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
Ch25. Poison
The first thing Talon noticed about the city was the distinct lack of people. Sand had crept up the sides of the buildings and drifted into piles on the sides of the roads in the few hours after the initial attack on the city and it already looked like a ghost town. Jackson was managing to keep on his feet alone as everyone else took up defensive positions scouring the deserted city for Scorpius. Talon and Rune skirted the plaza, sword and magic at the ready while Maxis and Fel traipsed the rooftops.
"Talon around the next alleyway!" Fel shouted down to his friend as the retreating shadow of something massive dissipated into the shadows of the nearby buildings. Maxis leveled his rocket launcher at the place it had been waiting for it to show itself again. Talon hefted his great sword to a comfortable position before charging around the corner with Rune close behind only to find empty space where it had been.
"Fel It's not here. I need to know where it went before it finds us." just in time to notice a shadow looming above them Rune yanks Talon back around the corner as a large claw pulverizes the wall he had been standing next to a moment before.
"Never mind that, Maxis blast it!" Rune ducks behind a pillar in the plaza, Talon in tow as the familiar hissing of a rocket throws them to the ground with the resounding boom of an explosion.
Rune checking herself turns to talon "Are you alright?"
He nods before looking up, "And unfortunately so is the scorpion." Talon and Rune dodge in opposite directions as the massive tail comes down fracturing the flagstones beneath them. Talon pulls his golden sleeve loose, dodging another swipe of its tail. "Golden Sleeve!" He charges it full bore only for his blade to bounce off of its armored carapace with little give. Rune blasting its claw with a blast of cold only to be interrupted as it thrashes and lets out a horrendous screech. Another hissing sound the only warning for them to take cover. They both dodge around nearby columns as the resounding explosion knocks more bits loose from the now fragile structures around them. "A little warning next time please Maxis!"
"What now?" Rune looks to Talon across the plaza as the thirty foot scorpion shakes off the rocket letting out another ear piercing screech.
"Now we fight smarter." Talon points to the pincer that rune had gotten a good layer of frost over. The outer layer of armor had been chipped by the blast. With a smirk Talon hefted his sword up again while Rune skirted around the other direction. "Hey ugly! Do you always miss or is it just not your day today? Because I'm willing to bet today is just not going to be your day." Talon rolls to the side to avoid a strike from its tail, and it shrieks again suddenly distracted by the thick layer of ice creeping up two of its legs. Scorpius staggers away from Rune with two of its legs now immobilized it lashes out but misses badly. Talon takes his chance and rushes in, "Golden Sleeve!" the golden material trails out behind him as he strikes the frozen legs with his sword and shattering them both with a single blow.
"Yes!" Rune shouted and ducked behind another pillar as it trashed out again with its claws. She ducks around behind another pillar as the first one crumbles from the attack and Talon catches its attention long enough for her to pop out and blast it with another round of ice.
Another leg freezes to but this time it freezes to the ground stopping the scorpion in its tracks just in time for Maxis to yell, "Banzai!" moments before another explosion rocks the creature and takes out the third leg and tosses Talon to the ground.
"Seriously Maxis?" Talon hops up and away just in time to dodge another strike from its tail. "That was too close for comfort."
"Talon, one more time should do it!." Rune rushes forward magic at the ready as the scorpion recovers from the recoil of the blast.
"Wait Rune! Don't rush it!" Too late she lets loose the long blast of ice along its head and body, she sees the tail coming down on her with only enough time to realize her mistake. "Golden sleeve!" desperation in Talons voice rings out through the plaza as the tail strikes Rune in the shoulder and sends her spiraling to the ground.
Another hiss shatters the scorpion with a resounding boom and Jackson makes it to the plaza in time to witness the finishing blow but the world stands still and silent as Talon catches Rune before she can hit the ground, red staining the white of her fur blossoming from her shoulder."Oh god no, Rune hang on."
Jackson hurries over to the pair as fast as his injuries will allow and drops to one knee beside them. "Was it the tail?"
Talon nods as pain wells up in his eyes holding back tears. "Is there an antidote? Will she make it?"
Jackson cuts him off before he can spiral too far. "No but it doesn't always poison when it strikes, we will know in the next minute or so if she dies. I'm sorry I can't help more, we need to stop the bleeding." The pained look on his face hardens into resolve with something to do as he finds their gear and the medical kit and rushes back to treat Runes wounds. Fel and Maxis hover nearby with looks of worry etched into their features.
"Next time, I promise I wont get so far ahead of myself." The words come out weak, but she manages a laugh anyway, and breaking Talons mask just enough to crack a pained smile. As she goes to say someting else he hushes her.
"Don't push yourself, you can tell me later. I won't let you die." She smiles and nods as he bandages her shoulder and after a few tense minutes of waiting they all let out a collective sigh.
"So where is everyone?"
"Not even a dead body left makes it even creepier."
"It looks like they evacuated in time, or at least most of them." A quick gesture toward the other end of the plaza brings the silhouette of two figures to notice. As Rune finds the strength to sit Talon helps her to her feet letting her lean on him for support more figures join them as they some into focus. The people gather in the plaza, keeping their distance from the scorpions body and the heroes that saved them at first until they recognize Jackson and suddenly there are dozens of people gathered around, attempting to get a look at the people who defeated the Scorpius.
"Jackson, as much as I would love to be the center of attention we really do need to..." Talons voice trails off as more people pour into the plaza from somewhere and Rune laughs.
"Come on Talon, I will be fine and these people have never seen a Hero before."
"She's right we should let them have this." Maxis chimed in while inspecting his launcher and eventually satisfied slung it back over his back.
"You are the last person I expected that from." Talon looked mortified at the old fox.
"Think about it, this might be that first time they have had hope in decades. What right do we have to take that from them? Rune knows her limits well enough and other than Jackson the rest of us are fine." Talon stared in disbelief at Fel, he should never be the voice of reason, before shaking his head in defeat and letting out an exhausted laugh.
"Fine! I yield!" Throwing up his arms at the remark.
The next night was spent in celebration. The rubble was cleared from the plaza and a huge bonfire was lit in the center where the edible parts of the giant scorpion were roasted, barrels of various alcohol were opened and consumed and anything edible was fair game until dawn. The new heroes of the city had never seen a celebration of this size before and it was a shame that it only lasted one night but it was the beginning of a very important friendship.
Talon turned to Jackson as the sun crested the horizon and the cleanup had already begun. "So who do we talk to about the resistance?"
Thank you for reading, I hope you come back for the next chapter. Feedback is welcome!
