Your stomach growls, insisting that you better make your decision soon. You look at Anders, the wolf smiling in anticipation, "I think we should head to the police station, it'll be our safest bet for a place to stay and should easily accommodate everyone here." Cameron nods, agreeing with your assessment while Amelia looks a little put out. You know why she wants to go back to the old lab and you want some answers, too, but you just can't jeopardize the safety of the group so selfishly; you've already seen what can happen when you do. Speaking to the fox-girl, you try to give her a little pep talk, "Look, Ames, we gotta find better shelter for these folks first... But I promise that we will head back to your home once we're situated. I want to find out what's going on more than you know..." She perks up a little at this and gives you a toothy grin.
"Ah, heck, I know... Besides, it's kinda hard to say 'no' to the promise of more adventure! Ya scaly, butt!" Amelia playfully punches you in the shoulder, it feels like being socked by a marshmallow. You grin back then motion to a couple of the survivors to join you in your circle. Cass the doe, a large bear-man and a bat-like creature come up to you for briefing. None wear clothing of any description, but you doubt it was voluntary on their part.
"Alright, we're all here..." You start, looking at each creature in turn, you chose them because they seem to be the most stable and have the most sway within your new group of former captives. Having them as leaders will be a good way to keep the others in line until you reach your destination, "So, our new destination is the local police HQ, it'll have food, water and space and will allow us to come up with another plan of action, where you decide to go after that is up to you." Cass furrows her brow, deep in thought, but she nods her head in acquiescence. She addresses her comrades.
"Kaede, you stay in the rear and keep an ear out for anything unusual and, Gerald, I'll need you up front in case we need to clear any obstacles in our way. Let's get the others rounded up..." Cass gives orders to the bat and bear respectively, it seems like she has done this before... She looks at you and winks, "They had us fight each other in the pit as our changes ripped through us, I was able to keep my mind focused enough to win my fair share." She stops there, you're surprised by the strength within the slight creature. Cam is smiling at her, impressed. She walks back to her group.
Your brother is beside you in an instant, "Hm, all that fighting we did in the school really got my hackles up. I wonder if I should introduce myself more formally to that group's 'deer leader'..." He chuckles a little at his pun, you're sure she'd give him a run for his money, but you're worried his changes might be getting to him. You glance at Anders who also has a hungry look in his eyes, you return the stare as your heart quickens.
You have to force yourself to focus again and have Anders direct the group towards the station. You and Cameron find yourselves milling between the front and back of the formation as you travel through side streets and alleys to avoid any undo attention. Occasionally, you see groups of vaguely animalistic creatures huddled under tarps and temporary shelters, minding themselves mostly. You wonder why they aren't in their homes or if all the ones you've seen were formally homeless people. You wonder, that is, until you see some buildings scrawled with spray-painted messages like "STAY OUT FREAKS!", "NO PETS ALLOWED", "WILD ANIMALS WILL BE SHOT". It seems many of the human survivors have shacked up in the surrounding buildings and homes and have driven away those who have been changed... As if they had any choice in the matter.
You can only shake your head in frustration at this turn of events, but you know people are scared and who knows what side of the line you'd have fallen on if you yourself hadn't been changed? There is a deep unease in your party as you pass by these inhabited, but deathly quiet, structures. You try and get them to pick up the pace.
Soon enough you've made it to the police station, luckily it looks fairly intact. "looks like the rioting didn't make it this far, but it doesn't look like anyone's home..." Anders remarks as you pull up to the stout building. He tries the door and it swings open smoothly, "Home, sweet home..." It's dark inside, but seems in relatively decent order. It smells like an office, musty air mixed with twenty year-old carpet and stale coffee. Anders turns on the lights, the fluorescent bulbs hurting your eyes a little, Cameron and Amelia are right behind you as Anders types into a computer. "Looks like our luck continues, the emergency generator is still operational and will provide us with power for as long as we can keep it fueled."
It doesn't take long to get everyone situated, there are some holding cells and offices that you make into temporary living quarters. You bust open vending machines for water and snacks and find a dry storage stocked with emergency rations. The showers in the lower part of the station are still operational, much to everyone's delight, and a laundry room has spare sets of clothes for those that want them... or can wear them, though it's an odd mix of uniform and civilian attire.
You slump against a wall and let out a heavy sigh. You are ungodly tired from such a day, everything hurts. Even your wings have dropped from your sides and now droop to the floor, half dragging with every step you take. You could really use a good night's sleep.
You hear a sound.
Further down the hallway you see a door cracked open and the sound of someone shuffling around in the small office. You make your way over to the door and an overwhelming urge to peek through the crack takes over. You lean close and see...