Something Wicked In These Woods...

The past few months had been delightfully quiet. The winter had been quite mild. Food was plentiful. There had been no sign of the Dark Legion since their defeat. Though most had been returned to a flesh and blood state, several had escaped the energy surge responsible and it was believed that they’d regrouped somewhere to plot revenge.

Even Robotnik was quiet. There was the occasional rumble from Robotropolis, which Geoffrey St John and his troops kept under constant surveillance. All feared he was up to something, though nobody could guess what. But whatever it was, it had his complete and undivided attention.

After being at war for so long, the Mobians knew their peace was fleeting. But they also knew to take advantage of the calm for as long as it lasted.

Spring was in the air. And with it, the inevitable pairing of young Mobians. Two such potential young lovers, a pair of gentle beavers, were wandering the less travelled paths of the Great Forest. So enraptured in each other, they failed to notice the shadow moving silently amongst the trees. It watched them, stalked them. Its eyes narrowed, its body tensed as it prepared to attack.

~~~~~

“It was horrible.” The trembling beaver sobbed. “It just came out of nowhere…and it took my poor Rodney…” she buried her face in her hands. Sally placed a comforting arm around her. She glanced at the others.

“I know it’s painful,” she said softly, “but did you see what it was?”

The young beaver shook her head. “It was too fast,” she sobbed. “All I can remember is claws and fangs.”

They left her in the charge of Doctor Quack and his wife and moved out into the sun.

“We have to investigate this,” Sally sighed.

“We’ve got a slashing, clawing predator out there, that moves too fast to be seen, and you want to investigate it?” Sonic asked incredulously.

“I won’t have some monster stalking and killing my people,” she said. “And I won’t be a prisoner in Knothole because of it!”

She sighed as she looked at him. It wasn’t that long ago that he’d have been the first one out there. The loss of his speed had really shaken his confidence, even though she knew he’d never admit it.

~~~~~

Using the directions given to them by the beaver, the group moved into the woods. The forest was lush and green with the new growth of spring. The aroma of flowers was heavy in the air.

“I can see why they came this way,” Bunnie sighed, snuggling up to Antoine.

“Guys,” Sally said, “We’re on a mission here. Keep your minds on business.”

“Yeah,” Sonic chuckled. “A killer beastie gettin’ the drop on you when you’re makin’ goo goo eyes tends to spoil the mood.”

Julie-Su had taken point, moving several meters ahead of the others. Though she never said anything, it still hurt when she saw any of them getting cosy. She didn’t begrudge them their happiness, but she didn’t care to be reminded of what she’d lost.

“Holy spit,” she whispered as she entered the clearing that was their destination.

It was in shambles. Trees had been knocked down, earth tossed about. The site had been literally torn to pieces. Sally gasped as she caught up with the echidna.

“What on Mobius could have done this?”

“Nothing I want to meet on a dark night,” Sonic said.

“Nothing I want to meet anytime of the day,” Antoine added.

“Spread out,” Sally ordered. “But keep in sight of each other. Let’s see if we can find any clues as to what this thing is.”

“Or anything that’ll tell us what happened to poor Rodney,” Bunnie added.

They moved into the clearing gingerly, alert to every sound and movement. Sonic frowned and crouched, a little awkwardly, to get a better look at the twin claw marks in a large chunk of stone. His eyes widened at the deep trenches as he gently ran his index finger and pinkie down the length of the gashes. He looked up, his mind racing as he thought the unthinkable.

“Sal.” He hissed quietly.

She frowned at the tone of urgency in his voice. “What’s wrong?” She whispered as she crouched down beside him.

“See this?” He tapped the stone.

Sally gasped. “What could be strong enough to leave claw marks like that in solid stone?”

“I don’t think they’re claw marks.” Sonic said. He turned his hand over, laying the back of his hand against the stone. The knuckles of his index and little fingers matched the grooves perfectly. He looked at her with wide eyes.

“Are you suggesting that…”

Sonic covered her mouth with his free hand. “If I’m right,” he said quietly, gesturing towards Julie-Su with a cock of his head. “The knowledge that her boyfriend’s back, and he’s developed a taste for beaver flesh, is not something she should have to know.”

“But this creature appears to be totally feral…”

“Don’t you think you’d be pretty annoyed if you’d been skewered through the chest with a mystical sword and left for dead by the people you care about?”

“Sonic…”

“It fits,” he continued. “Those dreams we had said he was coming back. They just didn’t say he was coming back as a homicidal maniac.”

“Sonic…”

“We gotta trap him.”

“Yeah,” she agreed. “But how?”

“Sally?” They looked up at the approaching Rotor. Sonic swung around and planted himself firmly on the stone, hiding the telltale claw marks.

“Let’s keep this theory to ourselves for now.” Sally whispered to Sonic before turning her attention to the walrus. “What is it, Rotor?”

“Our investigations bring us to believe that this thing is extremely strong, with powerful slashing claws, most likely on its feet, given the depth and length of the gashes we’ve found. It’s fast…”

“And it has a taste for beaver flesh.” Sonic added.

“No, I don’t think so,” Rotor said. “There’s no sign of blood, or anything else. A predator doesn’t normally haul off its prey, they eat where they kill, unless…”

“What?” Sally asked.

“They’ve got young to feed.”

“You mean there may be more than one of these things?” Julie-Su asked as she walked up.

“Let us hope not.” Antoine shuddered.

“What do you want to do from here?” Bunnie asked.

“I say we trap it,” Sally said, glancing at Sonic.

“You want this thing alive?” Rotor queried.

“If it is some kind of predator, it’s unlikely it’s sentient, given its method of operations,” Sally said. “It may be a brutal killer, but it’s still a living creature.”

~~~~~

“You’re suggesting we use live bait?” Geoffrey asked incredulously. “This thing’s already killed…”

“We have no confirmation on that,” Sally interjected. “If it is a predator, it won’t go for something that’s already dead, they like their meat fresh…”

“Have you ever considered,” Hershey spoke quietly, “That this thing isn’t killing for food?”

“What do you mean, Hersh?” Sally asked.

“You said you found no evidence of it actually feeding,” she said. “Maybe it hunts for sport.”

“It makes sense,” Sally admitted. “A predator wouldn’t normally go after a sentient, it’d go for something easier.”

“Then, it’ll want a challenge.” Geoffrey mused. He looked at his troops. “Any volunteers?”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Stu gasped under his breath.

Geoffrey draped his arm around the wombat’s shoulder. “Sounds like we have a winner.”

“Wait a minute…” his face paled.

“Don’t sweat it, Stu….”

“No,” Sally objected. “We’re all going.”

“Great,” Sonic muttered, “give it multiple targets.”

“We can herd it, trap it.”

“We gotta find it first,” Geoffrey protested. “That’s a bloody big forest.”

“That’s why we need numbers,” Sally glanced at the trees. “It could be anywhere. So, what I propose we do is…”

~~~~~

“I still don’t see why I can’t go.” Sonic grumbled.

“Sonic, I need someone here to look after the kids, to make sure THEY stay here.” Sally explained looking at Tails and Amy Rose. “You know what those two are like. This is too dangerous to have them follow us. And they’ll listen to you.”

“Yeah, I know, you’re right.”

“I knew you’d understand.” She kissed him quickly, then headed off to join the others.

He watched them leave, heading into who knew what. He leaned heavily on his cane, a surly look on his face.

~~~~~

“I am gonna kill him for this…” Stu mumbled as he walked, alone, through the Great Forest. He was armed, but that didn’t offer him much comfort. He’d seen what the thing had done to its surrounding during its last hunt.

He glanced nervously into the trees. They had so little information on this thing’s tactics. The beaver’s testimony had been sketchy at best. All they knew was that it attacked swiftly, and without warning. But from where? Was it up in the trees? Was it hiding in the undergrowth? Was it watching him now? Waiting for him to let his guard down?

“There’s no sign of it…” he whispered into his communicator.

“It’s out here somewhere,” he heard Geoffrey whisper back.

Stu caught a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned towards it, eyes wide. He screamed as a brightly coloured bird broke from the trees, matching his cry with a scream of its own.

“Stu?” Geoffrey’s concerned voice filled his ears.

“It’s okay,” he sighed. “False alarm.” He breathed deeply for a few minutes, head down, eyes closed. With a relieved smile on his face, he raised his head.

And found himself looking into the cruellest pair of eyes he’d ever seen.

He didn’t have time to scream.

~~~~~

Several minutes later, when Stu failed to report in, a somewhat panicked Geoffrey St John burst into the clearing that had been the wombat’s last known whereabouts.

There was no sign of him, only his mangled stun rifle.

He spun, cross-bow raised, as he heard something break through the trees.

“Easy, sugar,” Bunnie said, her hands up as if in surrender.

“Sorry,” he said curtly, lowering his weapon. He shook his head sadly. “I’ve lost one,” he said softly, thinking of Valdez, and how he’d failed him, “I’ll be damned if I lose another.” He looked at Bunnie, brandishing the now useless weapon. Bunnie gasped. It had been twisted into something that resembled a pretzel.

“What in blazes is this thing?” The skunk demanded.

~~~~~

“Keep on your toes, people,” Geoffrey’s voice crackled over Sally’s headset. “This monster’s already got Stu.”

“Oh,” Hershey’s whispered sob said what they all felt.

Sally sighed. Stu had not even been able to cry for help. ‘How fast is this thing? You’d think it was Sonic before…’

She paused in mid-thought as she thought of the hedgehog’s theory. Knuckles may not have been able to match Sonic’s speed, but he’d been fast, very fast. He had the strength, the ferocity. And he used to like to attack from ambush.

‘No! It can’t be…he would never…’

She heard a weapon discharge. From the direction, she knew who it was.

“Antoine,” she whispered. She bolted towards his location.

The coyote was sitting in the middle of a small clearing in obvious shock. His eyes were wide, his breathing rapid. She crouched down beside him. “Antoine?” He didn’t answer, he just continued to stare. She slowly turned to follow his gaze. Her own eyes widened.

She couldn’t say for sure what it was, she could barely make out its shape, but she knew it was watching her. It cocked its head to one side, almost curiously. It leaned forward slightly, and she could just make out a pointed snout, a pair of large, exotically shaped eyes.

“Sssaallleeee?” it said, it’s voice a cold hiss. Four long fingers curled around the branch it was perched on. Long talon-like fingernails raked the bark as it slowly began to haul itself from the shadows.

“Princess?” Geoffrey cried as he burst into the clearing. The thing’s head flicked towards the sound of the skunk’s voice. It slipped behind a tree trunk and vanished into the shadows. “Are you all right?” He asked.

“I’m fine,” she said. She looked at the spot where the thing had been. “It was here.”

Geoffrey followed her gaze. “What was it?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But it knew my name.”

The skunk looked at her, then back to the spot in the tree.

“Well, this just keeps getting better and better.”

“Princess…” Antoine’s voice was barely a whisper. She looked at him. He was staring into the trees with the same glassy-eyed expression she’d found him with. She knew what it meant. She cursed, very unregally, under her breath.

“Geoffrey,” she hissed in a low whisper. “It’s still here.”

The skunk’s eyes narrowed as he searched the trees. He slowly leaned down and scooped up Antoine’s fallen weapon. It was far more powerful than his wrist-mounted crossbow.

“Don’t even breath.” He said softly to his companions.

His eyes flicked to the slightest hint of movement. Through the weapon’s site he could make out something. Perched in the trees, it watched them silently. It was far enough in the shadows that he could neither properly identify it nor get a positive lock on it. ‘You’re a smart one, aren’t you?’ It shrank back into the shadows, as if sensing the gun trained on it. It twisted quickly, long, ropy tendrils fanning about its head as it did so, and disappeared into the darkness.

“Struth,” the skunk whispered.

“What is it?” Sally asked.

“That thing’s got dreadlocks,” he turned to her, “and it knows your name.”

~~~~~

Still grumbling, Sonic stalked around the quiet village. He knew the real reason Sally hadn’t wanted him to go. He sat down heavily, pulling his cane into his lap. He stared at it angrily. Raising it above his head, he was about to hurl it with all the strength he possessed, when it was pulled from his hand.

“You could hurt somebody with that,” Julie-Su said softly.

“Why are you still here?” He asked.

She sat down beside him. She sighed. “I’ve been benched, too.”

They sat in angry silence for a while. He glanced at her, noticing she looked more anguished than angry. He frowned, and was about to say something when she spoke first.

“It’s not him.”

“Not…who?”

“Oh, come on,” she sighed in exasperation. “I saw the claw marks too. Twin claw marks. Looked like they were made by the first and fourth digit of a really big hand.” She held up her own fist for emphasis. “You can’t imagine how I felt when I saw them. You don’t know how much I wanted to believe he’d made them, despite the fact that they were made by such a violent act. But I know they weren’t.” She pressed her still clenched fist to her chest. “If he was back, I’d know. I’d feel the…” She lowered her head, trying to regain her composure.

“It’s not him.”

~~~~~

“Do ya really think it’s him?” Bunnie asked incredulously.

“I didn’t get a really good look at it, I couldn’t see what colour it was,” Geoffrey admitted. “But it definitely had dreadlocks.”

“And the claw marks we found at the original site would help to confirm the possibility.” Rotor added.

“It could be some other echidna.” Bunnie suggested.

Geoffrey shook his head. “They’re not native to this area. And he’s the only one with that kind of strength…and…” he made a tight fist of his hand, “…equipment.”

“But this thing is totally feral.” Hershey objected.

“Not totally,” Sally sighed. “He knew my name.”

“So, what do we do?” Rotor asked.

“He’s strong, wild, and has no qualms about killing,” Geoffrey sighed. “If it is him, he’s obviously out of his mind. It might be kinder to put him out of his misery.”

“NO!” Sally objected angrily. “He was willing to die for us. Are you really willing to repay him like that?” Geoffrey lowered his head. “We take him alive. There must be someway to reach him, bring him back.”

“And if we can’t?” Geoffrey looked her in the eyes. “Princess…Sally, if it IS him, and if he has reverted to a totally bestial state, we may not be able to save him. He doesn’t deserve to die, and I don’t want to kill him, but we may HAVE to.”

She sighed. “Only as a very last resort. Is that understood?” They all nodded sullenly. “In pairs now. Hershey and Rotor. Geoffrey and Antoine. Bunnie, you’re with me. Let’s move out.”

~~~~~

They walked in silence, radio transmitters open at all times. Sally searched the trees glumly. Ever since Sonic had suggested it, she hadn’t wanted to believe it. But now, all the evidence seemed to confirm their fears. She was now hunting one of her dearest friends.

She heard a soft thud and Bunnie’s muffled gasp. She spun around raising her weapon. Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped.

Perched on top of Bunnie’s now unconscious body was the thing they’d been hunting. It had attacked so quickly, so efficiently, the rabbit hadn’t even had time to scream. But Bunnie was still alive. She’d been disabled, not dismembered.

Sally noticed all this in a split second. Her attention was riveted on the creature before her. Red patches of fur showed through the grime that clung to its body. Tangled dreadlocks hung about its pointed face. It studied her with large, impossibly dark, almond-shaped eyes. She managed to break the lock it had made with her eyes, and glanced at its hands and feet. Each digit, toes and fingers, ended in a long curled talon. But on the back of its hands above its index and pinkie fingers, was a sharp spur.

“By the Walkers…” she whispered as he set his shoulders and prepared to pounce.

~~~~~

“Princess!” Geoffrey St John screamed at the top of his lungs. He and Antoine sprinted as fast as the underbrush would allow, both fearing what they would find.

“Strueth!” The skunk exclaimed at the sight of the grimy echidna.“Mon Deiu.” Antoine whispered beside him. Then he noticed Bunnie’s unmoving form. With a heart-felt cry he opened fire. The coyote was an excellent marksman, years of fighting against Robotnik had honed his skills, but somehow, not one shot found its mark. The echidna was impossibly fast. It turned its attention away from the princess, its cold eyes locking with Antoine’s. But it didn’t attack. It seemed wary of the gun.

“Knuckles?” Sally said softly. His head shifted slightly towards the sound of her voice. She began to move cautiously towards him. He seemed to visibly relax, crouching into a bestial stance. He watched her intently, his expression oddly blank. She held out a hand to him.

“Sally…” Geoffrey warned. She held up a hand to silence him.

“I know you’ve been through a lot,” she said, “but we can help you. If you let us.” She smiled at him warmly.

His body tensed. His eyes locked with hers. She could have sworn they were glowing. His muscles coiled as he prepared, once again, to pounce at her.

She never felt him impact with her body. Instead she heard the powerful discharge of a laser weapon. She was about to berate her saviour, the weapon had been set on high, and she had specifically told her troops she wanted him alive.

Julie-Su stood silently, with a cold look in her lavender eyes, but her lower lip was trembling. Her pistol was still smoking in her hand. She held it aimed at the filthy looking echidna. All present were stunned. None could believe that she had shot at the being she obviously loved.

“I don’t know who or what you are,” she said in a low threatening voice. “But you are NOT Knuckles.” The thing that looked like Knuckles just glared at her. “And I won’t have you perverting his memory like this!”

“Easy, Sal,” Sonic said softly. “The cavalry’s here.”

“Sonic,” she turned on him. “I ordered you to keep an eye on the kids.”

“It’s cool, Sal,” he smiled, “they’re right here.” He gestured to Tails and Amy Rose.

“Sonic!”

Julie-Su heard none of this. She just stared at the thing before her. It may have worn her beloved’s face and form, but she knew in her heart that it wasn’t him. The pair continued to glare at each other.

“Orders?” Geoffrey asked, looking at Sally.

“I want him alive,” she said.

“I got news for you, Sal…” Sonic began.

The thing that looked like Knuckles took that instant to attack. It barrelled towards the silent Julie-Su at high speed. But she was ready. She ducked and rolled as it passed over her, firing point blank into its belly.

“NO!” Sally yelled, surprised that Julie-Su had actually shot him.

“Jeez,” Geoffrey whispered, “talk about cold.”

Julie-Su rose, and took aim at the now unmoving creature. Nobody had said anything, maybe they hadn’t noticed, but it hadn’t made a sound when she shot it. Antoine made a move towards the fallen creature.

“Don’t!” Julie-Su yelled. The coyote froze in his tracks. “That thing is not what it appears to be.”

“Then what is it?” Geoffrey asked.

Before she could answer, the fallen creature began to move. Its movements were jerky, almost…robotic?

“Identity compromised.” It said in a cold metallic voice. “Mission aborted. Unit awaiting orders.”

“…that thing’s not alive.” Sonic finished.

“Holy spit,” Geoffrey whispered.

“It’s a robot?” Sally almost sobbed.

As if in answer, it turned towards her. Half of its face had been sheared away when it hit the ground, revealing its dull metal muzzle and glowing yellow eye. “For the love of….” Robotnik’s voice echoed from within. “How on Mobius did that blasted female see through my deception? My creation was a perfect replica!”

“Robotnik.” Sonic growled. “This is low. Even for you.” If the tyrant heard him, he gave no sign.

“Unit awaiting orders.” It repeated.

“Switch to Plan B.” Robotnik said.

“Compliance.” It raised its hands to its damaged face covering. Griping it firmly, it tore the outer covering from its body, revealing its true robotic form. It looked similar to Metal Sonic, only of course, it had been cast in the image of Knuckles. Its outer casing was a vibrant red. Each of its metallic dreadlocks ended in a sharp blade.

It stood silently. Its hands twisted and retreated into its forearms. A pair of long, razor sharp blades slid out to replace them. It raised up into the air, hovering through the use of a jet engine built onto its back.

“This does not look good.” Sonic whispered.

It began to spin. Slowly at first, it quickly gained momentum. Its dreadlocks fanned out, creating a weapon akin to a buzzsaw. It raised its arms adding a second saw to its arsenal. Trees were shredded. Leaves, bark and debris were thrown in all directions. The Mobians ducked for cover.

“That blasted thing’ll destroy the entire forest if we don’t put it out of commission!” Geoffrey yelled. “Cover me!” Breaking cover, he took careful aim with the most powerful weapon he had, but the blast just bounced off the wildly spinning construct, straight back at him. He yelped as he ducked the blast.

“Well, that was amazingly unsuccessful.” Sonic snorted.

“You got a better idea, sport?” The skunk demanded.

Sonic searched the group, checking the weapons and supplies each carried. Each was equipped similarly to the skunk. He turned his attention to the surrounding natural environment.

“That thing’s movin’ pretty fast,” Bunnie noted. “We’re gonna have to high tail it pretty soon.”

Sonic smiled as he addressed Geoffrey. “As a matter of fact, I do.” He picked up a length of sturdy vine and handed it to St John. “How are you at hog-tying?”

~~~~~

The group moved into position around Robotnik’s newest weapon of destruction. Each had abandoned their hi-tech blasters for a substantial length of vine. Each began to twirl the lassoed end around their head.

“Now!” Sonic commanded.

Each hurled their lasso towards their target, each managing to hit some part of the whirling dervish. Soft curses emanated from several of them as the speed and strength of the construct threatened to drag the vines from their hands.

The robot was stalled, snared in the vines. It began to thrash in a hauntingly living manner. The vines were stretched taunt as its servos tried desperately to break it free. It flailed its arms, its twin bladed ‘hands’ slashing at the already fraying vines.

“This ain’t gonna hold it.” Geoffrey gnashed as he fought to hold onto his vine.

“Julie-Su?” Sonic called to the echidna. “Does your taser have a firing cable by any chance?”

She raised a brow as she caught on to his wavelength. She dropped her vine, the others letting out a collective yelp as the construct bucked under the sudden release. She began to readjust the settings on her weapon. She took careful aim at the writhing machine, and fired.

It looked blankly at the barb in its chest, not fully comprehending what it was.

Julie-Su steadied herself, and almost gently squeezed the trigger.

The construct screamed in an eerie imitation of life as electricity arched throughout its metal frame. System after system shorted out and shut down. With one final high-pitched squeal, its body sagged, its head rolled forward.

“NO!” Robotnik’s voice howled from within. “My beautiful creation!” Two small, secondary rockets ignited in its feet. It lifted slowly into the air, twisted, and headed towards Robotropolis. “You’ll pay for this!” Robotnik’s voice echoed over the trees.

Sally noticed Julie-Su walk silently into the trees, her head hung low, her shoulders sagged. “I think we already are.” She said softly.

“Cripes.” A voice cried loudly. “What the blazes was that thing?”

“Stu?” Hershey said incredulously as the wombat and a rather shaky looking beaver stumbled out of the trees.

“What’d I miss?”

“Where were you?” Geoffrey asked.

“That thing had us locked up in a cave over that way. Nothing I couldn’t dig my way out of.” He smiled proudly. “I’m surprised it didn’t hurt us.”

“It must have been harvesting new slaves for Robotnik.” Sally said. She looked at the beaver. “Rodney?” He nodded dumbly. “Let’s get you back to Knothole.”

~~~~~

Julie-Su sat in silence on the very edge of what the Freedom Fighters had re-dubbed Echidna’s Bluff. It was the spot they’d found her after Knuckles had flown off to only he knew where. It was the spot where she had last spoken to him. It was the spot she always went to when she missed him the most.

“Julie-Su?” Sally said softly. She didn’t like to disturb her when she came up here, but she herself was feeling pretty miserable after what Robotnik had done. How much worse must it be for Julie-Su?

The echidna didn’t respond, didn’t even acknowledge her friend’s presence. Sally sat down next to her, still allowing her her space. Her face was unreadable. “Julie-Su?”

The echidna’s only movement was the lowering of her eyelids. She didn’t turn toward Sally when she softly spoke.

“I want to go home.”

~~~~~

The Deep Jungle
Southern Mobius
Several weeks later

On the continent of Southern Mobius life went on as it had for centuries.

It was a dismal day, it had been raining steadily since before dawn. But dismal or not, the daily chores had to be done. An elderly armadillo was collecting fruits to feed himself and his ailing wife. He skirted the edge of the great crater. There was something about the place that caused him to shiver. Many of his people considered the area haunted. He’d never truly believed in the stories, that ghosts walked here, but he did consider it a somewhat sacred spot.

Today, however, was different. He felt a strange buzz in the air that he couldn’t explain.

Then he heard a low rumbling sound, from deep within the earth. The ground began to shake, knocking him off his feet. Against his better judgement, he decided to investigate. It had sounded and felt like an earthquake, and somebody could be hurt.

He approached the crater. He hadn’t witnessed the events that had led to the creation of the huge hole in the ground, but he had heard the story.

Two great armies had battled here. One for domination. One for freedom. All had seemed lost for the warriors of freedom. They were outnumbered, under-equipped, defeat seemed imminent.

But a being of fire had appeared. It fought for the side of freedom, but the battle was only won when the being engulfed the evil leader in its fiery embrace. Its fire had swept out, disabling the evil army. The fire brought peace, but at a terrible cost.

The fiery one had perished, along with the evil leader. Those who had fought at its side had wept, long and loud for their fallen comrade. They declared the site a hallowed one, forever revering the one who had given all it had for their freedom.

He peered over the edge, a little fearfully, and couldn’t believe what he saw.

The crater’s smooth glass-like surface was in a shambles. Shards of shattered rock were strewn about. Mounds of earth had been hurled every which way. He gasped. But not from the devastation.

Curled up peacefully, apparently sound asleep, in the middle of the crater was a creature, the likes of which he’d never seen before. It was a vibrant red. Tongues of fire curled about its face. The rain pelted its body, but could not extinguish its flame.

It was a being of fire.

The creature seemed unaware of his presence. As he watched, it blinked and opened its eyes. It sat up, a little shakily, gazing around with more than a little uncertainty. Though its red pelt covered its entire body, he knew the creature was male. He was solidly built, broad shouldered, and lacked the gentle curves of femininity. He watched, trying to imagine what he was thinking, what he was and where he had come from.

~~~~~

He gazed at the hazy world around him, the ground beneath him smooth and cold. His hands slipped on the glass-like surface he was lying on. He could feel something pounding on his body, forceful, but not painful. It took a while for his addled brain to realise he was sitting in the rain.

Laughing, he spread his arms and tilted his nose to the sky. He opened his mouth, delighting in the taste of the cool, fresh water, as he squinted through what was becoming a torrential downpour. He stood up, his bare feet skidding on the slick surface, fused like glass from the energy surge of so long ago. He raised his hands to the sky.

~~~~~

The armadillo watched in awe as the strange and rather jubilant creature called emerald lightning to his hands. He twisted the unearthly light into a brilliant tunnel. With a bright flash, both lightning and creature disappeared. The armadillo made the sign that was the faith of his people. He hurried home, his task forgotten. He had a great tale to tell.

After all, it’s not every day you witness the birth of a god.