Shadow the Hedgehog

Rouge could hear movement downstairs. ---- "Eat if they're lucky," laughed Crowley. "Yes, do let her know."

Rouge kept an eye in the door as Hope and her counterpart drifted off. ----' "I meant merely make an appearance as an enforcer of sorts. Scare them straight essentially."

"I'll be careful Melody." Rouge was sat on her bed, watching the door. ---- "Perhaps I could come over and help her somehow."

"No problem," she replied, setting a chair against the door. ---- "She seems to cope well enough given the situation."

"I'll go first," said Rouge. ---- "Still, she's nice enough to talk to."

"I know. I'd enjoy myself otjerwise." ---- "It's usually to make sure everything's going fine and I'm settling in. I think dhe may have to do it."

Rouge got the key and headed upstairs to their room, unlocking it. "4 beds, a good a mount of space. It's quite nice in here." ---- "I haven't. Shadow and Rouge occasionally come over, as does the Zone Cop Zamy, but I don't have regular guests."

The group hastily headed back to the inn to get the key. --- "I certainly do. It's just nice to get a visitor."

"Agreed. Once we're in the room we'll take turns keeping watch." ---- "It is rather lovely."

"Agreed. I think it might be best to head back now as well, the sun is setting." ---- "I know, I'm very happy with it."

"Underneath the floorboards. Has it's own powder flask so I guess we can use it if it comes to that. No more clues on what happened though." ---- "What do you think of it?"

Rouge carefully grabbed the blunderbuss. "Apparently we've been antiquing," she said, showing it to Melody and HRH Hope. "What about you?" ----- Crowley followed, turning on the coffee machine.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." HRH Hope headed back down. Downstairs, Rouge finished prying off the floorboard and looked inside. "It's a blunderbuss, one of ours by the proof mark. Looks like it's not been used in a while." "Who stores one of those in the floorboards? It's not exactly easy to get in a hurry," said Hope. ----- "Indeed. Please, come in."

"Question is, do you want to get up close and personal to whatever did this?" asked HRH Hope as she headed back down. ----- "I was worried about traffic."

"Probably because it was locked up. My guess is that it needs to be weaponised. We could melt it into a bullet or shot. Unless you feel like stabbing an attacker with the fork." --- Crowley pulled into the garage. "Easier than I thought."

"I know. There must be some reason." Downstairs, Rouge had spotted a loose floor board and was prying it up. ---- "Agreed."

"Silver? Going on what the driver said we should take it. The poor souls here won't need it anymore." ---- Crowley shuddered. "That'd be hard to live with."

HRH Hope laughed. "Anything more telling?" --- "Exactly. Could be worse though."

"What do you see?" ---- "I'm quite content with it , it's just taken getting used to. It had to be done for obvious reasins."

HRH Hope stepped back quickly. --- "Indeed, I've no idea why. But then again despite being on Moebius, juat like the Prime Shadow I was created and raised by humans. At least he gets to use his real name still," he said with a chuckle.

HRH Hope stepped back. ---- "Plus I think they win in terms of technology over Mobians anyway. We have it easy because they invented so much."

"As long as it's open I don't mind.: ---- "To be fair, if I were out for a walk and someone flew into me at great speed I'd be rather annoyed as well." "As long as it's open I don't mind.: ---- "To be fair, if I were out for a walk and someone flew into me at great speed I'd be rather annoyed as well."

With the two pushing it was soon out of the way. "I don't suppose you kniw how to crack a safe?" asked HRH Hope. Downstairs, Hope and Rouge were still searching for more clues. "What are these lines on the floor? Finger nails where someone was dragged?" wondered Hope. "They look more like claws to me." ---- "Yes. Especially on a busy street or road where the locals might complain."

"We'll find out soon enough, help me move this shelf," responded HRH Hope, getting ready to push the bookshelf. ---- "She can. But it must be enjoyable to be on the back of one of those on a day off."

"I think there's a safe behind that empty bookshelf." ---- "Maybe. I imagine sometimes he uses it for Rouge's benefit."