Chisapho

"Check him out over there." Tapping his associate on the arm a slim black man nudged his head towards a young man with a mohawk. Peeping at who he was talking about his companion did not say anything only nodded his head.

"What do you mean this not working?" Asked Joseph removing his phone from his ear. Closing his eyes and listening something bumped. Opening his eyes, a man little taller than him shoved a gun to his side.

"All I have is a couple dollars and my phone."

"That's the problem there!" Shouted Keisha through the phone. "That is, the problem, you're busy chasing a dream with no money. Go chase you a hustle or some."

"Go ahead and walk down into those trees." The robber said nodding his head away from the trails. Gazing over at his dirty blonde Caucasian friend the man ushered for him to check Joseph's backpack.

Yanking the bag off their victim shoulder the man rummaged through it before tossing it to the side. "All he has is binders and computer chips. Where's the money?"

"I haven't made any yet."

"Well make some then come back so we can steal it. Shit I never heard of a broke nerd."

Digging in Joseph pocket they took his wallet and phone. "Get on your knees and close your eyes." The African man demanded.

Dropping to his knees Joseph squeezed his eyes closed turning otherwise shallow breaths into deep ones. Grabbing the courage to open his eyes he caught the thieves charging up the hill leading to the trail.

"Whoops, my bad." A beautiful chocolate woman called out bumping into one of the thieves causing him to drop the bag in his hand. "Let me help you." Pretending to reach for the bag the lady grabbed hold to the robber arm then flipped him over tossing him on the ground. Kicking the second criminal she buried her foot into his neck searching him for a weapon. Pulling out a gun she smiled. "Get up and strip." Taking a glance at a couple phones pointing at her a gleam lit in her eyes. "And make it entertaining for the audience.

Coming out of their clothes the two men cursed the girl. "Better hope I don't ever see you again." One of them threatened. "Or I'm going to tie you up using your own dreads then strip you of all your dignity."

"Good luck with that." Said the woman eyeing them up and down in boxers. "Now go" she commanded waving the gun. Stuck in place Joseph watched everything that happened in shock. "You just going to stand there looking are you going to come get your stuff?"

Running up the hill as the woman waved his wallet a grin stretched across his face. "Thank you."

"Hold on that's not it." Said the woman sifting through a wad of money. "Here you go this is a referral fee."

"But I didn't of course you did. Because you have because of you I now have the rest of my rent money and money to get my hair done." Unzipping a backpack, she took a glimpse inside. "Oh, and donations for the children."

"Donations for the children? What are you a social worker?"

"Close but not at all. I work at a gym training and teaching kids how to fight while also selling my delicious, nutritious fitness supplements and accessories. Pulling a bar out of her bra she gave it to Joseph. "Try it."

Taking a bite out of the fitness bar Joseph eyes sparkled. "This is good."

"Yea I know, I plan on going worldwide with my products one day."

"Well, you definitely got you an investor." Tapping on his chin Joseph said. "But you are missing something."

"My game Dimentia of course. I can see it now. A commercial of you pretending to be one of the characters. You take a bite then say this gives me the power that fuels my dreams."

Nodding her head, the woman puckered out her lips. "Already planning a future with me, look at you. You can at least give me a name first."

"Oh, my bad. I'm Joseph and you are."

"Mariah."

"Well, if you don't mind Ms. Mariah, I would like to give you an opportunity to be one of the select few to be the first to play my game for the DSC."

"You already made the game. Congrats do you have one on you?"

"Of course, but I will have to personally install it on your DSC."

"Seems like you're just trying to find a way to my apartment." Smiled Mariah. "I'll let you over but only to install your game and maybe drink a margarita or two."

~Totilleran Grainge~

Nestled in the curves of a mountain wall Mariah gazed at the infinite sea on her side. "This is so peaceful." She thought enjoying the wind ruffling through her red fur. Thinking of her little brothers and sisters she took a deep breath. Rising out of her stone hammock she glanced out at the sea and it's inhabits leaping out of the water, as if they were having a contest.

Allowing the sun to cover her body in its warmth Mariah stretched her arms. Inhaling she leaped off the cliff diving hundreds of feet into the ocean below. Puhwish! Splashing into the water it everything lit up in her mind like the stars in the country thanks to the spiraling horn protruding out of her forehead. Even the animals had colorful smeared outlines.

Swimming to the surface with ease Mariah scanned the area for the active fish she saw parading earlier but could not find them. "I guess my splashing must've disturbed them." Taking a deep breath, she dove back underwater.

Oxygen 1:00:00 HR. Glancing at the red letters in front of her Mariah could not believe it. A whole hour worth of Oxygen she could explore the sea for all its worth. Making a mental note to go exploring she decides to scan the ocean for something to eat for now. Picking up on a school of fish thirty yards away she glided through the water with her horned lizard body capturing her prey using the orange spikes that extended out of her arms, shoulder and head.

Done securing her meal Mariah swam to the bank pulling herself out of the water she shook herself dry like a wet dog causing fish to flop on the ground while flicking water in all directions.

"Ms. Mariah, Ms. Mariah!" A tiny voice shouted from the forest a little over a hundred yards away. Breaking into the clearing a creature that almost resembled her entered her sights with tears and snot swaying in the wind. "Ms. Mariah the city is…" Yeeomp! A whirring blade green light cut through the boys back causing him to hit the ground lifeless.

Yanking the creature up a cyborg cut off its horn thrusting it in a bag. "I have to thank you brat we almost let one live." Stepping on the child body he spat, analyzing his new victim with his red eye. "Filthy vermin." He said glaring at Mariah. "It is time to show you why we humans are on top of the food chain." Rocketing forward with rocket boots he slashed at his prey.

Leaping out of the way Mariah kept her eyes on the human, spiraling into the air then swooping down circling her. Spreading her legs shoulder width apart and squatting just a little she prepared herself as her foe whirled a glowing green chain in the air.

HP 23/25. Now confident of the protection her scales and fur provided Mariah bounced from one place to another evading the lashes. Scanning the man every movement she awaited the perfect time to strike.

Watoo, Watooo! "What's wrong?" The man asked unleashing his whip then swooping back around with his blade sliding it along Mariah's scaled armor.

HP 21/25. Stepping in, out and around multiple slashes Mariah gritted her teeth from her opponent managing to plunge the blade extending out his wrist into her shoulder. Grabbing hold to the blade she yanked the man in. Stumbling her assailant caught a knee to the gut, followed by a spinning kick. Staggering from the dazing blow the man wasn't sure how she did it but he found his back shoved into the dirt. "Take these vermin!" he shouted raising up his left arm.

Tutu, tu, tu toop! Rolling off the human she took several bullets before gaining her distance. Nodding her head in irritation Mariah bolted off heading towards the mountain. Eeinyanwa chih, the man saw blade screeched scraping the mountain surface instead of her. Stop dropping and rolling Mariah dodged a harpoon coming at her. Rolling to her feet she ran to the mountain wall ricocheting in between the two intersecting walls before kicking off and hitting her foe with a superman punch.

Hacking up blood, the human swirled to the right avoiding a kick but still took a hook to the face. "She is relentless." He thought taking on multiple attacks after those unable to break free from her assault. Ka chink. Peezoom. Two flaps opened on the shoulders of her assailant. Firing off lasers two of them pierced Mariah in the chest

HP 13/25. "I need a way to end this fight quick." Mariah thought.

Lick fur to activate ability. Licking her fur, it transitioned into a lavender color while her claws became obsidian. Poison activated.

Pouncing upon her kneeled foe she clawed at him leaving gashes amongst his chest and nearly ripping off his arm.

Human Lvl 6 HP 15/50, 10/50, 5/50 Human deceased. Death poison.

50 EXP gained.

Yawning sleep engulfed her turning everything dark.