Signs and Portents

New Gotham.

It was broad daylight, high noon in a wooded patch just outside the city limits but far from the perimeter fence that circled the city. Even from the location, the world tree was visible even from the small clearing, as was the rest of the city that stood under its vast canopy. In the center of the clearing was what one would dare call a table, which was in actuality a gigantic mushroom, the entire clearing was filled with them which dotted the clearing and grew off the bark of some trees that surrounded the open spaces. Flowers bloomed everywhere, dozens of different colours creating an organic rainbow that decorated the entire area and filled the air with a perfume of pollen. Vines and gnarled roots grew into the shapes of furniture meant for giants around the mushroom cap, which was well over 30 feet in diameter, and stood high enough to reach a human at head height. Perfect size for the beings that sat around it, discussing arrangements and dealings.

The four tribes of Gotham sat at each corner of the table, every month they came to this spot, each month they discussed updates, developments in the city and any transgressions between their respective bodies.

At one side sat the great wolf, leaning into his vine woven seat while his two mates, the White Jester Wolfess and Aloe Vera took to either side of him, practically draped over his shoulders as they eyed the other leaders. Behind Bruce stood his other mates. Adelle, Chelsea, Hitomi and Jessie, each of them promoted to Wolf Queens to their King, each of them fully changed into their towering wolf forms standing shoulder to shoulder with his other lovers as a show of ****.

“Are we all in agreement?” asked Bruce, eyeing the other three parties at the table.

To the right of the wolf pack were the Spiders. The massive anthropomorphic arachnids stood on their eight legs where their own seating would have been while Arachne shuffled papers between her dexterous fingers. Barbara and Helena stood at either side of her, eyeing the other tribes present while their mistress offered folders to the others.

“The details are very clear-cut Bruce.” Hissed Arachne, a smile on her fanged lips. “Though I will admit, the city isn’t… TOO big for what you have planned.”

“It’s still sound.” Hissed a voice across the table. “I foresee quite a bit of revenue flow into the city with the plan.”

To the left of the wolves sat the Snakes. Lamia sat in a way that her serpentine coils appeared almost as if she had crossed one leg over the other… If she had any. Her two attendants went over the folders of information and offered specific pages for the snake woman to go over one last time while the meeting continued. The queen of the reptiles in Gotham was as shrewd as ever, and just as opulent. The woman wore golden necklaces and rings in her clawed fingers that made her appear almost royal in appearance as she traded a smile back at Bruce.

“Is money the only thing you think about Lamia?”

“Currency darling, money is my currency, just as information is yours.” Lamia smiled, flicking her forked tongue back at the massive spider.

“This has been an idea on the table for many years, the agreement with the outside world for us to exist like this rests on a razor’s edge is it is, what you have been suggesting Bruce is for New Gotham to be a sanctuary state for anyone who wishes to set up tent here.”

“Yes, I know.”

“The rest of the world will see this as an invitation for anyone to join our city… Not for a better life or a new beginning, but to also join our tribes.”

“A good number of people outside our walls see us as monsters, just like Dracula.” Frowned Barbara with an exasperated sigh. “The only difference is no one goes to his kingdom with signs and bullhorns.”

“Well why would they? The man-kabobs he has at the front door should be a no-brainer he doesn’t like solicitors.” Joked Harleen, getting an elbow in the side by Hitomi. “Owe.”

“I agree with the Wolf King.” Answered Bastet, the queen of the Cats who sat with her fingers crossed together under her chin. At her side, always was the large cat Umbra who always stood at the ready like a personal bodyguard. “The mortals of the outside world have had us bottled up for decades, it is time we show we can contribute to the outside by letting others in.”

“We can help more people that way while still maintaining our autonomy.” Explained Aloe Vera.

“There’s more you are not telling us…” Arachne stated, shifting her stance with her many legs. “This has been a side idea for a very long time and then you start pushing for it every week for the last year. What’s happening Bruce?”

Looking back at the queen of spiders, Bruce’s gaze shifted to Bastet, to whom he nodded to.

“There has been… A disturbance in the umbra. A blight that has been festering there for many years.”

“I’ve seen it.” Answered Bruce. “My wolves have been facing them for centuries in the Umbral plain.”

“They are byproducts of the anima of the Earth. The worst things are out here in the mortal world, monstrosities manifest in the umbra as a result.”

“And?” hissed Lamia.

“The monsters are getting more frequent, and bigger, and nastier.”

“The world is not a happy place Bruce.” Answered Helena.

“But its not as nasty as the things we’ve been fighting either. Not by any margin. Something BIG is causing all of this, something has been putting gasoline to these proverbial fires in the Umbra.”

“Someone… Something is exacerbating the Umbra artificially, forcefully, intentionally.”

“Something is coming, something so big, so bad it is driving the Umbra insane. If we can be an island of sanctuary when the flood starts to crash against the world, better that our doors are open instead of slammed shut.” Seeing everyone take the matter more seriously, Bruce raised his clawed hand over his head. “All in favor of the plan?”

One by one, everyone raised their hand.

“Good, let’s pray it never comes true.”

*

Meanwhile in the Carpathian Mountains.

“This is Javelin 7 approaching Transylvanian airspace; we are requesting landing co-ordinates.” Spoke Oliver through the microphone while flying the airship into Dracula’s territory. The flight was lengthy, taking a few hours to get there, Oliver and Dinah had taken that time to think about how to approach Dracula and his court when they got there.

Once they got there… It was always a sight to see. A fog permeated the lands, making flight over the landscape impossible unless the goal was to land there, and even then, that would be a fool’s errand. When the Javelin flew through the mist and was met with brief turbulence, when the fog cleared, the sight did not get any better. Almost as if the lands were met with a permanent night, the skies were grey with churning storm clouds. Swarms of bats could be seen in the skies, along with other creatures that slit through the cloud cover, some larger than a passenger plane! And even THEN, that wasn’t the worst of it. The forests below were pitch black, the streams calm and lifeless, as if there were no flow. The lands looked… Dead. Plain and simple. Haunted, creeping, but no one living was visible.

“This is the castle Dracula.” Answered a woman’s voice from the intercom. “A landing pad is ready for your arrival… You will be watched.”

“Good to hear from you too, Pam.” Answered Oliver with a smirk, turning off the intercom as he spotted a landing pad appear out in the fog and changed course to land.

“Go easy on her Ollie, she doesn’t get out often.”

“None of them do, they feel nice and cozy in this swamp as they did on a beautiful island paradise.”

With the javelin landing and the engines turned off, Oliver Queen got out of his seat and smiled back at his wife as they made their way to the back of the ship. “Oh! Wake up Mia, let her know we’re here.”

Smirking, Dinah made her way over to what looked like a bench with a blanket over the seating, giving it a light shake, the body under the covers came to a startled wake, sitting up and immediately getting to her feet with her fists up.

“Wake up sweetie! Time to meet the in-laws.”

“I’M UP! I’M UP!” Said the young woman with dirty blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. Wearing a black and green body suit with a hood pulled back behind her jacket, she had a fold out bow at her hip along with a quiver hanging from the side of the bench, once she quickly pulled off its hook to sling around her shoulder. Looking around and realizing the Javelin was no longer flying. “We’re here already?!”

“Heh, you sleep just like your father sometimes.” Chuckled Dinah, heading to meet her husband at the door. “Come on, we don’t want to be late now, do we?”

“No… How is Uncle Dracula anyway?”

Stepping out of the walkway of the javelin, the family were immediately greeted by a dozen amazon warriors with spears and shields up aimed at the three as they made their way down the ramp and hinted to stay where they were. “Do not take another step.”

“You know… I DID call ahead of time that we were showing up, we were even ASKED to come by Selina.” Huffed Oliver with his hands up and a spear under his chin.

“We did not tell you to speak!” Frowned the amazon warrior staring daggers at Green Arrow. “You are not permitted to…”

Shoved out of the way by something massive from behind, the amazons gave a wide berth to the towering creature as it loomed over a new frightened Green Arrow who dropped his arms as he was hauled off his feet by a pair of arms that hoisted up into a bear hug by Cat Woman.

“Oliver! Dinah! Welcome, you came just in time.” Laughed the 9-foot tall were cat as she gently lowered Oliver and gave him a chance to catch his breath, watching as the massive feline crouched to one knee and gently hugged Dinah and Mia. “It’s been too long Dinah… ‘Gasp!’ Is this little Mia? I remember when you were just THIS tall.” Smiled the werecat, making her point by bringing her hand to Dinah’s ankle to show as reference to her old height.

“Hi Auntie Selina. You look… Uhm… Big too.” Relied the young woman, looking up at the tall, and athletic looking werecat, who swiveled her hip and made a pose with a confident smile.

“Good living, good hunting, does the body good you know.” Looking over her shoulder to the amazons still looking apprehensive of the family’s arrival, Selina gave them a dirty look. “you’ll have to forgive them, not ALL the amazons are as prickly as they used to be, they just don’t like repeats of what happened on Themyscira. COME! Let’s go inside, I bet you have some stories to share.”

Making their way to the castle that stood like a pitch black, jagged spear’s tip next to the mountains, the trio looked around to find the amazons all over the place training, cooking, and keeping guard of the lands. Each of them giving the three a dirty look as they made their way through the tall wooden doors and deep into the grand halls of the castle. Once inside, the amazons appeared more amicable, with one approaching the massive werecat with a bow and what looked like a robe in her hands.

Closing her eyes, Selina breathed in slowly, and before everyone’s eyes began to shrink and transform back into human form, going from a 9-foot tall, muscular, curvaceous cat woman to a 6-foot-tall naked woman who tossed her longer black hair over her shoulder and smiled back at her friends, who each looked away with flushed cheeks as she took the offered robe and got dressed.

“Oh, get over yourselves. You act like you haven’t seen me like this before.”

“We haven’t…” Murmured Dinah, making Selina tap her lip in thought.

“Oh right, that was the other you… Come, I’m sure my husband has just been chomping at the bit to meet you.”

Following the now human Selina through the castle, more and more amazons were seen guarding rooms, the halls and some corridors as they continued their way. Eventually they were led to a door guarded by two amazons who eyed the visitors cautiously and back to the queen of the estate. Stepping aside, the door opened and the four were let into the room ahead. It was dark, impossibly dark. There was no light at all save for a small bonfire at the furthest end of the room. But even then, the flames were only visible, just barely. The room itself absorbed any light that was present, and when the doors closed behind them, the room only became Darker, if that were possible.

“My love, we have visitors.”

“I care NOT for visitors…” said a deep voice from all around the shadowy void.

“What about OLD acquaintances?” Called out Oliver, noticing the light from the fire begin to illuminate the room, showing bookshelves, a set of chairs, a small side table with a cup of tea and kettle, and a towering, well dressed man in a cloak get to his feet and smile back at the three standing behind his wife.

“How can I say no to old acquaintances, welcome my brother.” Approaching the three, Dracula extended his hand to Oliver with a fanged smile.

“My love, this is not the first time you have been locked away like this, what is going on?”

Looking to his wife with a worried look, Dracula straightened his stance and took a stern look.

“There is something terribly wrong with the energies of the world. I felt it when the wolf king came back into the world, I felt it when the world tree came to be… But THIS? I’ve not felt something like this in eons. Something is coming, someone… We are in danger.”