Slower than Ella it takes Vladimir a couple hours of flapping to reach the city. Its' population over nine-hundred makes it the largest surviving place on the earth, and one of the few genial cities left. Late and minimal electricity or amusement the place is quiet.

These days the laws of the land depend on the land you are on. Areas where there are groups of people run under mob mentality. No matter the century or where you go there are assholes imposing their will on others; including scourge who attack, trick or raid smaller weaker people.

Mainly there for protection from marauders this city has sentries placed on main street corners and tall buildings. Spying several sentries Vlad sails over to the quiet streets of a residential neighborhood.

Unfamiliar to the city Vlad flies lower creeping along. Can't believe I'm actually doing this. This area is so dead I don't even detect rodents. I'm the only thing moving around here... Hope I don't end up dead too.

Spotting the tallest building Vlad gains greats altitude seeking a nearby coffee shop. Gliding high over the area he can't read business signs.

Circling over the tall building he observes two men walking the roof. The men's focus directed towards each other Vlad knows if they look up he'll be spotted. Best get out of the air here.

Making another pass Vlad spots a sign with a cup and donut on it. A brick building between the shop and the tall building easily identifies itself to Vlad.

Noticing the men on the building are distracted on the opposite side, Vlad dives from the sky.

Softly landing on the roof of the three-story building Vlad audits the area. Only faintly hearing the men above he feels safe to check things out.

Slowly spiraling outwards Vlad employs his senses.

At the upper edge of the roof he hangs upside down viewing patio doors. Though the sliding glass door is open a screen door is closed. Behind drawn vertical blinds gently sway with breezes. From within the upper apartment people can be heard sleeping.

Stretching out a wing he hooks the screen door trying to slide it open. Obviously locked in some manor he stops and looks about.

Something darts across the patio space to a fruit tree in a big planter. Rat his senses say, a possible snack he keeps still watching for it.

The crafty rodent is carefully attempting to remove bait from a trap tucked behind the planter.

Attempting to benefit from the moment Vlad lunges for the rodent.

A solid hit Vlad grasps the rat in foot before it knew he was there. With a snap, the trap goes off startling two nesting pigeons to take flight from the potted tree.

One pigeon lands where Vlad started from watching the big bat. The other flies up to the top of the tall building, drawing the two night sentries over.

Disease smelt in the rodent Vlad releases it. Ah too bad. Watching the rat scurry away he glimpses the pigeon.

The surroundings seeming safe Vlad scrutinizes the pigeon.

Testing his speed Vlad tenses muscles to spring up focused on the bird.

Reaching the tall building's edge the two men scare off the second pigeon. Curious to what got the bird flying in the first place they look over the edge scanning below.

Ready, set, go.  Vlad springs intensely upwards swiftly taking flight.

One man spots catches it pointing it out to the other.

The pigeon realizes its' in peril and precipitates flight.

Easily able to see the light colored pigeon take flight both men are baffled by the big black blur behind it.

Accelerating quicker Vlad rapidly gains distance. Panicked the pigeon attempts an evasive maneuver curling right while trying to climb higher.

The bird's blunder as Vlad snags it mid-flight. In a poof, feathers seem to explode from the pigeon.

Vlad lands back on the roof below with prey in claws, astonishing the men.

One with a shotgun starts to aim whispering, "don't know what that is Jim? Some sort of bird but should make for a good meal."

Sensing the bird's safe enough to consume Vlad does, right there, gnawing on its struggling neck. Enjoying the light snack he's unaware of the imminent danger above. Been awhile since I had one of you. Think you might be the first bird I've seen this year.

Watching the spectacle below Jim grimaces, "ew jeez, you see that Ned?" Looking at the man aiming the shotgun Jim thinks it maybe more than a noisy waste of a shot even if hit, "ah Ned? What size shells are in that scatter gun?"

"Um I think double odd," Ned doesn't think much about it.

Jim lifts the barrel of the gun, "Don't even. Be nothing left if you hit it." He suggests, "let's try the crossbow? It'll be quieter."

Enjoying the bird's limited blood Vladimir feels watched. 

With the crossbow already cocked and loaded Jim leans over the edge. Sighting up the back of the black bat Jim whispers, "ain't sure what it is, owl? Big one if it is."

 Keeping the gun barrel trained on their target Ned whispers back, "big as a vulture or eagle? What ever kind of flying critter it is, should make for some good stewin' meat."

"Maybe vulture. Wings don't seem right, for a bird," Jim steadies his aim, "You know what I mean Gene? Guess we'll find out shortly." Exhaling Jim fires the crossbow its' steel tipped bolt sails straight for Vladimir.

Heightened senses catch the sound of the crossbow releasing inducing Vlad to promptly take flight. Narrowly missed the bolt hits concrete roof and deflects away.

"Shit!" Jim observes Vladimir evade the bolt.

"Oh!" Disappointed Ned still wants to kill it. Raising the gun barrel to aim becomes curious to what it really is, "what the? Is that a monster sized bat?"

Thinking just that, Jim can only shrug in reply.

Realizing he's in danger from above Vladimir scans the area for cover.

Hastily tracking the bat Ned fires the shotgun with a loud blast.

Darting left through a broken open window Vlad avoids the large pellets.

Sensing an open window across the space Vladimir flies for it. While above, the two men are surveying the surroundings for him. The shot fired has alerted most local people from slumber, a few beings beyond hear it too.

Out an opposite window Vladimir turns left again staying close to the building.

Crossing over to the dead residential neighborhood Vladimir squeaks away, "yeah, one of these days - she's going to get one, or both of us killed."

Keeping to the outskirts of the city Vladimir flaps along slowly for home. I wonder how close has Ella's been getting herself to smell these people?

Nearing the highways Vladimir detects something following. Being similar in size he's inquisitive to what it could be. Employing his favorite maneuver darting upwards and looping back down; A technique he also enjoyed as a German tri-plane pilot in World War I.

Coming back down Vladimir beholds a similar bat to him, except female.

Watching Vladimir's aerobatics this new female bat circles below.

Scrutinizing each other, both are unsure what to do. Not detecting a direct threat Vladimir surmises this is no ordinary bat and becomes intrigued.

Getting closer he perceives a pleasant physique and uses bat tones to communicate, "hello? Who are you?"

Attempting to sync-up to his speed the female bat replies back, "hello. Like you need to ask. I'm Batwoman." She seems to giggle a little. Trying to remain cool she has been searching a long time for him. Now he's right there she doesn't know what to say or ask first.

"What? Batwoman?" Filling his senses with her scent still has to ask, "are you like me?" Hoping she is he's also considering this is a possible hallucination, as ordinary bats don't usually giggle.

"No." Desiring a fuller view she glides up and over Vladimir to the opposite side. Noting his fit body and the wings with minor wear she winks, "I'm all woman in here." She does wonder if this encounter is a dream.

Momentarily perplexed Vlad has to think about what's said. Thanks to centuries co-habitating with Ella he slowly figures it out. A female like me? After all these years?

Certain this encounter is real pleases her. Not wishing anything to sour the moment she scans the surroundings for a place to stop, spotting a tall dead tree to hang-out, in. "Would you mind talking with me? Perhaps in that dead tree there. So we don't crash into something or each other."

Curiosity peaked Vladimir is more than willing, "okay Batwoman." Turning for the tree he decides, dream, hallucination or reality I've got to find out, what this is all about.