There was a heavy crash, and thick cloud of dust where Zephyr landed. His quills were now tangled in ripped up grass and unearthed soil. Slowly he unrolled from the ball he curled up into, and crawled out of the newly formed ditch. He spat out the small amount of dirt he accidentally swallowed, and a large smile split his face.

"I stayed rolled up that time!" Zephyr cheered.

Mari appeared in front of him in blue flash, her face blank "You missed you target," she pointed up the hill at the blow-up robot.

"Yeah, but I didn't whip out. That's something right?"

"Something? Yes. Enough? No."

"Really?"

"In the heat of battle, you can never assume your opponents will make mistakes. You have to think they'll have their techniques perfected."

"So, expect the worst-case scenario?"

"Don't be arrogant. Confidence in your skill is one thing, but there's a thin line between confidence and arrogance. Which side of the line you are on will determine the outcome of the fight."

"Let me guess, arrogance gets you killed?"

Mari remained as she was, but continued to explain, "It is one weakness that all opponents can be susceptible too. However, you can as well. There is only one way to not grow arrogant in a battle."

"Stay humble?"

"Stay scared."

"Scared?" Zephyr gave her a flat disbelieving look.

Mari rolled her eyes, "If you fear your opponents, you'll pay more attention to there movements and your body will going into fight or flight. Adrenaline and other chemicals will heighten your senses and instincts upping your chances of survival."

"Right, like you're scared of anything…"

"All creatures are biologically built to fear. If mother nature crafted a species without the ability to fear they would be doomed to extinction."

"Really?"

"Just because I don't show it, doesn't mean I don't feel it."

"So, if you feel? Does that mean we can stop for the day?"

"No."

Zephyr's ears flopped down annoyed and he tried not to roll his eyes.

"Mari! Zephyr!"

The young hedgehog and crossbreed turned to see the bright red form of Angie flying towards them on black wings. The half-bred girl landed in front of them, a look of determination.

"Mission?" Mari asked, seemingly reading Angie's eyes.

Angie nodded, "For all of us."

"All of us?" Mari raised a brow.

"Does that mean me?" Zephyr.

Angie nodded again, "We can't risk this one, and you've been working hard."

"What are we up against?" Zephyr said.

"Intel found another weapons factory, we're going in to steal all designs and whatever was already built," Angie answered.

"So, a caper?" Mari said, with a blank face, "You've always wanted to do that."

Angie smiled brightly, "So, ready to break some laws?"

"Has that ever stopped me?" Mari said teleporting away.

Angie rolled her eyes playfully, and chuckled. Zephyr raised a brow.

"You guys have jokes?" the speedster asked.

Angie snorted, "We should. We were raised together. You don't know a person that long and not share some jokes."

"So, you can tell me, if she does get scared?"

Angie gave him a confused look, "Of course she feels fear."

"Alright, I believe you," Zephyr said, trying not to sound strained.

"Are you sure? I know she seems cold, but she wasn't always like that. She used to smile, cry and laugh all the time."

"What do you mean?"

"Something changed her and she stopped showing how she felt."

"What?"

"Fear, Zephyr. I wasn't there when it happened, but she was scared so bad that she tried to stop feeling," Angie whispered.


Neavel looked at the newspaper in his hands. He tried to keep his breathing steady. His girls were in the room next over watching a movie. He couldn't let them know something was wrong. The eldest was barely eight.

There had been an attack in the city. A chaos user. News tended to spread a little slower out in the country, but not this time. This event spread like wild fire among the farming community. A manic rabbit, a mysterious blur, and an explosion that knockout of half of Refuge City power supply, it was like something out of the old legends.

"Papa?"

Neavel looked over, finding a young raccoon. Her fur a like a peach's, and eyes a pair of sparkling indigo sapphires.

The elder raccoon, smiled at his youngest daughter, "Yes, Daisy?"

"Are you going to come and watch the movie?"

"In a minute sweet heart, I just have run an errand."

The little raccoon nodded and ran back into the other room, while Neavel left the house.


His gloved hand knocked on his Neighbor's door. The light on the inside turned on and then quickly followed by scratching footsteps. The door opened and a rooster stood in front of Neavel, still dressed in his Pjs.

"Neavel?" the rooster croaked, "What are you doing out here at this hour? Not everyone is nocturnal like you, and some of us has to be up for the sunrise."

"I know and I'm sorry, Pat, but this can't wait," Neavel said, "We're all in danger."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"I can't say out here. Who knows, who could be listening."

Neavel gave his friend a pleading look, and Pat expression turned into understanding. The rooster looked around as if to see if they were alone, and then gestured for Neavel to come inside. The Raccoon sighing in relief, as he entered the small cottage home. Both of the mobians, headed towards the basement cellar, knowing that privacy was needed.

"Alright," Pat said, pulling on a thin chain to turn on the cellar light, "What is this about?"

Neavel pulled the newspaper out of his coat, and handed it to Pat. The rooster took it and upon seeing the headline raised a brow, giving Neavel and unimpressed look.

"The attack?" Pat said and then shook his head, "Neavel, don't tell me that this is working you up? I swear this story has everyone and their step-aunt in a tizzy."

"Three people were killed, and you're not?" Neavel said.

"Strangely I wasn't affected, considering I'm usually the one to blow these things out of proposition. Guess everyone beat me to the punch. But the point is that I'm the dramatic friend and you're the one who talks me down, so, why are you so scared about this?"

Neavel, pulled another item out of his coat. The thin blue quill, that seemed to gleam in the dim light of the cellar. Pat's yellow eyes widened, and his auburn feathers standing on end.

"Is that…?" Pat trailed off.

"It's not his. It's too small. But they have the same abilities."

Pat stared at the tiny quill, Neavel could see the gears turning in the rooster's head. Pat reached out to touch the quill as if making sure if it was real.

"Something is coming Pat. I don't know what, but if legends are coming back something is going on and we're all in danger. You saw how those generals were ready to imprison us the moment we stepped out of line, and now this attack? Something's changing."

"Well, what do you want me to do? I'm a reckless coward at best and that's if you get me drunk enough. I'm not a soldier. Never have been and never will," Pat said.

"Look after my family?"

"Neavel why would you…What are you going do?"

"I'm going to find out what ever is coming."

"Are you kidding me? Are you sick? Possessed? Is today opptisite day!? You're the one who's always talking me out of crazy ideas. And now you're chasing fairytales?"

"Pat…please. I need to know."

Pat sighed, "Okay, but once you know. We're telling the others."

Neavel, "Thank you, Pat."


A/N:

Okay, so this one is a little short, but I think I have a clear picture of where this story is going now. We're nearing the end of this first part. I'm not sure if this story has been worth your time, but I will finish it and maybe start the second part. I think I bite off more then I could chew with this one, not enough experience behind my quill to execute the story I wanted to tell. I know a lot more now, and I know what I need to do.

For everyone who tried this mess of a OC story out, Thank you.