Still wandering down the dark halls, Flash and Superman laboriously continued their search for Green Lantern. His wet nose pressed to the floor, and his plush lightning bolt-tipped tail standing erect as he determinedly led the way down the empty halls. "Find anything?" Superman asked , curious, and slightly amused by his friend's actions.
"Hey this isn't as easy as it looks," Flash replied as he lifted his muzzle from the floor and began sniffing a nearby wall. "I'm still not even sure I'm doing this right," he continued before taking a big whiff of the worn concrete wall.
"No argument there," Superman laughed under his breath as he peered into a closed door in the hallway.
"You could help you know," Flash groaned as he paused to wipe a piece of a dried leaf from his face. "You've got a nose too." Still looking through the small window in the darkened door, Superman ignored Flash's gripe and using his superior eyesight, cleared another empty room before following Flash.
"Batman said that Lantern would be somewhere down this corridor. He can't be far," he said as he studied the remaining rooms that lined the hall. "We have to be getting close." he said with a smirk as he watched Flash- his face still pressed to the ground in an attempt to pick up a scent- clumsily walked into an open door.
"Ouch!" Flash growled as he sat on the floor and tentatively rubbed his head with his paw. "You figure there'd be a warning sign here or something..."
"You okay?"
"Yeah," Flash replied as he returned to his feet and stared grudgingly at the heavy steel door. After confirming that the dark room was unoccupied, he and Superman passed the empty room and continued their search. As they approached the next door, Superman cracked it open and peeked inside, whispering for Green Lantern in hopes that he'd answer. With no luck he closed the door and proceeded to follow Flash as he diligently roamed the hall. Ignoring several open doors, Flash continued forward, silently and swiftly making his way through the dark hall. "I think I've got him!" he shouted as his ears sharply perked up before turning to direct him towards the soft sound of rustling coming from an open room at the far end of the hall. Stopping to gather a confirming whiff of the air, he then made his way swiftly to the doorway and sprang inside.
"Flash!" Superman called out as he watched a small blur of red and white fur bolt into the room. Just as Superman began to follow, he was stopped short, startled by the sudden flash of blinding light as the building's power was turned back on; immediately he trailed behind and followed Flash through the doorway.
"GL!" Flash shouted as he sat below the large hanging bird cage holding the green-eyed golden eagle.
"Flash?" Lantern replied, shocked and elated at the sight of his teammates. "How'd you guys get out? How'd you know where to find me?"
"Never mind that," Superman interrupted as he approached the cage and advised John to step back and brace himself before he reached up and snatched the cage from its hanger with his claws.
"I sniffed you out!" Flash explained proudly, his tail rhythmically waving, while Superman tore the frail metal cage open with his heavy paws. Once Green Lantern was free, the trio stealthily exited the room and began searching for a way out of the poachers' dungeon.
"Where are Batman and Wonder Woman?" Lantern asked in a whisper as they made their way down the halls, riding on Superman's back.
"Bruce went to get Diana. We split up about twenty minutes ago; hopefully he's found her-"
"-After the way he sped off, I'm sure he's already got her," remarked Flash. "Do I have to play bloodhound and find them too?" he asked jokingly. Just then, the entire building began quiver as the wailing sounds of the security alarms began to ring through the halls.
"I take it he just got out," John commented as the sirens blasted through the building, the sounds of frustrated, quarreling men also echoed down the halls, growing closer with every accusation.
"Let's go!" shouted Superman as he led the way down the hall and around a corner in search of a way out.
Outside in the boggy marshland, away from the threats of the poachers' warehouse, Diana lay asleep, still only partially conscious as the effects of the tranquilizers slowly continued to wear off. Sleepily, she opened her eyes to the blurred sight of mossy earth and fallen trees. Confused, she proceeded to weakly push herself up from the ground, her body quivering as it rose, Diana's efforts to gain her footing were cut short by a familiar, husky voice advising her to 'lay down and rest.' "You need to sleep those tranquilizers off."
"Bruce?" she whispered as she strained to sit up and find her friend. "Where are-" her voice trailed off and she stared, startled, at the sight of the inky black wolf that approached and took a seat at her side. At first she was frozen with fright at the sight of the brooding canine, but after a refreshing moment of recollection and looking down at her own spotted paws and fur, she remembered who it was sitting beside her and, grudgingly, their stress-filled predicament. "Where are we?" she asked ignoring Bruce's urging that she lay down and rest, and pushing herself up into a sitting position. As her tired eyes slowly blurred in and out of focus, Bruce explained their situation and calmly filled her in on what she'd missed during her drug-induced catnap.
"Still in Louisiana," he replied while watching her try to stand. "Otherwise, we've probably been shipped to a location along the Mississippi River," he continued, slightly apprehensive and preparing to aid Diana in her efforts to gain her footing. Her legs still limp and her paws in a tingling slumber, Diana's legs began to waiver as she clumsily rose from the damp floor. Finally heeding Bruce's advisement, Diana proceeded to slowly slower herself back to the ground, but lost her balance and began to fall, only to be caught as Bruce used his head to balance her body and gently lower her to the ground.
"Thanks," she replied gratefully.
"Those were some heavy duty tranquilizers they used," Batman explained as he stood in front of her. "That, mixed with the fact that you were probably still weak from the transformation after the antidote wore off, would explain why you're still so weak. You need to stay off your feet for a while. You need rest." He told her again. Frustrated, Wonder Woman complied and, annoyed, rested her head on her paws, staring at Bruce as he turned and looked out to the densely forested wetlands. Studying his sturdy, streamlined build, she watched him walk forward and noticed a slight limp in his gait. Paying further attention to her friend, she noticed that his once thick, coal-black fur was now stained by traces of dried mud and forest debris. The lower half of his legs were now a soiled brown, as were his stomach, chest, and the underside of his tail- as if he'd been wading in mud.
"Looks like I'm not the only one who needs rest," Diana said with a solemn smile. As Bruce turned his head to acknowledge her comment, he watched her lift and swing one of her paws as she inquired as to whether or not his muddied legs were the result of a sudden urge to go swimming in the marsh waters. Looking down at the filthy, dried water caked onto his legs and tail, Bruce embarrassedly took a seat and, facing away from Diana, tried to hide his muddy paws from her, only to shoot back up and- with a slight limp- step back in pain after accidently sitting on his tail. Watching him hatefully stare behind him at the bushy black nuisance, Diana couldn't help but laugh under her breath, watching as he irritably looked back at his tail, before providing some words of reassurance. "It's ok," she laughed. "I still haven't gotten the hang of it either," she admitted, looking back to her own spotted tail as it casually swayed back and forth on the floor at her side. Though you do seem to be better at it than I am," she smiled, "if I didn't know any better, I'd say you've done this before," she joked as his ears dropped embarrassedly. With a soft smile and a laugh, Diana rested her head on her paws and watched Bruce stand and make his way towards their shelter's exit where he proceeded to survey the area and, nose to the wind, began sniffing the air for any sign of Clark and the others. As he stepped further into the wind, Diana noticed, for a second time, the faint limp in his stride. "Are you alright?" she asked, studying his hind leg as he gingerly lowered it to the ground. At first Bruce didn't answer, trying to change the subject as he proceeded to exit their hideout beneath an overturned tree.
"I'm going to look for the others," he said as he took in whiff of the air and alertly proceeded to scan the landscape. "They shouldn't be far; stay here," he instructed before Diana swiftly objected to his orders.
"I'm coming with you," she said as she rose to her feet, completely ignoring the weakening quiver in her hind legs. "I can't let you go out their alone."
"No. We're not far from that warehouse; and we're not their only source of income," Batman replied forcefully. "They could have traps and hunters anywhere in the area," he said as his injured leg was subconsciously lifted from the ground, revealing to Diana the traces of bloodied scratches on the underside of his paw and ankle. "I've already gotten you to safety before they could turn you into Lex's new rug once," he said as he looked back and watched Diana slowly approach and stand at his side."Besides, you need your rest. Stay, here." He commanded once again, a firm no-nonsense look in his eyes. "We'll be back soon." Ending their argument, Batman finally slipped out from their hiding place and prepared to start his search, before Diana stopped him one last time.
"Bruce!" she shouted as she followed him out of their hideaway. Turning to acknowledge her determination to follow him, Bruce prepared to repeat his order, only to be cut off by the sudden sensation of soft fur brushing against his chest. Awkwardly unaware of what to do, his body stiffened and his tail dropped to the floor. Unsure of how to react, he looked down at Diana and stared, mesmerized, at the various star-shaped rosettes dabbled in her soft, beautiful fur, before he finally returned Diana's embrace. The two exchanged hugs a moment longer, before she finally let him search for their friends. Eager and worriedly waiting for their safe return, she reentered the den and lay back down, struggling to heed his suggestion and get some rest.