@&%†*=~...                                          ...~=*†%&@
&%†*=~....                                          ....~=*†%&
%†*=~.....                                          .....~=*†%
†*=~......                                          ......~=*†
*=~.......                                          .......~=*
=~........ ==&                                  &== ........~=
~.........                                          .........~
..........           THE ROAD IS BLOCKED.           ..........
.......... TWO  CREATURES,  ALIVE,  AND  A  BURNING ..........
..........     CAR. THE WINDSHIELD IS SHATTERED,    ..........
..........               FROM OUTSIDE.              ..........
..........                                          ..........
.......... ==&                                  &== ..........
..........       &===========================&      ..........
.......... ==&                                  &== ..........
..........                                          ..........
~.........  THE WOMANS NAME IS =LYNNE=, SHE HEADS   .........~
=~........    FROM THE PENINSULA OF KOLA - CALLED   ........~=
*=~.......    THERE LONG AGO BY THE DEPTH OF THE    .......~=*
†*=~......    BORING HOLE, NOW AGAIN RETURNING TO   ......~=*†
%†*=~.....    DENSER CIVILIZATION. BUT SHE IS NOT   .....~=*†%
&%†*=~....   HUMAN. SHE HAS LONG CLAWS WITH WHICH   ....~=*†%&
@&%†*=~... SHE PICKS OUT THE FLESH OF HER PREY AND  ...~=*†%&@
#@&%†*=~..     TEARS AT IT WITH HER TEETH, BLOOD    ..~=*†%&@#
##@&%†*=~.  DRIPPING ONTO THE DIRT ROAD. SHE DOES   .~=*†%&@##
#@&%†*=~..      NOT LOOK UP FROM HER KILLING.       ..~=*†%&@#
@&%†*=~...                                          ...~=*†%&@
&%†*=~....     HER STEED IS =HORNBLENDE=, A DARK    ....~=*†%&
%†*=~.....    HORSE, A GLOWING PANTHER. SHE'S AN    .....~=*†%
†*=~......    EXTREMELY DIGITGRADE THING, WITH A    ......~=*†
*=~.......  POLITE FACE. WHILE HER REGULAR (AND NOW .......~=*
=~........  DISINTERESTED) MOUTH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ........~=
~.........    EATING PLANT MATTER (MOSTLY FATTY     .........~
..........     FRUITS LIKE AVOCADO) HER TAIL IS     ..........
.......... CARNIVOROUS AND HAS A MOUTH (AND WILL?)  ..........
..........   OF ITS OWN. THE ENTIRE TAIL IS HOLLOW  ..........
..........  AND JUICY, AND FEELS WONDERFUL INSIDE.  ..........
..........                                          ..........
.......... ==&                                  &== ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
..........                                          ..........
~.........                                          .........~
=~........                                          ........~=