5/9/2004
06:06 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.
Zoo Grounds(#3023RJh)
The sign over the locked gates reads "St. Cl ire oo," with the missing letters nowhere to be found. The small abandoned zoo has been home to a sucession of vagrants, drifters, and the occasional gang, and it looks as if each successive resident decided to trash it just before they left. Spray paint both ancient and new scrawls over all the buildings, walkways, and exhibits. Septic puddles remain in some of the exhibits, drains having been clogged years ago. Mosquitoes thrive and swarm. Weeds have long since begun their assault on this abandoned zoo, taking over the green patches and making remarkable progress in the cracked cement. The main offices, simple cinder block constructions, sport only broken windows and cracked tile floors. Everything else has long since been cleaned out or broken; if it had any value whatsoever, it's gone. Even the toilets in the restrooms have been unbolted and carried off to sell for a couple hits of crack cocaine. To the north, the constant buzz of traffic on I-90 intrudes on any conversations. This zoo is little more than a weed-choked, litter-strewn cement wasteland, doomed to be bulldozed some day into a parking lot, office complex, or shopping center as the city grows.
A cracked walkway littered with weeds leads towards the main office. To the northeast, there is a small hole leading out underneath the fence and to the street.
(Please read the +views.)
Contents:
Eve
Obvious exits:
Main Office Under the Fence
Eve is leaving the zoo and making her way toward the fence, after having checked on Squeaks. She is still wearing that filthy summer hat, to hide the bandages on her left ear.
Before Eve even nears the fence, a rattling comes from that direction. But, the person there is far from anyone the Gnawers know about. This man, balding, a bit fat, and in his mid-thirties it seems, is rather obviously sniffing around the place.
Eve freezes in place and sniffs the air, before growling softly to herself. "Aww fuck," she mutters.
And the man, scratching at the strands of brown hair that are fairly thin, is definitely investigating the place until he spots Eve. Apparently he still has sharp eyes. Sharp, beady eyes. "Hello there. Fancy seeing someone else having a look around this old abandoned zoo. Except... mind if I ask how'd you get in?" Sharp eyes, of course, that flagrantly miss the entrance under the fence.
Eve's nose wrinkles up, as she takes stock of the situation. She slips into one of her old personas, from her old life. "I climbed over the fence, you fat fuckwad. Whatcha doin' around here, ya asshole. THis ain't your turf. Get the fuck out of here!" Eve lurches forward a touch, sounding and acting as is she is drunk or stoned. Zoo was always a haven for the homeless and addicted.
The man scowls at the sudden bristle of hostilities, tucking in a pen into his pocket. He seems quite unperturbed by Eve's behavior, but neither is he put off. "Hey now, I'm not doing anything except having a look. There's nothing suspicious about looking."
"Ya ain't got no buisness around here," Eve snarls, then makes a run toward the fence. Slamming her entire weight against it and bareing her teeth at the man. Eyes wide and spittle on her lips, the young woman has to be high on something.
"Whoa!" The man definitely takes a step back instinctively as Eve comes charging, forgetting for just an instant that there's a fence between her and him. "Jesus Lord an' Christ." He clutches at something in his pocket, which is pulled out and revealed as a can of pepper spray. "You start climbin' and I'll start sprayin', got that?" Thinking he's got the better advantage, he starts moving off to the side, not turning his back but keeping a length of arm's distance from the fence itself. "I ought to report you for whatever you've been smokin' or injectin', but that'll just make this situation more complicated." The man's dark eyes keep themselves nice and focused on the crazy woman, occassionally flickering towards the zoo's inward grounds.
Eve grins through the fence, a string of drool running down her chin. "That shit only works, if ya get it in the fuckin' eyes. This is a bad part of the city bub and you don't fuckin' belong here." The fence under Eve's hands is rattled, as her dialated eyes never leave the man's face.
Clearly the man's more than what he appears to be, because as much as Eve's threats and calls for him to leave blow at him, he like a twisted tree on a mountaintop simply bends around it all. His very demeanor, the way he peers at the theurge, the way he regards the grounds of the Zoo, all of it suggests that he's seen a whole lot, and a whole lot worse. "This part of the city is far from 'bad'," he replies somewhat calmly, gaze flicking briefly to the tab on the pepper spray can then back again. As it were, he seems like he expects something out of Eve more than anything else - and he's willing to take the risk. A balding middle aged man who is Not afraid of a death threat from a druggie? Who would've thought?
Eve's nostrils flare and one hand hooks up highter on the fence. "Appearances are decieving," Eve growls, then hooks a foot into the rusted fence and starts to scurry overtop.
The Man takes another step back as Eve grabs the fence. "Apparently they are," he says steadily, almost calculatingly. Still, he seems a little worried whether she comes over the fence or not. Pepper spray in one hand, he unhooks the cellphone from the carrier in his belt with another and flips the phone up. Who's he calling? Does it matter? Maybe he's getting 911.
Eve doesn't give him the chance to make that call, getting over that fance surprisingly fast and snatching the phone out of his hand before he can even hit the speed dial.
Holy crap, Eve is fast. But also quite unlucky. Pepper spray fills the air and hell does it sting! The chemical mix bursts out of the can and sprays right onto Eve's upper body, face, and hat just as the man cries out in surprise at the sudden appearance of the Gnawer before him. His fingers were on the trigger, and just reflexively pushed. Now that the chemical's out all over the place and he's doing the spraying, he's crying out, "Help! Someone!" It's a surprise he's not fallen backwards, but he must be quite accustomed to being attacked or at least approached.
Oh hell yea, it does sting like hell, but Eve is very experienced when it comes to pain. Having your intestimes pulled out a few times and being the mother of a mule'll do that too you. Angry now. Actually, furious beyond any sense of thought, the Gnawer acts instinctivly. Lashing out at the source of pain. In other words, she launches herself at the man and sinks her teeth into his wrist. The one holding that pepper spray.
And ow. No matter what he was prepared for, the man is certainly surprised that Eve's not deterred by the spray. His arm is bitten into enough to draw an unhealthy look of blood trickling down and his yelling just gets more frantic as he starts to work in the fight part of the fight and flight syndrome. "Get off! Let go!" he yells, punching with his free hand at the theurge's head. It's only a matter of moments going by that a few cars passing along the street slow down a touch, and those people who've come out of their jobs in nearby buildings look towards the commotion.
Eve lets go and land on all fours, a low growl rumbling in her throat, before she lunges at the man again. Run, or be bitten. Nice choices.
The clatter of the pepper spray can interrupts his yelling as the man stares at Eve like she's gone stark fucking crazy. Looking at his bleeding wrist he holds it close and breathes hard. Now it's a choice. Cell phone? Leave? That phone cost him a good sum, but is it worth getting bitten again for? No, is his decision. "You're going to regret that," he says muttering under a whole bunch of restrained curses. "She bit me! She's fuckin' crazy!" the man yells out for the benefit of the people who've begun rubbernecking. At the same time, he's backing away quickly. His car's probably around here somewhere.
Eve makes a false charge at the man, just enough to get him to move that much faster.
That does make him move faster. In little less than a minute, he's backed away a really decent distance and has finally deemed it safe to turn his back on Eve. Not long after, he turns the corner of the block and is gone.
Much as he would like Eve to leave him alone, the man is not that lucky. SHe wants to see the licence plate of his car.
The car is parked at a nearby parking lot not more than a block or two from the Zoo. The car itself, a burgundy used Toyota sedan, has a normal Washington state license. Easily trackable for the right people in connection with the DMV.
[Later on after the incident...]
07:52 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.
Elson Commercial District
In the intersection of Fourteenth and Elson, the center of this three-block area of Elson Street, an elementary school's playground sits in the one corner not occupied by small businesses. Fenced in by chain-link fencing with the top tilted in to discourage the schoolchildren climbing out, the playground seems fairly well-cared-for. Down towards Fifteenth, the 19th Police Precinct is located, amidst other small businesses - clothes stores, a small electronics store, and a deli and convenience store frequented by the policemen. Their nearby presence seems to make this area a little less dangerous than others, for there seems little evidence of criminal activity here. Even down towards Thirteenth, with its own small businesses and grocery store, is cleaner and more at ease than some of the surrounding areas only a few blocks south.
Contents:
Eve
Obvious exits:
Alley Yellow River Medicine Shop Brownstone Police Station North South East
You paged the room with 'Ok. We'll be working at the block on Elson and Fourteenth, nearish the Brownstone area.'.
The five-story brownstone building has a dark grey cement edgeway with little gargoyles sitting at each of the corners. An archway that tries to be medieval in design sits above a solid, weather-stained, yellow oak door. From the street, it's three small steps up to the threshold. In bold black painting on the frosted glass of the oak door is the building's street number: 1356
You paged the room with 'What you do know about the guy: his name is Chris Davis. Yep, he's the writer of the tabloid article in the Angel's Bugle about the werewolves. He lives on Xnumber Elson Street, and has two cars - one for himself, one for his wife.'.
Xnumber Elson Street, Mr. Davis' address, is a decent looking middle class home around this residential block. He apparently, does have a wife, and a kid. The wife's car, a blue-greenish Ford, sits out in the driveway in front of the two-car garage. Someone's likely home already, though it's impossible to tell if Mr. Davis has come home already.
Dark switches to her lupine form, long before getting this far. Keeping out of sight best she can, the wolf dog creeps up on the house and into the backyard. Atleast there, its a little easier to remain unseen.
The backyard of the house is pretty darn normal. A stray ball, a pinkish tricycle, and of all things the smell of another dog pervades through the area. The dog's scent is musky, healthy, and overall freshly made. Light barking can be heard from inside the house, along with the voices from a television. The kitchen window screen lets in air, but also lets out a conversation. "What do you mean you were bit? You're at the hospital? Stitches? Jesus Chris, what the heck were you doing over there? Oh come on..." The conversation drops there, as the woman seems to be listening to Chris on the other end.
Dark makes her way over to one of the windows and attempts to get a look inside. She isn't all that afraid of the local pet. Most dogs are terrified of her.
Barking continues, along with a light giggle of a little girl. The cartoons are playing, but the phone conversation is paused so the wife calls out, "Helen! Get ready for a bath!" The daughter replies with a whine, "Awwww!" But the wife's used to this routine. Her distraction is brief as she continues listening to the voice on the other end explain things. For now, the sliding glass door with screen is closed, and the blinds half shut over it. From the right angle, the light of the kitchen and the family room easily flows through the blinds. Inside is carpet, normal furniture. Nothing out of the ordinary really.
Dark lays down near the window and rests her head on her paws. Listen, wait, and learn. Its a game that she is well used too.
Soon the phone's audible click of being hung up can be heard, and Helen is scooped up to her bath. Running water echoes through the house pipes, and the dog is shooed off. As it were, the dog comes sniffing around going towards its favorite place in front of the TV, when the unmistakeable scent of another 'dog' is smelled and the canine investigates with a warning bark. The family pet is paid no mind.
Dark growls softly, hackles lifting. Scent and sound are pretty clear messages. I'm bigger and tougher then you. Bug me and you're lunch.
But, nevermind that the growl makes the dog pause for a moment. A retriever's snout pokes through the blinds, but the crackling of the plastic makes it hard to see from either side of the glass door. More barking continues, but the wife and child are rather busy. For a split second, the dog's eyes come into contact with the theurge's.
Dark's ears lays back and bares her teeth. Poor mutt then has the very human sounding words, "Bad dog!" Blared into its skull.
The dog just stops there, caught completely off guard by the gift, and in its confusion backs off with an apologetic, submissive whine. It shuts up then, but as the blinds close the dog sits there, staring and blinking at the moving plastic. The bath is soon over, and patience wins out. Soon enough, the sound of the two-car garage door opening creaks out into the evening, and the burgundy Toyota is pulling in.
Dark sighs. Idiot dog. Ear perking up as a second car pulls into the driveway, the wolfdog trots over to the fence and tries to peek through the slits.
The car pulls into the driveway without a hitch, and the garage door slowly closes behind it. Mr. Davis has come home from the hospital, it seems, and he's none too happy about being attacked. Still, it does happen sometimes for his work. "Helen! Joan! I'm back!" is the warm, fatherly call of Mr. Davis. The unmistakeable smell of pepperspray wafts around and seeps through the cracks. That makes the family dog uncomfortable enough to slink off to some safe spot. "Ew, Daddy you smell!" is the kid's reply and abrupt change from the eagerness to hug him. All well and good, considering the bandage on his arm.
Dark makes her way around the backyard, searching out another window.
Another window is the dining room window, which can be looked through a little bit with the blinds raised a crack. The kitchen window is too far up for a lupus to watch through. "Oh my god Chris, that looks terrible," goes the conversation. "Yeah. Five stitches, can you believe it? At least work insurance will pay for it. But I lost my cellphone in the process. I can't believe that..." A pause, then a shared pointed silence. "Helen, why don't you go watch some cartoons hm? Put on Powerpuff Girls." "Yay!" "Oh Chris, don't spoil her! Just one tape honey, then it's bedtime. "Awwww!" "No aws!" "Ok..." The unmistakeable theme of Powerpuff Girls coming to save the city of Townsville plays soon, and just under the conversation, the parents sit at the dining room table where Chris shows his 'battlescar'. "Went to the old Zoo to check out the basis for the note that was sent to the Bugle today. Werewolves in the woods first, and now werewolves in the city, can you imagine that? I swear, that Van Helsing movie is making everyone here go crazy."
Dark's ears plaster against her skull. Ah crud.
"Yeah, the film roll's in dev right now, but the boss is having me run this werewolf thing and milk it for what it's worth. If you ask me, it's the frat boys playing pranks in the woods, but I don't know what to make of the note about werewolves at the zoo." Chris winces lightly. Stitches hurt. "And the crazy girl that attacked me today... that made no sense." "How so?" "She took a whole can of pepperspray to the face without flinching! Ok, maybe she was high, but I don't know how someone who's high can climb a 12 foot fence in less than time than it takes to dial a phone number. It was too... too weird."
Ever so quietly, Eve calls on her gift. You know that little voice you hear in your head sometimes? When you're worried, or talking to yourself. Thats what Eve does her best to pretend to be, as she 'talks' to this guy's wife. "There are a lot of gangs in this city. Place could be a hang out. Dangerous. Don't want Chris to get hurt."
Conversation continues on, slightly hushed but clear for the ears of a keen lupe. "I don't think I like the idea of you going back there. That part of the city's full of gangs, and it might be a hangout. The last thing you need is getting worse than a bite on the arm." The worried wife is easy to sway, and she looks to her husband with a definite concern of a woman who's fearing her husband's been called to war. "Oh, don't worry about that Joan. Once I drop by work tomorrow, I'm going to go back there and see what's really up. And I'll bring a couple of cops with me." "You know you can't call policemen to be bodyguards." "No? Come on... I just have to pull a few strings. Or if not that, maybe I'll get Steve to come with me."
Dark continues playing her game. "Didn't that crazy-girl get his cel phone? Its really easy to track a number. Real easy."
"Wait, you said that girl who attacked you got your cellphone right? That means she'd have this number." Chris's wife gives him a very meaningful look. "Yeah but she was high. I think a girl like that would probably end up pawning it for drug money anyway. I cancelled the number while I was being stitched up at the hospital, so we don't have to worry about her making any wrong calls and the bill coming to me."
"He is wrong. Just being arrogant and over confidant," Eve prods, then back away from the window. Has to be something back here, that she can use to shift unseen.
The wife is dubious, as per the suggestion made in her mind. "I... I don't know. I was reading an article today about identity theft, and you know the problems we've had before about people getting angry about your stories." The backyard is not too big, but not too small. The small flower garden has a nice set of bushes beginning their spring budding to hide behind.
Dark hides and shifts into homid, then casually walks right out of the backyard and into the front. Before leaving the backyard, she scribbles out a note, on a scrape piece of paper. 'Stay away from our home and we'll stay away from your home.' She burns off a little more of her remaining rage to get in and out of the front with little chance of being seen. Depositing the note and phone on the front porch. A swift ring of the doorbell and back into the back yard she goes.
The doorbell sounding at this hour is a curious event, one which the family dog also goes to investigate with Chris. "That might be Steve." In a few moments, the door is opened. A few more moments pass by, clearly the man is looking for the girl who attacked him, thinking she's hiding somewhere. The note and cellphone are brought back in, and with a gasp from the wife, there's a few moments of silence at the dinner table. "Chris..." the wife begins quietly, worriedly. "I know, I know," Chris rumbles back, puzzled but interpreting the threat. "Jesus I thought it was the celebrities who got stalked, not the papparazzi," the wife grumbles, her worry clear now. "This is crazy Chris. Just tell Dave that you don't want to do the article. There's nothing at the zoo but a bunch of hoodlums and drug addicts." Chris says nothing, as he continues to read the note over and over.
Dark tries playing with Chris's head now. "I have a wife and kid. These low-lifes have nothing to loose."
Chris continues to mull over the note. The cellphone turns over and over in his hand, and then he sets it down. "Joan. I know this is going to sound crazy, but, there's just no way I can let this story slide." Joan's sound of protest is interrupted. "You see, this is a break. I've been in this business for way too long, and this is a way of getting something substantial." The man stands up, moving out of sight range. "What are you talking about? What about Helen?" The little girl seems to have fallen asleep, considering the quietness of the kid. "I know it's crazy, but it's worth a risk. Even if the story's a complete hoax, it'll still get some attention to that awful lot. This city's gone to shit Joan. If it's gotten to a point that a man can't even have a look through a fence without being threatened with his life? That's where I have to draw the line."
==================================== Media ===================================
Message: 11/28 Posted Author
When Werewolves Attack! Thu May 6, 2004 Sai
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-- Angel's Bugle Magazine Article: When Werewolves Attack!--
(In the St. Claire and national tabloids:) Werewolves have been spotted in the vicinity of Wolf Woods National Park, where the recent height of tourist season has begun. Two girls claim that they have seen one of the wolfmen up close, where the beast stumbled into their camping site perhaps looking for a meal. Park Rangers have denied all cases of werewolves being in the woods and denounced the rumor as 'ridiculous', but the testimony of other campers seem to be the opposite. Park authorities have been denying the existence of werewolves in the woods ever since WWNP opened, but that has not stopped local cryptozoologists and monster-seekers to find out the truth of the mysteries in the woods. Locals would remember the story of the bones of Bigfoot found in the woods by SCCU anthropology students. Even though they were reported as fake, many still wonder what someone would be out in the woods planting bones of such strange nature for. The obvious conclusion then, is the theory of werewolves, which has been long supported by noted theorists in the St. Claire area.
But, now, there is definite proof.
"I thought I saw a flash of black fur so I thought it was a wolf, but then it was after I did a double take, and I realized that the wolf head was on a body walking around with two legs! I was lucky I got a photo of it before it ran off." - Brian Anderson, 21.
(Accompanied fuzzy picture of a wolf head and a blurry black, upright body.)
Caption: Werewolf spotted in the woods nearby WWNP's camping grounds.
The park's public relations have stated in public press as well, "We would like to stress, that any disturbances to the natural wildlife of the park is against park regulation, and anyone found without a permit to be in the park will be prosecuted." - Chris Davis, Angel's Bugle magazine
(At the Angel's Bugle website, there is a streaming video clip: A black, small blurry crinos-like shape occupies the videotape's central view, walking on two legs and looking awfully werewolf-like in typical silver-hating snarly Garou fashion. The clip is only a few seconds long.)
--St. Claire Radio Station's late night / early morning radio report--
Recent reports that there are werewolves in the woods of WWNP have revived again as a group of park visitors staying in the WWNP campgrounds released a videotape on the Internet. The site has attracted numerous hits by visitors ever since it sprung up, and heated debate. A small section on the back of the local paper has also written a story on recent claims, and it has attracted various cryptozoologists back to the park to investigate.
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