[ WP ] A creature the size of an entire city is awakened . It 's playful .

“ Sarah, this is Seagull One from the USS Carl Vinson, we ’ re coming to pick you up. What ’ s your location? ” 
 
 “ We ’ re in the middle of Cassel Park, next to the fountain. Can you pick us up there? ” 
 
 “ Copy that, Sarah, we ’ re flying right by Cassel Park in three minutes. ” 
 
 Sarah turned away from the radio and faced the devastation. Five square miles of fire, rubble, and fur littered the city. The putrid smell of urine pierced the air – constant exposure over the past half day hasn ’ t helped her get used to it one bit. 
 
 A low, heart-shaking rumble. 
 
 “ Where do you think that thing is? ” Paul asked without looking up. 
 
 “ Hell if I know, the fish market? ” Sarah turns to look at Paul ’ s work. “ How are you doing? ” 
 
 “ We ’ re trying our best. Can ’ t find good two-by-fours when everything ’ s all burned up. ” Tim grunted as he pulled the thick cable piece to make a giant, serpentine knot. 
 
 Sarah nodded. She has been begging the military to not put down the creature in a hail of missiles, but given the destruction it wrought in just one afternoon since it burst through the ground downtown, its apparent innocence and cuteness is no longer a point of contest. Besides, you can ’ t argue anything with this much dirt and burnt fur to be cute anymore. 
 
 Hearing the unmistakable whipping noises of spinning blades, Sarah looked up to find the helicopter appear over an apartment building, its searchlight shining -- 
 
 She mashed the button on his radio. “ No no no no no no no, turn the light off, now! ” 
 
 The voice on the other end was only confused. “ Say that again? ” 
 
 Before she could answer, the building next to her exploded in a hail of concrete and glass and dust. They see two blue eyes the size of cars shine through the smoldering hole in the building neatly circled by the searchlight and- *oh dear god it ’ s mewing*. The three covered their ears as whatever remaining windows shattered around them. 
 
 But the beast ’ s swing did n't hit the helicopter, which was all that matters. Amid expletives flowing out of the radio, the helicopter shakily recovered from its panic-induced spin and, without any further need of convincing, cut its searchlights and began descending slowly to the park. It was close enough for Sarah to see the pilot through the windshield, looking between his instruments and the beast three times a second, knowing its attention is now focused on this new, noisy visitor. 
 
 “ Paul, shoot it! ” 
 
 “ I ’ m still loading that thing! ” 
 
 “ It ’ s looking at us! ” 
 
 “ Okay, okay, I know! Get going! ” Tim picks up the loose end of a cable and starts running towards the chopper behind the others. 
 
 “ It ’ s getting closer! ” 
 
 “ LOOSE IT! ” Paul yelled. The pilot wasn ’ t waiting and began shooting everyone upwards. 
 
 As Tim jerks the cable, the weight guiding the long, slightly burnt arm of their makeshift catapult lurches forward as the towering creature skipped and bounced towards the helicopter, leaving crushed cars in its wake. The arm swings, throwing a heavy green bundle into a mid-air spin... 
 
 “ YES! ” the three cheer as the bale of catnip smacks the creature right in the nose, and they watched it curl up and roll on the grass, chewing on the bale, as they flew away. 
 
 “ That ’ s... some trick you got there. ” The pilot huffed, still trying to regain his composure. 
 
 “ Thank Crazy Cat Lady here for having 300 pounds of the stuff in her shop, ” Paul smirks. 
 
 “ Shut up, Paul, you know it saved your ass and- oh, I guess it didn ’ t. ” 
 
 “ You will tell no one. ” 
 
 Tim held a hand to his nose, cackling. “ That you shat your pants from a cat? Is that why you ’ re a dog person? ” 
 
 “ Yeah, okay, if we get Chihuahuazilla blowing out of Baltimore the next day I ’ m leaving you in it. ” 
 
 -020
