Fawriel skidded to a stop in front of Jazz’s palace. He caught his breath, then walked casually inside. He greeted Jazz. Jazz nodded.
“Yes, Fawriel?”
“The group I was going with through the portal was attacked! I think they have been taken to a prison of some sort. The humans call it a zoo. I know we were supposed to go at that time! I don’t have any idea why they have been jailed. Oh, and Omicron Hellbot and Jiaike have been taken there, too.”
“Oh, my. We’ll have to contact the humans immediately!”
He didn’t have to, as the phototransmitter told him the humans were contacting him. He opened the link.
“Is this your idea of a joke?!?” The group was supposed to be here an hour ago!!!”
“Who’s joke?!? You sent that group to this prison you call a zoo!”
“What? Wait a minute. Tell me more.”
“My faithful source here has given me the information that humans have captured our diplomatic convoy and sent them to a place called a zoo.”
“Hm. Well, it had nothing to do with us. We’ll see about finding the zoo they’ve been taken to. This is a very strange incident, indeed!”

“Hahahahaha!!! We’re gonna be rich!”
“Aye, not only selling tickets, but this weaponry’s gotta make a big buck on th’ black market!”
The two owners of the zoo laughed some more. They were examining the animal’s weapons. One of them, Chuck, was tossing one of Jiaike’s grenades up and down, and the other, Moe, was examining Acid’s rocket launcher.
“Any terrorist would do anything for this lot! Check this out!” Moe imitated a terrorist. “Nobody move or I vaporize the building!!!”
Chuck doubled over laughing. “Hoo! That’s gonna make anybody cooperate!”
“Oy! Zoo visitin’ hours start now! Get ready!”
Chuck did as he was told, and soon many people were flocking in, eager to see this “new attraction”. The two owners settled back to watch.

The guests weren’t so bad at first, but the more people came, the worse they were, it seemed. One of them started throwing rocks at the animals, trying to get them to move.
“Move your lazy butts! This is boring!”
Phoenix Wing did not approve of her rear end being called lazy. “I would think that you would move to another display if this one was boring, or maybe you’re even more lazy than you think I am.
The fact that Phoenix Wing could talk scared the observers for a moment, then everybody but the boy who threw rocks started laughing at the wisecrack that Phoenix Wing pulled. That boy heaved a veritable boulder at Phoenix Wing. It fell quite a bit short of it’s target.
“I also can’t say much for your strength or intelligence, but that is quite a round belly you have there.”
The boy, fuming now, stomped off among peals of laughter.
The animals laughed along with the crowd. However, the worst part of the day was yet to come.



There. Got Pho in. She was here from the start, but I never mentioned her before.
GAH! Phoenix Wing, do you have a shorter nickname I could use, besides Pho?
BTW, Coppertop, I have an idea for how you could be in the story. Besides being captured by the evil people who want money. You'll see.