Spike's story ch6

"Hunter is a powerful Lord from who knows where" Joel began "he has a bunch of super powered but apparently 'savage' children and planned to build a powerful army using them. A couple of decades ago Hunter put those plans in motion and took 400 creatures with special abilities captive in order to excel those powers so he could use them; unfortunately some of us, including your father, grew too powerful to be contained and so we were all split up. During transport myself and few others with lower power levels managed to escape when the strongest amongst us chose to test their new limits."
Frowning slightly I voiced a question "what about the clones?"
Sadly, Joel sighed " After our escape a few of the others were rounded up and re-imprisoned, most however managed to find help and therefore couldn't be recaptured without someone noticing. DNA is much easier to obtain especially when you have a falcon. Anyway the clones were made then and Hunter no longer needed his escapees"
Eyes widening, I froze "then the clones..."
"were meant to ensure no-one was told of our ordeal" Joel sighed "you could tell who they were created to stop by what traits they possessed"
A lump formed in my throat "Track?"
Sighing again Joel turned to face me "small- hard to notice and rarely viewed as a threat by anything bigger; Light- again hard to notice if you're jumped and strong enough to take the weight; Dark fur- blend in easy; smart- easy to design traps to beat a difficult opponent; lighting control- a great immobiliser if your opponent is strong, fast and agile" now Joel's ears flattened "Fire proof"
"Great if that's your opponent's main weapon" I shuddered "I'm sharing my house with my father's would be attacker"
"Him and me" Joel laughed humourlessly "I'm the second biggest contributor to his DNA and it's my power he's using"
We'd stopped outside a house and Joel turned round and bounded up to knock on the door.  
Grinning his attention returned to me "I need some help for this next bit"
The door opened and a middle aged red hedgehog stepped out and closed it with a scowl "Joel I thought I said to stop just showing up here!"
Yellow eyes blinked and tried to look innocent "Did you?"
Before the hedgehog replied he spotted me and growled "please tell me you know where he comes from! I thought you said you'd be careful!"
Rolling his eyes Joel snorted "like he'd attack me"
The hedgehog's expression was unchanging and Joel sighed "It's Spike; Scout's son"
Now the hedgehog glared at me "Because that's better! Do you remember how much trouble we got in with that wolf? He's the reason you and I don't see much of each other"  
Growling came but not from me "Hey that wolf saved your life! And he gave me answers James! I needed them and now I can live a relatively normal life"
"Normal Joel?" bitterly the hedgehog laughed and turned to me "How old is he?"       
"erm... 25?" I guessed
Hatred filled James' eyes "he's a year older than me Kid. He's 46"
Now Joel was glaring "so I age slower, I'm alive right?"
"Sometimes I wonder if it's worth it" James muttered "now ask what you came for and be gone Joel"
"Hunter" the single word hung in the air
James looked at me then "Hunter. I wish your father had never mentioned the name... it's haunted me since. I'll never forget when I was underground and those cold amber eyes just stared through me; I was so unimportant to him. Expendable in every way if he only got his prize" the door slammed and I blinked.
"He's mean" I muttered
Pain spilled into Joel's eyes "he was my best friend. He wouldn't rest when I was taken by Hunter and he forced Scout to give us answers" the yellow eyes rested on the ground "he loved me until he had kids. After that I was a danger and we've hardly spoken since"
Without thinking I spoke again "You should get in touch with my dad"  
"No offense but I'm not sure he'd get it"
Blinking back my own sorrows I decided to confide in the cougar "My mom left when she realised he wasn't aging.  I don't think she could take it"
Joel spun to face me and smiled sympathetically "You the same as him then?"
I shrugged and Joel smiled sadly "I was scared of something like this; I decided to live alone in case I was right"
"My dad probably wishes he done that... I do" bitterness filled my voice    
Gently Joel spoke again "Living without others isn't living at all"  
"What about living without answers?" I mused.
Joel frowned lightly "you can find answers"
Slowly I smirked "you can meet people"
Sighing Joel turned away "I suppose"