Guardians

August 3, 2088

[Karen Hudson sits behind the counter, unaccompanied. Headline reads: The Arctic Dragon is accompanied by Omen.]

"After helping Blessing with the tornado, the Arctic Dragon returned to the Great Lakes. The dragon stayed away from contact, but it is known she has been in the area for a few days."

"Blessing returned to Love All Creatures headquarters. However, the dragon no longer accepts visitors from the public. Her popularity has grown extremely, with many people crowding outside the building, despite no permission for entry."

"Nothing seemed out of the ordinary with the dragons, until yesterday."

"Yesterday evening, the Arctic Dragon was discovered on the bank of Lake Erie by boaters. The dragon was cooing and looking into the air, but not flying away. It didn't seem to even notice the boaters.

"After a few minutes, Omen appeared and joined the Arctic dragon on the bank."

"Omen had not been seen for nearly a month prior. The boaters were worried the dragon would be aggressive, but it didn't even glance at them"

"Strangely, the two dragons swam into the lake without a word."

"The boaters were able to capture some photos of the dragons, before they swam into the lake."

[A phone-shaped vertical photo appears in the upper right corner, outlined in black. The quality is poor, somewhat blurry in the darkening evening. Karen Hudson is moved to the left, off-center.

Light from the setting sun illuminates the beach and the Artic Dragon. It stands at the end of the bank, tail still in the water. Its four wings droop down at the sides, relaxed.

One black, large talon dips into the light from the darkened sky. Omen's wyvern figure is slightly noticeable.]

"No one was sure why the dragons met at the Lakes, or what exactly they planned to do."

"Many were wary of Omen; some refused to enter the water until they are sure the dragon is gone."

[The picture changes.

Both Omen and the Arctic Dragon are on the bank, covered in the light of the setting sun.

Omen's head appears to be bowed towards the Arctic Dragon, but it may be the slight slouch to his figure.]

"Most of the confusion came from the two dragons. How do they know each other? These two had never been seen together before."

[The image changes a final time.

The backs of the dragons are seen over the surface of the water. The Arctic Dragon's white figure can be seen below the surface, but Omen's on the right cannot be.]

"The Arctic Dragon's and Omen's plan was unknown, until today."

"Zebra mussel populations throughout all of the Great Lakes seemed to drop overnight. Boats previously covered in the invasive species are again operable."

"Its seemed to be a strange extermination without cause, until the lake sturgeon were found."

[The image disappears. Karen recenters on the screen.]

"Extinct for 30 years due to the risen temperature of the lakes, rock sturgeon suddenly reappeared all throughout the Great Lakes."

"These sturgeons were immediately identified as abnormal."

"They fed mostly on the zebra mussels, unafraid of human activity."

"Most shocking, they were all coal black with equally pure black eyes."

"Knowing this was a probable connection to Omen, fishing of sturgeons was promptly banned at all Lake sites."

"The dragons, however, have yet to be sighted again. Locals believe Omen's disappearance is a good sign."

"Will we see the dragons again?"