When humanity is threatened only the super-powered might of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be counted on to save the day. All over the continent small seeds of chaotic force have been seeking to control the powers of the National Heroes League. The battle to save the planet is on, and it is fierce.

Jake Muzzin, veered completely into bear form, struggles against the grasping vines that hold him to the ground. His legendary strength still isn’t enough to break free but he refuses to give up. Snarling his rage, the bear can only watch as the drama plays out before him.

A dozen Mitch Marners do battle with a writhing mass of thorny vines that surround the latest red glowing seed of chaos to arrive in our material plane. The Mitches dance between the whipping vines but never seem to get any closer to the seed. Three vines lash around the neck, chest and legs of one Mitch, ripping him to pieces before he can react. A Mitch hacks off one vine with his long knife and splits into two Mitches before hacking at another. One enormous vine rears up and slams into the ground crushing two other Mitches beneath it’s bulk.

There is a red pulse from the boulder and the vines drop, lifeless again, to the cold ground. The Mitches prepare for the next threat but there is only the empty night around them. Two Mitches start cutting at the vines that still hold Jake tight. There is another red pulse and the Mitches all scream in pain.

Jake can only watch in horror as all the Mitches begin a slow and agonizing disintegration. Jake changes back into his human shape and calls out.

“Mitch! Help him!” The Leaf screams over his comm link. “Somebody help!!!”

It is over before the echo of his cry fades away. Where twelve copies of his teammate stood, now there is nothing. Thorns dig deep into Jake’s flesh as he strains against the vines, mindless in his grief. Howling with a wordless fury the Leaf gets his legs under his body and starts to rise.

A detonation rocks the stillness of the night and all the pressure holding Jake down disappears. Where the seed was, now there is only a smouldering crater. Claude Giroux, captain of the Philadelphia Flyers steps out of the wreckage and gives Jake a wink.

“Your welcome, bug guy.” The Flyer says before launching himself back into the air.

Jake doesn’t give his rival much thought. Mitch is gone, and there is no time to mourn.