Path of the Hunters [PART 4] (NSFW)

"So," Briggs said, cracking his knuckles. "I say we twist 'em up, in our own way."

"Agreed," Mani said, still glaring ahead of her.

*

"Hm?"

Elesis stood from her seat, stretched. "Hey, I'm gonna grab something to drink. You guys want anything?"

You looked up. "Ice tea, I guess."

"Fuck yeah." Sunny tapped the ceiling of their tunnel, grinning widely. "We're here."

*

Trip only shook his head, frowning.

"Well then," Briggs said, eyes gleaming. "let's do this shit!"

*

"All right. Watch over the two, okay?"

"Okay." With a wave, the echidna left the room, leaving the two kids alone, save for the sleeping babies. Yue sighed, turning back to Trip. "Sorry. I guess I shouldn't force you, since it's so painful..."

"Just gimme a sec..." Sunny scowled, glaring at the ceiling of their tunnel. "Okay. Aurélie, you see any unfriendlies up there?"

"No, they are all surging upstairs as I expected." The spaniel studied the tunnel as well, eyes closing. She was searching for something smaller... Necklace... necklace... The hedgecat always wore that locket... There!

Her eyes opened. "Star is up there. I do not know if she is alone, but she is, per'aps, two floors up."

Sunny grinned. "S'all I needed to know." Silently, stairs formed and then the ceiling opened up.

Kane also felt something, but kept it to himself. I'm coming... His blades flashed in his hands. "Shall we begin?"

"Oui." Aurélie darted up, blades spinning. Who knew if she'd missed someone without metal on them?

*

Trip sighed. "It's okay."

Kane followed behind swiftly. Now that he knew she was here, he had to be extra cautious. There was no room for error...

Mani and Briggs brought up the rear, Mani's gun loaded with dart-like plastic rounds, filled with a menacing-looking purple liquid.

*

Yue rubbed her arm idly, sighed again.

Sunny lifted a brow. "Geez, Kane, why so intense?"

*

Trip swallowed. "Do you... d'you really wanna know?"

"This is a delicate mission," Kane responded. "I don't want any mistakes."

*

"Well... I guess so."

"Sure, whatev."

*

He sighed, unsure how to say it... "My dad, my old dad... He s...sold me..."

Kane sighed, clearing his mind. He had to stay focused...

*

She gasped, bringing her hands to her mouth. "No..."

Sunny looked around, a section of the falling apart. A few people who'd been charging up the stairs - stragglers, it seemed - fell through. With two quick throws, Aurélie had them both silenced and was sending Sunny a scathing look.

"Letting them all go upstairs sure as hell ain't doing me any good."

"Getting us caught would do less."

*

He averted his gaze. "Y-yeah... He k-kept me l-l-locked in a... in a r-r-oom and send p-people in s-s-s-omet-t-times."

Kane had to swallow his pride. He couldn't risk them killing her. "Watch out for a roughed-furred collie. She is one of Baudoin's confides." He then grabbed a knife aimed at Briggs, tossed it back at the sender, silencing him.

*

Her hands clenched. "...How could he do such a thing?"

Aurélie looked back, eyes narrowing. "Qu'est-ce que c'est?"

Sunny just blinked. "The fuck's a confide?"

*

Trip shook his head, shivering. "I..." He didn't know...

"Personal aide," Mani explained, catching one of them in the shoulder, with one of her darts. He convulsed violently, then stopped, dead. "Someone held over others, that they are privy to delicate information. Do you plan to interrogate her?"

"No. I plan to save 'er."

*

She sighed. "Well, it doesn't matter, anymore. You're far away from him."

"Save her? For reals?" And her fist smashed into the face of an oncoming squirrel. Another coming at her suddenly found his skull on the outside of his head and collapsed, screaming.

*

He nodded, trembling. "I have M-mom and Cross..."

"Oui. She saved my life, by pledging her body to the elder. Now, I must return the favor."

"Stop beatin' around the bush!" Briggs said, dodging an oncoming rat, and cracking his neck.

*

"That's right!" She smiled. "And Elesis, and Mama and Papa, and me! And everyone else, too!"

Aurélie nodded, daggers going through more of the oncoming fighters. "Fine. We will be on the lookout for 'er."

*

Trip nodded, sighing.

"Thank you. She 'as a silver dagger with a ruby gem."

"Understood." Mani dodged a knife, shot the sender clean between the eyes.

*

She hugged him, sighing. "You promised you'd protect me; I'll do the same for you."

"Got it," Sunny kept her eyes pealed, dodging and melting all the blades thrown her way.

Aurélie sighed, trying to focus on the metal around them. Rubies tended to stand out when on daggers.

*

He hugged her back, smiling slightly. "Th-th-thanks."

Mani sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing..."

*

"No problem. We're friends, right? That's what friends do!"

When Aurélie caught the sensation, she went still. She was going towards Star's room... And someone was with her. "We need to get to Star now!" she shouted.

*

He nodded. "Yeah..."

Kane was already following the blade, cutting through anyone in his path.

"Kane!" Mani shouted, reloading her gun with the lethal darts, following him, Briggs on her heels.

*

"Hey, guys!" Elesis stepped back in, carrying a number of drinks. "Here's your ice tea, Yue. I know you like raspberry, and they had it, so..."

Yue looked up, smiled brightly. "Ooh, goody!"

The two dogs followed, one scowling, the other grinning.

*

Trip wiped his eyes, sniffling slightly. "Do you think they'll be back soon?"

The number of guards surged as they got closer. Kane roared as he slashed through the numbers, starting to grow reckless. Mani did her best to take out those that threatened to get to close, Briggs smashing into others with his fists.

*

"Can't really say," Elesis said, handing Yue her drink. "It probably takes a long time, just getting there."