out. You are young, and ill experienced. It is true of any city, but especially in a city such as Gotham a lack of training and experience can be fatal. No hero wishes to find the body of a young vigilante on his patrol."
The strange teen seemed to actually be considering his words, so Kaldur pressed on. "You show promise. If you would only come with us, I am certain a member of the league would be willing to consider taking you on as a protégé and giving you the training you require."
The teen shook his head. "I'll consider it." he stated simply. "But I'll need more time than this. So again, I'll decline your invitation for tonight!"
Wally snorted. "Like you've got a choice? I could run you down before you took three steps!"
The stranger smiled.
Umm, Guys? Call me crazy if you like, but that look says he's got way more up his sleeve than just his arm…Artemis thought grimly.
"You've a lot to learn Kid Flash." The stranger's smile turned wolfish. "For the Coyote, there is always a choice!"
A mist suddenly seemed to seep up out of the floor. It enveloped his body in a matter of seconds, and faded away just as quickly. The team's jaws dropped.
Standing in place of the teen was a real coyote!
The coyote's dark blue grey eyes, an exact match to the strange teen's, seemed to shine at them with silent mirth. Giving an amused yip, the small animal suddenly turned and darted out into the hall.
Robin shook himself out of his shock. "Wally, get him!" He yelled, taking off after the coyote himself.
In an instant, Wally had passed the boy wonder. He paused for an milli-second in the hall, head whipping this way and that. Spotting a flash of grey and russet fur, he took off after it. Turning a corner he skidded to a stop. The coyote was just standing there, facing him. It was a dead end. Nowhere for the small animal to run.
Nowhere for him to hide.
Wally grinned, squatting down into a crouch. "Ooh hoo! Bad choice of direction! Coyote you said your name was right?" He gestured at the animal's appearance. "Seems to fit!" The coyote yipped, his lips pulling back in what Wally could almost imagine to be a smile. "You gonna come nice and quiet, or do we need to call the Gotham city pound?"
The coyote yipped again, lips pulling back even further in a definite grin. The same silver mist as before pooled at his feet and leapt up to hide him.
"Oh no you don't!" Wally yelled, fanning his arms at super speed to clear the air. The mist shredded and dissapeared. But he was too late! The mist faded away to reveal nothing!
The Coyote was gone!
The speedster stared at the spot for a moment, then groaned and face palmed. "Man…Rob's gonna kill me…"
"So, he just disappeared?" Robin clarified.
The speedster nodded, running his hand through his hair. "Yeah. That weird mist popped up out of nowhere again an covered him. I tried to clear it away before it had a chance to change him into something else, but for once I wasn't fast enough! I cleared the mist away and he was just gone!"
The whole team had gathered to one side in the screening room, careful to stay out of the way of the police taking the gangsters out.
There had been four more walking the corridors of the building keeping a lookout for police trying to get in.
They'd been in the furnace room when Conner did his initial sweep of the building with his infrared, and that was why he'd missed them. Conner and M'Gann had seen to them, and they were now being carted out with the rest of their gang.
"Spells like the ones you guys are describing, those can't be pulled off by a weakling. And unless you're really good they'd leave a trace behind, something another magic user could detect. Sort of like a magic residue. It doesn't stay around long though, especially if it's disturbed."
Zatanna chewed her lip thoughtfully. "I can't do anything with the shape changer spell, there's too much foot traffic. But I might be able to tell you where he went, or at least how far. Could you show me where he disappeared?" she asked, looking to Wally.
The redhead nodded and gestured towards the door. "Right this way!" He lead them back down the hall and around the corner to the dead end. "He was standing right there."
Kaldur frowned thoughtfully. "And you said he was facing you when you came around the corner, as though he were waiting for you. Did he seem ill at ease?"
Wally shook his head, stepping to one side to let Zatanna past. "No. I remember thinking it was a little weird. He just stood there grinning at me. I guess he really did know what he was doing."
Artemis shook her head. "But if he was capable of this, how come he didn't use this spell back in the theater? Why change into an real coyote and lead Kid Flash on a wild goose chase?"
"Because he wanted to give the hyena time to get away." Robin answered. He pulled up his holo-computer, displaying pictures he'd taken earlier before the police's foot traffic had moved in and obliterated the evidence.
"Both he and the hyena had dirty feet. When the Coyote came out of the theater he came this way. But when he sent the hyena out, it went the other way. Police said they saw it run out one of the side doors. For whatever reason, he couldn't take the hyena with him. So he stalled for time till he thought it was safe."
Zatanna heaved a sigh and brushed her hair back out of her face. She'd been chanting quietly in the background for the past several minutes, trying a couple different spells to get the answers she wanted. "Nothing. If this is magic, he's either no amateur, or it's something I've never seen before. Any chance this was some kind of science?"
Wally shook his head. "Can't be. Teleportation devices move the user through space at the speed of light, so every time it breaks the light barrier it emits a flash of light. Kind of like when a fighter jet breaks the sound barrier and you get a sonic boom. That's why the zeta tubes light up every time someone comes through. If this is science, he's figured out a way to shield it."
"So, long story short, this is something none of us has ever seen before." Artemis summed up dismally. "Anything else weird about this mission?"
"Yeah." Robin brought up yet another image and held it up for the others to see. It showed the floor of the theater aisle. "These are the Coyote's foot prints."
After a few moments scrutiny, Artemis shrugged. "Yeah. So?"
Robin gave her a look. "This is where he was standing before he shape shifted. Notice anything odd?"
Wally gaped. "They're all animal tracks!"
Robin nodded. "Yeah. These larger one's are hyena tracks. After staring at tracks from the Joker's hyenas for years I'd know those tracks anywhere. The smaller ones are his." He traced out a set of smaller tracks in amongst the larger, sturdier prints of hyena in the picture. "If the tracks are to be believed, we were literally staring at a coyote the whole time."
Zatanna rubbed her eyes tiredly. "How on earth are we supposed to explain this to Batman?"
All eyes immediately fixed on Kaldur. He was generally the one who made the report to Batman.
The Atlantian shook his head. "I have no idea. With no way to locate our quarry, I am not certain what option that leaves us."
"Have a little faith Kaldur, we might have another shot at this." Kaldur arched an eyebrow at the boy wonder, who was typing busily away at his computer. Robin grinned. "The hyena had to walk out of here on his own, meaning he left a scent trail behind."
Wally settled a hand on Robin's shoulder. "Uh, Rob? In case you haven't noticed, none of us are bloodhounds!" he teased.
Robin grinned. "I know."
A new window popped up on his screen and his grin widened. "But I know where we can get one. He and his owner will be here in about five minutes to catch the trail while it's fresh."
For those of you who know who Coyote really is and are going 'what the heck?", don't panic! All will be explained satisfactorily in time! And for those of you who are now wondering what you missed that gives his identity away, you didn't miss a thing. Remember those explanations I mentioned? Yeah, those will be the big reveal for you guys!
Review! I can't wait to hear what you think of these new developments!
Until next time...