Nighthowler 2, Ep. 14
#14 of CYOA: Nighthowler 2
The fourteenth episode of our Zootopia themed community CYOA sees Nighthowler, Judy Hopps' vigilante alter ego, coming across something suspicious buried deep in the Rainforest District's jungles.
Brushing aside grass and reeds, Nighthowler examines the canister. Old enough to have started to rust thanks to water and tropical heat, a layer of dirt and algae covering its corroded surface. There's nothing inside, save for a strange chemical tang mixed with the wet earthly aroma. This isn't a soda can, that's for sure.
"Suspicious." Nighthowler murmurs to herself. Snapping on a pair of latex gloves and grabbing a wet wipe from her utility belt, she picks the canister up and does her best to clean it. Whatever label was wrapped around it has long since worn away, though her persistent scrubbing uncovers a biohazard symbol embossed into the metal itself, almost lost amongst the rust. She narrows her eyes. Dumping hazardous waste into Zootopia's waterways? Now that's far more severe than littering. Wrapping the damp canister in a small evidence bag, she finds an empty pocket in her utility belt and puts it away.
"Maybe I'm less lost than I thought." Her companion cracks open one eye, lazily flicking his forked tongue, contented for now. He's just along for the ride.
Making her way up the riverbank, Nighthowler climbs over rocks and outcrops and pulls herself up thick vines, following the slope upstream. It's not an easy journey. The wilds of the Rainforest District weren't made for nice strolls, especially at night with only a torch and the moon to light her way. Insects buzz across the water's surface, tropical gnats forming dancing clouds. Occasionally one gets close, flittering annoyingly around her ear or nose.
Even with the cool night bathing her naked body in mist, it's hot and tiring work, but determination pushes Nighthowler on. Something is wrong; she's going to find out what.
The river slowly broadens as the slope levels out. Flatter, firmer ground. Jungle becomes thinner, making way for wide riverbanks of coarse moss-covered gravel. An old signpost juts up from the ground, weather-worn steel and flaking yellow paint almost completely ensnared by vines. A little further ahead lies a corroded metal walkway, propped up off the ground by stilted legs. It leads to stairs, up into the parting mist, up towards the concrete damp sprawling across the river. Streaks of slick green algae mark the dam's surface, where water pours through from open pipes. All but one pour cascades of rushing water into the river, kicking up a nipple-stiffeningly cold haze.
"An abandoned dam." Nighthowler whispers under her breath, stepping forwards through the mist. The stairs lead up to the top of the dam, a bit of hike but nothing compared to the journey she'd made so far. Above, a faint glow spills over the edge. Lights. "Apparently not that abandoned." If the canister had been washed down river, it had to have passed through here first. An abandoned dam that someone was clearly using.
Worth investigating, right?
[1] Climb the stairs. Rickety and rusted, but they'll hold. The fastest and most direct route to the top of the dam, where Nighthowler can get a better idea of just what's going on here, and who turned on those lights. Always better to get a good look from the outside before going inside, right?
[2] Examine the pipe. A single pipe isn't pouring water. It'd be risky, dangerous, and maybe a little messy - but if something criminal is going on here, maybe it'd be the sneakiest entrance? Surely there's a maintenance hatch or grate Nighthowler could sneak her way into, to start her exploration in the depths of the dam!
[3] Search for other routes. Norushing. A thorough investigation of the surrounding water and jungle is in order, just in case there's another way in. With this massive concrete dam, surely there's no way she'd get lost again, right?
A little later than I'd hoped, I wanted to keep it one post a week at minimum, but I've been way busy this week between various time-demanding work projects. Even if I'm quiet a little while, I don't want to pause or break mid-way through an episode, so there'll always be an update on the way! Anyway,here's a poll for desires and suggestionsand here's one for voting - unless you want to leave a comment below!