One more to go after this!
Enjoy!
|chapter twelve: the showdown|
"So, we all heard that, right?" Silver looked up at the tall trees around them. His ears pointed in every direction at any sound.
"It sounded like it was in front of us."
"No, behind."
"To the left?"
"Up the hill?"
Sarah closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Of course - everything just echoes off the hills. We don't know where precisely. We can't."
Amy felt her chest tighten. "Oh, I don't feel good."
"We should keep moving," Shadow reminded, trying to urge them onwards but even Sarah stopped at the head of the group. He didn't get why considering the circumstance. "Sarah?"
The sage Mobian paused for a minute - her ears were busy. She met Shadow's gaze in the flashlight beams. They had only kept his and Silver's on - as if that would help keep them hidden amongst the trees. Sarah heard nothing around them as she looked back at the group. Blaze and Silver had crept forward to stand closer by Shadow as the group somewhat huddled upon hearing the howl. "I hear nothing."
"Okay. Let's go then," Sonic rushed.
Sarah started to turn to the front, but as she did, Blaze all but leapt forward, between Silver and Shadow, and latched onto her arm. Amber eyes stared forward, glued onto something past the trees, ahead on the trail. "Don't."
"Blaze," Sarah gritted her teeth but immediately remembered the situation they were in. She shot her head forward to look. "Shadow, point your light."
Amy and Sonic huddled towards Blaze and Silver as Shadow pushed forward next to Sarah. He lifted the light a little and pointed ahead. In the small bushes ahead of them, just on the outside of the trail, yellow eyes stared at them unblinking.
"Do we shoot?" Sarah asked.
Shadow took the moment to think. He was trying to visually prepare himself, but something wasn't right. These bushes were only three feet high, and the eyes between the bush cluster were even lower - nearly to the ground.
Could the wolf sink down that low? Or was it something else?
If the tension was lighter, he would've found the effort to smirk a little. Putting a hand on Sarah's shoulder, he positioned his flashlight better. "Not unless you want to risk the chances of hurting Henry or Matilda."
The group watched in awe, a little, as the bushes moved and a fat raccoon waddled out. He looked curiously at the group - aware of the rangers he'd seen so often at the station. Especially the one that foiled his plans for raiding the dumpsters.
"Chonker Henry lives," Silver whispered in a little bit of amazement. "Question is, where's Matilda?"
"How do you know that this raccoon is your dumpster thieves?" Amy questioned. "They could be any raccoons."
"Raccoons aren't exactly friendly," Blaze felt a little calmer. All she had seen were a pair of eyes staring at them - yellow, at that. She hadn't care about the height they were at given their situation. "So, given the fact that he seems to recognize us - "
"And his huge chubbiness," Silver chimed in.
"-I'd say it's a pretty safe bet. Are we closer to the station?" She asked Shadow hopefully, not completely aware of her surroundings anymore.
"No," he whispered.
"Where's Matilda?" Sarah asked hopefully as she grabbed Shadow's flashlight and walked two steps closer to the raccoon, clicking her tongue a little to get his attention.
"Sarah," Shadow hissed quietly. "We do not have time for this - let him go."
"But Matilda's always with him…" Sarah didn't like the fact that the moody raccoon was missing and that Henry looked so out of place in a forest he grew up in.
She took a closer look at him as he waddled across the path, trying to escape the harsh flashlight. His fur was more matted than last she saw. A part of it looked wet, and he hobbled worse than usual. She frowned as she walked a little closer.
"Sarah," Shadow called for her again. Granted, she was headed in the direction they needed to go, he wanted her back with the group.
"Can't we just go with her?" Amy wanted to roll her eyes but instead just squeezed past Shadow.
At least, until he gripped her arm.
"Hey - "
"Stop." Shadow's eyes stared widely at the ground - at nothing in particular. "Smell that?"
Silver furrowed his brow, sniffing the air by tilting his head up a little. "I don't smell skunk if that's what you're referring to."
"That's a relief," Sonic let out a breath he held in.
"No." Blaze narrowed her eyes as a breeze traveled through trees. "Iron." She met Shadow's gaze. "Blood."
Sarah didn't get ten feet from the group before she stopped at the edge of the trail. It curved to the left, going a little more downhill before they'd hit a small switchback and it would level out to the station. A little bit of a walk left, but they weren't too far. Not too close, though, either. She frowned a little as the smell hit her.
"Blaze is right." The air did smell like blood. A lot of blood.
She swallowed heavily as she looked down at the bushes that Henry had come out of. The raccoon had stopped momentarily to look at the Mobians before deciding that it wasn't worth it. He vanished on the other side of the trail into the bushes. Sarah still observed the area that he came from.
"There's blood everywhere on these leaves," she mumbled to herself.
"Sarah!" Shadow tried to yell as quietly as he could to get her back with the group. "Something isn't right!"
She ignored him for a moment longer as she took one step into the brush. Pushing past a few bushes, she wasn't surprised to see the sight before her - she had a feeling that it was going to happen given the activity tonight.
The other raccoon lay on the ground, dead and bloody just a few feet away - near a small fallen log..
The raccoon was covered in blood and her intestines were sprawled across the log. Flies were starting to buzz around her. Beady little eyes were sunken in a little already. How long had she been dead?
Sarah wasn't going to stay long. Matilda and Henry weren't the first named raccoons to come waltzing into the station area. And they certainly weren't the first any of the rangers found dead. But in this way? Clearly torn to pieces. Repulsed, Sarah escaped the scene and did her best to not puke all over the trail. She covered her nose and muzzle with her arm for a moment as Shadow waited impatiently for her. He stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at her. The rest simply watched, although Blaze had a knowing look in her eyes.
"I think it got Matilda."
"I don't give a fuck about raccoons, let's just go," Sonic pleaded.
"Yes. Let's," Shadow chided, never breaking eye contact with Sarah.
She glowered back at him for a second before motioning around the bend of the trail to her right. "So, let's go. You've gotta come down here anyway. I don't why you were just standing there bitching."
Shadow grumbled for an answer. Morale was not at an all time high, that much was obvious. He marched down the path, going slightly downhill still as the others paused for Silver to use his flashlight to light up the trail for them - seeing as Sarah had Shadow's.
"You know, you're a pain in the - " Shadow had been looking at the ground, but as he looked up to make eye contact with Sarah again, he faltered.
His brain went into a panic mode no matter how much he tried to remain calm.
Sarah's face instantly drained. "I swear to Tikal, if you're pulling a prank on me right now of all times," she whispered.
But neither needed to continue that thought. They both knew Shadow the Hedgehog of all Mobians didn't prank others. Teased, sure. In this circumstance? Hell no. Sarah felt her stomach drop.
"Silver, stop," Shadow called out firmly. His eyes had locked onto the yellow behind Sarah. It was a little ways out - maybe fifteen feet. From the angle where the rest of the group was, they wouldn't see the creature through the trees. But at this lower elevation looking even more down the hill, Shadow could see it perfectly fine.
"How far?" Sarah licked her lips, not daring to turn around.
"Maybe fifteen feet."
"Sure?"
"Maybe twenty?" Shadow guessed. He had horrible depth perception. "Standing by a tree."
"Standing?"
"Yes. Tall."
"Fuck."
Shadow wanted to look back at his other comrades, but he didn't want to risk the dogman charging. He hoped that Silver had listened and had stayed. They were only about ten feet from the group - so maybe they could reach them. But what could they do then? Would the thing still attack them if they were huddled together? Did it even care if they were together or not? A part of Shadow told him that being grouped together wouldn't make much of a difference to the dogman.
"Okay. Okay," Sarah tried to mentally prepare herself as she slowly turned around, back to the bushes where Matilda was. The flashlight pointed down at the ground now.
Together, they stood, staring at the dogman. It stared back as it had before, watching and waiting to see what they would do next.
"Why do you think it just stands there?" Shadow muttered to her.
"Because it's thinking."
Shadow let out an annoyed breath. "I was afraid you'd say that."
They stayed still for what felt like ages. It was probably closer to thirty seconds as Sonic's patience was nonexistent by now.
"Well? Dog or no dog?" He couldn't see a damn thing and it unnerved him.
"Would you pipe down?" Silver glared back at the blue hedgehog. "Shadow said to stay, so we stay."
"Oh, so we're just listening to him now?" Sonic scoffed as Amy shook her head, hoping he wouldn't start an argument. Not now of all times and places. "We're almost there and they want to stop and smell the raccoons. Let's get the hell out of here."
"Listen, your behavior is not helping - "
"No shit, Sherlock. Now, let's just go," Sonic pushed past him and Blaze, despite the two trying to hold him back. He struggled for a second, but roughly shoved them aside. "No, this is ridiculous."
Shadow held back a growl. "You gonna turn and tell your boyfriend to sit the fuck down or am I?"
Sarah didn't hold one back. She glowered from the side at Shadow too. "You mention it anymore and he can be your boyfriend."
"Seriously, you guys this is getting old," Sonic trampled down the hill as best he could, letting rocks slide a little on the trail. It was mostly dirt, but that wouldn't stop the hedgehog from probably tripping over a rock - or air.
Shadow's jaw clenched as he wanted to break eye contact with the thing, but the moment he did, he knew something bad would happen. "Just keep looking."
"I don't think it works like that."
"Just do it."
He broke the connection and twisted around - nearly running into Sonic as the stubborn cadet got to their area. Sonic ignored whatever they were looking at to glare at Shadow because that seemed more important to him.
"Are you two done looking into the dark?"
"Shadow," Sarah ignored Sonic.
"You are going to get us killed," Shadow reprimanded the younger ranger, not holding back anymore. "Shock or no shock, you do not just get to abandon us. You don't see us trying to ditch you, even though you're showing perfect signs for the one that's going to cause the most danger."
"Shadow," Sarah nervously called again, but the ebony hedgehog wasn't done yet.
"It's astonishing to me that someone that worked so well under orders this whole week and says he only wanted to come out here to help is suddenly being so selfish and potentially harmful to others with his actions. Unless it's just a facade that you put up, Sonic, I'd suggest you'd get back to Silver."
Sonic stared at him with a deadpan face. "You done? Because I've just about had it with you, too, Shadow."
He suppressed a snarl.
"SHADOW!" Sarah screeched as twigs suddenly snapped hurriedly. "MOVE YOUR ASSES!"
The dogman was coming in fast by the sound of the foliage being trampled. Branches broke and bushes swayed. Yellow eyes got closer at a rapid pace.
"Move it!" Sonic gripped Shadow and pushed them both aside as Sarah went the opposite way. The other three remained at the top of the trail, waiting in fear as they put Silver's flashlight on them.
It snarled and in one swoop, it was out of the bush, swiping at where Shadow had been standing. Its claws extended out like a hand, but recoiled back to its side as it realized it hadn't hit anything. It stared at the two frightened males on its right and then the petrified female on its left. It knew that three more Mobians were the reason for the bright light in its eyes a few feet upwards.
Growling lowly, it paused, staring back and forth between the three closest to it.
This was worse than just staring at it and it staring back - Sarah decided. Now, it moved its thick neck side to side in order to look at her and then to Sonic and Shadow. Its yellow eyes seemed calculating - as if deciding who to chew through first. Its grinlike expression did not help the situation. It made the creature all the more real to have it actually moving in such a subtle manner.
Sonic heard his heartbeat in his ears, and for some reason he thought Shadow was having an asthma attack until he realized the rapid breaths were coming from him. Shadow remained surprisingly stoic - hand on his hip to reach for his gun.
At least Sarah had his other gun, but she wasn't reaching for it.
Shadow heard the beast let a growl rumble through its chest. It rattled their own.
He wanted to ask Sarah what to do, but he also had thoughts of his own. Shadow wasn't sure if he should speak, or if that would set off the beast. Well, one way to find out.
"Sarah - "
The wolf snapped its mouth open and shut at the men - nipping the air towards them as if to tell them to be quiet. Annoyance flashed through its gaze, and Shadow hated that he could tell that it was annoyance.
The short moment at least snapped the sage hedgehog out of her trance long enough to grab the gun in her free hand. She held it with both, maintaining the flashlight along the gun - now both directly pointed at the dogman. It did not enjoy that. Whether it was from the harsh light, the gun barrel, or both, no one knew and no one cared to ask.
Again, it opened its mouth but this time wider and at Sarah. Its front claws stretched out in something too finger-like for their comfort. Muscled shoulders flexed back as it raised its arms. It looked like a godawful scarecrow, but a lunging one.
"Sarah!" Sonic yelled, but it was over the beast's roar and gunfire.
Shadow ripped his gun out as quickly as possible and stared firing. Both he and Sarah unleashed a flurry of bullets onto the beast.
It screamed like a banshee.
The sound was so unsettling immediately that Sonic decided he'd leave the two with the fire power to the job - he turned and hightailed it back up to the other three rangers. They watched with horror - not sure if they should get closer and do their best to scare the wolf, or if they should remain where they were. Or run.
"What-What do we do?" Silver let Sonic push past him towards Amy. Blaze huddled near the cadets, but one wouldn't say that she was trying to comfort them necessarily. "Run? Don't run?"
The dogman screeched and arched its back, swiping left and right at Shadow and Sarah. Sarah was just far enough as she fired, trying to inch closer to Shadow so the two faced the same way. Shadow had to test his reflexes on the second swipe - he was a bit too close. Shadow did his best to meet back with Sarah in the trail, both taking a few steps at a time between shots.
The dogman was not having it.
It snarled and glared at them as Sarah emptied her chamber. Shadow was down to two left.
The hedgehogs were the only thing between the rest of the rangers and the creature that shouldn't exist. Especially since it had just taken so many shots -which covered its thick, dark fur in bright red blood. Shockingly to Shadow, the wolf remained standing and nearly unphased. Despite Sarah warning them earlier that the bullet before probably hadn't done damage to it, he was trying to comprehend how more bullets weren't slowing the beast down.
Especially when his gun could take down a bear.
The wolf let out a few gasping sounds as it stumbled to all fours.
Shadow glanced at Sarah out of the corner of his eye. "What now?"
"Be ready." She put his gun away as it was empty and useless to them now. His other gun was all that would help - if it did any help. The flashlight flickered for a few moments, and Sarah almost panicked that it would go out. Hitting it a little, she was relieved when the flickering stopped.
They paused, waiting in mostly silence despite the dogman's whining and writhing. The other rangers watched in fear, still. They didn't dare move.
"I say we make a run for it," Sarah looked back at the group. "It's only a little ways."
"You want to make it think we're playing a game of chase?" Shadow thought the idea stupid.
"This isn't your typical animal, Shadow. Think of it as more like you or I."
"Trust me, I am," Shadow gritted his teeth. He looked over his shoulder at the group - Silver still holding the flashlight and eyes locked onto them. "Alright. On three."
Sarah nodded. "One."
"Two."
"Three!"
The pair abandoned their post and ran back to the group - up the small incline of the trail, avoiding the rocks as much as possible.
Suddenly, the whimpering coming from the wolf changed into something more horrific. It roared again and lashed out an arm at nothing. Sarah didn't dare look back as the rangers ahead of them yelled.
"Sarah!"
"Look out!"
"Shadow!"
"It's coming back!"
Shadow didn't need the shouting to warn him. He could practically feel the hot breath coming from the wolf. It was right on his neck. The gun in his hand suddenly felt heavier as he had to make a split second decision. A rock caught his train of thought off guard - and for once, he was sent to the ground like Sonic had been all night.
"Oh, no!" Amy all but shrieked as the others called out.
He didn't have time to process the next moves he made. He just aimed and fired.
Blood splattered on his face. He flinched as he stared at the beast before him - the yellow eyes never lost their light, but the shrieking that came out of the beast now was suddenly unbearable.
For everyone.
Sarah wasn't the only one to have to cover her ears. She had stopped on her heel to try and help Shadow up, but was taken by surprise when the black hedgehog fired - and at a much closer range now. The bullet had gone into the creature's neck whereas all of the other shots they fired aimed at its chest, hoping to hit its heart. Now, the creature bled profusely from the neck, chest, and shoulder - where Sarah had originally shot it.
It sounded like a choking scream as it reeled back onto two legs, standing up and throwing its head to the night sky. Its claws kept coming up to its chest and neck, as if trying to remove the pain. It whipped its head back and forth as it stumbled back down the hill a foot or two before making a gurgling sound.
"Just die already!" Sonic cried in a shout - frustration pouring out of him as Amy clung onto him in fear for their lives. She stared at Shadow in terror, hoping the ranger was alright. "JUST LEAVE US ALONE, YOU BASTARD!"
Wherever the sudden courage came from, the group wasn't going to stop the blue hedgehog. The sudden onslaught of loud yelling and the pain already coming from its wounds seemed to be enough to make the beast stagger and lose its surroundings. Its eyes didn't hold that recognition anymore - it looked dazed, if Sarah had to guess.
With one last moment of screaming from the wolf, it lurched to the side and landed on all fours. It shook its head for a second before roaring and racing off into the trees.
It kept going.
They all stopped everything - yelling, breathing - just to strain their ears and listen to the creature shriek and yowl away. As long as the sounds kept getting fainter, but kept going, the group felt comfort on their shoulders.
"Thank Tikal," Silver muttered as Blaze collapsed into leaning against his back, holding him from behind.
Amy raced forward, sliding a little as she hurried to Shadow and Sarah. Her focus was on the former, though. "Are you okay?! Are you hurt?!"
"I…" Shadow didn't know how to find the words. His chest hurt. His breathing hurt. His head hurt. Everything hurt. "I don't know."
Sarah suddenly stood in front of him and offered a hand up. "You didn't freeze."
No. I didn't. I didn't die, either. But will the wolf?
Shadow took her offer and soon he was standing, putting his gun back in the belt. One bullet still remained, and he hoped he wouldn't need it anytime soon. "Let's…Let's go."
The creature cried in the distance, still getting further, and Blaze felt herself crying. It was a relief. This was their chance to leave - and the wolf was wounded badly. "Thank Tikal," she repeated Silver's words, whispering into her boyfriend's shoulder.
He reached around to hold her before looking at Sarah. "Will it die?" the words cracked a little.
"I…Um, I don't know," Sarah said truthfully. She shrugged a little as she held the flashlight. It flickered again, but they had Silver's light still.
Sonic put a hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner. "Don't feel like it's your responsibility to know, either. Is there a way to tell?" He looked at Shadow.
The ebony Mobian gathered himself. "It'll leave a blood trail," he nodded. "Although I'm not jumping to track it."
"Fuck that," Silver whispered. "Let's just go. Get back to the station - we can figure out what to do."
"No," Blaze shook her head sadly. "I don't want to go back to the station. It knows we were there. What's stopping it from coming back?"
"It's badly wounded, it could die out there," Sonic pointed to the direction it left. There were still shrieks, if they listened close enough. "The station will be…safe, won't it?" he looked between Sarah and Shadow.
Shadow paused before nodding in agreement with Blaze. The idea of sleeping at the station again didn't settle well with him. He turned to Sarah. "May I ask you to drive us somewhere?"
"Sure," Sarah figured she was the least rattled. Rattled nonetheless, but she wasn't about to get in a car with any of the others driving. "Where to?"
The flashlight in her hand flickered for the last time before turning off. Silver's light was the only one illuminating their way back to the station.
"Home."