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Iara just pointed at a spot beside Donny where a group of flying creatures were turning to follow you. They had three sets of wings. The two larger ones were made of palm leaves, while the smaller set were made of densely packed, smaller leaves. Their beaks were brown and fuzzy, like coconut shells, and their teeth were dull and shiny, like polished rocks. But what really alarmed you was the sheer amount of limbs they had. They looked like sharp, gnarled branches, and they twitched periodically like the legs of a squashed insect.
<span class="mu-r">“I’m glad you’re the one that found me first. You guys are really diversifying the ecosystem around here.”</span>
<span class="mu-b">“I know! Isn’t it great? It’s <span class="mu-s">so</span> much better than living in the sewers!”</span> Iara said, performing an open-armed barrel roll that nearly caused her to bump into you.
But, you couldn’t deny that she had a point. Out here, the Morlocks looked so happy and free. With Nature Girl’s influence, the plants on the outer ring of the park had grown thick to the point where it obscured much of what happened on the inside. It wasn’t impossible to cross over to the other side, but an uninvited guest would find themselves hard pressed to enter the property without alerting Nature Girl or one of her many attack dogs.
There haven't been any incidents so far, but that could quickly change if someone tried to do something stupid. You would have to talk to Nature Girl before that happened.
<span class="mu-r">“It looks amazing. I’d love to get a tour later, but I’m in a bit of a hurry right now. Do you know where Joyce is?”</span>
Iara nodded.
<span class="mu-b">“Sure do. Follow me!”</span>
In an instant, Iara accelerated to the point of becoming a blur in your eyes. Which was saying something, because you prided yourself in your kinetic vision. You gave yourself a little boost with your flames, but you were careful to extinguish them before you got too close to the trees.
You went into freefall until you were low enough to latch onto a tree with a webline. Then, you swung down and up, launching yourself towards Iara as she effortlessly wove between the trees leading up to a grove of gossamer. On the opposite end of the park, the trees had all turned white, and you quickly realized that this had all been Joyce’s doing.
There were dozens of tiny little spiders crawling in and around the trees, their multitude of unblinking eyes regarding you silently.
<span class="mu-r">“I think the arachnophobes are gonna have to find a different park to play in. We should probably put up a sign.”</span> you muttered.
Then, without warning, Iara opened her mouth wide and started screaming at the top of her lungs.
<span class="mu-b">“HEY JOYCE! COME OUT COME OUT WHEREVER YOU—oh, you’re right here.”</span>
You turned to find Joyce hanging upside down in a web of her own making, spiders crawling all over her.
<span class="mu-b">“Look who it is!”</span> Iara said, gesturing at you as you massaged your ringing ears.
(Cont.)
