Path of the Hunters [PART 3]

"Merci," she mused, smiling, and settled Aurora on a small bed beside her sleeping brother. This base certainly wasn't equipped for newborns. "Was Yue so well be'aved?"

The two looked up again. "Yeeup. It's official." Nova turned back to Cross, who's hand was now crackling electricity, him grinning like a madman. "...You're serious, aren't you?"

The wolf quickly rolled out of the way as the charged fist came crashing down. He got to his feet, as did Cross. "That's how you wanna do it?! Okay!" He pounded his knuckles together with a sound of clanging metal. "Let's go!" Both fighters rushed each other, and their brawl was underway.

*

Mani smiled. "Yue was a little angel, quiet as the night. The only time she really cried was if she ever got worried about us. Even when she got hurt, she would just walk it off. Needless to say, knowing if she was hungry or not was a bit of a pain." After a little laugh. She sighed adoringly. "My little soldier..."

"You break anything in my pelican, and I'll dump you both out of it!" Yelled the pilot.

The dog laughed quietly, stroking her childrens' backs. "I would not mind if these two were a bit more vocal than that." She smiled. "What are the odds that Nova and Cross stopped their fighting?"

"The pilot just threatened to dump them both out if they break anything."

"Relax!" Nova called out to them, dodging a couple of swipes from Cross. "We got this..." He parried another two. "...under control!"

"Are they always this eccentric?" Kane asked, watching from his seat next to Crescent.

"It is actually quick to get used to," Crescent responded. "Just think of them as a pair of brothers, trying to establish dominance in their limited space."

Kane smiled at his niece. "It is always amazing to see 'ow much women understand about us, yet the same cannot be said the other way around."

Crescent smiled back. "It is amazing 'ow much one can learn, just by watching cartoons."

*

"Unless something urgent comes up, they will finish in about five minutes. Nova usually comes out unscathed, of course. His hard body almost guarantees that."

"I can see why Damien likes you people, you're entertaining as hell!" She said with a laugh.

"Of course 'e does. They both 'old back when they fight. It is interesting to watch." She sighed, sinking into a chair. "It 'as been a tiring day... I will be glad when it is over."

"If the day is over," Mani said, gazing out of the window. "If all of this has happened, who knows what might still be in store for us..."

"Hey, don't invoke Murphy! You'll make it worse!"

"One can 'ope for very little without taking that ludicrous 'law' into account..."

"Hey, if that law comes true, guess who is the most...vulnerable...oh fuck..." She trailed off, wide-eyed.

And, sure enough, Cross's phone went off.

"Whoa!" Cross tumbled away with his missed swipe. "Okay, time-out," he said before answering his phone. "Hello?"

There was a terrified whisper at the other end. A young grey fox had been tucked safely within the small hiding spot, ordered not to come out. Only now that everyone seemed to be quiet did he care call the echidna using his mother's phone.

He sobered quickly, getting to his feet. "Trip..." he said with an unnerving calm. "What happened?"

"Sunny got hurt bad and I think Mom's gone." He sniffled, terrified. "They couldn't find me. I heard 'em. They'll come back."

"...No..." Cross was at a loss for words. Nova took note of his dramatically changed demeanor, and rose to his full height as well.

"...God damn you, Murphy," the wolf said silently.

"God damn it Mani, you had to invoke his law..."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Status, people! What just happened?"

Mani turned toward Katherine. "...What's going on?"

"I don't know what to do," the boy whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Why did they take Mom?"

*

The dog rose. "What 'appened?"

There was no point hiding the truth. "...It's me they want. Me, and all my fighting friends... And they're going to take you, too."

The boy trembled. "You're supposed to help..."

"That's what I'm trying to figure out, best guess, it probably concerns Star judging by Nova's reaction, Trip's on his cell right now..."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Can someone please fill me in, here?!"

"More trouble," Nova explained simply.

"...I'm sorry. I can't... Not until later..." There was tears in the echidna's eyes.