*swoosh*

*tak tak tak*

The boy quickly slashes through the tall grass leaving the soldiers behind.

“Slow down a bit buddy…..let our boys catch up to us.”

“…….ok.”

Owen cuts a circle making a clearing. The boy takes a moment to wipe his sweat from his forehead as he uses his water to snuff out the flame from spade. Mike offers a canteen to him.

“Thanks Uncle Mike.”

*gulp gulp*

“Hungry?”

Owen satisfied his thirsty and immediatly nods in agreement. He waits for his food salivating.

“Ahhhhh……Of course.”

Mike unwraps a sandwich from his bag. He tears a piece of It and hand It for the boy.

*munch munch*

*rustling grass*

While Owen munchs away his sandwich Phyro ready his breath and Mike ready his rifle.

“(mouthfull)Uncl-”

“Shhhhhhh”

*sizzle sizzle*

The rustling glass got closer and closer. In this situation Mike picked up the boy on to his arms while he aims his rifle towards the noise. Mike aimed high fearing an ambush from the monsters.

*rustiling grass*

*meap*

“What the hell-”

Mike looked at his feet to see a small otter pup sniffing the ground while eating the bread crums left by Owen. But Phyro still holded his breath as he did’nt trust the small thing.

*gulp*

*points*

“What is that Uncle Mike?”

“Thats an otter pup.”

Owen saw in his hand a small piece of bread. Feeling sorry for the small creature he tosses his left overs towards him.

*munch munch*

*meap*

Mike lowers the boy. Owen curious hunches over to see the small creature. An envious Phyro looks with distain even spiting out small flames from his nostrils.

“What are going to do, uncle Mike?”

Mike carefully pickes up the small pup in his hand. The small creature clings to the fabric of his sleeves. Seeing the small act Mike took of his helmet and puts the creature inside.

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“Let’s find where he came from…….This is a zoo after all they must have an otter enclosure around here.”

Owen looks at him with an intrigue face.

“What’s a zoo, Uncle Mike?”

“hahhaahahah……”

*pounds face*

“Thats not funny.”

“hahah….sorry Owen…just was’nt expecting that.”

They walk following the rugged brick walkway while looking at the faint paint on the signs for any clue where to go.

*tak tak tak*

“Uncle Mike.”

“What is It?”

“Why did people wanted to go see animals If they could see them everyday?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Like elk and deer and rabbits. We saw them everyday back at our town in Texas.”

“Ohhh I see……Then.”

Mike points at the sign with the word “Lion” inbeeded on It.

“Can you tell me what animal this is?”

The boy look at It and trying to remember the name from his mother books. He them tried making It up. Then he just scratched his head and admit defeat.

“See thats why people went to the zoo to see animals they could not see in their normal lives.”

“Ohhhh I see……Then whats a lion?”

*pats head*

“Lets find a his enclosure and I’ll tell you what all theses animal in the zoo look like.”

“Yay!!!!”

The boy jumps in exicitiment.

Mike and Owen took their time to explore the whole area they stayed there for what seem to be hours. Even the chatter of soldiers and hecking of grass were almost silent to them. Suddenly the small otter using the little strenght he had left climed up the circumference of the helmet to let out a small cry. they delve deeper into the urban jungle they hear faint noises similar to giggles.

*swoosh*

*tak tak tak*

“Do you think It came from there, uncle Mike?”

“Don’t know but there seems to be a lake nearby.”

*meap*

As both talked Phyro smells a strong scent of fish and mud. He then strays away from Owen and Mike to investigate It by himself.

*Sizzle sizzle*

“Fuahhhh…..”

The young dragon smelling abilities led him to a small broken gutter. He them hears the same meaps that the pup Owen and Mike carried coming from the drain. The broken and busted open iron bars were as sharp as a knife. He tries to peak inside with absolute caution.

“Unnnn….”

*pop*

“Fuah.”

He sees a pile of mud and dirty but the smell makes him question what he sees.

*nodge*

*meeeeeeeeap*

three small heads pop out of the mud pile they scramble for shelter as Phyro quickly retreats back to the outside of the gutter.

“Fuaaaaahaaaa!!?!!!?”

*growls*

Phyro slowly turns his head to see two angry otters trying to scare him off.

*growls*

“Fuaahaha……Fuaaahaaa.”

Phyro tries arguing with them but to no aveil. After a good sniff by one of them It suddenly comes to try to bite or scratch Phyro’s throat.

*sizzle sizzle*

*growls*

A standoff comence as the otter couple wants to scare but Phyro won’t budge. But with a stratigic thinking Phyro tooked off his gear and goes to his emergency rations.

*throws food*

*growls*

“Fuah.”

*meap meap meap meap*

The two otters hear the cries of their youngs coming from the gutter they too seem to be very hungry. Then finally one of them took the food and went straight towards It’s cubs. Unfortunely because of the slander bodies the sharp bars of steel bit down on It’s skin preventing from It feading It’s cubs.

*pull away*

The otter turns towards Phyro with an angry expression.

*growls*

“Fuah. Fuah fuaaah. Fuaaah.”

The otter’s face soon turned away from anger to a comprehensive facial expression. It soon turned back towards It’s partner and awaits for Phyro signal.

*sizzle sizzle*

*bite steel*

Gathering all his strengh Phyro pulls out the steels bars by melting them he them prooceds to nod at the otter to show him that he can retrive his family.

*picks up cubs*

*kids away*

*drops down bars*

The otters, although not much expressive, showed gratitude for the actions of the small dragon.

*tak tak tak*

That sound made the otters turned to protective mode again. But Phyro quickly calm them down.

“Fuaaaah”

“(faint)Phyro?”

Mike and Owen soon find his pet with the other otters. Phyro quickly took away the otter cub off Mike’s helmet and gave to them.

“Good one, buddy.”

*pats dragon.*

“Phyro did you knew where the parents where?”

“Fuaaah…..?”

“Humm….you could have told me. But now he is saved and thats what matters.”

Owen, Mike and Phyro waved their hand in a gesture of goodbye to the small family. They skidded away into the tall grass never to be seem again.

With the task complete the group went back to the now fortified position of the zoo.

“Good job guys.”

“Nothing…..much sir….Just doing our jobs and you doing some recon deeper into the zoo?”

“Yeah……..you could say that.”

Owen and Phyro smell the foul smell of fresh. Owen’s memory spring him to action. Phyro ready his flames as Owen draws his pistol.

*faint squeesh*