Sorry it took so long to update, writers block (getting sick didn't help any…) anyways, the show must go on, let's hear it for the next chapter! I do not own sonic the hedgehog or any of the characters from the games, movies or comics but I do own this story and the other characters, I hope you enjoy it.

Things Only Whispered In The Shadows

Ch.15 Gone

The temple was quiet, the somber mood made even more so by the unusual storm. A storm of this magnitude was almost unheard of this far into the mountains, and to make things worse whisper had disappeared after the argument the night before. A flash of red lightning lit up the distant clouds, sending a shiver down Talons spine. As if the storm itself wasn't unnatural enough.

More red lightning streaked across the distant clouded sky, moments later thunder boomed around the many peaks and then smoke began to rise from the forest. Talons eyes grew wide as the rising smoke blackened the already cloud darkened sky.

Another flash of red. "That's where we buried Regis and Booker." Another flash, "and that's the direction whisper ran off in last night." Talon vaulted down the wall, slick with rain, that he had been standing on moments before. Losing no time he picked up speed and dashed down the mountain toward the burning forest and ever closer to the unnatural storm and the even more unnatural red lightning. "I can't lose you too Whisper."

"Yo, Talon what's wrong?" Fel interrupted Talons concentration, matching his pace step for step with a concerned look on his face.

"When whisper ran off last night, that's where she ran off to." Talon pointed to the blackened sky overlooking the graves, Fel nodded his understanding and they both pushed forward toward the burning forest. Instead of slowing down when they hit the inferno they just plowed right through, dodging the occasional falling debris and around burning trees. The fire was spreading fast and the only sound that could be heard over the roaring of the flames was the intermittent booming of the thunder and lightning crashed in the clearing in front of them. Talon came out ahead and stopped dead in his tracks as a bolt of red lightning struck. The world slowed as Whisper disappeared just as red death struck the place she had been standing.

The thunder was deafening, the shockwave from the impact just enough to topple the burning tree behind Talon. He had enough time to look back as Fel dove out of the Blazing inferno just in time to tackle him. The two extracted themselves from the ground and backed away into the heart of the clearing to avoid the worst of it as the smoke built up around them.

"Some rescue attempt, she's not even here and now we're trapped. I don't know about you but I'm not fireproof."

"She was here, just before that last lightning strike, and sarcasm at a time like this seriously?" Talon covered his face, trying to filter out some of the choking black smoke.

"Heck yeah, would I be me without the sarcasm? And what do you mean she was just here? Where the heck could she have… oh, right… that…" Fel face palmed, and Talon started coughing. "Talon!"

"You are so lucky you don't have to breathe right now, then again if I pass out at least I won't burn."

"Talon, you have one dark sense of humor you know that? Hang on I'll get us out of here somehow…" another loud crash as the trees around them continued to burn, releasing even more toxic smoke into the clearing and lighting more of the grass around the clearing ablaze.

Through the reds, oranges, and yellows a figure erupted into the clearing, the edges of the figures entrance now a stark contrast to the fire as a frost slowly crept outward, fighting the flames for dominion aided by the rain. "Next time you two go off on an expedition into a raging inferno maybe you should wait for me, or at least think of how you're going to get out after you find your way in?" Rune raised her arms out to either side, her eyes flashing white as the frost claimed more of the clearing and quenching the flames on the edges of the forest as the inferno raged on behind the frosty barrier.

"Rune…" Talons eyes grew heavy as the smoke slowly cleared enough to make out the figure across the small field. A small quizzical smile lit his lips as he finally fell unconscious.

"Hey! Talon, don't pass out now buddy, we've got to get out of this hellhole now that we have a way out."

"Talon!" she made her way over to the pair, "What the heck made you two decide to run out into the middle of a storm, and into a raging forest fire, of all places?" Just as she said the last part one final bolt of red lightning struck, throwing the three into the frosty outskirts, dangerously close to the slowly dying fire.

"Is everyone alright?" Fel was the first one up. Rune heaved herself up as well and rushed over to Talon, resting her hand on his chest, letting out a sigh of relief as she made sure he was still breathing.

"Was that…"

"Red lightning. Yeah I thought I was seeing things at first too. It's real, and painful." he rubbed the side of his head and walked over to Talon. Fel crouched down and nodded to Rune that he would carry him. Gingerly she hoisted him up and onto Fels back. "Lead the way Ice queen."

Ignoring Fels sense of humor she nodded and slowly led the way through the dying flames of the forest as the frost overtook it.

Birdsong and light trickled into the room, the storm clouds dispersing outside. Searing pain rampaged through talons lungs as he took a deep breath causing him to let out a series of rasping coughs, making his companion stir in her sleep. Rune had pulled up a chair next to his bed and had fallen asleep half draped over the side of his bed.

The door creaked as Fel and Fleet peeked in to check on them. Fel quietly rushed over when he saw that Talon was awake, "dude, I thought you were a goner until we got you here."

"How long was I out…"

"Not long, only a few hours, sun won't set for another four hours or so." Fleet was leaning against the doorway a slight smile hiding behind a new bandanna tied around his neck.

"Thanks guys, for well, everything." Talon leaned back in the bed again wincing as he sighed.

"Don't thank us, Rune is the one who never left your side." Gesturing to the sleeping hedgehog at Talons bedside. Talon blushed as a small smile touched his lips, only to be interrupted as Fleet finally spoke up.

"So Fel tells me that you were looking for Whisper when you got yourselves into this mess."

"Yeah. She disappeared when I got there, probably went to the other world." a drained look drifted into his features as he remembered the last words they had shared. Worry furrowing his brow, as he brought his hands up and dropped his head into them. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?"

"That's life mate, if it were easy it wouldn't be so precious." Fleet was still leaning against the doorway, "so what's all this about her going to the other world? I thought you needed all of the fragment emeralds to do that." Fel and Talon glanced at one another before looking back to Fleet.

"I knew we forgot to tell someone."

"I'll say, sorry Fleet." He nodded his understanding, gesturing for them to continue.

"Long story short my sister has one of the real emeralds, and she's been in contact with the original world that this one split off from. The heroes from the other world gathered enough of their emeralds to pull her into their world and now she's helping them get the last emerald there so she can come back with the heroes and help us defeat Salem and hopefully recombine all of the emeralds and the two worlds."

"And that freak storm just happened to show up just when she was leaving."

"I don't know about the storm but the red lighting was definitely beyond weird."

Fleet nearly leapt across the room, shock and fear evident on his face. "Did you say red lightning?"

"Yeah, it was weird, I've never seen anything like it before."

"I have…" Fleet took a step back and slumped down into the empty chair next to the wall defeat mixing with the fear.

Talons face paled and as usual Fel was the one to ask the stupid question. "Really where?"

"Salem." Everyone in the room looked to Rune, somewhere in the conversation she had woken up without anyone noticing and the look on her face was one of loathing as she said the name like it was made of poison.

Again sorry for the wait on this one, had a hard time finding the right way to word this with the change in perspective. Anyways, happy holidays everyone hope you have a wonderful (and safe) time.