Those aren't Birds? (Weird Birds/Familiar of Zero)

[CMDR Dantae]

Thomas Mosley perturbed his bright countenance upon the strange, yet enthralling sight before him, his mind a whirl, as a torrent of thoughts dragged his focus beneath the surface.



Before him was an odd, bizarre creature.



"Whumpf...whumpf...grrrrrrrrr"



A strange, crocodile like creature that stood taller and further from the ground than any Crocodile rightly should. It bellowed frog like gonks and growls in clear interest at him.

He was so overcame by shock and befuzzlement, that in his bamboozled state, he strode right up to the beautiful creature, with it's almost Dinosaur shaped head, a form comparable to the recently debunked appearance of Megalosaurus.



He pointed at it with a shout.



"YOU DON'T MAKE A MITE BIT OF SENSE YOU STUPID CROCODILE!"



The creature looking at him as shocked as he was, growled back loudly, almost as if to agree with him, the sound louder and more intimidating than even Nile Crocodile's he seen at twice it's size.

Yet, the fear washed over him and was promptly ignored by his sheer majestic confusion. How could this be? This creature looked like some depictions of Dinosaurs, but that was nonsense! He, Thomas Mosley, a respected researcher of the Manchester Museum had helped prove the true form of the Megalosaurus.

Dinosaurs did not look like tall Crocodiles, this was proven fact.

Yet the awe-inspiring red and yellow scales of the creature proved impregnable to his skepticism.

It was a Dinosaur no matter how he looked at it, yet he felt offended at the mere notion. A piercing strike to academic pride, staring him right in the face.

The creature sniffed at him as it raised up on it's hind legs, large enough enough to nearly swallow a man whole. It turned it's nose up at him, and he sighed in petulance.

"Really. A Dinosaur in Illinois. Barely a 3 hours drive from Chicago." The most absurd thing he's ever heard in his life.



"Haaaaaaaaaah."



He chastised himself. This was no time to be complaining.

The Sand Ridge State Forest was barely 7000 acres. There was no way this creature had gotten here naturally.

He perked up. He'd gotten fascinated by cryptozoology recently. He didn't really believe most of it, but he'd heard about strange encounters with "portals to the past" from a YouTuber by the name of Bob Gymlan, and another he'd long forgotten the name of.

He had to document this immediately. He whipped out his shiny new smartphone, and took a few pictures quickly.



"Grrrrrrsshhhh..graaaaaaah."



The Archosaur, because it was definitely one as it had an appearance similar to both Crocodiles and Dinosaurs, seemed to dislike the camera light, and it backed away as if disorientated by it.

Odd?

He tried turning off the camera flash.



"GRRRRRHHHH...GMGONNK...GMGONNKKK!"



The bamboozling creature seemed to have grown more angry, and was now putting on a strange threat display.

Excited and distracted by this he took a video and began documenting.

"Log 01, Sand Ridge State Forest, Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife area, 10pm, August 29. Thomas Mosley, Paleontologist of the Manster Museum reporting here. During my stay in America I was brought into the wonderful world of Cryptozoology by my good friend Luke, and I am grateful to God indeed for his hospitality. I almost feel guilty just looking at this wonderful big fella when I'm not American myself."

"Just look at him. Listen to those deep and loud gonks, his threat display is unlike anything I've ever seen. And those savagely sharp and brutal teeth. Those jaws could rip me in half, and swallow a shorter man whole."

"Now, he wasn't quite so frightful earlier on. I can't figure out why?"

He thought for a moment, looking at his camera. It was built by Cross-Fung Solutions, and had been advertised for having a better camera than other models, it even had a thermal camera function with FLIR built in.

Actually, now that he thought about it...

"Ah, my apologies, it appears the infrared light from my phone's camera is irritating this poor big beastie. Let me turn it off."

After several seconds, he couldn't find the setting.

"GRRRRRNNNKKKKK..GBWOONK..GWBBRRWOOOOK!"

"I'm trying!" He complained.

He spun around pointing the camera at the ground, then dove through setting menus before finally finding the correct option as the large and angry crocodilian clawed at the ground, shifting it's head from side to side, as it eyed him fiercely and took great sniffs of the air.

"There we go!" He spun back around. "Sorry for the delay folks."

The creature seemed to freeze, as if confused.

Then it approached and sniffed at him.

He was cautious not to move. The animal had clearly never encountered humans, it was still in the investigating phase. It likely wouldn't attack him. He smelled of crumpets and scones most likely, going by his recent meal. This guy probably had a diet of mainly fish.

The creature nudged him hard with it's nose, and seemed even more shocked when his abdomen didn't given. He would never admit to it, but he found wearing body armour cool. Knights were a man's romance.

Judging by the creatures widening eyes as it poked him further, it was new to that sentiment.

"Careful there Mr. Gator, you look a bit Dragon like, be careful, Saint George is England's Patron Saint you know?"

The creature growled once more, before turning around and slinking away through the trees... In the opposite direction of the Lake?

Bizarre.

"Interesting, this guy looks like a crocodile, but I'm guessing either he doesn't much time in water, or he's visiting the nest. He seemed to think we're not a threat, so lets hope we can try and get close."

He followed the creature from a safe distance, moving quietly as to not startle it. To keep it from being shocked, he whistled as quietly as he could.

It paused and would eye him cautiously a few times, but it didn't stop for long before continuing.

Eventually, it led him... to a corpse...

Several corpses.

Other Archosaur Crocodilians. Albino ones?

No visible wounds?

"I've been led by our guest Mr. Gator to what looks like a graveyard?"

He drew closer, picking up a fallen stick. "Ew." It had mud on it. He quickly wiped off the mud on a bush, then poked one of the smaller ones, a very young female, turning it over to see both sides of the head.

It's scales were peeling and looked almost burnt in some areas.

"What exactly is all this?" He glanced at Mr. Gator.

"Hey big guy, don't suppose you can tell me what this all is?"

"Grrrrnnnnkkk." Gator croaked.

He mumbled beneath his breath. "Talking to animals, what am I, Doctor Dolittle?"

He shook his head fiercely and concentrated. "Now then, ladies and gentlemen, this could very well be a case of disease, and judging by the number of dead Archosaurs, I don't want to risk being infected. That said, judging by Mr. Gator, it's not airborne, but I don't think I want to risk it. I'll be quarantining myself in my caravan for now, and I think I'll give a call to the authorities. I was hoping to save this video for a documentary, but I guess I can just post it on YouTube. I don't want innocent people getting whatever prehistoric nightmare illness this is..."

He walked over to Mr. Gator and gave the poor animal a pat on the soldier, he couldn't quite tell why. He just felt bad for the poor big fella.

"Cheer up Gator. I don't know how you got here, but if you could, and they all could, maybe there'll be more. Assuming they aren't from 10 millions years before you were born and can't even mate with you, but let's not go there, aye big chap?"

The animal grunted and leaned into him, almost scratching it's scales on his hands. He noticed why quickly, it was very minor, but a few of the scales were peeling off.

He frowned.

"I think you need a vet Mr. Gator."

He turned on his Cross-Fung Reach Heavy, a Personal Locator Beacon. It's satellite connection read full, and he immediately called the police.

"911 dispatch, how can I help you?"

"Hello there, I'm Thomas Mosley, a Paleontologist working for the Chicago Field Museum. I have an emergency. You aren't going to believe this, but I've encountered an undiscovered species in the Sand Ridge State Forest. They've also been almost wiped out by an unknown disease. I may be infected, if this can infect humans it could cause an epidemic. It's highly fatal and looks very painful."

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that please?"

"I've found an undiscovered species in the Sand Ridge State Forest. I calling from my PLB. I followed the animal to it's nest, and there's at 26 corpses here. Only one is live. There's some kind of disease. It's makes the scales go white and the scales burn or peel off."

"Is this some kind of prank Mr. Mosley?"

"Of course not. I'm a paleontologist. I've changed the history books. I wouldn't ruin my own career over something as unimportant as a prank!"

"Mr. Mosley, if you were really a scientist, you'd know those symptoms you described to me, are typical of Acute Radiation Poisoning."

"What..." I breathed out. Heart pumping in my ears.

Mr. Gator seemed to almost notice my distress. "Gwaaaahggh?"

I stared at him, shellshocked,

Acute Radiation Poisoning.

Radiation Poisoning.

Radiation.

"GATOR! We have to get out of here!."

My PLB fell back to my harness and I tocuhed Gators shoulder and tried to gently pull him.

He didn't move, confused.

"Gator we have to go now."

I heard the dispatch control scramble out words in confusion, but I had no time for that, if there radiation levels were high enough on the corpses we could be fatally poisoned in minutes. Doomed to die over painful, horrifying months or even years of pain.

"Gator! NOW!" I grabbed onto his shoulder and something in the panick and sheer fear lining my voice got through to him.

We ran through the forest, towards the path leading to the shore.

If we took a bath, we could wipe off the ionised particles on our skin, and then if we drank enough to piss out as much fluid as possible we'd hopefully expunge enough of the radioactive particles to survive until decontamination teams got here.

I heard the dispatch lady speaking harshly now through the PLB, her voice was fearful now as if the radiation itself had spread to contaminate her through our satellite line somehow.

Gator, God bless him, was keeping up with me and running on all fours in a full out sprint. I held onto his shoulder so he didn't go the wrong way.

We reached the banks of the Lake, but before we could pass the last of the trees, I saw it.

Three glowing red lights, just before the lake, on the very edge of the path.

Multiple of them.

I realised then, I was still carrying my phone. The camera still on.

I turned it off, only to notice to my burgeoning horror.

The camera feed was covered in static.

I finally got it now.

These creatures were indeed brought here by a portal.

But the portals were radioactive.

A true nightmare scenario.

I pressed record.

"Thomas Mosley reporting here at the scene again. I am regretful to inform you I have discovered the cause of the anomalous prehistoric animal, the strange Archosaur was likely brought here by a wormhole through time itself. The portal as you can likely see form the heavy static in this recording, is highly radioactive."

"I will likely not survive this night, nevermind this investigation. I will now upload these two videos to my YouTube channel through my PLB. If it actually works, I suggest you guys buy one yourselves from Cross-Fung Solutions. The advertising claimed it would work in a nuclear war. I never expected to put that one to the test, but I guess here we are?"

I turned to look at Gator, feeling hopeless.

"Here we are buddy, it's over now. Hold me." My voice broke and I grabbed the big lizard. I didn't want to die like this. I had so many plans. It was far too early to have to give it all up.

Gator seemed strangel quiet. I choked back a sob. A man couldn't cry.

The world rested on our backs. If we cried that was surrender. But, maybe it was just raining, in this dark forest tonight.

After the videos were set to uploading, I put the PLB and my phone as far away from the portals.

I used several rocks and my camping equipment, mainly the water bag to collect water to act as a radiation shield. I took some more videos to document the portals.

I threw sticks through it. Stones. I even managed to grab a very lazy frog and through him millions of years into the past. Hopefully the little guy survived. Sometimes animals can deal with radiation quite well. Chernobyl proved that at least.

Then finally, I decided to end it on my own terms.

Thomas Flynn Scott Mosley, ending it as any man should.

I grabbed my portable speakers, pressed a few buttons, set it to loop, and hit play.

Seconds later, Fire of the Dragons, by Blackfoot, my favourite band began to rock n' roll.

I wondered faintly, trembling a bit, was this how my older brother died? I'd been searching for nearly 10 years now. I guess I'll never know.

I gave Mr. Gator one last hug. "Mmmmrrrgnnnnkk." He seemed to almost whine at me, as if sensing I was going to leave him.

"Sorry buddy, I have to see it. The other side." I smiled.

It was always my dream to do this. I couldn't complain it would be the last dream I ever fulfilled.

I grabbed a pen and my notebook, and walked up.

Then with a breathe, I leapt through.

Yet, right before I did, a green portal appeared instantly.

The red portals seemed to combine with it.

As I flew through the air, I was shoved back by a massive intangible force, and flew back landing on my back.

As I lay there, dazed... I could vaguely hear... French?

"Grrrrrrnkkkk...GBMGOONK...GBMGOOOONK!"

Suddenly, everything went white.



//



I woke up at least hours later. It had been 23:54 at night when I jumped into the portal.

It was daylight now.

I felt something large and warm to my side. It felt like moss?

And above?

I heard a Helicopter.

But...

I heard something else that drew my attention even more.

Behind me, I could hear a girl crying.

I raised my head further back and looked above and behind me from the ground.

A girl with the pinkest rose blonde hair I had ever seen in my life was hugging Mr. Gator with both arms, and sobbing profusely while practically lying on top of him.

She was wearing... some kind of old 1800s school uniform, but with a cape over the top? It had a strange Pentagon shaped brooch holding the cape up. The brooch, I say this plainly, looked like it was made of solid gold.

For a school uniform.

What even?



//



Authors Note

I would like to thank Archesuchus, AZUNStudios, Bob Gymlan, Dead Appalachia, Fuggmann, Homer author of the Iliad, and most of all, my Beloved Grandfather, who passed away when I was a young child from preventable cancer, yet somehow still managed to pass onto me his avid love and enthusiasm of History.

I don't know how, but I've stuffed enough symbolism into this to write another chapter explaining it all. Thomas Mosley is partially an SI, and partially inspired by the CIA informant Thomas Mosley, codename Blackfoot who discovered the plot to murder JFK long before it actually happened. I came upon the band Blackfoot by complete accident to be honest. I'm grateful I did. It's a good band. Rest in peace Thomas Mosley, you did your part for Democracy.

 

[Despacitoleo]

Hell yeah awsome fic, also FUCK that pink bitch lol hate her on sight

 

[CMDR Dantae]

Hell yeah awsome fic, also FUCK that pink bitch lol hate her on sight

Click to shrink...

You literally made me laugh out loud.

Ah, those were the days.

Hating on Louise for snooty and haughty. I can't believe how much I missed it.

I'm afraid I'm going to try and portray her light novel version though, but I guess she still had her moments in the book.

Have a like.

 

[CMDR Dantae]

Mr. Gator as a Crocodile.

- YouTube

Profitez des vidéos et de la musique que vous aimez, mettez en ligne des contenus originaux, et partagez-les avec vos amis, vos proches et le monde entier.

www.youtube.com

 

[Despacitoleo]

Hating on Louise for snooty and haughty. I can't believe how much I missed it.

Click to shrink...

I didnt like her cause she was a Stockholming slaver who wasnt better than those rapey kidnapping nobels minus the rape when I watched the anime.

Like what you get bullied hella for something not of your control you think you would learn a little bit of humility


Can't wait to see the manga version your writing up cause anything is better than the anime version

 

[CMDR Dantae]

I didnt like her cause she was a Stockholming slaver who wasnt better than those rapey kidnapping nobels minus the rape when I watched the anime.

Like what you get bullied hella for something not of your control you think you would learn a little bit of humility


Can't wait to see the manga version your writing up cause anything is better than the anime version

Click to shrink...

It's all on Baka-Tsuki. They've even finished translating the first Karin Side story now.

Zero no Tsukaima - Baka-Tsuki

www.baka-tsuki.org

 

[Despacitoleo]

It's all on Baka-Tsuki. They've even finished translating the first Karin Side story now.

Zero no Tsukaima - Baka-Tsuki

www.baka-tsuki.org

Click to shrink...

noice imma read that later