#ultlien

Nudging the door open, he slipped through, eyes seeking a familiar shape. "

" baby. " gently nudges his head towards his lap , eyes soft. " rest. i have not seen you sleep for almost three days. "

Despite the green hedgehog groaning in protest, he laid his head down on the darkling's lap and sighed. "It's because of the stupid werehog thing." Scourge grumbled. The reality was that it had been much longer than three days since he had any sort of restful sleep. In his newfound form, his spine would twist, forcing him down onto his hands and walking on all fours like an animal. The pain made it uncomfortable for him to sleep. Even when he switches back to normal during the day, he could only afford himself a few hours of sleep here and there since some sort of danger always seemed to rear its ugly head.

Rain fell in thick sheets, nearly obscuring the city in a thick cloud. Normally the rain wouldn’t bother the blue speedster, but between not being able to see clearly and his sneakers having very little traction, Sonic had no choice but to stop somewhere and wait out the storm. His safe haven was a wide oak tree in a local park with branches stretched out and leaves large enough to act as an umbrella. Sliding to a stop, Sonic shook himself off, quills now puffing out, but still drenched.

Sighing softly, he spun on his heels and had gone to lean against the trunk, but one small step would interrupt his plan to rest. He stepped on…Something. It was thin, and squirmed under his foot. Gasping, Sonic jumped forward, looking back in time to see what looked like a tail disappear behind the other side of the tree.

------- HE WAS GETTING TIRED OF THIS .... this echidna blocked him each way. it was something he supposed he could admire. the strength to be able to stand tall. something holding him together. perhaps that's all duty was. the ability to stand even when the weight was heavy. he will give the echidna that much. regardless , he had a duty as well. perhaps they weren't so different in that regard. the pounding of fists did not go unnoticed by eclipse. nor the words. how quaint. how ... effortless. but he would make sure the other would not win this. no matter the cost.

a flick of his tail. mild annoyance but also a taunt in itself. a simple "i dare you" in body language. eclipse was prepared for this. & he would not be leaving without what he came for. that's just how it is. every instinct inside him was gearing for the fight. no matter how bloody it may get. no matter kind of wounds would come from this. ❝ i tried being reasonable. ❞ & with that he lunged , talons extended.

Something these emerald poachers couldn't hope to understand was living in the shadow of a legacy long lost under the folly of those that came before and were no more. He and the few remaining echidna from the calamity had lived every day after seeking to atone for the wrath of the Mother, and it was under the last of Her guiding rays that he was strengthened despite the dire outlook for breaking free of his egg much too early. The emerald was more than just some vessel for their artifacts of power. More than some ticking time bomb left in hands seeking atonement that wings and claws saw duty in ferrying away even with a blind and barely grown echidna still warming beneath its incubation. It was the sovereign source of all life on the island, and he was to protect it.

The weight was indeed heavy.