Finally It's here! Thanks for being patient. Release for Part 3 should be around Nov 27.
Part 2
The Hunt
Chapter 10
What Do The Rest Of Us Do
Having had a considerable amount of time to brood-a few weeks to be precise- the crew of the Blue Typhoon would be disbanded. A vacation was much in order. Not Sonic or Amy or even Chris talked about what they saw. Leaving the desolate planet with a strong feeling of ineptitude wasn't exactly their style-but what more could they do? On the other hand, home never felt sweeter. And this little planet was ripe for the taking. Mobius they called it, filled with oceans, forests, and deserts, but more importantly, people.
The adventurers were inhabitants of the Acorn Kingdom (friendly with all kingdoms except the Iron Kingdom and the Kingdom of Knottingham), located west of their continent. Most of them living in houses near the coast. Anything east of the continent was a kingdom known as the Dragon Empire (friendly with all kingdoms except the Golden Hive Kingdom and the Iron Kingdom), south(another kingdom and continent) was the Golden Hive (friendly with all kingdoms except the Dragon Empire and the Iron Kingdom). The land north was Eggman controlled, or so he proclaimed (friendly to no one). He never much stayed there, besides there not being much of anything there. The floating Angel Island stayed immobile atop the west, miles south from where they lived. An ocean over to the east was the Knottingham Kingdom, (similar to that of the people of Acorn)(friendly with the Iron Kingdom/ Golden Hive/ Dragon Empire), off the coast of the fair peoples' Knottingham was Albion-the ancient ruins of the first recorded echidnas. On the same continent as Knottingham and rest of, there was the massive Kingdom of Iron (friendly to only Knottingham/ rumors had it they plotted with the devious Doctor Eggman). A whole continent and a half to the south-west, was an adjacent continent known as Down-unda. This was where most of the echidna population moved after the forgotten wars. (The echidnas were neutral in the Iron Wars). Its capital city was the rebuilt city of Echidnopolis. (The old city could be found in ruins scattered atop Angel Island).
The Typhoon landed in its birthing hole a few miles from Tails' home, apparently all land owned by a previous Prower. The ship rumbled, the landing felt more like a crash. A large quantity of debris fell in the cave next to the ship. Not only was it not much to look at, but it was no longer practical to fly the ship. Tails planned to decommission the ship soon enough, but not now, he wanted to lay on his bed and do nothing. The friends parted ways after meeting outside the hangar, leaving an awful taste in their mouths. Each went to their individual homes. Cream politely invited Éleos over for dinner and he obliged and said he would join her later that evening.
"Now remember, if you follow the trail that leads to the castle, it will take you to a small town called Thumbnut. Our house is the one in the forest to the left of the town. Amy will you be coming too?"
"No Cream, not tonight."
Sonic handed a small bag to Knuckles,"Oh? What's this?"
"It's a thank you, for lending them." He thanked, not giving a care in the world.
Knuckles opened the bag, it contained three of the Chaos Emeralds. While he stuffed the shards of the Master Emerald inside, he said,"Those were mine to begin with pal. I hope Shadow has better luck with the rest of them."
"Some people just don't know how to say you're welcome." Sonic shrugged. Knuckles noticed Rouge by herself.
"Hey Rouge, if you don't have anywhere to stay, you can stay at my place. Besides I hardly go in there, I sleep outside." The bat glared at the echidna. "Yeah right, knowing you you're probably a slob. No place for a woman like me."
"Suit yourself then! C'mon Chris." Knuckles growled and Rouge contemplated the thought and mumbled,"Well maybe one night. But you better not try anything on me!"
"Ha! You?! Don't flatter yourself, if I ever...!" Their voices trailed off as they walked south and Chris followed them saying goodbye to the others.
Sonic turned to Éleos, "Look buddy, If you don't have a place to stay, my place is always open. And I can start helping you look for your friend tomorrow morning if you'd like."
"No need, but thank you. As for him, it is not of utmost importance. I will do what I can, keep an eye on Tails for me while I'm gone."
"Sure thing pal." Sonic did a double take, it was strange how important he made Tails sound before, and then, nothing.
The Chaotix left in a hurry to go build their new base of operations or something along those lines. Tails waited for all of them to leave before he left. Sonic had asked him if he was going to be alright. He assured him he would, and the hedgehog left in a second. As did the minted hedgehog. And the pink one as well, to go to her own house.
All that were left were Cream, Cheese and Tails. Tails turned around and locked the door that accessed the hangar.
"Tails, do you want to come over for dinner tonight?" Cream asked innocently without realizing she was making a face.
"Uh, sorry Cream, maybe some other time."
"Okay then, I'll come visit you tonight though, is that alright?" Her face felt red, she had been planning to say that.
"Sure thing." His smile was weak but reassuring for the rabbit.
"Okay!" "Chao, chao!" She hurriedly and excitedly left to greet her mother she hadn't seen in a few months.
He has no Idea he's leaving it behind. I can see it. But my dear, in my experience, it's better if someone does the work for you, and you take all the credit.
Tails' walk was lonesome and full of muse. He mostly thought of her, though he did not want to. But the thoughts were being fed to him over and over. He began sulking and talking to himself. It was but a league 'till he reached his beach house, and another and a half until his parent's house. It annoyed him that his friends left him, but then again he didn't want to see anyone. Grains of sand made their way into his socks which he was not a big fan of, but he did not stop. With each step and each thought it only made him feel heavier. It was as if the sand in his feet was pulling him down to the earth.
Get out of my head. It had only been a few months so it was still fresh in his mind. Why won't you leave me alone? The waves crashed as he got out of a small forest area, he walked a bit more until turning left to go east. He noticed a few houses had been built while he was gone, but not too many. He also noticed a family playing on the beach with a beach ball. That made him smile for a second. They have no idea of what's out there. I do. I've seen it all, and I've lost everything.
Tails' own innocence was overwhelming to himself and those around him. The boy in reality only felt a fraction of pain in its true form. But he managed to convince himself that he had all the troubles in the world. In truth, he did feel pain, and what happened was grievous, but his self-pity blinded him from the truth. It did him no good to hold his chest whenever he thought of her, or talk to himself and tell himself he was a mad man. His self-destructive behavior would be then end of him sure enough.
The fox closed his eyes, the sun mocked him by not letting him see a few feet away from his feet. When he opened his eyes again he was touching the door frame of his beach house. It would be nice to live here.
Here it comes again.
Do you remember fantasizing about you and her living together? A smile quickly turned feign across his face. It would never have worked anyway. The boy lied to himself, he was trying to deny her in any way possible.
What do you want from me? She was a plant, and I'm just... a sad excuse of an animal being. Maybe, just maybe.
When the fox reached his destination he could not be happier. Well, maybe a little happier, but he was home. He plummeted on his couch.
~~~
"This might come in handy."
"What is it doctor?"
"A little souvenir I borrowed from our less than fortunate friends." Eggman's new base was coming along swimmingly, no pun intended. He had all manner of robots working on it even before he arrived. The giant egg-shaped man pulled out a hunk of metal from a box. Perfect. "Decoe! Bocoe! See to it that I am not disturbed."
The yellow and gray robots stood at attention, and in unison responded, "Yes sir!" The metal door slid closed and locked as they left. The good doctor unconcealed a great smile. "Cameras, off!" There was a buzz and a whirr. He started when he pulled a chalkboard from a corner of the dark room. "Hm, this may be the last of the series."
~~~
The members of the Chaotix fell silent for once. Both Espio and Charmy knew what they wanted to do, and only Vector thought he knew what he wanted. When they reached the remaining plot of land that was their home they only saw a stool and an old filing cabinet.
"I don't think we are going to be able to build anything, much less our old base." Espio quietly commented.
"Ya' think sergeant plain and clear?" Vector responded sarcastically.
Charmy began, "Uh guys! I just noticed all our stuff is in space. Our livelihoods! Why?!"
"Put a cork in it Charmy." The crocodile lifted an earphone and out came a key. "This is our livelihood boys."
"Woah a key? It's so shiny! Uh boss? How do we split a key three ways?"
"Darn it you buzz brain, it's what the key unlocks. I just happen to keep our earnings in the ol' Acorn Mint."
Epio confronted his employer, "Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you about that. I would like my share of the earnings." Vector looked like he'd been hit by a boulder.
"What do you mean Espio?"
"I mean, I'm leaving. And I'm not sure I'll be back."
Only Vector yelled,"What?"
"I need to see my clan. I must do this Vector, please try to understand."
Vector could not afford to lose a member but he had entrusted Espio with his life for time and time again. "Fine." Hooroo mate.
"Actually boss, I've also been meaning to tell you something."
"Not you too Charmy!" Charmy shrugged and smiled.
"Well, I expect both o' ya's to come back. Aw c'mere!" The crocodile hugged his teammates wholeheartedly and handed them the key. He was uncertain if he would see them again, but he trusted them. For now, the Chaotix would be dispersed. As soon as they left Vector pulled up the stool and pushed the cabinet in front of him. He yelled towards the town,"The Chaotix detective agency is back!" He fixed his small glasses he pulled from his other earphone and pretended to be writing something down.
~~~
The pink hedgehog darted through the long, winding trail that lead to her house. A few more trees had grown since last she was there. There was even a house that stood right across from hers. She paid no mind to it though, when she unlocked her door she gasped. As she stood on the doorsill she viewed what appeared to be what a wild animal would do if placed in her home. Her living room chairs were overturned, not a single drawer or crevice had been unchecked. The very most place she felt more comfortable in was in shambles, and in a disorderly pattern. Amy locked the door behind her and tried to ignore the clutter. She also noisily locked all the windows in the house, closed them with blinds and walked through the kitchen and collapsed in her bedroom. The bed was not turned but she could not care less for the moment. She would listen to her cramping muscles and aching bones before giving in to paranoia.
Darkness took the girl into a corner of her mind not yet explored. She gave in willingly but did not dream, she was too tired for that.
Next she woke to an unsuspecting new sore in her neck. "Ow." Somehow she had ended up at the foot of her bed, head raised high. Maybe she slept-walked there. She only saw a bit of the moonlight hitting her bed through the blind. Her room looked alien yet familiar to her, like going home after one of those business trips her father used to have. Amy reached across her pink-sheeted bed and grabbed for a blue pillow lined with blue, fuzzy, little pom-poms. She thought of her Sonic, that was the go-to, she felt. It made her feel distressed and agitated that she could not see him. And it only felt worse that she knew that deep within, he was suffering too. But she could not do anything, or so she believed. She squeezed her pillow with all her might, and for a moment she knew nothing, only fear. Fear of having her heart broken-unless it already was. Fear that she would have to tread this planet alone, perhaps she had started and not noticed. Fearing all that lay before her and that none would remember her. "Daddy." She cried, "I can't."
Mayhap she had overstayed her welcome with the people of Acorn. On the bright side, Knottingham was only a continent and a sea away, and not two of each. She threw her blue pillow in a fit of rage and confusion and started to pack.
~~~
"Mom? Dad?"
The modest house looked friendly from the outside, it beckoned Sonic to come in with only a small kitchen light. When the hedgehog poked his head in the house a confused Bernadette poked her head out of the kitchen and into the living room.
"Olgie? Olgie is that you?" The mother recognized her son's voice, she responded by yelling his name and momma-bear-hugging him. His mother was a purple hedgehog with a big lock of blonde hair on top of her head, her blue eyes did not resemble Sonic's, and neither did his father's. (As a matter of fact his eyes weren't resembling a whole lot of anything these days.) She was still dressed in mail from neck down to her legs from work at the castle.
"Mom!" Sonic's voice cracked,"Don't yell that out loud!" He quickly closed the door and checked through the window to see if anyone had heard. It had darkened.
"Don't be silly, silly." She motioned for him to sit alongside her. More and more trinkets filled his old home than he could remember. Old spears of ancient wars never realized, even a shiny helm lay atop the fireplace on a slab of wood. "Do you like it? It was your great-great-great grandfather's. Sir Olgivile. I would have loved to live in those times. But anyway, I'm ready." His mother brought all of her attention to the blue hedgehog. When Sonic showed a confused look she blurted out,"Well? How did it go? Did you win? Well of course you won, you're here. And you're my strong boy! And where's the girl? Doesn't the hero get the girl in the end?"
"Mom!" There was another inconvenient crack in his voice so he checked and cleared his throat while he blushed. "Yes we won, and I'm alright. Where's Jules and Uncle Chuck?" He tried to sound sophisticated and grown up. It did not help that his mother shot a glare at him.
"Excuse me mister?"
Sonic lowered his ears,"Sorry ma'am. Where's dad?" He said loudly and sarcastically.
"Well if I know your father, he's probably not coming home today. That uncle of yours is going to wear him out. He has him working in the lab now, but he'd much rather be out and about fighting his way through to glory and for his family." His mother blushed,"Or so he always says. It's a good thing too, I worry about him these days."
"Don't worry, he's just like me, tough as nails and cool as a cat." The blue hedgehog scratched his nose and put his feet up on a nearby table.
"Shoes at the door mister." Bernadette motioned for the door, eyeing the possible mess his shoes might make.
As he did so obediently she asked,"What about that nice girl that always follows you around? She's a cutie."
"Mom, Amy's just a friend."
"Well can you blame a mom for wanting grandchildren?" She snickered, and Sonic rolled his eyes. "Amy...I wonder if I've met her parents... do they live around here?"
"Not that I know of." He said indifferently. His mother noticed the tone of his voice that time.
"Olgie what's wrong?" Her son only stared at his twiddling thumbs, he knew within something was wrong. He could not quite describe what he was feeling, only that he was thinning-from the inside. "What happened out there?" She grabbed her son and Sonic let himself go and laid on his mother.
"We lost someone. I wasn't fast enough." He spoke silently and sadly. "She and Tails were close, mom, I don't know how to help him." His mother understood that too well. They both quieted for a moment until she began again.
"That's... well that's terrible. We all lost people that day, but, poor Miles. First his parents and now a girl he probably liked."
Sonic remembered the dark days of the mad king, Tails had been but a small boy.
"We've raised him as our own, he knows he is welcome here."
"I hope he'll accept the help."
"We'll plan something nice for him." The purple hedgehog looked at the clock on the wall,"Olgie why don't you stay here the night."
"No, I've got to get home." Bernadette threw a blanket at his face.
"That wasn't a request." She yawned and climbed upstairs. "There's food in the kitchen, I have to get up early tomorrow. Goodnight sweetie."
"Goodnight mom." The hedgehog slept better than he had for months.
~~~
"Ugh, what time is it?" The groggy, red echidna got up from his stony bed. He napped longer than he wanted to next to his shining emeralds. He climbed down the ruins to go check on his two guests.
Rouge had managed to find Knuckles' secret stash in his little hut. It was under his bed and there she found a box with some notes and a key.
"Not the best hiding place Knuckie." Hmm, I wonder what this goes to. The bat eyed the small key in wonder. She placed the key in her suit, somewhere she knew the echidna would never dare try to look. She picked up one of the notes that was in the old box and opened it up. They all had been folded several times. One of the notes started with:
-My loveliest (the word loveliest was scratched out and replaced with dearest)dearest jewel. You don't know me, but I know you. You stole a few things from me, one of which was my heart. I would like the big, green emerald back but you can keep the heart. (It went on in scribbles) Knuckles quit kidding around!
It was made evident that this was a love note written to someone who had stolen the Master Emerald before, guilty as can be, Rouge thought, she also thought it was the cutest thing anyone had done for her. With every word read she needed to read more and more. She was in a wonderful trance, admiring the sweet words Knuckles had written for her, at least she was positive it was her. She was sure she had been the only one who had stolen it, or perhaps Eggman at one point but she doubted Knuckles wrote those to him. She gagged at the thought.
"What are you doing in here?"
The bat froze but silently hid the note from him," I uh, I found your key," she reached for it and showed Knuckles.
He sighed and mumbled that he needed to find a better spot for that. "Wait did you look in the box? That's private!" He immediately began blushing, luckily for him it was too dark to notice.
"Cross my heart!" She lied terribly, she did not want to embarrass Knuckles. But she was in the clear. Knuckles had not noticed. He grabbed for the box and extended his arm for her to give his key back.
"Oh Knuckie, won't you at least show me what it goes to."
"No."
"Pretty please."
"No."
This time it was a pouty face. It made Knuckles growl,"Fine! But no touching!"
"I promise sugar."
Knuckles rolled his eyes and took the key from her. She was satisfied, and followed the echidna to a trap door under a rug in his living room. It lead down a staircase and deep within, underground. Knuckles turned a knob and a light shone from the padded ceiling. And then soon enough, a few other lights shone as well.
"Now, I was told by my father to never reveal this to anyone. But no one said anything about reading it to anyone." Knuckles reached for a small safe where it was hidden even deeper underground. It was covered by a large sofa. He used the key and what it revealed was a large black book. It read on the cover: Echidna Tomes.
Normally that wasn't the bat's cup of tea but this new revelation had made her stay, for Knuckles. They both sat down on the sofa and he blew on it to get rid of some of the dust. The echidna eyed the book carefully, what he held in his hand was one of a kind and he could feel the weight of his clan in the book. Rouge waited patiently until he spoke up again,"This has been handed down by my ancestors for many years, since the time of the mobosaurs. But that's just myth, no one actually believes that." Knuckles loved history, especially his family history. He was excited to share the book with Rouge, or with anyone for that matter, but it was meaningful that it was her.
"Precursor," he began, "The following text is both a history of the echidna people and of all the peoples of our world. These words should not be taken lightly for prophets of all across time have written in this very book. To reject this book is to reject life itself, and reject our people from the truths that are written within." He skipped a few lines, "This book contains three volumes, the first is an ancient recording and warning of possibly our earliest antecessors: The Walkers. The second explains in great detail the very mysteries of our world and holy relics created or discovered by the Walkers. The third, a brief map of recorded time of our world."
Knuckles looked up to see if Rogue had fallen asleep. Surprisingly enough she was paying attention, he smiled and continued.
"Volume One, Tome of Prophecies. The coming of the Inventor... What? No...way." Knuckles looked as surprised as she did, they remembered what the minted stranger had told them. "I don't remember this at all."
He continued, now more intrigued and noticed there was a drawing above the text. It was of a triangle, perhaps an upside down pyramid. "The coming of the Inventor. Knowledge created and destroyed the world. -the wake brought upon Gluttony, he consumes all -imprisoned Wisdom. Death will bring -emergence and will be reincarnated in -known as Hate. The Inventor -be deceived by Death to bring about the reincarnation and the emergence. The death of (Love) -bring about Hate through him, -Hate will finish the world in place of Death." Knuckles paused and stared blankly, and confused.
"Because of the many years that this was copied and translated, some of the original meaning might have been lost. For example: the words that are capitalized might have meant the essence of that word or, just as simple as a title and not an actual name. Secondly, the word emergence has also been lost in meaning to us. The word might mean the awakening of a people, person, or object. The start of a time was also considered here, but the theory was left behind. The word Love and Courage were too closely similar and can otherwise just be Courage or an entirely different word."
The second drawing was of three triangles or pyramids, the largest was on the left, and exactly next to it was a middle sized one, and then a smaller next to that one. "The Sacrifice of the Three Traitors. (The Infected One) bemuses the hunter. - brothers can sacrifice, and only one can be left."
"Again not much of the meaning has been recovered from this warning. We do not know what the Infected One means, but it might be as the other names and just a title. We do not suspect that this has happened in our lifetime, perhaps it is yet to come. As you can see here a large portion of this was lost to us and we can only imagine what was written."
"The Passing of Light." This drawing was of two triangle's tips pointed away from each other from side to side. "Fallen, Revenge takes his throne, and armies of dead and living. A space of darkness created to end all countered by a space of Light. But Revenge -had always dissipated the Light, -Light might be extinguished."
Knuckles skipped a few pages. "Some are lead to believe that there is a final warning that possibly the Walkers wanted their children and children's children to have. But this is very unlikely." He skipped a few more pages until he got to another volume.
"Volume two, Tomb of Mysteries." He skipped a few words,"... that might help the world in the coming darkness, such as the Sword and Crown of Acorns (forged in the days of King Arthur), the chaos emeralds, and the power rings." He skipped to the next volume.
"Volume three, Tome of Recollections... and explanations of why things happen as they happen, such as the Days of Fury, The Coming of the Chaos Emeralds, The Forgotten War, The Purge(of the order of Ixis.) Then later the dark days of the Iron King, and the dark past of the echidnas: the dark age and reformation of the church and the great city of Echidnopolis, and the people's rebellion."
"The order of Ixis was once lead by a great sorcerer known as Mammoth Mogul but he was defeated and slain by the Knights of Aurora. He later returned to the order briefly, but our texts have no more writing on Mogul in the Days of Fury."
Knuckles stopped reading and noticed Rouge had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He put the book down and turned the lights off.
~~~
The dinner was just as boring as Cream thought it might have been. She ate her food rapidly and impatiently, wishing it wasn't too late to still meet with Tails. Éleos on the other hand had all manner of questions to ask to both Cream and Vanilla. Cream's mother Vanilla was more than forthright in answering any and all sorts of questions he had. He asked about their world, and about all the different continents, and about the other kingdoms, and of the kingdom they lived in. When they finished their meal, Éleos politely thanked them for the food, said his goodbye, and entered the void that was the lone dark. The only thing other than his skin tone that shined in the dark was his red stone. Afterwards, Cream Immediately helped clean and put away the dishes.
"Mother, may I please go and see Tails now? I promised him I would go see him after dinner." Please say yes, please, please, please, say yes.
Vanilla looked out through the kitchen window and thought about it for a moment. "Okay Cream, but be safe. And make sure you don't come home too late. And also have Tails take you home." Her mother really wanted to spend some time with her daughter, but she also wanted Cream to be with her friends.
"Thank you mother!" Cream darted out of the kitchen, out the door and into the dark, leaving a still-eating Cheese behind. "Chao?" Vanilla peeked out,"Cream dear, you forgot Cheese!" But it was too late. "Hm. Not to worry Cheese, you can spend time with me." "Chao." The Chao sounded inconsolable.
When she got to town the wind started to pick up. She rubbed her arms trying to get warm. There wasn't really anybody outside their homes, the castle gates and portcullis were closed as well. But the winding road was open to her, she took it. She walked speedily, every minute or so she looked back thinking someone was following her. She did not look long enough to see the only thing that was following her. A red light, watching and stalking her. The lights seemed to go out the farther she got out of town, she was almost at Amy's house. And speak of the demon.
"Amy?" There was a light figure on the road holding a bag on her arm and back.
"No. No, no, no, no, no."
The rabbit approached the girl, her suspicions were correct, it was Amy. Amy in a cloak and carrying some things. "Amy what are you doing out here? And where are you going?"
"Cream, I- didn't want it to be this way."
"Amy I don't understand."
"Cream."
"Are you... leaving?" The rabbit wasn't stupid.
"Cream, I have to go home." The hedgehog crouched down to the rabbit's eye level.
"But- but you are home."
"No Cream. I lied."
~~~
"There's no time, he's coming. Have you found it? Please I beg you, don't give it to him."
"What are you talking about? Everything is fine. I couldn't ask for anything better than this."
"Tails you don't understand, don't trust anyone. Not even my appearance."
"What? That makes no sense."
"Tails. Tails. Tails!"
"Huh what?!" It was his front door. The fox quickly remembered what he dreamt. C'mon, give me a break. He got up and drowsily opened the door to reveal a swollen-eyed rabbit.
"Cream?"
"I, she, she, was, l-l-leavin-leaving. I, do-, don't" She gasped for air after every other word.
"Come in, please." He nervously closed the door and turned a knob for a light to see what the matter was. He set her down on his couch. For a moment he went to start a fire in the fireplace but Cream stuck to him like a magnet. Not letting go of his arm, Cream wailed harder. Her breathing became more erratic and uncontrollable.
"Hey, calm down. Breathe." The boy held the rabbit for a while, until her breathing became less erratic and became more of gasps. They both sat on the soft rug of Tails' living room. When the girl was more calm, with both hands he raised her head, "Tell me, what happened." She averted her eyes. "No. Talk to me." He at that moment could see through her, and she felt it when she stared back. She sniffed a few times still hugging the fox.
"Amy," a sniff, "she-she's leaving."
"Where is Amy leaving?"
"She, she said," another sniff,"that, she was hurt, and that, she was going home."
"Home?"
"Yeah."
The fox wondered what Amy could mean by that. He tried to think of what would help Cream the most at the moment.
"It's alright now. She has somewhere to be right now, and, we have to support her."
"I, guess."
The fox held her close, he felt a little weird about it, but he knew it would help her somehow. Cream could feel his heartbeat. It was a slow rhythm, unlike hers at the moment. She looked up at the smiling fox. No one has done that for me, other than mother. She thought as she stared into his soft, mirror-like, blues in his head. She was looking for something or someone. She wanted to find him, find Tails in his own eyes.
"There, there. Isn't that better?" He patted her head, he felt gawky doing so.
On the walk home she realized he was holding her hand. She felt glad he could not see her blush in the dark. Before they arrived she tried to look in his eyes again, still searching.
Section III
The modest Sofería and the fair Gnó̱si̱ spoke silently outside the temple court. Sofería played with one of his large tusks while they talked, his fur covered his eyes and he kept having to fix it. Gnó̱si̱ pulled himself with his tentacles wherever he went. His ventricle sacs glowed in the light of the place they were in, and his pink tentacles radiated his glory.
Sofería continued the flow of the conversation after the pause,"Impudence was never your strong suit Gnó̱si̱."
"I am not being impudent. I'm expressing my concerns."
Sofería changed the subject,"Thank you for backing me up, but the council has merit in their comments."
"Your sight is blinded by years of anger. You say this because your people persecuted you." Gnó̱si̱ snapped at his friend.
"With good reason!" He raised his voice at him,"Friend, I forgave them long ago. Forgive me, I did not mean to become upset."
Gnó̱si̱ glared at him wryly.
The large animal continued, "Since we are on the matter, what of your people?"
He raised a tentacle, "My people will never again make war with yours. Politics were tiresome, but I persuaded them of the greater good."
An angry Imperious walked by, "Friend Sofería!" He sarcastically saluted the being. He looked over to Gnó̱si̱, "I am sorry if things got out of hand back there."
"The feeling is mutual." Gnó̱si̱ could not smile for he had no mouth, on the other hand the dark colored humanoid could and did.
"It's quite alright friend." Sofería smiled warmly. He did not enjoy holding grudges.
"Good." The Old One motioned for Sofería to get closer while extending his arm. Sofía bent down a little to reach the humanoid's height and took his hand. The Old One pulled him closer, surprisingly he had a lot of strength for his size.
Imperious lowered his voice to a whisper. The Old One let him go, smiled and walked away.
Sofería paused, "Keep walking.... Why would your people not agree? They respect you, you are a great leader.
It comforted Gnó̱si̱ to hear that, "I hope so."
"Feel of luck, I am here by default."
"Do not speak so lowly of yourself Sofería."
"I do not deserve the title." The giant animal changed the subject again, "Something is coming my old friend, I can feel it."
"We can all sense the creature, do not worry it is far away."
"It's not that, I can sense the previous Thánatos."
Gnó̱si̱ wrapped a tentacle around Sofía, "Nonsense. By the way, what did Imperious tell you?"
Sofería gulped loudly, "He said... that Filanthro̱pia was the agent we are looking for."
"Lagneía!"