Chapter 10 - A question of Loyalty

"We should just let her go. She lied to us and would have continued to lie if Karn hadn't said anything," Sonic exclaimed angrily.
"Sonic, leave her be. We all owe her our lives, you can't just turn your back on her. Not after what she's done for us," Shadow argued.
"Shadow's right. Sonic she saved my life, and now she's really hurt. We have to try and find her," Tails added.
"Oh please, that was all just an act," Sonic ignorantly said, rolling his eyes. "She's probably heading back to his HQ to get healed and think of an excuse,"

"Leave her alone Sonic!" Knuckles suddenly yelled. Tails was sure he had just felt the ground shake. "She isn't a fake, she's as honest and brave as you are!... Now I'm going to go and find my friend, before she gets herself killed," Knuckles took the leather pouch, containing the health berries, and a few bandages and left before Sonic could argue...

Aeronniell was battered, bruised and bleeding heavily. Yet she didn't stop, she had to get away from here, from everything she knew and start again. Eventually, as she calmed down she realised how tired Thunder was getting. Feeling cruel for making Thunder run so fast, she stopped and let him rest. Aeronniell then walked with Thunder until they came to a little wooden hut. It was near a stream and a large patch of grass, for Thunder to graze on for the night. Aeronniell decided it would do as a temporary shelter.

Aeronniell went inside the empty hut and tried to stay stood, instead she collapsed and fell unconscious. Outside the hut, Karn was quietly walking towards the door with two other men... Stephenson and Conrad.
"What are we gonna do boss? Burn her out?" Conrad asked.
"Well I was just going to threaten her, but that is a very good idea," Karn cruelly grinned.

Suddenly, Karn's hand burst into flames. Karn walked around the hut and set a fire at the back of the hut. "This will make her leave," he laughed.
"Er bwoss, don't ya think we should check that she's in 'dere first?" Stephenson asked.
"Well, if you're so concerned, why don't you go check?" Karn snapped, pushing Stephenson towards the flames. Stephenson peered through the window.
"Er Bwoss... She ain't moving," he said.
Karn sighed, as if disappointed. "Fine, drag her out,". Before extinguishing the flames with a flick of his hand.

Stephenson and Conrad quickly went into the hut and carried Aeronniell out. She began to wake up, but she was too weak to fight back but she did squirm a bit to make it as difficult as possible.

Karn made a cart made of flames to put Aeronniell in. It had thick walls of flame, with a tiny barred window on the door. A huge dragon made from amber flames was stood, ready to pull the cart along.

"Tie her up and put her in the cart. Then I want Conrad to stay in the cart with her," Karn instructed harshly. Conrad took a rope that was hanging on his shoulder and tightly tied Aeronniell's hands behind her back. He then tied her ankles together and then tied her arms to her sides. Karn inspected the bonds and muttered something to Conrad. Conrad smirked and finally gagged and blindfolded Aeronniell, before lifting her into the cart. All Aeronniell could do was painfully groan and try to curl into a ball.

The cart then set into motion as it headed towards the fortress.

Knuckles was running along the beach following Thunder's tracks. He then looked up to see smoke rising into the sky, like a snake that was heading towards its next meal. "Karn," Knuckles growled as he began to run faster. As he ran he suddenly had to dive out of the way, as Thunder ran towards him. Knuckles got to his feet and began to calm the panic-stricken horse.

"Easy boy, it's alright,"Knuckles soothed, gently stroking his muzzle.
Once he had calmed down Thunder began to trot towards the smoke. Then he stopped and stomped his foot impatiently. "Do you want me to follow, boy?" Knuckles asked, as he jogged beside Thunder until they came to the hut.
"Where's Aeronniell, Thunder?" Knuckles asked. Thunder stamped his foot impatiently again. Knuckles looked at the tracks in front of him. There was bits of rope and little rags of cloth scattered on the floor. Knuckles crouched down and looked at the rope.

"She's been taken, hasn't she?" Knuckles said quietly to Thunder.
Thunder nodded his head and nickered softly. Knuckles mounted Thunder and set him into a very gentle walk.
"Take me to her boy, but take your time," Knuckles muttered, as it occurred to him that Thunder had been running all day without a good rest. Thunder followed the cart tracks and would often go into a trot, as he was eager to find his friend and master...