Chapter Text
Shadow anxiously paced the floor as he waited for the hunting party to return. This was his first time missing out on a hunt, and he couldn't shake the nagging suspicion that something bad was going to happen soon.
The members of the pack who remained lazily lounged about the den, although some of them were becoming slightly annoyed with their alpha's paranoid behavior. Redwing rolled his eyes from his perch above the others as Shadow turned around to pace in the other direction for the twenty-seventh time. The Black Hawk had been counting out of sheer boredom.
Shadow, he trilled, they left you here so you could rest, not level your peak.
I can't exactly help it, the hedgehog snapped back, Something isn't right. Why is the doctor snooping around now? What's driven him here? There are too many unanswered questions for me to rest.
The only one asking these questions is you, Redwing yawned, You're over-thinking things, as usual. You better get some sleep before they return.
I'm not tired.
Your aura says otherwise, Alpha, a third voice joined in as Moonstreak trotted up to the smaller male. Her parental instincts for Shadow had kicked in not long after her mate and the others had left. She gently nudged him towards his normal sleeping spot and huffed at the others to quiet down. Shadow himself was beyond annoyed at how much they coddled him, and he inwardly complained about being considerably smaller than the others when Moonstreak more or less forced him to lie down and curled around him carefully.
"This really isn't necessary," he growled out verbally, wishing above anything else that he could be running with the hunting party.
Out in the jungle, the remaining Black Arms split up and stalked through and above the foliage for any source of food they could bring back to the den, although, many were concerned for their young Alpha as well. Most of them had never gone out of the cave without Shadow close by, except for the older males, which were few, and they began to doubt their true skills with no one to unite them.
Don't worry. Accomplish your task quickly, and we can return home, Fireclaw's words echoed telepathically to the younger predators. They each gave a thought or sound of agreement before continuing on with the hunt.
Three younger hunters, a female Black Volt and two male Black Warriors, trekked along an unseen path, keeping close to each other as they followed a tempting scent. Their prey was very close, and all of them were itching with the anticipation to ambush a possible kill.
However, just as one of the males skulked slowly into a clearing, an unnatural sound snapped in their ears. The unfortunate Warrior quickly looked back at his two companions in confusion before a large metal cage with glowing red bars suddenly locked him inside itself. He instinctively tried to hit one of the bars, only to roar in pain as it burned his clawed hand. A strange, almost twisted laugh reached their ears as an obese vehicle with an equally large driver hovered above them. The caged predator tore his eyes away from the odd character inside the flying metal ball and glared purposefully at the other two.
Go find Alpha Shadow! These weird glowing things hurt too touch for me to escape, he instructed. The other Black Warrior nodded and took off back in the direction of the den, but the Black Volt stayed.
I will follow behind you, so I can tell him where you are, she explained, and the captured male agreed before he felt a strange energy lifting his small imprisonment off the ground, a very new sensation he did not like.
"Yes!" the human cackled as he flew away from the scene with his prize in tow, "I finally have one of these black creatures I can use against Sonic!"
He was completely unaware of the black and gold blur trailing behind him.
As soon as the young Warrior was in range, he called out to the rest of the party to deliver the terrible news, and Fireclaw immediately ended the hunt. Everyone retreated back to the cave with whatever spoils they had and entered quickly. The sudden rush of panic hit Shadow like a tidal wave, and he was awake in an instant.
"What happened?" he demanded before any of them had the chance to speak. An anxious young male staggered up to the front of the group, panting slightly.
The fat man ambushed Shimmer, Crawler, and I on the hunt without warning. He...He took Crawler in some strange metal box with shining red vines. He said it hurt to touch them.
"Where is he taking him? And where is Shimmer?" Shadow questioned, trying to quell his rising temper.
She followed them so she could tell you, the Warrior panted breathlessly, Please forgive us for our failure, Alpha Shadow!
The black hedgehog rose an eyebrow at that. Did he seriously think he was going to punish them for not being able to escape an ambush?
"Don't apologize. It wasn't your, or anyone else's fault, except the human's. I will go retrieve Crawler and Shimmer. I have a feeling I know where he's taken him."
"Shall we come with you?" Fireclaw asked, and the ebony hybrid shook his head.
"No, this I do alone. We have enough food for the night. Everyone is to stay in the den, until I say so. Is that understood?"
His question was met with hurrs of agreement as he skated out of the den in a flash of crimson. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness as he maneuvered around the massive, twisting trunks. He took a deep breath, his nose pinpointing all of the familiar jungle scents before locking on to the burning smell of sulfuric oil, equipment, and charred flesh. His features automatically formed into a sharp scowl before he continued passed a clearing and closer to the other end of the island.
As the first signs of sunrise appeared, he caught sight of Eggman's looming residential base and didn't stop skating until he was standing right in front of it. Without making a sound, he teleported inside and stalked throughout the building noiselessly, dodging any security he came across. He took his time, carefully maneuvering throughout the base until he could find out where his missing pack member was being kept. The black hybrid checked the hall from his hiding place to find it clear, and he closer his eyes to concentrate.
Crawler, he called out, can you hear me?
Clear as daylight, Alpha Shadow, he replied. Shadow struggled not to break the connection and roll his eyes. He needed to explain to the younger Arms that they didn't have to use his title when addressing him.
I am inside the base. I will free you soon.
Hi, Alpha Shadow! a young female voice interrupted his thoughts, making his quills shoot up in surprise. I am outside, close the fat man's strange den in case you need me.
Shadow sighed to himself, trying to rein in his patience, Thank you, Shimmer. I will let you know if I need you. Now both of you stay quiet so I can focus.
He pinpointed the Black Warrior's position, and when his route and mind were clear, he skated forward with his target found. Shadow was closing in quickly.
In the Control Room
"Uhh, Dr. Eggman, sir. I think we have a visitor," Cubot reported absently and pointed at the computer screen.
"WHAT!?" the mad scientist demanded and looked away from the bizarre animal he had captured to catch a glimpse of red flashing across his main security camera. Before another word could be said, the crimson streak appeared between him and the door, revealing itself to be none other than Bygone Island's most elite villain.
"Shadow! What brings you here? And so early?" Eggman rambled, "Would you like a drink? Or some breakfast? Or perhaps you would like to see my latest catch!" With that final phrase, he showcased the Black Arm currently held captive inside of a laser-barred cage. This did not please the human's idol like he thought it would.
"Release him, doctor," he ordered bluntly.
Eggman sputtered in surprise, "W-What? Why? I only just caught it, and I have plans to use it against Sonic! That should please you, knowing I will defeat your rival!"
"I will not repeat myself," Shadow continued darkly, his eyes taking on a noticeable shine, "He will be freed now, by your hand or mine."
As soon as you are clear, make a run for it. Don't stop until you are back in the jungle. Leave the human to me.
"What's gotten into you, Shadow? Why so worried about a....whatever it is," he deflated and scratched his mustache, thinking that his question sounded a lot better in his head.
"I've had enough of this foolishness," Shadow growled and personally spindashed through the top of the cage, deactivating the laser beams. The Black Warrior pounced on to Eggman, pushing him on his back and allowing his full weight to press his body further. Yellow fangs snarled at the human that had held him prisoner, red eyes glaring fiercely down at the human. Shadow growled at the Warrior out of sheer reflex, and the hunter backed down and ran, as instructed by his Alpha.
Eggman stood up on wobbly legs, gaping at the black and red-streaked hedgehog, "How did you do that?"
Shadow scowled, ignoring the question, "Stay within your own territory, doctor. Next time the wild will not be so merciful," he stated cryptically before disappearing in a flicker of light.
"What is that supposed to mean?!" Eggman yelled at thin air, "What is it with edgy hedgehogs and cryptic metaphors?"
"Sir!" Orbot called, as he entered the room a moment too late, "The audio decryption is complete. I believe you will find it most interesting concerning our ally, Shadow."
The mad scientist smirked devilishly, "Does it now? Well then, let's go take a look," he replied and pressed play on the recording.