Sonic's reaction time is usually just as impeccable as his speed. But when he's going at full speed, it's a little hard for him to adjust. He notices the blast in time, but his body only manages to pull back slightly. The ground in front of him explodes, sending him spiraling through the air. He grits his teeth, trying to right himself in the air. He has to recover. He knows if he hits the ground badly, he's dead.

He tucks into a ball and rolls around the ground, trying to retain some speed, and rolls out of it into a screeching stop. His vision bleary, his ears ringing and what he's pretty sure is the scent of charred fur flooding his nostrils, he looks around, trying to see where the guy is. That shot was pretty much dead-on, so he can't be too far away, can he?