#whatever; he's tonic meeting everyone but catfish and black rose

[myymi]

“So, how's it feel to be the errand boy for once, Dread?” The echidna rolled his eyes before turning to give the bat an unimpressed frown.

“Shut yer mouth, Batten.” He grumbled, turning his attention back to the tree he was climbing. The woman snorted but ended up flying away to look for the little fox that came with them to the small island.

Once he collected the three coconuts this tree held, he looked around the island to try and get a glimpse of yellow or white fur.

He stiffened when something smacked into the back of his head, quickly turning to look behind him. He could see Batten waving him over, a certain glint in her eyes he wasn't used to seeing.

With a frown, Dread jumped down from the tree and ran over to where his fri– crewmate was. Batten pulled him behind a rock when he was close enough, motioning to keep his voice down.

“What's wrong with ye?” He whispered, raising a brow when the bat carefully peeked around the rock they were crouched behind.

“Look.” She nodded her head to tell Dread to take a peek himself. When he did, he figured he was seeing things.

He was pretty sure Sonic went back to his home.

“Who is that?” He asked as he ducked back behind the rock. It couldn't be Sonic, could it?

“Not sure.” Batten mumbled as she turned to face Dread. “I saw Sails with him.”

Dread felt even more confused now. Sails didn't go up to strangers without the crew with him. Was he fooled by this landlubber’s disguise?

The surge of anger that passed through his nerves at the thought of the youngest crewmate being hurt by this landlubber was a strange feeling, but he welcomed it.

He found he actually enjoyed protecting the crew. For once, it seemed to be more important than any treasure in the sea.

Dread drew his sword as he peeked out from the rock once again, surprised to see that the hedgehog was gone.

He slowly rose to his full height, eyes darting all around the surrounding area to try and locate the stranger. Batten stood up with him, carefully wrapping a hand around her own sword.

Dread nearly jumped out of his skin when a finger tapped his shoulder. He quickly whipped around, making sure to keep Batten behind him as he aimed his sword at whoever touched him.

Sails raised a brow at the echidna's actions, his head tilted to the side in confusion.

“Sails?” Batten asked, equally as confused as the little fox. Her eyes carefully scanned over the fox, looking for any injuries as his mechanical arm slowly lowered the sword pointed at his face.

“Aye, lad.” Dread sighed heavily, resheathing his sword, “Where'd ye go?”

“Just over there,” The kit jabbed his thumb to the right, exactly where that landlubber was standing moments ago.

Just as the echidna was about to ask the fox about the hedgehog, the stranger appeared at the youngest’s side. He had a lazy grin on his muzzle as he threw an arm around the other's shoulder.

“Get yer paws off Sails, ye landlubber!” Batten growled, pulling out her sword but refraining from pointing it at the hedgehog just yet.

Sails and the hedgehog seemed to exchange a glance at that, “Uh, it's alright, Batten.”

“What’d ye mean is alright?” Dread asked, glaring at the hedgehog. He was very quiet, “That ain't Sonic, Sails.”

“I know he ain't Sonic, Dread.” The fox rolled his eyes, gesturing to the mobian leaning against him, “His name's Tonic.”

“Tonic?” Batten questioned, the grip on her sword tightening.

Sails nodded, a paw resting on his hip as the hedgehog gave them a two finger salute. “He ain't sure how he washed up here, but he has no way to find his crew. Figured we could go ask Captain Rose if there's anything we can do for ‘em.”

“Are ye sure, Sails?” Batten looked down to the fox, her pose relaxing slightly when she saw how calm he was.

“He ain't gonna hurt us.” The kit argued, ending the conversation by walking away. Tonic was behind the fox immediately, not caring to stick around the bat and echidna without him.

“We're gonna keep an eye on tha’ one, right?” Batten crossed her arms as she looked over to Dread. The echidna nodded with a frown, not taking his eyes away from the hedgehog.

He didn't trust him. But Sails did, and he knows that kid has a harder time trusting people than anyone else abroad Angel's Voyage 2.0.

Black Rose might give him a chance for Sails, but he's absolutely done for if he does anything to hurt the fox.

It had become an unspoken rule between the crew after they had finally learned the full extent of the kit’s past.

Sails was their number one priority now.