Path of the Hunters [PART 4] (NSFW)

"Where's Trip?" the hedgecat murmured, then buried her face into his neck.

*

"Your power? Maybe."

"Safe," Cross responded, his voice gentle. "We're gonna go see him, now, along with the other kids."

*

She sighed. "Problem is, I don't know the trigger, and I could take us anywhere..."

"Love," she whispered, licking his face. The helmet made it a bit difficult, but she still managed. She clung to the echidna desperately.

*

"That's okay. We'll find our way back."

[after the next post, I'm out]

"Affirmitive. Which LZ do you wish for us to use, rooftop or the parking lot behind the diner?"

He sighed. He wanted to tell her then and there, but he wanted to make sure they were safe first. The last thing he needed was to be jinxed. "Let's get outta here." He pulled her into her arms, bridal style.

Kane rose to his full height, the collie in his arms in a similar fashion. "It's back to the diner, now. Once we're clear, you know what to do."

*

She smiled. "True. Well, here goes." She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, and concentrating hard. On what, she didn't know.

"Affirmitive, get out of there."

Grinning, Sunny lowered the room like an elevator. The soldiers or whatever the fuck they were who were still pounding their way through the house in a frenzy couldn't have gotten in if they'd tried. Once underground, she sealed off the top and opened the front. "All right, let's go. I got this tunnel reinforced big time. Nuke couldn't get through." And she knew damn well that she was going to pass out as soon as possible after using all this energy.

Aurélie nodded, taking Nova's hand as she started off. "For the moment, we seem safe."

*

Trip held her hand a little tighter, hoping she wouldn't accidentally leave him.


[night, guys. ttyt]

"Let's take advantage of it," Nova said, smiling at her.

Cross followed after them, Star in his arms, followed by Kane and the collie, and Sol and Mani. Crescent and Briggs hung back, the latter eying Sunny. "You must be majorly gassed, after all that."

*

In the next moment, they felt a small gust of wind. When Yue opened her eyes, she saw that they were on the launch pad thingies that they arrived on. She looked at Trip, beamed that he was indeed there with her, and pulled him into an elated embrace. "It worked! It actually worked!"

"Are you clear of the blast zone?"

Smiling back, Aurélie squeezed his hand. "Bonne idée."

Star found herself relaxing against the echidna and, as her heart rate settled and she slowly gathered her wits, her lips curved. "Cross?"

The dog shrugged. "Nothin' I can't handle for now. I sure as hell ain't gonna stay awake on the plane, though."

*

The kit hugged her back, smiling. She hadn't spoken the entire way and he wondered if she remembered everything that had happened along the way.

Nova squeezed back gently. "Well, that takes care of all the rescuin', as far as I know. Now, there's only one thing left to do."

Cross looked down at the hedgecat in his arms, smiled a bit weakly. "Yeah, Star?"

"Shit," Briggs said, stretching. "I'm gonna be rocked out, on the flight. Can't stay awake on a plane for shit."

"All clear," Kane said into his com unit. "You are free to engage."

*

When she was finished cheering, she looked Trip in the eyes, still beaming. "So, what was it like? All I remember was this gust of wind, and that was it."

"Affirmitive. Vultures, you are clear to level the building. Stick to the cannons and keep the spread as tight as you can on the building."

There was a pair of affirmitives from the vulture captains followed by several rumbles as the vultures overhead used their massive dual twin auto-cannons to level the building and kill anyone inside.

"Oui. And we need to leave as soon as possible. There can be no delays. We need to get this over with quickly."

"Why are you wearing all this stuff?" she murmured.

Sunny snorted. "Good to know I ain't the only one."

*

"It's a really big, crazy place. We got yelled at by somebody, but you darted through a vent." He smiled. "You're really good at avoiding trouble."

"Agreed. I'd rather not drag this on, any longer." Nova glanced back at Kane, focusing on the dog in his arms. "...And they're really gonna come after us, now."

He chuckled sheepishly. "Uh, I was building stuff, and I went overboard."

Crescent glanced down at her stomach, rubbed it idly. She didn't feel sick anymore. Was it really just a virus, or had that episode just passed?...

"Yo, Crescent," Briggs called to her. "Why so serious?"

She looked back up at him, but couldn't find the words. It wouldn't be right to say something so serious, without being absolutely sure.

*

She giggled. "All of that? Really? But it felt like only a couple of seconds."

"Oui... Kane, why 'aven't you told us about 'er before?"

Star smiled softly. "'Kay. Where are we going?"

Sunny tucked her hands in her pockets, saying nothing. Teasing her was one thing; teasing her when he was around was something else entirely.

*

"It's been almost an hour."

"Target destroyed. We are waiting at the LZ."

Kane sighed. "I couldn't risk 'er safety. She was under strict watch, before; if anyone outside of me knew of 'er, we all may 'ave been put at 'igh risk."

"And with these wild events, they slacked off, giving you a perfect, but small window."

"Somewhere safe. A base, far away from all this."

"Well, I... I think I'm..."

Briggs sighed. "Relax. That's not the case."

"But, that one night, I thought we..."

"Keyword: thought. You were tanked that night."

"But I do know that you 'ad ran out of condoms, before'and."

"Nova spotted me a couple. Look, I'm not tryin' to get all caught up, over pregnancy. I ain't ready, yet."

*

She blinked. "Say wha? All that, in an hour?"

Aurélie nodded. "I am glad, then. What is 'er name?"

Sunny lifted a brow, shifting over to Cross and Star. So she wasn't preggers... Oh, well. Would've been shit timing. "Hey, Star. How ya feeling?"

"Mm... I wanna see Trip. You're not dead, are you?"

"Fuck; I hope not..."

*

He smiled. "You walked a lot. I wouldn't be able to find our way back at all if I needed to."

Kane looked back to the collie, smiled slightly. "Aurore."

Nova chuckled, shaking his head. "Of all the wild coincidences..."

"I'm sure everyone's fine, back at the base. After all, Elesis is on guard."

Crescent sighed. Some part of her had actually hoped that it was true. She was starting to feel left out, as far as love went...

"Relax, kid," Briggs said, his rough voice somewhat soothing. "One day, you'll find someone who cares about you; someone who's willin' to go that extra mile. But, right now, it isn't me."

Crescent nodded, feeling a little better. At least he did care about her to some extent.

*

"Wow..." She smiled. "At least I have an idea of what happens, now."

The dog smiled. "It is."

Star nuzzled the echidna, still rather out of it. Her head felt like it was swimming, but her lungs felt like they were on fire... It was so strange... "Mm... I like Elesis. Comet likes her. You remember Comet? Y'only met him once."

Sunny lifted a brow. "You promised him you wouldn't say anything."

"Promised who?"

*

He nuzzled her softly, smiling. "It's interesting."

Kane chuckled. "Per'aps it was meant to be. I found the dawn of a new day, after meeting 'er; now, you two are searching for yours, after having Aurora."

"Huh. Coincidence or fate? That's one fine line, if there ever was one."

Cross chuckled. "Sounds like you let something slip, Star."

*

She blushed slightly. "So, um, you're probably hungry, after all that. Wanna find something to eat?"

"Per'aps some of both," Aurélie mused.

Sunny lifted a brow. "She's usually way better at keeping secrets and crap."

"Mm..." She nuzzled him again. "My head feels weird..."

*

"Sure." He smiled slightly.

Kane nodded. "Per'aps."

Nova scoffed. "I've pretty much given up on figurin' out which is which. If it helps, who cares?"

"Hm... They might've used a truth serum on her, to try and get information on us."

*

"Okay." She looked around. "I think I know the way from here. You don't mind going the old-fashioned way, do ya?"

"You 'ave a point."

"Probably." She grinned. "You should ask her now. You'd never get a more honest answer."

*

He shook his head. "No."

"A blunt way of putting it," Kane commented. "but a point, nonetheless."

Cross shrugged. "Won't hurt to try. Star, did they give you a truth serum, or something of the sort?"

*

"Okay. To be honest, I'm a little dizzy, so it probably wouldn't be a good idea to try it again."