Fire and Brimstone

Sonic was surprised no one had come to meet them yet. He had a dark creeping feeling that something wasn't exactly right. When he'd left here just a few days ago all had been well, somehow he knew that wasn't the case now.
"Where are they Sonic?" Tails asked uneasily "I'd have thought one of them would have spotted the Tornado and come to meet us by now. Do you think maybe no-one's home?"
"I dun…"
Sonic trailed off as they crested the last slight hill leading up to Shadow and Knuckles' house.
"Tails… the house!" Sonic moaned
Tails stopped beside Sonic, staring. An eerie silence prevailed; even the birds had stopped singing. The wind brought them the acrid smell of smoke. All that remained was a shell of blackened stone. What little furniture the pair had owned lay broken on the ground around the house, in some cases scorched black along with the grass.
"Sonic you don't think Shadow could have…"
"No way! Knuckles told me he had him under control last time I visited… Besides, if Shadow had an accident why would all their furniture be outside?"
Together they walked forward. Tails bent to pick up a splintered piece of wood that had once belonged to one of the few flammable objects in the building.
"What happened here Sonic?"
"I dunno Tails" Sonic examined the walls of the house, the layer of soot covering the external walls had been washed clean in many places, clearly it had rained at least once since this had happened. Tails walked up to Sonic's side.
"I can smell petrol…" He commented.
"Now Knuckles would never allow something as flammable as that near Shadow would he?"
"Not unless he wanted a real big light show."
"So who around here has an ample supply of petrol?"
"You mean the humans… but why would they do this?"
"How would you feel if Shadow moved in next door?"
"I wouldn't mind"
"If you didn't have lots of fire-extinguishers handy?"
"I suppose they might have seen them as a threat… but why now?"
"I dunno Tails"
Sighing softly Tails went into the house.
"Hey be careful in there Tails" Sonic called to him from outside

Tails wandered around the remains of the house. The humans must have used a lot of fuel to make it burn as it had. Knuckles had been meticulous about banning any flammable non-essentials. That was why he'd made sure the house was built of stone and had no glass in the windows. Should the worst happen he'd wanted to make the smallest mess possible. Inside there was very little left, only the metal frames of what had once been a pair of beds, the same with the chairs. Even the metal table that Shadow had objected to so forcefully had started to melt. When Tails looked up he could see the sky, the roof had given way under the force of the flames in places. That perhaps was to be expected, they'd all had their doubts about the roof. For a while Tails poked around in the remains of what had once been a hard won home until the smell of lingering smoke became too much for his lungs.

Outside he found Sonic standing at the brow of a small hill in the open glade that had once served them as a garden.
"I think I've found your answer Tails" Sonic muttered as he gazed down on the village
"My what…? oh-"
They stared down at the blackened remains of the houses as cranes and yellow bulldozers moved around as they began to rebuild
"I bet that's the reason for this"
"But Shadow wouldn't… Would he?"
"I don't know…" Sonic shook his head "But I bet this is retaliation for that"
"But we don't know if Shadow did that!"
"Well they're not exactly here to ask are they?"
"Shadow, Knuckles? Are you here?" Tails shouted
"Tails if they were here they'd have come out by now!"
"Mmm you don't think… they could have been inside when…"
Sonic, always the optimist hadn't thought of that.
"No-no" he replied hastily "I'm certain Knuckles wouldn't have let anything bad happen. They were probably long gone before they got here"
"But what if they weren't!" Tails whimpered
"They're both flame proof anyway"
"Only to Shadow's flames!"
Sonic put an unsteady hand on Tails' shoulder in an attempt to comfort him.
"Don't worry; I'm sure they got out alright"
"Then wherever they've gone, we have to find them! They could be in big trouble"
"Look around you Tails, they are in big trouble…"

They covered a few miles heading north in the dark before Knuckles and even Paul began to stumble over their own feet. When the complaints of his muscles became too much to ignore and the first hints of pink were entering the eastern sky he called an end to it.
"Put him down Paul"
The man seemed surprised "What?"
"I said put him down, we stop here for a while"
Knuckles unceremoniously flopped to the floor. He was exhausted, but did his best to hide it. He watched as Paul put Shadow down as though he were made of glass. Once he was relieved of his burden he rubbed the blood from his hands on his trouser legs.
"I suggest you try and get some rest, we'll be moving on again in a few hours, once the sun is up, until we can find better cover. Don't think to try and run away, I'm not as fast as him, but I am faster than you. Run from me and I'll make sure you never run again"
Paul watched the Guardian. His amethyst eyes stared at him from where he sat, close at Project Shadow's side. He watched incessantly, but Paul noticed his blinks were long, as though his eyes reopened unwillingly. So they sat scowling at each other. After a long time like that he finally found the courage to speak.
"You can't stay awake forever Guardian"
"Neither can you. I suggest you try to sleep, you must be able to keep pace, you're only still here because I fancy you will be of more use to me alive. So sleep" Knuckles waved his fist "Or would you like me to sing you a lullaby?"
Paul scowled darkly, lay down and shut his eyes.

The Guardian was snoring softly. Paul opened his eyes and sat up slowly. If he ran he could reach the town in an hour or so and call for help. Carefully he got to his feet, and bolted.

The next thing he knew was a heavy weight on his back, forcing him to the floor where his nose banged painfully against the hard earth. Something sharp and strong was being pushed into the back of his neck, he was afraid his spine would snap. After a terrified second in which he could hear only the beating of his own heart he felt a warm breath against his ear and cheek.
"I am a very light sleeper" The deep rumbling voice of the Guardian growled.
Then he was dragged roughly along the ground by his legs. He was surprised by the Echidna's strength, he couldn't even struggle against his strong grip.
"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, it is so demeaning, for all concerned." He pulled some rope out of a small green bag. Before Paul could even think, beg or complain his hands and legs were skilfully bound up, rendering him virtually immobile. That done the Echidna returned to the hedgehog's side and was again asleep in a few moments.

Sonic and Tails walked cautiously into what remained of the village. None of the humans paid them particular attention. Sonic, complete with dark glasses and a borrowed raincoat scavenged from the darker depths of the Tornado looked almost unrecognisable, even if the two were an odd contrast. They hoped that they wouldn't arouse too much suspicion. They walked down what remained of the main street trying to look like casual visitors, surprised by the extent of the devastation. On either side shop windows were blown out, littering the road with glass. Beyond them houses had suffered the same fate, it seemed very few buildings had escaped the fire. The village was old in its design, the buildings packed dangerously close together.
"Shadow wouldn't… surely…" Tails muttered
"Shh Tails… we don't know them remember"
"Oops sorry Son- So where do you think would be a good place to ask?"
"I dunno…"
At that moment they came upon a small shop, a chalk board read "Open for Business"
"Let's try here"

Sonic pushed the human sized door open, above his head a bell tinkled. They found themselves in a small shop. It seemed to sell everything imaginable. Sonic pulled the small supply of human money they owned and looked at it.
"See anything you like buddy?"
Tails raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Sonic looked around the shop for a few moments before selecting a few items apparently at random from the many shelves, mainly items on the lower ones, which he could comfortably reach. He proceeded to take them to the till, which was of course about a foot too high for him. He coughed softly. The shop owner, a large woman with bright red hair and thick glasses peered down on Sonic. She gasped when she saw him, though quickly recovered at Sonic's feigned frown.
"I'm sorry… we're just not used to having Shremu here… we only have one family resident in the village… though they might have to move out." She took Sonic's items "If I were you I'd watch your step out there… I don't mind your type… but there are those among the villagers who might take a disliking to you"
"Why?" Sonic asked innocently
"This fire… It was caused by one of your lot…" She leant across the desk "Project Shadow" She almost whispered "They say its capable of setting anything on fire at will… apparently it used to live up in a place in the mountains… Then it took a disliking to us and set our houses on fire… Some of the men folk went up to catch it, but when they got to its hovel it had run away"
"Really… I've never heard of a Shremu being able to set fire to things before… what kind of Shremu was this Project errr Shadow was it?"
"Yes… apparently it's a hedgehog…" She peered at him "Much like yourself, you wouldn't be friends with it would you?"
"No way! Me and my buddy here are just travellers, we've never heard of it"
"Well" The woman said thoughtfully, then turned and pulled a newspaper from the stack behind her. She held it where Sonic could see "That's it" She pointed at a picture of Shadow on the front of the paper, along with a picture of her burnt village.
"I'll have a copy of that" Sonic said taking it from her, for a brief moment he scanned the front of the paper. "So this Project Shadow… was he-it on its own?"
Sonic wanted to slap himself for his mistake, but the woman didn't seem to notice.
"No… they say it has an Echidna, a Guardian with it… I think he might have visited my shop… he was nice, quiet like, he used to come in and barter things in exchange for his rabbits, mushrooms and the like, he said he was living in the mountains with a friend… never saw them though, he said they just liked to keep to themselves, and not impose on anyone… Funny… I haven't seen him since the fire… Maybe he's afraid to come… with things as they are… I can't honestly believe he would have anything to do with that horrible Project Shadow"
"Na I doubt it…" Sonic said casually
"You know what I think?" The woman whispered, Sonic raised an eyebrow "I think that Project Shadow took the Echidna hostage… yeah… there's a colony of um living further up the mountains… I think mine came from there… maybe he and his friend got fed up living with um or summin and decided to come down here… but if it was my Echidna who got taken hostage, I dread to think what could have happened to his friend…"
"Do you think they'll catch it?" Tails put in acting the childish curiosity
"Aww aren't you sweet…" The woman crooned. Tails pretended to be flattered, and giggled accordingly "Yeah I'm sure they will; its nothing for you to be worried about. Would you like a lollypop?" The woman reached up and offered Tails a container filled with many colours of round lollypops.
"Thanks!" Tails said happily and pulled out a purple one. Sonic tried his best not to scowl at him.
"So when did this fire happen then?" Sonic asked as the woman handed him a bag, which was again too big, filled with their purchases.
"Afew daysago… we're only just starting to get the village cleaned up… under the circumstances I'm surprised there weren't more dead…"
"Can I ask how many?"
"Total stands at twenty-two"
Sonic and Tails looked at one another
"It's terrible really… we don't have much fire-fighting equipment… That'll be five fifty"
Sonic handed the woman a note and she returned the change. At the side of the till Sonic noticed a collection box raising money to rebuild the village and help the families of the dead. Hastily he shoved the change into it.
"Thanks… and good luck" Sonic called, before he and Tails left the shop.

Outside they turned to stare at each other.
"Twenty-two?" Tails muttered, twiddling the lollypop in his hands
Sonic refused to meet his eyes "Shadow has his bad days… but I don't honestly think Knuckles would let him…"
"Shadow wouldn't!" Tails shouted loudly, too loudly.
"Shh Tails!" Sonic scolded, looking nervously at a family of humans walking past them. Only once they were gone did Tails offer his meek apologies.
"Well at least we know where to look first"
"We do?"
"The Echidna colony! Knuckles always goes to his own people for help first. I bet he'll have gone to them to get whatever he and Shadow couldn't grab before they were chased out of their house, then put as much distance between themselves and the humans as possible. We'll take the Tornado and go find the colony, at least that way we'll have some idea of where they were heading, and the kinda state they were in"
Tails raised an eyebrow and smiled. "You know Sonic, you're smarter than we give you credit for."
Together they headed back into the forest, leaving the charred village behind.

He wanted to cry. His muscles screamed at him as he stirred awake. The hour and a half's sleep he'd allowed himself felt like nothing more than a second or two. He looked up at the sky. By now it was a pale blue, he could put it off no-longer, they had to move on or risk capture.
"Shadowkin? Are you alive?" He asked softly sitting up
Shadow mumbled incoherently and let out one of his low moaning calls in response.
"Great I guess I'm still gunna have to carry your heavy ass all the way huh?"
Painfully he climbed to his aching feet, his soaking shoes squashing his numb toes. Knuckles looked across at Paul, he was already awake, staring resentfully at him from where he lay trussed up like a rodeo steer. Silently Knuckles moved across to him, loosened his bonds enough for him to be able to walk, and tied another length of rope to those.
"Pick him up" Knuckles growled pointing at Shadow.
With no other choice Paul obeyed and allowed himself to be led.

Knuckles couldn't move in a straight line. He kept tripping over his feet. He seemed to be walking along in a state somewhere between sleeping and waking. His mind seemed to switch off for a few seconds, only for him to suddenly snap aware again a few seconds and strides later. His body ached, like he'd been several rounds against old Master Drew at the Guardian school, or been run over by a bus, twice. Knuckles knew he was exhausted, that his body couldn't take much more, but he also knew that if they stopped on this open terrain they would most likely be easily found and caught. He would have to find cover, however insubstantial before he could risk sleep again.

He was getting desperate. He was beginning to see things, he would be certain he'd seen trees on the brow of a hill one moment, only to look back again and see nothing but blue sky. He sighed quietly to himself. At least it wasn't raining. All of a sudden he felt a painful yank at his arm where he'd tied Paul to himself. Before he could react the rope was yanked more sharply. His legs went from under him and he tumbled to his back. The next thing he knew Paul was sat on top of him, his still bound hands around his neck. Knuckles snapped aware. The human was a lot heavier than he looked, much stronger too. Again Knuckles was forced to ask his fatigued muscles to respond. Paul was going to choke him! He flooded fear down the bond, desperate for Shadow to awake and assist him, but all the response he got was a kind of soft though urgent mumble as though Shadow was clawing at the edges of consciousness but unable to break through. Knuckles brought his fist up to strike at the side of Paul's head. He sent Paul sprawling. Incensed Knuckles jumped on him. He used the slack of the rope tied to his arm and wrapped it round Paul's neck and pulled it tight. He waited until Paul's eyes bulged with fear and his lips took on a faintly blue hue before letting him go.
"Don't, do that again" Knuckles snarled, leaving him where he was.
He went over to Shadow, who lay hunched up on his side, as though he'd been hastily thrown aside. Gently he rolled him onto his back.
"You ok Shadow? I wish you'd hurry up and wake up…" He glanced back at Paul who was just sitting up, clutching his neck "I could really use your help…" Knuckles sighed softly, wearily. "Come on Shads wake up… I need you"
Unfortunately Knuckles got no more response than that same urgent struggle, as though Shadow couldn't quite capture consciousness. Knuckles wished Sonic and Tails were there, he'd thought that being Bound to Shadow would mean that he wouldn't be alone anymore. So far it hadn't worked out like that, the times he'd really felt in need of a companion, he'd found himself feeling more alone than ever. Before he'd always been able to bite back his despair, ignore the isolation. Now he found he'd lost that ability almost entirely. Perhaps he'd grown too used to having allies, and had forgotten how to think for himself, lost confidence in his own decisions. All he wanted was to have someone standing at his side, so that he didn't have to face the onslaught alone.

Paul knelt uncomfortably on the ground, rubbing at his neck. That hadn't gone as well as he'd hoped, but clearly the Guardian was reaching breaking point, but now he feared the consequences of trying again, of pushing his patience too far. This Echidna… Knuckles he said his name was didn't seem to want to kill him. He'd gone to great lengths to avoid it. He sighed sadly, it was a shame he hadn't extended the same courtesy to the other soldiers. He clenched his fists. He would get even.

Knuckles wearily lifted Shadow into his arms. He didn't want to risk Paul throwing him aside again. Deeper, as his weariness increased a more instinctive impulse was taking over, a possessive instinct, that demanded that he held Shadow close. Knuckles knew he couldn't keep this up much longer, days of running was taking its toll. His body was going to break and it wouldn't be pretty when it did. He yanked on the rope, snapping Paul out of his own thoughts.
"You'd better hoope we f-find cover s-soon, cos if wee don't I'll k-kiill you rather than risk letting you run away…" Knuckles voice slurred with pure exhaustion.
Paul wasn't sure if he believed in the Guardian's threat, but he was unwilling to test his will. He had seen him kill, so he was not in doubt that he was capable of it. Quietly he decided to wait it out, soon the Echidna would be well beyond being capable of killing anything.

Every step hurt. Shadow was a heavy burden in his arms, but the weaker he became the less willing he was to give him up. Only his determination and sheer bloody-mindedness kept his legs moving. He'd heard of horses that had kept running until they could run no more, only to collapse and die. Nevertheless Knuckles kept moving, as the sun swung from his left higher into the sky.

A dark patch of green ahead of them had been growing for the last 10 minutes. Knuckles was sure now that it couldn't possibly be his imagination. His spirits lifted. Simultaneously Shadow made a sudden dive towards consciousness, but missed and slipped back into the dark. Nevertheless Knuckles felt better, the thought of cover in which he could rest fuelled his aching limbs, and drove him to cross the last mile at something other than a slow stagger.

The warm damp embrace of a small band of trees was like the relief of a drop of water on the tongue of a man lost in the desert. Knuckles gasped in the scent of trees, earth, and fallen leaves. He dragged Paul far enough into the dark depths to be invisible from the sky and collapsed into the leaf litter. But he knew as long as Paul remained with them he couldn't truly sleep.

He was still partially aware of the world around him, but he perceived no threat from what he was aware of. He was being moved into a more comfortable position, no-longer on his belly, crushing his arm. Someone was supporting him. Then a soft, familiar voice whispered into his ear.
"Rest now my Guardian, for I watch over you"
With that Knuckles dropped over the edge, into the deep darkness of unfeeling sleep.