Frost: This will probably be the last update for a few days because It's back to school after this and I still have 3 assignments that need doing
Sonic: School comes first
Frost: Like you ever cared at school
Sonic: I never went to school
Frost: Well that explains a few things
Sonic: Hey!
Frost: Suck in
Caedmon: Please review and feel free to ask Frost any questions you have
Frost: I'd also like to say that if you want to do any fan art for any of my stories feel free, just be sure to say where it came from and send me a link
Tails: Frost doesn't own us or daemons, they belong to their rightful owner
Rouge and Corcoran settled in nicely while Shadow and Laraine still seemed nervous and reserved about everything. They didn't really interact or talk to anyone except for Rouge and her daemon though Laraine would sometimes seek Caedmon out to have a talk with him. It still unnerved many when they would see Shadow walking around without his daemon on his shoulder but he didn't care. It was one of the reasons Sonic and Cay liked him, because he wasn't judgmental about them and their oddities. He was also able to hold intelligent conversations and Laraine was by far one of Cay's favourite daemons to interact with. Today he was in the form of a snow owl, beautiful white with black feathers on his back and burning yellow eyes. He sat on Sonic's shoulder while Laraine sat on the chair beside them and she nodded her head at his form.
"I like it, suits you" she said but they both shook their head.
"It's nice but not right" Sonic said and Laraine sighed. That was another thing. She didn't mind when Sonic spoke to her. She didn't talk to the others though, only Sonic and Shadow didn't seem to mind.
"Do you have any idea to what it might be" she asked and Cay clicked his beak slightly in thought while Sonic hummed slightly and nodded.
"A cat of some kind, wild too, not house cat" he said and she nodded.
"I think we have already been our settled form before but I am not ready to settle so we haven't" Cay said thoughtfully and Laraine frowned up at him.
"I don't think it works like that" she argued but he just flicked his head.
"That's how I works for me" he snapped. She ruffled her feathers at his tone but didn't comment on his rudeness. Instead she turned to face Sonic who was watching her intently.
"Why did you wish to talk to me?" she asked and he smiled.
"What do you know about Witches?" he asked. She blinked, not expecting the question but not looking bother by it either like Knuckles and Camelia had been. She fluttered her wings and clicked her beak one as if thinking before she started to speak.
"I know they ride on cloud pine and live in the north. There are nine clans, the farthest north is known as the Lake Enara clan led by a Witch named Serafina Pekkala who is old and has lived many years. The clan farthest south is known as the Lake Lubana clan and they are led by a Witch called Ruta Skadi who is also very old. Witches are only female and I also know all Witches daemons are birds" Laraine said. Sonic looked intrigued by all he was learning as did Cay who had stopped in his preening to listen.
"Well that is very interesting" Cay chirped and flexed his talons against Sonic's shoulder.
"May I ask why you wish to know about Witches?" Laraine asked and Cay looked her up and down weighing his options on telling her. He turned to face his boy who also looked deep in thought.
"We can trust her and Shadow I think, they understand in a way" he finally said and Cay nodded in agreement.
"We wish to have an audience with them one day as well as the Panserbjørne race" Cay said and she looked at them in surprise, her eyes widening slightly and she felt Shadow's confusion and curiosity through the bond. He could feel her shock and wanted to know what was going on. She sent calmness down the bond and assured him she'd fill him in later and focused on her two friends before her.
"You do know the Panserbjørne don't like other races much" she warned them and Cay cackled while Sonic smiled.
"We know, but we aren't like everyone else are we? I'm sure we can win their favour" Sonic spoke and she shook her head. Despite the fact that she liked both of them she couldn't deny they were a strange pair. Still they were interesting to talk to and were good friends to her no matter what Shadow said.
"I should get going, Shadow needs me" she said and took to the air but not before Cay flew up to meet her and stared her straight in the eye.
"You may tell Shadow of our discussion but no one else, do you understand?" he asked in a dangerously low voice that had her shivering in fear.
"Crystal" she answered and he smiled before returning to his boy who was waving goodbye to her. She flew through the house ignoring the tense stares the other daemons and their persons sent her until she found Shadow in the living room with his eyes closed. They opened when she landed on his shoulder and he reached out to pet her which she happily leaned into.
"What happened?" he asked her and she sighed and began to tell him all that had happened between her, Sonic and Cay. Shadow remained silent throughout the explanation and when she finished he sighed and rubbed his face with his hands.
"They really want to meet a Witch and a Panserbjørne?" he asked her and she nodded.
"I knew they were crazy but this? But I suppose we can't stop them, it's their life. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone of this" he promised her and Laraine relaxed into his touch.
"They think they will settle as some form of cat" she said out of nowhere and Sonic raise an eye ridge at this new information.
"And they know this how?" he asked and she shrugged her shoulders as best she could being a bird.
"I don't know but Corcoran said they guessed what the President's daemon would be if he had one. They said spaniel"
"Strange, but none of our concern" Shadow finally said and she sighed.
"If you say so"
Back in the study Cay and Sonic sat in thought over what they had learn about Witches from Laraine. They agreed that meeting with the leader of a clan was best and they were leaning more towards the northern clan as well. They were also intrigued about how all Witches daemon's settled as a bird of some kind and they were still very curious about separation. They glanced up briefly when they saw a flash of white and gold and knew Tails and Cyrilla were spying on them. It was enough to make Cay snap his beak shut loudly and Sonic to worry at his bottom lip.
"They need to learn to mind their own business" Cay clicked and ruffled his feathers. Sonic grunted in agreement and turned to face his daemon with a smile.
"I think it's time for something new" he commented and Cay smiled back at him. He hoped down from Sonic's shoulder and when he landed on the floor his form rippled and changed, growing in size until a large cheetah stood where the owl once did. But he wasn't just any type of cheetah, he was a king cheetah where the spots were darker, had some strips and he look far more impressive. Sonic hummed in thought and walked around Cay, running his hands over him and inspecting the new form with a critical eye. He clicked his own tongue and Cay made a high chirping sound in the back of his throat until finally Sonic stood with a smile and shook his head.
"Not this one either, but close" he said and Cay gave a rumbling purr. He flexed his claws and arched his back and shook his head slightly stretching out his new body and seeing how everything work.
"It may not be right but I like it. I'm keeping it for now" he informed Sonic who nodded in understanding. They left the study and walked into the living room where everyone else was. Tails and Cyrilla tried to act like they'd been there the whole time but they weren't fooling Sonic and Cay. Amy and Ferus pulled a face at Cay's new form while Chris grinned excitedly. Blaze and Vasilios nodded their approval as did Silver and Celandia. Cream and Arison stared until the once butterfly daemon changed into a cheetah cub and Rouge and Corcoran just shrugged not bothered in the least.
"I've never seen a cheetah look like that before" Chris pointed out.
"It's a rare breed known as a king Cheetah" Sonic explained and the boy nodded.
"I think I've heard of them before. I've always wanted to see one" he said and Sonic gave a small laugh.
"Well now you have. How is the new laser gun coming along that Tails is building for you?" he asked and Chris smiled brightly.
"Good and I also mentioned about adding in some smoke bombs I could throw at enemies" he said and Sonic nodded happily.
"Sounds like a plan. I'd also recommend a shield of some kind to protect yourself with. Though it's just a thought" he added offhandedly and kept walking while Chris rushed to tell Tails the new ideas. As they passed Amy and Ferus however the frog daemon didn't seem able to keep his mouth shut.
"Unnatural, why can't they ever be something normal" they heard him hiss to Amy who scoffed at his words.
"Why can't they settle like a normal person and why can't Caedmon be female like a normal daemon? I still can't believe Sonic is stuck with such a disgusting and disgraceful daemon" she huffed and suddenly Cay was growling and spitting at her while Sonic bared his own teeth angrily at her.
"Caedmon is perfect in every single way and if I ever hear you speak about him like that again I won't stop him from attacking you" Sonic seethed at her and she stared at him with wide eyes.
"He'd never attack me, you don't touch other people's daemons" she shot back only to scream when Cay slammed his front paws into her chest sending her flying backwards onto the floor. The room went quiet and still as everyone stared horrified at Sonic ad Cay who were breathing heavily and glare at her. Ferus whimpered and crawled onto her neck trying to offer comfort and gain as much physical contact as he could. Amy panted and shivered and stared up at her attack in terror. Cay's fur stood on end and he growled aggressively at her and made a mock charge that had he flinched away from him.
"I wouldn't be so quick to judge me girl" Cay growled and snapped his jaws close to her face making her cry out and curl into a ball on the floor. Sonic grunted and shook his head as the rage left his system and watched as his daemon continued to traumatize Amy and Ferus and suddenly he didn't feel so good anymore.
"Cay, Cay I don't like this anymore. I want to go" he called but the cheetah continued to snarl and spit at the fallen hedgehog and frog and Sonic felt his insides churn uncomfortably, "Caedmon"
That had him reacting because Sonic seldom used his full name. Cay turned and chirped worriedly at his boy and nosed his face. Sonic smiled weakly at him and wrapped his arms around his neck and allowed his daemon to nose him onto his back and be carried away. They didn't turn back as everyone rushed to Amy's side and didn't flinch at the horrified looks they got as they passed their friends. They went up to the roof and Cay gently licked Sonic across the face purring happily and comfortingly.
"You didn't actually touch her, you touched her dress" Sonic pointed out because while Cay had pushed Amy Sonic hadn't felt the intrusive feeling he'd felt when Eggman had touched Cay. The man had taken his glove off first and it had been a horrific feeling, one he wouldn't wish upon anyone. The only reason both Amy and Ferus had felt anything was because it would have hurt landing on the floor and if one hurt the other would. Sonic still remembered a moment in his childhood where Cay had to remind him of this informing. They'd been sneaking around the school and Cay had been in the form of a desert lynx cub as they darted into classrooms and had turned to Sonic with a serious face.
"Remember, if you get a smack I feel it too" he'd said but thankfully they hadn't been caught.
"I think we've gone too far this time Caedmon" Sonic whispered as he ran a hand through the silky smooth spotted fur.
"I hate to say it but I think I have to agree with you child. I shouldn't have shoved her I just got so angry and wanted to teach her a lesson" Cay admitted and bowed his head in shame. It wasn't often that he made the wrong decision but today was one of them. Now because of him his boy would get into trouble.
"I don't blame you Cay, I was mad too" Sonic soothed his other half, "We were both in the wrong and we're both in trouble"
"I'm still sorry" Cay moaned and buried his head into Sonic's chest. He couldn't believe he'd been so foolish and irresponsible. He'd put his boy in danger, had carelessly disregarded Sonic's safety and now they were going to pay for it one way or another. He could feel tears brimming and emotions rising but he wouldn't let them take over, he wouldn't let them show through because he had control.
"You don't think they'll smack us do you?" Sonic muttered against Cay's ruff and the cheetah snarled at the thought.
"I won't let them. I promised you, never again. I won't let anyone harm you" Cay vowed and looked deep into Sonic's emerald eyes with his golden ones. They just stared into each other's eyes for a while, getting lost in the bond as it flowed and sung around them. They were so lost they didn't hear the soft footfalls until they were right on top of them. Cay jumped up with a snarl, ready to defend his boy only to pause when he saw Tika and her snow leopard daemon Laertes. They didn't look anger or scared, just confused and worried.
"May we sit?" Tika asked in her soft and gentle voice and Sonic found himself relaxing which helped calm Cay.
"You may" he consented and watched as echidna and snow leopard settled down beside hedgehog and king cheetah. It must have been an odd sight to the humans who didn't have daemons but on Mobius it would have been a normal occurrence.
"It's a mess down there, you must feel horrible" Tika finally spoke and both Sonic and Cay winced slightly.
"We didn't mean to hurt her, we just got mad" Sonic said lamely knowing there was no excuse for their actions.
"I know, everyone else just needs time to know that as well" she assured them.
"Why aren't you angry or scared?" Cay asked and Laertes turned to face him, his pale blue eyes holding wisdom and truth.
"We have known both of you a long time and you both know what we are. We are spirits of the chaos emerald and because of this we can read energies. We know Amy and Ferus have been hurting you both for many a years and yet you have both kept from acting towards it. It is only now that you have finally cracked. We know it wasn't your fault, it was theirs" Laertes said gently and Cay couldn't help but bow his head slightly. Despite their looks both Tika and Laertes were decades older than Cay and Sonic and thus demanded respect.
"He didn't touch her though, he touched her dress. I didn't feel anything" Sonic said feeling the need to defend his daemon despite the fact that Tika and Laertes were on their side. Tika smiled and reached over, placing a hand on Sonic's shoulder. Cay rumbled nervously at the action but for one didn't try and stop it and even allowed Laertes to gently rub his head against his own.
"We know Sonic and you have nothing to fear. We will make the other sees sense. We know Knuckles and Camelia have sensed what we have as well, they are just a little frightened about the whole incident" she soothed him before pulling away as did Laertes from Cay.
"Rest now, both of you. Your boy will come to no harm Caedmon, we promise" Laertes said in his deep rumbling voice and Cay found himself curling around a drowsy Sonic and he huffed when his own eyes began to fall shut. Tika and Laertes watched as the two drifted off to sleep with a smile before heading back into the house where raise voices could be heard.
"I want them punished! They attacked Ferus and I, you all saw!" Amy was screeching while Ferus crocked angrily on her shoulder.
"Someone should smack them round the head for good measure, might knock some sense into them" Ferus seethed and Cyrilla have a loud hoot of outrage.
"We are not hitting them!" she cried in anger.
"They hit us!" Ferus shot back.
"They are dangerous, or at least Cay is" Amy growled and Shadow glared hatefully at her.
"What do you suggest we do then? Separate them?" he asked dangerously and everyone fell silent while Amy just gave him a level stare.
"If it frees Sonic from him then yes" she hissed and they all paled in horror.
"You want us to separate them? To cut their bond?" Knuckles whispered in horror while pressing closer to Camelia who was rumbling and growling in distress. All the daemons were, all but Ferus who seemed just as determined as his person.
"Caedmon is dangerous, he attacked me. He might come after one of you next and this makes him a danger to Sonic as well. If we cut them apart then Sonic will be free" she argued.
"He'll be a shell of who he once was. It is the worst crime to cut away someone's soul" Blaze snarled while Vasilios snapped his jaws togther loudly.
"He'll be better off without him" Amy snapped back causing the panther to yowl in anger.
"You cannot live without a soul. You will be half, empty inside and unable to interact with the outside world" Vasilios rumbled and Ferus gave a loud crock in response and inflated his throat.
"They've already been asking questions about separation, we heard them asking Knuckles and Camelia" he argued.
"But that was theoretical, they don't want to try it" the tigress cried in alarm and Knuckles reached out to calm her.
"Maybe that's what they want you to think. Either way it would be for the best" Ferus huffed and turned away from her. All the daemons in the room growled, snarled and clicked their beaks worriedly only to fall silent when Laertes gave a loud roar gaining everyone's attention.
"That is enough" he snapped angrily, spotted fur standing on end.
"We have just come from talking with Sonic and Caedmon and no one is allowed to cause them any harm" Tika spoke sounding dangerous which was quiet frightening seeing how she normally was such a kind and gentle soul.
"They caused us harm!" Amy's shrill voice cut through the silence making many wince but Tika just rolled her eyes at the pink female.
"Caedmon didn't touch you, he touched your dress. The only reason you got hurt was from the small fall you took. Caedmon was careful not to touch you so get over yourself" Tika snapped making Amy spluttered and everyone else to smile slightly. Ferus on the other hand didn't seem so lost for words.
"That heathen attack us!" he yelled but Laertes just growled and snapped his powerful jaws at the tiny frog.
"You provoked the attack and have been for years. You have both been nothing but horrible and spiteful towards them and I'm surprised they haven't snapped before now. And now you are talking about pulling them forcefully apart. You're both despicable" the snow leopard growled at Amy and Ferus who shrunk back from him. Laertes huffed and turned away from them and faced the other daemons in the room.
"I know you all may feel frightened and unsure about what Caedmon did today but please try to understand that he was just angry and trying to defend his person. It wasn't their fault and he was careful not to touch Amy. He poses no threat to you or your persons"
"We trust you Laertes" Celandia trilled from Silver's shoulder.
"I know Cay wouldn't hurt someone just for the sack of it" Corcoran spoke up and the other daemons nodded.
"I hope you all understand as well" Tika said gently and they all nodded. Amy huffed and stomped off with Ferus on her shoulder, the frog seething the whole way. No one was sad to see them go and they all just huddle close to one another still reeling from the shock of the afternoon. Cyrilla chittered sadly and nuzzled against Tails who ran his hand down her head and back while Laraine trilled gentle on Shadow's shoulder. She wanted to check on her friends but decided to let them have time to themselves.
"How were they Tika?" Tails asked and she sighed tiredly.
"Shaken up like we were and terrified of what we would do. I heard Sonic ask Cay if we were going to smack them" she said and they tensed at the thought.
"I still can't believe Amy and Ferus wanted to separate them. That's just cruel and wrong" Rouge shivered not knowing how she would live without Corcoran beside her. It was the same feeling she had when she'd seen the humans in this world and realized they didn't have daemons. It was horrifying and frightening at the same time.
"I don't even know who she is anymore" Tails muttered. The girl he once knew was gone and in her place was a stranger.
"We won't let them do anything to Sonic and Cay. No matter how creepy Cay can be he doesn't deserve to be cut away from his boy and Sonic doesn't deserve to be cut away from his daemon" Silver said and they all nodded. After all, the bond between person and daemon was something sacred and should never be tampered with.