#Lotus the hedgehog | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

pupdoc0916 · 2 months ago

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Innocence

“Ummm…Knuckles?”

The echidna cracked an eye open, pupil constricting with the glare of the sun. There, haloed by the warm rays of the late summer sun, was the small fox kit. He stood in front of Knuckles, his namesakes wrapped around his body. His face was twisted into a sheepish grin as his small fingers weaved their way through the thick fur of his tails.

Knuckles let his eye fall back shut and released a soft, long breath. He shifted his arms away from the sky and down to a straight line, forward and backward, balancing his body through the middle over his knee and outstretched leg. Warrior 2, he remembered Maddie telling him. He held the position for a moment, took a deep inhale through his nose, then as he exhaled he gently relaxed and folded his body into a lotus. He kept his eyes closed for another moment, allowing the calm to fill his chest.

With a tightening of his lids and a slight scrunch of his nose, he allowed them to once again open. The little fox was still standing before him, head cocked to the side as he observed his older brother. The warrior let the corner of his mouth twitch upward.

“What is it, fox?” his baritone voice rumbled softly.

“Umm…I was just…going to ask…but, I mean…I don’t need to…You probably don’t even want to answer. Ummm…”

Knuckles watched with soft eyes as his baby brother tripped over his words. Tails’ eyes dropped down and ears flattened as his fingers began to work more quickly through the fur of his tails. Knuckles frowned softly as he watched the little kit’s nerves escalate.

The echidna reached forward and allowed his large hand almost humorously cover the nervous weaving hands of the fox in front of him. The contact caused Tails to look back up, blue eyes meeting his.

“You want to ask a question?” Knuckles supplied, keeping his voice soft so as not to startle his youngest brother.

Tails’ hands paused in their movement and he let a little grin appear on his face. “Umm, well…yes…but, ummm, I didn’t mean to interrupt and you don’t have to answer…”

Knuckles gave the small hands under his mitt a soft squeeze, once again silencing the fox’s rambling. Tails’ expression changed back to a sheepish, almost shy smile as he met his oldest brother’s gaze.

“You may ask your question.” Knuckles replied. He removed his hand from the fox’s and brought them back to his knees. “You don’t need to be afraid. I will not anger.”

Tails let out an amused huff, causing Knuckles to cock his head curiously.

“You get angry at Sonic all the time for asking questions.” he giggled, once again running his fingers through his tails.

“The hedgehog does not know when to stop asking.” Knuckles rumbled, hands unconsciously tightening over his knees. “He speaks endlessly without any thought to his words. I do not need to worry about that with you.”

Tails let out another amused huff. “You know that’s just how he is…”

“I do. Now. What is your question, young one?”

Tails’ ears flattened again, but this time he continued to meet the echidna’s gaze. Knuckles gave him another encouraging smile.

“Umm, well…I…I just kinda noticed…well, I mean I didn’t just notice…but you have a large, ummm…a large scar…”

Tails reached out a small finger towards Knuckle’s shoulder. Knuckles’ gaze drifted down to where he knew a healed wound traced from under his quills and down behind his shoulder blade. Knuckles let his gaze linger on the area, mouth tightening. He then allowed a breath to escape his chest and his expression lightened.

He looked back up toward his brother with a soft gaze, all tension pulled away.

“I have noticed it for awhile…I…I don’t know what possessed me to ask. I just saw it again, while you were doing yoga. I was on the deck and…I mean you don’t have to answer of course…I just…”

Knuckles patted the grass in front of him with his large hand, a silent request for Tails to sit. Tails took a few steps closer and fell into a loose sit, facing his brother’s gaze. Knuckles gave him a reassuring smile.

“I got it when I was quite young.” the echidna answered, gaze drifting.

“How did you get it?” Tails asked, curiosity filling his tone, tails swaying back and forth behind him. Knuckles couldn’t help but smile at the sparkle in his eyes.

“Well…when I was little, much younger than you, I wanted to be a warrior like my father.”

Knuckles shifted and loosened his sit for comfort. Tails scoot himself closer, unable to hide his excitement at hearing a story from his reserved oldest brother. The echidna’s mouth twitched upward, his eyes glistened with a soft melancholy.

“I used to follow my father to the training grounds. I was not allowed to go, he said I was too young. But, I would sneak away and follow him anyway. I had a spot, deep in the brush and trees, and I would hide myself and watch them train for hours, silently mimicking their movements. My father was a skilled warrior and I wished to be just like him.

One day, as i was peaking through the leaves and brush and watching the warriors warm up, a large bug climbed onto my nose. The legs tickled my snout and as hard as I tried I could not hold in my sneeze. As I calmed my nose I turned and through the leaves my eyes met my father’s.”

Knuckles sighed softly at the memory and shifted his gaze down. At some point during the story Tails had made his way forward and into Knuckles lap. The echidna smiled tenderly at the small fox and opened the crook of his arm to allow him more room. Tails looked up and met his eyes.

“Was your dad mad?”

Knuckle chuckled softly. “Oh, yes…

“He was very upset. Grabbed me by the hand and pulled me back to the village. He did not say a word as we walked.

When we got back to the hut he sat me down and scolded me. Told me I needed to stay home. He wanted me to just enjoy being a child. That the time for training would come for me.

I was very angry. I did not want to hear his words. I was going to be a warrior. The best warrior that ever was.”

Tails shifted in Knuckles lap, leaning his body more into the echidna’s firm frame. Knuckles let his arm tighten around the small kit in his lap.

“What did you do?” the small voice asked.

“At first light I snuck from the hut. I was determined to show my father that I was ready. As he slept I took his spear and set off into the forest. I had decided that I would find the elusive and vicious Tasman - a predator on our island known for its aggressive nature. I was going to hunt it down and kill it, definitively proving that I was a mighty warrior.

I made my way through the forest. I knew that my quarry lived in the tall hills surrounding our village. I walked for what felt like hours. My small legs became wary as I made my way through the jungle of the island. As the fatigue set in, my foot became caught on a low vine and I fell, my father’s spear falling from my hands and into the underbrush.

I pushed myself to my feet trying to brush away the dirt from my fur. I took a moment to observe where I was and realized that I was in a part of the jungle I did not recognize and that my father’s spear was no where to be found. As I sat surrounded by unknown trees and brush I felt tears begin to wet my face. I became afraid and began to cry.”

“You cried?!” Tails’ shocked voice cut through the air, causing Knuckles to pause. He let his gaze drop and met the incredulous eyes if his baby brother. The tug of a smile hit his lips.

“I did.” he confirmed. Tails let out a shocked breath and shifted his body to meet Knuckles eyes.

“But you’re so brave. I didn’t think you could cry!”

“Everyone can cry, little one. Even the bravest of warriors.”

Knuckles smiled as he felt tiny fingers squeeze his hand. He took a deep breath, let his eyes fall closed and pushed himself to continue.

“I was unsure how long I sat there, but eventually I knew I needed to rise. I had given up on my quest and just wanted to go home. I decided to turn the way I had come and try to find my way back to the village. However, just as I turned I heard a low growl from deep in the trees.

I turned quickly, my fists up and ready to fight. I saw the eyes first, yellow as the full moon, penetrating through the leaves and trees. But as a backed away the body of the Tasman materialized from the jungle. I yelled for it to get back, but my voice shook as badly as my hands.

We watched each other, bodies filled with tension. I will never forget his piercing stare.

I pulled my fists up, but they were no match for the Tasman’s claws. He jumped at me, scratching me deeply over my shoulder. I gasped in shock but my attempt at a block pushed the beast back far enough to give me time to run.”

Knuckles felt tiny hands tighten on his bicep, the small kit clutching him in anticipation.

“I only made it a few yards before it caught me again, knocking me to the ground. I rolled over and saw his fangs coming towards me. All I could think of was my father and how I had disappointed him.

Suddenly there was war cry and the beast was thrown from me. I immediately curled up, my eyes clenched, cheeks wet with tears as the sounds of battle filled my ears. By the time I was brave enough to open them, the beast was gone and my father was coming towards me, spear in hand.

I knew I was in big trouble, but I didn’t care. I ran to him and he picked me up and held me close. He carried me all the way back to the village. I clung to him, my tears wetting his fur all the way back. He did not speak any words to me.

When we got home he placed me on his bed and put his spear away silently. He then came to the bed and knelt to his knee. I was afraid to meet his eye, but he pulled my chin up. The amount of worry that he held broke me and I cried into his shoulder. He soothed me and held me tightly until I fell asleep.

When I awoke, my wounds had been treated and I had learned my lesson. A warrior is not defined by his feats and conquers, but by his bravery and heart.”

Knuckles was drawn away from the memory, eyes snapping back open, by the feeling of a finger tracing the scar over his shoulder. He looked down and Tails had shifted into his body. His little arms were wrapped around Knuckle’s neck in a loose hug, his finger stopping at the end of the long scar. Knuckles smiled and gave the kit a soft squeeze.

“Knuckles?” the soft voice asked.

“Hmm?” he hummed in return.

“Does…does the scar hurt?”

The echidna paused, unconsciously bringing his hand toward the affected shoulder.

“No, little one.” He answered softly. “No, it does not.”

He felt Tails shift forward and push away, and baby blue met amethyst. Knuckles couldn’t help but notice the soft mist lining the bottom of the kits eyes.

“Kuckles?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you…for telling me the story.” he answered. Knuckles heart warmed with his fur under the evening sun. He felt the little fox tighten his hold around Knuckles neck.

“You’re welcome, brother.”

“Tails?” The voice of the matriarch of their tribe called across the yard. Tails popped his head up from Knuckles lap and looked toward the house, ears turning toward the voice. “Baby, can you help me with dinner?”

Tails paused and looked at his big brother with a scrutinizing gaze, eyes searching for…permission? Maybe assurance?

Knuckles let out a soft chuckle. “It’s alright, kid. Go ahead. You don’t want to keep Maddie waiting.”

“You OK?”

Knuckles brought his large hands up to ruffle the fur on the top of the fox’s head. “I’m fine. Now go…”

He gave Tails a little nudge toward the house. The kit giggled, gave Knuckles another quick hug, then bounded toward the house, disappearing behind the porch door.

Knuckles leaned his body back onto his hands, closed his eyes and turned his face toward the warmth of the sun. He took a deep breath, trying to find his calm and enjoy a moment of quiet before they were herded towards the house for dinner.

It wasn’t long before he picked up the sound of soft footfalls as they made their way toward him through the dry grass. He continued to look upward, letting a soft sigh release from his lips.

“Why did you lie to him?”

Knuckles cracked his eye open and took in the form standing in front of him, casting a shadow and blocking the warmth of the sun. He pulled himself back into a sitting position, resting his elbows on his knees.

“I did not.” he answered. “The story I told was true.”

“But that’s not where you got that scar…is it?”

Sonic stepped closer, almost cautiously, green eyes looking down to meet his purple. Knuckles pulled his lips together but refused to break contact. Sonic folded his legs underneath him, lowering himself to the grass. Eventually Knuckles let out a soft sigh and lowered his eyes. He brought his hand up and ran his glove under his quills, swallowing hard as his hand lingered over the area of missing fur and deep mental trials.

“I lost my innocence at a young age, exposed to the terrors and tragedies of universe.” Knuckles swallowed hard, but steeled his gaze. “This scar came from very dark times in my life. Dark times that he does not need to know about. I lost my innocence too young. I will protect him from the horrors of this world as long as I can.”

Sonic studied him, green eyes penetrating, reading him. Knuckles chanced a glance back up, and when he crossed the gaze of the hedgehog in front of him he saw nothing but support, sympathy, and understanding. A hand fell on Knuckle’s shoulder and the echidna let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“We’ll protect him together.” Sonic said softly, squeezing Knuckles’ shoulder firmly. “But you don’t have to worry about ruining me. I’ve already been traumatized! A fist punching you through a wall will do that to a guy.”

Knuckles chuckled softly and gently nudged the hedgehog in the shoulder. Sonic immediately moved back in place and placed both hands on Knuckles’ shoulders, ensuring that their eyes met.

“You aren’t alone.” he said firmly.

Knuckles allowed himself a true smile. “I know.”

@year-of-the-echidna

#@year-of-the-echidna #knuckles wachowski #tails wachowski #innocence #sonic wachowski #traumatized echidna boy

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