The Green Phoenix

Three hours later he left. Bob and Esteban giggle over their projects in the security office. Useless for at least a week. Wil’ll get some overtime when they call out at least. That’ll be a nice check or two.

A bit of movement caught her eye on one of the monitors.

“Bob what’s that on monitor 4?”

“Wha-” she pushed his rolling chair out of the way “My quilt!” he cried as he spun away but Wil was too focused on the two white cats walking through the museum like they owned the place.

“How did they get it here? We need to find how they got in. Bob check the ba-”

“It’s just cats. My quilt-”

“They got in without tripping any alarms. There is a weakness in-”

“Cats is slippery.”

Wil took a breath, “How do you think Cal will react if his painting isn’t secure? He might take it away and he’d have no reason to come back.” The words weren’t even fully out of her mouth when they were scrambling to get out the door.

“Back! I’ll check the back!” Bob huffed as he disappeared.

That worked better than expected Wil thought as she looked at the monitors again. The cats were heading towards Nadine.

As Wil approached the painting the cats sat unnaturally still looking at it. “Hey there pretties.”

They turned simultaneously and watched her with icy unblinking eyes. “You guys can’t be in here. Dwaas will kill me if you damage anything but I brought you a peace offering.”

Wil pulls a can of wet food out of her pocket and cracks it open. The cats watch her without reaction. “You guys not into wet food?” One cat opened its mouth and spoke to the other-

“Pourquoi n'est-elle pas ivre comme les autres?”

“Si elle n'est pas affectée, elle est dangereuse. “

“Appeler?”

“Oui.”

With that the first cat opened its mouth as wide as it would go and let out a yowl so loud Wil thought her eardrums would burst. When he was done the cats turned back to the painting and walked towards it. As one placed its paws on the wall and looked behind the frame Wil, ears still ringing, shook off some of her shock.

“You two need to go.” she said and took a step towards one of the cats. Just then she heard a screech of metal, crack of stone, and a terrified scream before a thud at the side door. Wil’s hand was on her side arm. Her throat was so tight all that came out was a whisper, “Esteban?” but all that answered were wall rattling thumps as something very large came her way. When it came around the corner she emptied her gun but that seemed to do nothing. It’s icy roar blasted her against a wall. Pain zigzaged through her as she lay on the floor while the huge gorilla-like thing clasped it’s hands and raised them above her. Wil heard glass break and another roar right as darkness took her.

~

Marty was settling on his perch for the day when he heard an abnormally loud cat yowl. “I better check that out.” he muttered to himself.

He continued to mutter as he glid off his building towards the museum. He was halfway there when he heard the roar. Was that a yeti? Marty brought his wings closer to his body to pick up speed, the gently lightning sky creeping behind him. He saw through the window Nadine was gone and a yeti was about to smash the witch. He tucked his wings in and dove. He roared as he went through the glass and hit the huge icy creature with the force of a wrecking ball. They cracked a cement wall when they hit it. He had the element of surprise but he was outmatched and the rising sun was not on Marty’s side. He could feel his skin tightening and his insides solidifying as they fought. He scrambled onto her back where he would be harder to reach. The yeti thrashed violently smashing into the wall trying to shake him off. A bit of the yeti’s blood got on Marty’s arm. It froze solid and shattered when she smashed into the wall again. In agony he lost his grip and she shook him off. Marty landed close to the witch but there was a streak of sunlight creeping towards them. The yeti gave a wall rattling roar and the wounded building began to crumble. Marty roared defiantly as he turned to stone crouched protectively over the witch, shielding her from the falling ceiling.