Author's Note: You, another fanfic for you all! Although Light of My Shadow and 7 Years Later are lacking updates, I promise I'll get chapters up soon! However, I've had this idea for several months based on drawings I made of each Sonic character involved in this one... Anyway, I'd like to present the latest addition by moi:
It was raining...hard. Not just a hard downpour, but the grounds began to flood bit by bit in the forest. Three hedgehogs quietly hid behind the trees, the ebony one crouching down into the mud, tracing his gloved fingers across the blades of tall grass. A light ivory hedgehog crouched next to him, observing every one of his moves from under his heavy cloak.
"Is it close, Shadow?"
The other's eyes looked up from the ground, then began scanning the environment around them. "Luckily, these tracks are fresh. It shouldn't be too far from here..."
A colbalt hedgehog emerged from a tree branch above, allowing thousands of raindrops to patter on the ground. He pointed ahead, "The monster's about 30 yards from here. It's not going to go down easily...not without a fight."
Shadow scoffed, "Then, we'll just have to make it go down. Sonic, you cover me on the right." The hedgehog nodded and vanished as fast as lightning. The other then turned to the ivory next to him.
"Silver, stay close to me on this one."
He sighed impatiently, "Aw, that's no fun. I can probably take it down by myself...no problem! You've seen me do my training, and you said I've been improving quickly!"
Shadow smiled as he tousled the younger one's quills playfully, "I know, kid. And, you've still got a ways to go until you master your skills. For now, just stay with me and follow my orders. Is that clear?"
Disappointed, Silver nodded slowly, "Yessir..."
A few minutes later the two arrived near a small clearing, and found the creature they were hunting for. It's stout, yet razor-sharp tusks shined from the rain. Its beady eyes darted back and forth as it chewed on the grass.
"I still don't see why we're doing this," Silver whispered, "We've hunted these hundreds of times and only caught a few of them."
Shadow placed a hand on his shoulder as he kept watching the beast, "I thought I could change that with you around. Use Lightshot to get it."
Silver eyed his bow and arrows strapped behind his back, "What, this old thing? It doesn't really work as great as it did back then...why not use your scythe?"
Shadow replied, "That's why I needed you to be with me. Death Reaper's only used in close combat, and Sonic...well...he's a little..."
"Rambunctious?"
"Exactly." Shadow turned to Silver, who unstrapped his bow and took out an arrow. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he set the arrow flatly on the ridge of the bow. He then began to draw the string back slowly.
"Remember your training, Silv..." Shadow advised quietly, "Enter the area without changing the environment around you..."
"...and leave it just the same."
The ebony hedgehog grinned...he had trained him well.
He suddenly heard a light whistling sound from above. He looked up, and saw Sonic perched up on a wet tree branch. He made rapid hand motions across his throat, and began pointing in front of him. He then turned to face them and pushed his hands forward in an urgent matter. Shadow nodded as Sonic left in a blue blur, and turned to stop Silver.
His bow was strung all the way back, his fingers ready to release the arrow.
"Steady...steady...now-"
He was then interrupted by a hand pushing down his bow, making the tusked animal flee with alarm. Angry, he glared at Shadow for ruining his best shot, "What'd you do that for?"
The other hushed him sternly, "We've got to get out of here, Silver. This will have to wait another day."
"What? Why-?"
"Enemies have been spotted along the road, they're coming this way right now with a prisoner wagon. Seems like they're looking for any stray people out this far."
Silver re-strapped his bow across his shoulder, "What do we do now then?"
Shadow took out his scythe with caution, "I need you to get back to Blaze's castle quickly. Who knows what might be out here with those enemy guards lurking about."
The ivory hedgehog stood, "How come you always do this to me? I'm strong...I can take down those guards! Let me come with you, Shadow! We can get them ourselves...!"
Shadow shook his head, "Silv, it's too dangerous. I promised Blaze I'd keep an eye on you..."
"Come on, please? It'll only be this once! Blaze doesn't have to know we fought them!"
A strong hand suddenly gripped onto his cloak, making him squeak in fear as his face got close to the other's. He then felt himself rise a few inches off the ground. Shadow's blood-red eyes met his golden ones with fierceness.
"That's not going to happen. You are getting back to her, and leaving the guards to me and Sonic. I can't..." He paused, sighed deeply, then pulled the younger hedgehog close. This made Silver blush a little...
"...I can't let you get hurt. I promised I would protect you...and that's what I'll do. If you get captured, or...killed...I wouldn't forgive myself...please, get back before it gets treacherous out here."
Silver knew not to get on the bad side of Shadow. He did once while training, and...things did not go so well on Silver's part. He pushed himself away from Shadow, and saluted, "Yessir, I'll heed your order. But, uh...where do I go?"
Shadow pointed to his left, "Take that path until you see a large boulder. From there, turn left and keep going that direction. You'll know where you are eventually."
"Okay, thanks. Good luck, Shadow."
"Same to you, kid...now go."
Cautiously, Silver followed Shadow's directions. Soon, he was hidden in the trees, leaving the other to follow Sonic's trail in the pouring rain.
Action to be followed in the next chapter. This's just a "prologue" part of what's to come! What'd you think?