Patton Universe: A Sanders Sides/SU AU

Part 4: The Waiting Game

If Amethyst had moved but a second later, things might have gone quite differently but with a great surge of strength in his legs he managed to make it and the gem fell softly into his palm. The heavy ringing of footsteps thundered across the beach, as Patton desperately rushed across with outstretched arms. It was almost as if he was reaching out to save his friend who was no longer there, like the reality of it all had not quite set in for his young mind. How can someone just disappear like that, after what had just happened? Logan, relinquishing his bow and placing it carefully back into his gem, gave a deep sigh and struggle to conjure the words to explain to the boy what would happen next. "Patton, wait-"

"YOU KILLED HIM!" It was a strange thing to hear, that haunting piercing scream coming from the child. The creature had to bend down to see him there, but it nonetheless took noticed, the heaving of its fur, creating a cold breeze that tore across the sea. Its jaw twitched with hunger, eyeing what it saw as simply another meal. Amethyst was caught between its legs, a great talon on either side of him and, having slid the ruby safely into the pocket of his hoodie, had locked eyes with Patton trembling there. As clearly as he could he mouthed the words, "It's okay," and tried to gesture for him to stay absolutely still but as Amethyst knew, this was bound to have little effect.

"It's not okay! The monster..." He tilted his head up, letting the tears trickle down. Having had quite enough of the staredown the beast raised it's life taking claw, relishing in its animalistic urges. "No... please don't..."  It was poised right above Patton and was sure to strike him, that would be until it suddenly reeled forward and swiftly began to surge directly towards Logan. The next moments flashed by in Logan's lenses as he saw the remaining two stampeding in his direction. In the small window of opportunity he had, he tried to scuttle back on the sand, abandoning any of that usual uptight demeanour he carried with him.  There was no time to reach his weapon, no time to shelter his gem. In less than a second, it would all be gone. Briefly, he saw Patton's chestnut curls dive a few inches ahead and swore that for a second the entire world turned yellow. A vivid yellow that somehow quelled his worries yet terrified him aswell. A grand noise erupted, like a hollow drum beat, and a thick cloud of smoke swarmed the shore. Where the monstrosity stood, there was nothingness. No claws, or fur or heavy rumbling breaths. Just the towering heaps of sand and a strange pearlescent rock. After rushing past and bubbling the rock, Amethyst made sure he came over to where Logan was knelt with the small kid nestled on his lap softly weeping.

"R-roman," he whimpered, "He's.."

"Roman's fine." The shadowy figures sincere words lured his gaze,

"Huh? But he..."

"He's in here." The boy felt the chill of a gemstone grace his skin, and sure enough, it was the one once embedded into the prince's chest. Just having it there was comforting but also disturbing, like he was clutching the remains of someone long gone. "Logan?"
"Hm? Oh." This was an explanation that had been lurking in Logan's head for a while but in no way had he thought he would have to enact it so soon. "You see, when one of us is injured or hurt we can retreat into our gemstones. Our bodies are just light so whilst you can't do it, we can safely rest in there until we are ready to come out again."

"So... It's like he's sleeping in there?"

"That is one way of looking at it."

The group gladly left the wreckage of the beach and headed back through the woodland until reaching the warp pad at last. No enjoyment in the journey could be found this time and the greatest happiness they felt was arriving back in the comfort of the house. Patton made a beeline for his bed to place the ruby like some royal artefact onto a pillow.

"What are you doing?" inquired Logan, taking a seat on one of the stools lining the counter. Before either of them had blinked, Amethyst had already disappeared.