After the encounter with the mysterious labtech, Yoshi and the others made their way into Bass'ken Lake. The sound of howls caught their attention before they got far. "That sounded like an outlaw pup." Neko stated. "Yep... and that was definitely not a howl at the moon. Let's go!" Yoshi said as he led the way to were the howl was heard.
~ Ch. 2: Outbreak at Bass'ken Lake
As the group neared a clearing, sounds of whimpering was heard. When they approached, they saw a couple badly injured Outlaw pups. "Tell me the fluffs didn't do this. Fluffs should not be this violent." Nina said as Yoshi approached the pups. "From the look of the area... I say they went down fast. Very little sign of struggle." Remmy stated. An alert popped up on Diesel's console. "We got hostiles." The zurg said. "Where?" Yoshi said as he turned away from the pups. One of them got up and snarled. "The outlaw pups!" Diesel said as he rushed forward and pulled Yoshi back when the pup lunged forth. "What, but aren't the animated supposed to be tame now?" Neko said confused. The outlaw pups stood and snarled before moving to circle the group. Diesel noticed something. "Their eyes and mouths are glowing yellow..." The mech pointed out. "Why are they glowing?" Nina questioned. "Who cares, we are about to be dog food." Neko said. Yoshi grit his teeth before lifting his hand. "Not today." He said as a ring on his hand glowed. A gun materialized in the air and shot at the pups. One outlaw pup leaped out of the way as the other took a few shots of damage. "Fight and don't let them bite you!" Yoshi ordered as he raised his hand with another ring glowing. Blue semi transparent coyotes circled everyone before getting absorbed by them. The group felt their speed increase slightly. The pirate then drew forth Brim and went for the outlaw pup that leapt away.
Watching from a distance, Labtech Nine brought out his phone. "This is Labtech Nine reporting. It is confirmed, the fluffs can infect those they injure." The labtech informed. "Interesting, perhaps the fluff has gained a toxin type of effect like that of zombification. Heh! If we could isolate that toxin, think of the possibilities!" Doctor Skull ranted. "Sir, isn't this a serious issue? If that toxin gets its way into something we can't handle..." Labtech Nine worried. "Nonsense. By the way... where are these encounters taking place?" Doctor Skull questioned. "Bass'ken Lake. Sir?" The labtech worried as the doctor let out a laugh. "Oh, it has been ages since I've been there... and if memory has yet to fail me, I know the perfect hiding place that our experiment might've gone." Doctor Skull stated. "What! Please, tell me and I'll gladly capture it." The labtech stated. "No... I shall be there shortly." The doctor stated with another laugh as the call ended. Labtech Nine looked at his phone with worry. "Please don't let things get worse." He said. A loud scream then sounded through the air.
The group had just taken out the outlaw pups when the scream was heard. "Sounded like it came from the direction of the sawmill!" Neko stated. "No... if a buzzsaw becomes like those pups things could go bad fast!" Yoshi said as he ran to the path toward the sawmill. He then slipped on something. "Ick, what the heck is this?" He questioned in disgust as he looked at the orange puddle of goop. "According to my scans its... rotten pumpkin?" Diesel stated. "Ugh, this is gross..." Yoshi stated as he wiped off his boot. After further scans of the goop, Diesel's scanner picked up a trail of the stuff. "Umm, Yoshi... I think we may have found the big one." Remmy said as he looked at the scans. Yoshi nodded. "Alright then, Neko, Nina, go on ahead to the sawmill quickly. Diesel, Remmy and I will go find big ugly." He ordered, the group nodded before Neko and Nina took off. "Lead the way guys." Yoshi said to the mech and zurg.
The sound of buzzsaws filled the air as Neko and Nina approached the sawmill. There were a few people running from there. Neko stopped one of them. "Hey, what happened? We heard a scream." The feline questioned. "I don't know. One second someone said they saw a strange fluff, the next they were attacked by it. And then more fluffs showed up when they screamed and an all out war broke out between the fluffs and buzzsaws!" The man stated in a shaken voice. "Alright, get to safety then." Neko said before he and Nina continued running down the path.
The rotten pumpkin trail led Diesel, Remmy and Yoshi down the cliff outside Logan's hut. "I'm beginning to feel like I know where this trail leads." Yoshi stated as they followed the trail further into the trees. "How so?" Remmy asked. "I've been in this area before, back when the animated were active. And in this area... there is only one place that something like what we're looking for could hide." Yoshi stated as he and Diesel turned to a cave opening. "She Wolfs Den."
As Neko and Nina neared the sawmill, an orange and black haze misted the air. "What is this?" Nina asked. Neko was puzzled as well until he remembered. "When that labtech got rid of the fluff... didn't it turn into a puff of smoke?" The feline recalled. "Those buzzsaws must be tearing them apar-." He then began coughing. "Man, the air is getting hard to breath, and hard to see..." He said as he rubbed his eyes and looked around. "Neko, I don't think we should go further..." Nina stated. "What if... someone... needs help though?" Neko pointed out with another few coughs. Despite that argument, he was beginning to think it was a bad idea as well. With a few more coughs, he starting to feel a bit light headed and very tired. Suddenly, he stopped advancing toward the sawmill. "Neko?" Nina asked concerned. Neko then began turning around... and his eyes and mouth had a faint yellow glow, just like the outlaw pups did.