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xiiithhazard · 24 days ago

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Echoes of the Unseen Children - Chapter 6

Word Prompt 5 – Chuckle

@year-of-the-echidna

First Chapter

Prev. Chapter

…

Chapter 6:

He felt like he was going to be sick, when consciousness decided to drag him back to reality. And, for a time, Sonic fought it off. However, a familiar crying had him loosing that battle and he shot straight to his feet, in one swift motion. Only to run right into a damn tree, which laid him out on his back once again.

“Ow.” He muttered at the sky, before looking around for the source of the crying. Only to find Knuckles and Tails sitting next to what was left of their supplies, frozen in shock, after having witnessed his embarrassing display. But it wasn’t even a second later, that Knuckles recovered and had to straight up clamp his mouth shut to keep from bursting into laughter.

“It’s not funny.” Sonic complained, turning onto his stomach, only for his arms to give out and he face-planted into the mud. And that was when Tails joined in. Giggling and clapping his little paws, like he’d just discovered the best form of entertainment there was. “I hate you both.” He informed the earth before pushing himself up and made an attempt to clean his face. Not that it did him much good, as the rest of him was caked in mud as well.

Walking over to his friends, he found that they were both in the same boat. Though, thankfully, Tails was the cleanest of the three. “So – we’re alive. That’s good.” He murmured, rubbing his head as he sat with them.

“For the most part. However, we lost pretty much everything.” Knuckles answered, after giving himself another minute to recover from his chuckles, before waving a hand at their meager supplies. Which consisted of about half a blanket, some rope, and Tail’s carrying bag. Thankfully, that was also where Sonic had stored Longclaw’s map.

“Well, that’s just great." He complained, noticing that none of their food made it. Not that they’d had a lot to begin with. And, just to top it off, the blanket was completely soaked. “What now?”

“Shelter.” Knuckles stated, though it seemed his usual bravado had momentarily faltered. “We can always find food later. But we can’t stay out in the open like this.”

Looking toward the sky, an action they took often, Sonic noticed the clouds of yet another storm and knew his friend was right. However, when Knuckles tried to stand up, he only made it part way, before it became clear that he was going to collapse.

“Hey!?” Sonic rushed to his side and helped him back to the ground, so he could look him over. Only to find that the echidna’s bad arm was in even worse shape than before, his shoulder was turning into one giant bruise, and he could no longer use it at all. Before, he’d at last been able to lift the arm and move it around, now it just hung loosely at his side. On top of that, he’d used up a lot of energy to save them. “Okay, you’re staying here.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” The stubborn creature proclaimed, trying again to get up. But all Sonic had to do was poke at him and he was thrown off balance.

“Yeah. No.” He declared, picking up Tails and putting him in the echidna’s lap to essentially act as a barrier. As he wouldn’t be able to hold the baby and push himself up at the same time. “I’ll make a run. Find a place to stay, then come back for you.”

“Sonic, we don’t know what’s on this island.” Knuckles hissed at him, but the hedgehog was having none of it.

“All the more reason for you to rest up.” He stated with a grin that he knew would just annoy his friend that much more. “Don’t worry, I’m an unstoppable force.” He proclaimed with a dramatic pose. “Back in a flash.” With that, he rushed into the forest, only to get a few feet before his head did a cartwheel on his shoulders and he had to stop and brace himself on a tree. Feeling his stomach turn, as his body protested the lack of energy.

Was this how Knuckles felt when he used his secret strength? No wonder he saved it for needed occasions.

Speaking of which, said echidna was now glaring at him in a rather self-righteous tone. “I’m fine.” Sonic announced, but even he wasn’t convinced. So, he forced himself to push away from the tree. Giving his friend a stubborn look of his own, then he ran off, before the jerk could comment further.

“Idiot.” Knuckles muttered to himself when he was gone and looked down as Tails declared a series of baby babble noises in Sonic’s general direction, before looking up at him with innocent annoyance, to which the echidna chuckled in agreement. “Tell me about it.”

…

Sonic's vision blurred as he sped through the dense foliage, each footfall heavier than the last. He couldn't deny that the trip had taken its toll on him as well, but he refused to let that slow him down. His friends were counting on him, and that was all the motivation he needed.

As he pushed forward, heading for the highest parts of the island, the forest began to thin, revealing more open terrain. And he found that he was able to reach speeds he hadn’t managed since his time with Longclaw. Despite the weakness still weighing his legs down, he found himself enjoying the run. It had been too long. So, he happily pushed himself even harder, just to feel the wind.

It came to an end sooner than he would have liked. As a massive rock wall came up to meet him. Forcing the hedgehog to come to a dead stop, looking up at it with an irritated ‘humph’.

However, just when he was about to stubbornly run up the sheer cliff face and be done with it, his attention was called to an out of place shape. And he instead ducked into a crouch, hiding himself in the foliage, as he went to check it out.

He came to a startled stop and blinked at the structure that was clearly a house. Only to look around and find two more. One had been partly collapsed, and another was missing sections of its roof. But the third was still standing.

Smiling at the prospect that their luck might finally be changing for the better. He inched closer and closer, not wanting to be seen, if the home was still occupied. However, he continued to see no signs of another living creature, which eventually led him to walking right up to the doorway of the nearest building.

Peaking inside, he jumped for joy when he found there was food inside. However, the sight had the adverse effect of dropping his guard, as he rushed to collect some. For he didn’t notice the trap, until he’d been pulled right off his feet and was left hanging upside down in the air.

He let out an embarrassing yelp, panic building in his chest, as he struggled to get back to the ground, where he could use his speed. However, his fight with the rope was soon cut short, when something zipped past his ear, causing him to instinctively freeze.

Ever so slowly he turned in the direction the arrow had flown from and felt his heart stop for a moment, as a hooded figure walked up to darken the doorway. Another arrow already locked into his bow.

“Uh – hi.” Sonic attempted to smile, but couldn’t keep it up for long, as the figure didn’t even so much as twitch in response. “Is this your house? Sorry for barging in like that. I thought –” He looked around at the food stores again and only then did he realize most of it was actually fresh. Giving him no real excuse to continue believing that the place had been abandoned. A fact he really should have picked up on before.

Unfortunately, patience was more Knuckles’ thing. And it appeared that his captor was not buying the story either. As he lifted his bow, aiming directly at Sonic’s head, before letting the arrow fly.

The hedgehog emitted an undignified sound, as his panic pushed him to move. And he was somehow able to pull himself up to grab the rope around his ankle. A skill that clearly impressed the hooded figure, as they paused for a second, before reaching for another arrow. But it had still given Sonic enough time to get a better grip and haul himself up the rope at high speed, until he’d reached the ceiling and crawled through a nearby hole.

Quickly freeing himself from the trap, he was off again. Racing down the side of the structure, as his pursuer rounded the corner. Letting loose another arrow, which Sonic just managed to avoid, before heading for the tree line.

“Woo.” He crowed, looking back as the figure disappeared into the distance, his speed too much for him to handle. Then, with a cocky laugh, he shot off across the island. Back toward where he had left his friends. He got lost a few times and had to double back a few more. But eventually, he found them.

“Knucks. Knucks. We gotta go. There’s a –” He proclaimed, only to stop when he realized that Tails was crying and had been doing so for a while. “Hey, Buddy. What’s wrong?” He asked, picking up the baby. Completely forgetting the potential danger. Only for the little fox to immediately fuse in his arms and reach back for Knuckles, clearly distressed. That was when he noticed his friend had fallen asleep. Sitting up no less. However, something – was not right.

“Knuckles?” He whispered, feeling a tension building, as he reached to shake him. Only for the slight movement to disrupt the echidna’s position and he simply collapsed. His body completely limp. “Knuckles!” Sonic all but screamed, carefully setting Tails down, as he rushed to his friend’s side. Doing everything he could to wake him. But nothing worked.

“No. No. Nononono.” He chanted. Panic rushing in to completely override his brain, as he realized that his friend was burning up and his breathing was growing labored. However, he had no idea how to address this. Leading him to just keep trying more of the same. As he attempted to lift him, only for the unnatural limpness of his body to freak him out even more. “Knucks, wake up. Please, wake up.” He begged, tears now falling down his face, as he pulled his friend into a hug. Repeating what he’d just said, over and over and over again.

Despite his wailing, the tension had been so thick that when he suddenly heard the sound of a nearby twig breaking, he was immediately on guard. Turning to find the hooded figure slipping from the shadows of the forest. His bow still at the ready.

Despite his panic, Sonic’s body moved of its own accord. Quickly bringing Tails closer, so that he could position himself between the intruder and his friends. Brandishing a nearby stick as his only weapon.

“Get back.” He all but growled. His face twisted into what he could only imagine was the most frighting expression he’d ever managed. As even the skilled hunter took pause. Obviously wondering if he should risk it. However, he soon turned his interest to Knuckles and Tails, causing Sonic’s rage to increase. “I’m warning you.” He yelled, bringing the attention back to himself, where it belonged.

“He needs medicine.” An unexpectedly soft and female voice spoke from beneath the hood. Causing Sonic to start. Suddenly uncertain.

“What?”

“You’re friend. He is sick. He needs medicine.” The voice insisted, calmly, yet sternly. Prompting the hedgehog to risk a glance at his friend. Who still hadn’t moved. Something that had reclaimed Tail’s attention as well. As the little fox was clinging to the echidna’s neck, wailing, like his heart was breaking into a million little pieces.

Feeling the weight of realization crash into him, Sonic dropped his stick and turned back to the figure. His checks lined with tears. “Please.” He whispered, falling to his knees. “Please help him.”

At first he feared that his words had had no effect. As the hunter just stood there, staring at them for a moment. But then she lowered her bow and walked forward. Reaching up to unlatch her cloak, as she did so. It was only then that Sonic saw who was underneath.

The pink hedgehog worked silently, but effectively. Using her cloak as a blanket to cover Knuckles and keep him as warm as possible, while she checked him over. Taking notice of his injured arm, as well as the poor state they were all in, at that point. Eventually, her attention was drawn to the damage that had been done to the forest, when they had all but crashed into the island. Leaving a long groove in the land, leading back to the ocean.

“You came from the sea?” She asked, turning back to Sonic, who jumped at his sudden significance.

“Uh – yeah.” With this, she turned her attention back to Knuckles and laid her hand on his chest to feel the strength of his heartbeat. Only to pull back, like she’d felt something she had not expected. “What? What’s wrong?” Sonic demanded in a panic. But she just shook her head and jumped back into her work, without a word. Gently running her hands over the echidna’s fur, looking for something that only she seemed to think would be there. Before making an attempt to turn him over, prompting Sonic to help.

“There.” She whispered, carefully pulling a little black barb from his back and showed it to the other hedgehog.

“What is it?”

“Sea Urchin.” She explained, looking back at Knuckles, and pointed out a few more of the little spikes. “How long ago was he stung?”

“I – I didn’t know he was.” Sonic admitted. Though he imagined that it had likely happened when they’d hit the reef and he’d fallen into the water. However, he himself had passed out since then. So, he had no idea how much time had actually passed. “Maybe – a few hours.” He finally guessed, only for the girl to turn to him sharply.

She opened her mouth as if to protest this, but no words came out. Before she looked back at Knuckles, seemingly seeing him in a new light. “He must be very strong to have survived this long. But the poison with take him if it is not removed. We must get him to my hut.”

“Okay, I can do that.” Sonic said in a rush. Moving to lift his friend. Only for the girl to grab his arm.

“No! We cannot move him. It will only spread the toxin faster.” He quickly pulled back, as if doing so would buy Knuckles more time. However, the dilemma that this caused was not lost on him.

“Then – what do we do?” He pleaded, causing the girl to meet his eyes for a moment, before she turned her attention to the forest around them.

“Bring me two strong branches and all the vines you can find.” She instructed. Standing up as well and began to collect the fallen leaves from the nearby palm trees. Leaving Sonic to immediately jump into action and race about the area. Finding everything she needed in record time and returned to her, where he then started to collect the leaves as well.

Uncertain how many she needed he decided to just bring them all. An action that left the pink hedgehog startled and impressed. But thankfully she knew better than to waste time asking him how he’d done it.

“What now?” He asked, ready to do whatever she said, if it meant saving his friend. Prompting her to kneel next to the pile of supplies and separate the two branches, so she could lay the leaves across them both, creating a makeshift sled.

It didn’t take long for Sonic to realize what she was doing and jumped in. Tying off each leaf and adding more and more layers to make it study enough to drag. Within minutes, he had finished the task that would have taken a normal person an hour or more.

“You – are very fast.” She pointed out, once he was done and he managed a weak little smile. Realizing that he’d been showing off. But he didn’t bother trying to deny it, she’d already seen what he could do. He’d just have to hope she was trustworthy.

With the task completed, he watched as the girl gently prepared Knuckles to be shifted. Never making a move until she was certain of her action. In doing so, she eventually got him onto the sled, without causing more harm.

“We must hurry.” She insisted, after leaning down to listen to his heart again. And jumped to her feet, collecting Tails as she did so and lead the way into the forest. Leaving Sonic to haul the sled on his own. But they’d done a pretty good job in its construction, allowing him to use his speed in exchange for strength to move it.

Though they were moving as fast as they could, the process still took longer than he would have liked. However, they did make it back to the girl’s hut before the sun set or the new storm came in. So, he couldn’t really complain.

“In here.” She instructed. Leading him toward the most structurally sound of the three houses, which turned out to be her chosen living quarters. As it was the only one with a bed. However, they didn’t risk moving Knuckles to it directly and instead just laid the sled on top.

“Wait. What do we do now?” Sonic pleaded, when Tails was suddenly trust into his arms. But the girl had already run back outside. Not even bothering to answer his question. Leaving the hedgehog to sit in his worry, gently hugging the little fox as he struggled to control his panicked breathing and turned back to his injured friend.

Thankfully, he could make out the rise and fall of his chest. But the eerie stillness made him nervous. He wasn’t used to Knuckles being so – stagnant. Yeah, he would sit in meditation from time to time and was usually the calmest among them. But he was always on guard. His body ready to jump at a moment’s notice to defend them.

Sonic hadn’t realized how much he’d come to depend on that until it was gone. He’d been able to relax and focus on other things, knowing that his friend would be there. He felt almost suffocated without it. Like he was drowning, but there was no water to float on.

He jumped out of his thoughts and looked down when Tails emitted a worried little noise and he cuddled the baby closer, before shifting over to put his hand on Knuckles’. “It’s gonna be okay.” He whispered, the words directed at himself as much as they were for his friends. And he squeezed the echidna’s hand, to keep himself from crying again. He had to stay strong. They needed him to stay strong. “It’s gonna be okay.” He said, this time actually managing to convince himself, if only a little.

He looked up and quickly moved aside when the girl returned, with several bottles and bandages in her arms. “Help me.” She insisted, trying to lift Knuckles’ head in such a way that she could pore something into his mouth without drowning him.

Quick to do as he was told. He left Tails in the middle of the floor, where he could be seen at all times and did what he could to aid the process. Even if he had no idea what he was really doing.

In the end, they still failed, a little. As the liquid caused Knuckles’ body to instinctively jerk and cough. And, for a moment, Sonic hoped that he had regained consciousness. But it wasn’t the case. However, they did at least manage to get the medicine into his system. And that was enough for him.

“Turn him.” The girl instructed next, getting under his head to make sure his body didn’t move in a way that it wasn’t supposed to. “We need to remove the barbs.”

“Right.” Sonic announced, moving to help and followed her every move to the letter. Ensuring his friend wasn’t hurt in the process. Then he was tasked with holding an empty bottle to catch the little poisonous spears as they were extracted.

In the end, she found five of the damn things. Though Sonic wasn’t certain if that was a lot or a reasonable amount. Even so, he hated every one of them with a fiery passion. As they had seen fit to thrust themselves deep into his already injured shoulder. As if that arm hadn’t been through enough punishment already.

He was forced to set his revenge plans aside, for the moment. As he had to help the girl apply a mixture of several different medicines to the puncture marks, before wrapping the echidna’s entire arm with some strange leaves and bandages. It was only once they had laid him on his back again that the girl finally relaxed. Sitting on her haunches and examining her work.

“Well?” Sonic whimpered hopefully and she turned to him, her expression unreadable.

“I have done all I can. He will have to survive through his own strength now.”

Sonic swallowed the sob that tried to escape, and looked back at his friend, then at the girl again. Offering her what little bit of gratitude, he could, in the form of a smile. “Thank you.”

…

Somehow Sonic found himself in a strange limbo, where he both; couldn’t sleep and couldn’t stay awake. Leaving him to sit, zombie-like in the corner. Tails curled up in his lap, as he watched over the still form of his injured friend through the flickering light of the fire.

The pink hedgehog rested in a nearby chair, every once in a while, waking up to check on him as well. Though she’d made it clear there was really nothing they could do but wait.

Night had truly set in at that point, as had the cold. And a new storm was brewing over head. But, thankfully, the position of the hut against the cliff side protected them from most of it. Even so, Sonic often found himself getting up, just to make sure Knuckles was warm enough.

Unfortunately, his fever had yet to break, so he often battled with himself over whether to let the cold in or keep it out.

He found himself starting back into full consciousness, when his body jerked. Like some instinctual part of his mind knew that it couldn’t let him rest. And he quickly checked on Knuckles again. Only to feel the breath clench in his throat, as he realized his chest had stopped rising.

Immediately he set Tails aside and ran to his friend, resting his ear against his heart and sighed, as he found that it was still beating. However – he wasn’t breathing.

“Knuckles.” He cried, trying to shake him, without causing more harm, but his head just rolled to one side, as if he’d – given up. “NO!”

He barely realized that the pink hedgehog had woken with his screaming and joined him. Gently lifting the echidna’s head back, trying to encourage oxygen to flow through the airway. But his body just wouldn’t take the hint.

So, Sonic did it for him. Without warning, he jumped into action and started pumping his friend’s chest with his own hands. Though he wasn’t entirely sure what he was doing or even if he was doing it right. He wasn’t about to just stand there and do nothing.

“Come on. Come on.” He begged, working his arms until they were screaming at him to stop, but he refused. “You can’t give up. You’re too stubborn to die. Remember?” He pleaded, unable to stop himself from crying, as he felt the heart under his hands growing weaker and weaker. Forcing him to put more of his own power into keeping him alive.

Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he noticed the pink hedgehog had suddenly jumped back, staring at him in shock. Though he didn’t put much stock into why. As he screamed with frustration and pain.

“Please – you can’t leave.” He begged, his movements slowly coming to a stop, as he instead just leaned down to hold his friend’s body. “Please – brother. Don’t leave us.”

…

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#sonic the hedgehog #knuckles the echidna #miles tails prower #sonic movie universe #year of the echidna #word prompt #Chuckle

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