Tokyo, Japan, 2019. City’s edge, where the swaths of buildings give way to green trees, rolling hills, and cutting rivers. In the early evening, the sun’s light cut through the leaves and onto the twisting pathways that led to the bird sanctuary on one side, and the cemetery on the other. In the distance, the typical sounds of the city could be heard: car engines rumbling, distant music, wind rushing between the buildings, and very, very distant chatter of human voices.

It was on one of these pathways that the wind kicked up. Old leaves and underbrush were kicked up as several of the trees bent sideways to accommodate [url=https://wikimon.net/Groundramon]the presence[/url] that had not been there just moments ago. There was a huff, not unlike the sound of an engine turning over. The beast that had manifested shook itself off, sending dust, dirt, and foliage flying around it and showing off its dark green scales. Steam hissed from the metal pipes extending from its forearms as its claws twitched. The arms on its back slammed down onto the ground, massive ruby claws curling into the dry soil. Brilliant garnet eyes surveyed the darkening land as the beast’s tail twitched, felling a tree.

It was lost. And it was hungry.

All six limbs propelled the carnivorous beast forth in search of a good meal.

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[i]In the bird sanctuary, a scarecrow hung off a pole, inked eyes staring blindly ahead as a crow and an owl seemed to be sharing a meal. Of course, there was a lot more wrong with the picture than a scarecrow failing to scare off some birds: for one, the crow was clearly made of felt, still somehow managing to hold a lit cigarette in its beak as it pecked at its sandwich. For another, the owl was using their wings - tipped with claws, no less - as hands to pick up their sandwich and eat.

There was a mutual shudder throughout the group, and the scarecrow turned down to look at the ‘owl’. “Did you-” The owl had already stood up, quickly polishing off their sandwich. “Stupid question. Let’s get a secure perimeter first.” The crow landed on the scarecrow’s shoulder as the scarecrow dismounted the pole and flicked the cigarette into the quiver at its side. At least, the scarecrow mused, there shouldn’t be anyone around this time of day.

“I’ll call it in.” The owl didn’t mince their words, responding at such a speed that it seemed a miracle that they didn’t choke on the last scraps of their sandwich. “We have clearance for alerts, if Homura can make it out here I can help push it back.”

“Might as well tell ‘em it’s a tornado.” The scarecrow pulled out a bow, glancing towards the darkening skies. “Sure feels like a storm is heading our way.”[/i]