Story

Mayor Gemini sat side-saddle on her pink gonk, Twinklenight, as it paced, the desert sand biting at it's hooves. ???This can not continue to happen.??? Gemini's strong voice said to the crowd gathered around. Behind her was the body of a villager, tied to a stake, gutted. ???We can not continue to live in fear of when the mutants strike next.???
Several villagers nodded in agreement.
POP
People screamed as they ducked for cover.
Twinklenight reared up on it's hind legs, throwing Gemini onto the sand.
Everyone was on the ground except for Parla, she sucked in remnants of her gum that were once a bubble. She lifted a shoulder. ???My bad.???
Gemini scowled as she dusted sand off her suit. ???This is ridiculous. How long will we allow those mutants to terrorize us???? Her gaze fell on Parla. ???We need her help.???
Parla shook her head, sending the squirrel on her head flying off. ???She won't come.???
???Try. We need help or we're all doomed.???

~~~

Parla sat alone in her room, deep in thought. She didn't want to drag her friend back to their Island home, but Gemini wasn't wrong, they needed help. She pulled a small device out of a drawer. It took her a few tries until the screen went from snow to her leopard friend.
???Parla, good to see you.??? Panthera said with a big smile.
???You to friend. Panthera we need your help.???
Panthera's smile faded. ???What's wrong????
Behind Panthera, a herd of all kinds of troits ran by, mewing loudly.
Parla waited until they were gone before she started to speak. ???The villagers are being-???
???MEW.??? A bug troit cried loudly as it came into view.
Panthera gave it a pet, causing it to grow louder as it tried to catch up with the other troits.
While Parla waited for the troit to get out of hearing range, she and her furry friends had a mini dance party.
???Okay, we can talk now. What are you doing???? Panthera asked, eyes wide.
Parla shoved her squirrel friend out of view of the camera. ???Oh, nothing. This darn device you gave me must be acting up.???
???Right, totally.???
???Anyways, we need you. The mutants are killing the villagers, Gemini wants to start hunting them down. I know you don't want to come back, but we need you.???
There was a long pause before Panthera nodded. Her Phoenix wings flared. ???Let me take care of my troits, then I'll be there soon.???

~~~

The Ram Man stood at the edge of a cave, looking out past the woods toward the desert village. ???They took everything from me, and they must pay, all of them! I want them to suffer horribly.???
???Tswing, zing, twing.???
???Everything they love will be taken from them one by one. I will get my revenge.???
???Tink, zing, twang.???
???Stop that.??? Ram Man cried, turning to face Pucu.
Pucu put his sword in its sheath, he gave Ram Man a big smile. ???I'm Pucu, and I was training to fight the normies. On Guard!??? In a flash he whipped his sword out and struck the mannequin he had been swinging at. He had carved the word Pucu into the dummy.
???Yes, yes, I know who you are. That is what we shall do to the enemy.???
Pucu's eye narrowed. ???You think going to war is wise, Ram Man????
???It's The Ram Man.??? Ram Man cried. How many times did he have to say it? ???They are the ones that fired the first shot, we must get them back. But we need more help, we have to contact the other mutants, get them on our side.???
???I know a few mutants who might help us.???
???We need the strongest of the strong! Get your fiercest friends, okay????
Pucu gave a nod. ???On it.??? He sprung across the cave and through the opening. ???Zoom, zip.??? Ram Man heard Pucu say as he ran off into the forest.
A cruel smile twitched on Ram Man's lips. ???This will be glorious. Ahahahaha. Ahahaha.???

~~~

Pythoness plucked a nice, juicy apple off one of the highest branches on the sole apple tree in the forest. Her wings fluttered as she descended. As she went to take a bite a blur went by, knocking the apple out of her hand. ???Chesh!???
???Meow.??? Her best friend, Chesh the cat, purred from his perch on a rock, the apple between his paws.
Pythoness placed her hands on her hips as she frowned at the fur ball. ???That was the best one, get your own apple!???
???Zoom, zip, zap.??? A figure running at full speed headed straight toward Pythoness, the figure stopped just inches from her with his hands on his hips, chest puffed up in a dramatic pose. ???I'm Pucu!???
???Really? I never would have guessed, it's not like you say that every single time we see you.??? Chesh said.
???Chesh stop it! That's not nice.???
Pucu watched for a few moments in silence as Pythoness waved her hands and admonished Chesh.
???Talking to your imaginary cat again???? He finally asked.
???How many times do I have to tell you? He's real!???
Pucu held his hands up in compliance. ???I'm sure he is, whatever you say. Do you have plans tonight????
???No, why? What do you want to do????
A wide smile spread across Pucu's face. ???Same thing we do every night, try and take over the island!???
???Uh, we've never tried to take over the island.??? Pythoness said as she backed slowly away from Pucu.
Pucu stuck his hand out, index finger pointing toward the sky. ???We are now, with the help of,??? Pucu paused for a moment. ???Ram Man! Dun dun dun!???

~~~


???Look, in the sky!??? A villager yelled. ???It's a bird!???
???No, it's a plane!??? A boy cried.
???Idiot, there's no such thing as a plane.??? The first villager said.
???One day there will be. I'll create something that will let us fly!???
Uriella rolled her eyes at the boy, Wilbur was an imaginative child. As if humans could ever fly in some sort of contraption like the one the child dreamed of.
???It's Panthera!??? Parla cried. She high-fived the mutant as Panthera gracefully landed, she took a step toward Parla and stumbled into her, knocking them both down.
The villagers gathering around Panthera gasped.
Panthera jumped up. ???I'm good!??? She called as she brushed sand off her.
The crowd let out sighs of relief.
Uriella's shoulder blades itched to release the wings she had hidden. Envy filled her, why was it Panthera was treated as a hero, while all the other mutants as outcasts? Sure she once slipped into a boulder, knocking it over a cliff and into the river, creating a much needed dam for the village, but that wasn't as big a deal as the villagers made it out to be. It wasn't fair, the only reason Uriella could live in the village was because no one knew her true identity.
Panthera past by, shaking hands with anyone who wanted to.
Mayor Gemini, riding TwinkleNight, approached Panthera. ???Thank you for coming Panthera. We are in dire need of your assistance.???
???I'll do anything I can to help, Mayor.???
???Good, with your help we'll wipe out the mutants, one by one.???
Panthera placed her hands on her hips. ???Or I could talk to them, see what's going on and find out who is behind this.???
Mayor Gemini sighed. ???Fine, if you must.???
Panthera looked to the sky. ???It's getting dark, I'll head out in the morning.???
The villagers followed Panthera as she headed to Parla's home for the night.
Uriella looked up at the darkening sky. Her wings itched, it was almost time to fly.

~~~

Momo flew through the moonlit sky, her tattered wings constantly moving as she weaved around one tree after another.
She came to a clearing, where she stretched out her wings and glided. She opened her mouth slightly to breathe in the cool night air. The coolness was one reason Momo came out at night and slept during the sweltering day.
A bug flew into Momo's mouth, causing her to hover in place, she grabbed her throat as she coughed. Her gum went flying out, the bug stuck in it.
A startled cry filled the air.
Momo placed her hands over her mouth to stifle the gasp that escaped her.
???What was that???? A voice below said.
???I'm Pucu! And you have gum on your horn.??? A voice giggled.
Uh-oh, not again. When would Momo learn that she couldn't chew gum and fly at the same time?
???GUM? Who dares to prank The Ram Man????
Momo watched as Ram Man danced around in a circle as he tried to get the gum off his horn.
???Help me Pucu!???
Pucu whipped out a sword.
???No! Not with that!??? Arms out, Ram Man started to back up
???I got this! Swish.??? Pucu flicked the sword, then placed it in front of Ram Man. Momo's gum was on the blade.
???There's a bug in it!??? Ram Man cried out as he jumped back. ???Whoever did this will pay!??? He searched the sky, his eyes making contact with Momo's. ???You! Come here.???
Caught, Momo clinched her hands as she lowered herself, she didn't want to fight, but she would if she had too.
As she drew near, Ram Man's eyes widened. ???It's the Angel of Death.???
Angel of Death? What was this loon talking about? Perhaps she could avoid a fight. ???Yes, I come for whom the gum hits.???
Ram Man shook as he knelt down. ???Please Angel of Death, spare me. Take Pucu.??? He pointed to where just moments ago his friend had stood. Ram Man looked around, Pucu was nowhere to be found.
???I will spare you, just this once.???
???Thank you, thank you! You won't regret this, I will be a servant to you, bringing you normies, here, tomorrow night.???
"Aw, does that mean I can't fight her?" Pucu asked from a tree branch behind Momo.
Momo looked at the disappointed mutant, whose head was down, she had thought he had disappeared. "How did you get up there?"
Pucu lifted his head, a slow grin forming. "I'm Pucu!"
"No Pucu, you can't fight her, we're going to help her if she'll let us." Ram Man said.
???Fine, now begone.??? As Momo flew away she shook her head. The man was certifiable. As if he could go anywhere near the normies, lock him up in an instant. As Momo thought about that, she decided that might not be such a bad thing.