Dinosaur of the Day - Stegosaurus

Eventually, Lolly and some of the other dinosaurs succeeded in shoving Ambrose out of the way, and began the primary assault into Townville. Roiling dust, splintering wood, and soft mammal screams rippled out from their advance.

But despite her size, Lolly had never been one for combat. As the others charged on, she leaned against a tree and set to work on the newest edition of "Spines and Stripes" magazine. The folks back home would need to know that things were off to a good start...

Friday Mythical Creature of the Day - Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley emerged from the portal.

"Oops, wrong door!"

And back he went.

Dinosaur of the Day - Ankylosaurus

Devin wanted to smash and bash, to plunder and crash. Unable to past Ambrose, he instead felt like trash.

(Image Credit: Rare Resource)

Dinosaur of the Day - Apatosaurus

Ambrose came through next, but right outside of the portal his head-brain was distracted by some high-hanging leaves and got distracted.  His tail-brain urged him on, but it knew that once the head-brain was thinking about food, it could not think of anything else. Tail-brain would never understand.

Anyway, it was causing a problem because he was very large and now blocking the portal.

(Image Credit: About.com)

Dinosaur of the Day - Tyrannosaurus Rex

The Doom started arriving on a Monday. The first one's name was King Toothfull II, or 'Charlie' to his friends.


(Image Credit: http://myfavoritedinosaur.com/)

Friday Mythical Creature of the Day - Cerberus

"Oh, noooooooo," triple-yelled Tarasios, "Oh, noooooooo! Oh, nooooooooo!"

But then, this is what he always yelled.

Animal of the Day - Bull Water Buffalo

It has been nonstop work at the docks for Devaki down at the import company. Lifting freight and boxes an putting boxes and freight in other locations, all the while never mixing up the boxes. She had just survived a tiring back-to-back shift ending at 9am, and had finally gotten into bed and wished that everyone outside would just stop screaming.

(Photo Credit: Steve Garvie)

Animal of the Day - Corsican Red Deer

Pasquale was the one who accidentally killed the Titcomb boys. He felt really bad about it, but not enough to turn himself in.

Besides, by this point everyone was too busy paying attention to the glowing portal which had appeared in the town square.

Animal of the Day: Cantabrian Chamois

The Titcomb boys were the first casualties of the crisis, shot by the militia while robbing the house of a neighbor who had fled town.

Animal of the Day - Kokako

Lefty joined the citizens' militia mainly out of boredom.

Friday Mythical Creature of the Day - Byangoma

By this point, the Majumdar sisters had foreseen in their waterfalls that the Doom would be arriving within the week. They pondered whether or not they should tell anyone, but the fact remained that everyone was already panicking because they already knew the Doom was coming.

Anyway, the time of arrival would become apparent when the attack began.

(Image Credit: Melinda Beavers)

Animal of the Day - Sloth Bear

Pyotr was one of the first to heed Mosi's call-to-arms. If he was to die, he would die with the blood of the enemy on his lips. He hoped that the enemy would be salmon.

Animal of the Day - Tree Pangolin

All he'd have to do is start changing the labels on his patented "Sunshine Repellant" to ones that read "Doom Repellant", and Eniola would start raking in the cash.

(Photo Credit: Wikipedia)

Animal of the Day - Masai Lion

And Mosi, having heard MacPetwer the chameleon with his acute hearing, decided that yes. Yes, this was a good idea.

"Animals of Townville," he roared, "Why are so many of you so eager to run? Have you not made lives here? Have you not built schools and parks and the largest scratching post in the county? Has not the housing market finally evened out and redeemed those ill-advised mortgages that so many of you took, last Fall?"

Mosi waved a paw in MacPewter general direction, "Are we cowardly and invisible like the chameleon? Or are we strong! Like the lion?"

And Mosi was seen as brave and strong and many were willing to listen.

But others, one chameleon in particular, were sadden by this display. But no one would notice, because no one could see him.

Animal of the Day - Blue Wildebeast

Since the Doom had been announced, Tulingawe had been walking around Townville with a sign that read, "REPENT, OH YE SINNERS! FOR THE END IS NEAR!"

She didn't believe the Doom was going to be anything significant, nor was she particularly religious. But she bought the damn sign, so she figured that she might as well use it.

(Photo Credit: Richard Du Toit/BBC)

Animal of the Day - Madagascar Brookesia Chameleon

"Animals of Townville!" said MacPewter, "For days I have heard the creatures of this town plot and scheme and plan their escape. I am but a small and simple chameleon, but I am willing to fight for my home against whatever manifestation the doom takes! Will you not fight?! Who's with me!"

He spoke with fervor and passion. He spoke of courage and dignity. But no one really noticed him because his voice was small and he had so effectively blended into the platform he was standing on.

Friday Mythical Creature of the Day - Zaratan

Louie wasn't going anywhere near Townville with all of that shit about to go down.


(Credit: Wizards of the Coast)

Animal of the Day - Bark Beetle

Caleb decided that he might as well start maxing out his credit cards.

Animal of the Day - Irrawaddy Dolphin

Omrita had only just started summer classes at the vocational school when everyone started screaming that they were all going to die. She sighed. It was almost certain cancellation that her paralegal class would be cancelled, leaving both her degree and initial deposit in question.

This was besides the point. As much as she tried, circumstances would not allow her to be anything but she was meant to be: A warrior. A brutal and unrelenting killer who steals lives and dreams, her profane acts of violence staining generations, poisoning families with trauma and severing bloodlines. Slaughtering without compassion or concern.

It was her true vocation. And there was no degree for that.


(Image Credit: http://imgur.com/a/Jexvo)

Animal of the Day - Kouprey

Ravi was filled with terror as any creature would be, but he was disciplined enough not to show it. After all, he had not become Townville's foremost 'Chicken Charge' champion by allowing his emotions to be seen. He would listen to hear what Mayor Hernandez had to say about this new danger, while secretly planning his escape.

But to where? And how?

(Source: Wikipedia)

Animal of the Day - Blue-Footed Booby

Diego was just passing through and wasn't about to get caught up in all of this nonsense.

(Source: About.com)

Friday Mythical Creature of the Day - Bakeneko

Naoko had always been something of a good luck charm to those around her, and the coming Doom would be a business opportunity of the highest order. How would these rubes pay for her blessing? Her fur? Her blood? Well, someone's blood, anyway?

Animal of the Day: Greater Prairie Chicken

It did not surprise Clara that death would arrive now that she had finally learned how to juggle.

Life was nothing more than a brief aberration from the purity of nonexistence.



(Image Source: Wikipedia Commons)

Animal of the Day - Fudge Duck

Nikolai had expected that this would come sooner or later in one form or another. Endings come to all things, even a life now as lost and wretched as his. And yet, as he pondered his own destruction at the hands of some 'thing', he could not help but feel something stir beneath his plumed breast.

Was this... fear? Self-regard? Peace? Perhaps this true danger would stir him from this torpor. Perhaps he would learn to fight. To stand against this menace and be a leader as he had done during the Feather War. Or, not.

Still, he was excited. But for redemption? Or... oblivion?

Animal of the Day - Andean Mountain Cat

"Oh, nooooooo," yelled Maris.  "Oh, noooooooo! Oh, noooooooooo!"

But then, this is what she always yelled.

Friday Mythical Creature of the Day - Chinese Panlong

It had taken a year for the animal-citizens of New Townville to gathering resource, donations and personnel to mount the big expedition to the Forgotten Island. But now it was the time.

The adventurers and their families gathered down at the docks for departure, excited and nervous, with some sadness as well-

-when a great and terrible water dragon- his name was Barry, but he rarely identified himself as such- arose from the water and boomed a warning, "GAZE UPON ME DIRT WALKERS AND I'LL DO YOU ALL A SOLID!  A REALLY TERRIBLE MONSTER OR MONSTERS ARE COMING THIS WAY. SO I'D HOLD OFF ON LEAVING FOR AN ADVENTURE AND JUST BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES. FAIR WARNING."

The assembled villagers were aghast, a fearful murmuring quickening in the crowd, "Can you stay and help, oh mighty dragon," cried Mayor Hubblescope, "Your strength would be invaluable!"

Barry snorted water from his mighty snout, "NAH. I MEAN 'NO, THANKS'. THANKS, BUT NO THANKS. YOU KNOW? LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF DANGER. ANYWAY, THEY'LL BE COMING TO EAT ALL OF YOU, SO PREPARE YOURSELVES. I'S SAY THAT YOU HAVE A FEW WEEKS OR MAYBE LIKE A MONTH?"

And with this dire warning, Barry the water dragon sunk once more beneath the waves.

The 'Doom Swarm Summer' had begun.