Chapter Text
Sonic couldn’t think straight. There seemed to be a steady buzz in his ears, blocking out the sounds of the night. On... did Longclaw say this was Earth? So much had happened. Is that what she’d said? He’d never heard of Earth. Why here? What sort of creatures lived here? Were there more hedgehogs? Is that why she sent him here?
Alone?
A dry sob stopped his breathing, and the small blue hedgehog collapsed next to a tree, clutching the bag of rings against his chest. The bark was cold and rough against his back. The ground was littered with rocks and pine needles. It was so very different than the tropical island he’d left. He should go back. He should go back and help her. He should go back and make sure she’s okay.
No.
She sent him here to keep him safe. After she wins the fight, she’ll meet him here. She’ll meet him here. Please, please let her come soon.
It was dark, and it was getting cold. Sonic shivered as a breeze pulled at his fur, spreading goosebumps on his skin. He knew enough to know he’d need to find shelter. He sniffed and ran an arm under his nose. His eyes burned, but he wouldn’t let any tears fall. The moon climbed high in the sky, and Sonic was hearing some... animals(?) in the distance. People?
Sonic wasn’t sure, but he’d spent most of his life staying hidden. That’s what he was going to keep doing. At least until Longclaw got here and told him more about this planet.
His stomach rumbled.
“Longclaw, where are you?” he asked no one.
She’d told him to keep running; to never stop running. But he needed to wait for her. Maybe he could do some recon while he waited? After all, she knew he was on this planet. She was the best tracker. Longclaw could find him wherever he went.
“Yeah,” he said to the forest. “I’ll just... be careful. Then maybe I can find some food. Okay? Okay.”
He wrapped his little fingers tighter around the leather pouch and took off. He quickly found himself at the base of the cliff. He found a quick way up, thankful he was small enough to use even the tiniest precipice. He paused at the top of the mountain, taking a deep breath. He was still trembling all over, but the little sprint had helped expel some of the adrenaline still coursing through his system.
There were lights in the distance. A lot of them. Fires? It was the biggest village Sonic had ever seen. He curled his toes in his brown shoes, swallowing thickly. He had to stay out of sight. This wasn’t going to be easy. His eyes still burned.
He zipped down the mountainside, soon passing a sign that named this massive village “Green Hills.” Sonic’s feet soon left the loose ground of the forest floor, and he found himself on some type of dark gray... rocks? But they were molded together? It was almost like the paths they had at home, but a lot smoother.
“Whoa.”
Curiously, he wondered what the yellow lines in the middle meant. Why was there a white line on the sides? He saw lights in the distance, coming towards him. Quickly, he zipped back into the treeline, watching a loud monster pass him on the dark pathway. He’d come from the village of lights.
Green Hills.
He kept to the treeline as he ran towards the town, and tried as much as possible to remain in the shadows. He lept into a dark alley between two buildings. Another monster rolled down the path. This one looked totally different though. And... what was that thing in it? Something else was walking down the street. Were all these creatures hairless? No? There was some hair on its head. A different creature had hair on his head and on his face.
But...
“Oh my quills...”
He lifted his nose to sniff the air. What... What was that? Sadness temporarily forgotten, the aching in his stomach pulled him towards the scent. He sped towards another alley, gaining a sudden burst of confidence. The smell was coming from a building down the way. It had bright, flashy lights. But what was a “Diner?” Why did grandma run it?
Sonic didn’t see anyone in sight on the creature walkway, so he dashed across the street, standing on his tippy toes to peek through the window. Several other creatures were inside. All of them looked different than each other. There were some smaller creatures too. And they had food.
And it smelled amazing.
But how was he going to get some?
He could...
The hedgehog slammed his eyes shut to keep back his tears. Sonic could feel his throat burning. Longclaw would be ashamed of him.
“Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry, Sonic,” he whispered. He curled his gloved finger and bit his knuckle. “You need to eat. Stealing is bad. But you need to eat. But stealing is bad. But I need...”
He didn’t know when Longclaw would be here. He didn’t know anything...
“Need to eat.”
There.
A creature sitting on a puffy chair by the counter got up and walked away. A moment later, another creature set down a plate of food. She left it there. Unattended.
Sonic closed his eyes and silently apologized to Longclaw before running as fast as he possibly could into “Grandma’s Diner,” grabbing the food in one hand, and dashing back out into the alley. His mouth watered just holding it in his hands. It looked like a piece of meat between two circles of bread. There were some vegetables in it too. It smelled heavenly.
But...
The hedgehog’s jaw clenched as he bit back tears. He wouldn't cry. He needed food.
Sonic took a tentative bite.
“By the Great Owl’s wings...”
It was so good. He finished it in only a few more large bites. Yellow and red goop colored his gloves. He’d have to find a way to clean them at some point. As he looked at his gloves, his stomach rose into his throat again. Sonic wrapped his arms around his middle.
“Please, no.”
He didn’t want to cry. He needed to be strong. He just needed to wait for Longclaw. Longclaw, who would be very disappointed in him for stealing. Longclaw, who’d pushed him into this world to save him. Longclaw, who... who probably wasn’t coming back.
Sonic thought he was going to throw up. He was trembling all over, but it had nothing to do with the cold.
No. She was coming. She was going to come for him.
He should go back to the forest and wait for her. He should go back to where he’d portaled in. On the other side of the mountain. Yes. He’d go back and wait for her there. He needed to be strong. He just needed to wait for Longclaw. Sonic stood, swallowing back his tears and taking off towards the forest.