We have a new pet, a domestic pigeon, of all things. We didn’t buy him or anything. He isn’t “really” ours, but he has begun hanging out at Pook’s bird feeder like he is. I suppose the hurricane blew him in from some statue in Tampa, or perhaps he has run away from his Homing Pigeon team? Pook puts out her corn for the ducks, deer, turtles, squirrels, skunks and crows, but “Uncle Pudgy-Pudge the Pigeon” doesn’t seem interested in it, he’s only into the safflower seeds at her bird feeder. Pook has taken to putting down a small pile beneath the feeder, just for him. Being he is an inner-city bird, I figure the safflower must be his crack. He certainly cannot seem to get enough.

He’s a looker though, Uncle Pudge is. He is mostly darker gray with some lighter gray splotches, and his wingtips and tail spark a brilliant white flash when he takes flight, which is actually pretty darned spectacular. I remember reading that there were once great flocks with millions of pigeons inhabiting the American continent. As thrilling as it is to see Uncle Pudge take off, it must have been absolutely amazing to see a million or so taking off at once! It is strange that a stray domestic bird could be one of the most eye-catching at our feeder, but there it is. He is bigger than the finches, larger and more colorful than the pinkish doves, and flashier than the irredescent grackles. Granted the cardinals give him a run, but cardinals are birds of a higher power and should not be counted among the lay-birds. And the jays are prettier of course, but jays are way too uppity to gather at a common feeder, and so must be omitted from the conversation.

Uncle Pudge is just a pigeon. A domestic one at that. I expect that soon he will be hawk food. He is too trusting to make it in the wild, and will let me walk right up to him. General Sherman should have gotten him by now, but The General is not the dog he used to be. Well…to be truthful General Sherman never was much of a sporting dog, but he is cool for arguing philosophy with, or for hanging out with beers and a ballgame. I guess The General leans toward being a comfort dog rather than a service one, and there is room on my couch for that type too.

Anyways, Uncle Pudge is welcome at Pook’s feeder. In fact, he fits right in with The General and me; an old-school man in a modern world, a dog that won’t hunt, and a pigeon who can’t find his way home…

…or maybe he has?

Professor David Hewitt is an engineer in his mid-forties who works at Oxford. He has a modest house where he lives with his wife. They have no children, but Hewitt often treats his machines and inventions as his children. He is known to get caught up in a project for weeks on end, often forgetting to eat or sleep. His loving wife is wonderfully patient, allowing him the time to get lost in a project while ensuring that he takes breaks when needed.

Hewitt is most often seen wearing jeans and ratty t-shirts so he doesn’t need to worry about his clothes getting ripped or stained while he is working, but on the rare occasions that he goes out, either for dinner with his wife or a required school function, he dresses several decades behind the times. It is not unusual to see him in a sweater vest or cardigan. He rarely wears suits unless forced to.

As a scientist, Hewitt puts very little faith in humanity. He uses machines and inventions to solve his problems. To most outsiders, the professor appears to put his work before anything else. He ignores his students, superiors, and even his wife when working on an invention. However, Hewitt adores his wife and considers her the best thing in his life. He often says that she is too good for this world.

Hewitt’s world is turned upside down when his beloved wife is killed. His wife’s murder is the catalyst for a search for goodness and compassion.

Wanted-- Bound for execution by Order of the King's Council.

Age: 15 years of age biologically/psychologically

Distinctions: Stylizes in the human style of grunge and vagabond. Look for itching artificial fabrics, cotton, and dull colorations in garment. Unkempt black hair and electric blue eyes.

Citizens are warned that prisoner is dangerous and unpredictable. Possible disturbance; Oppositional, defiant, revels in violence and bloodshed. Armed with blade weapons-- Proficiency Class: Red-- treat with extreme caution.

Crime list

Destructive vandalism

Imposition of trade

Assault of merchants and civilians

Unlicensed Beast Taming

Evasion of arrest/questioning

Fraud

Serial Theft

Black Market Relic Sales

KIDNAPPING OF MEREDITH HALE-- Daughter of attendants Roxanne Hale and Andrea Hale-Tobasso

The former ward of the California Education Camp #7700211 was known to be wily and swift. Had a strong, near unbreakable will, however his weakness as many humans are in his bonds with his fellows. Best methods have been containment and isolation. Under threat of harm to his chosen pack subject(Number 10) became pliant.

Habit of accosting the girls and behaving orphans. Does not engage with material(history, arithmatic, reading). Noted an aversion to being touched by those with confirmed abilities. Hostility and anger always rise when in the presence of lupine staff.

Motive may possibly be anti-mutagen sentiments.

Must also be noted that he currently travels with two other escapees. Powerful abilities of energy consumption and RAGE. Relations are strong. Possible romantic connotations is unsubstantiated.

Sandy is a lovely fifty-nine-year-old woman living in the suburbs outside the city of Manhattan. She's exercised daily since she was 15 and has naturally auburn-colored hair with an olive skin complexion.

Her husband, Nick, is an auto salesman. Nick had a trust fund that set them up very nicely when they were first married, but they've burned through most of it. Nick and Sandy agreed that was okay because their children were grown, and she and Nick didn't need much. They live a regular, comfortably dull life, as Sandy would say.

Sandy doesn't work and has never had to, but life recently got a touch more boring with Nick at the lot and the kids off at school. So, she decided to start spending some time in the city. It was just a 20-minute ride away. The city buzzes life into her core. Mostly because she's spent most of her younger years there, Nick thought it was best to move to the suburbs when they had planned to have children.

She feels her suburban mom's clothing style is outdated, causing her to update her wardrobe completely. Now, with fresh attire and a newly added city girlfriend, Sandy is wondering who she wants to be when she turns sixty in a few months.