My job
A short tale of the memories of Knuckles the echidna
I'll probably never know why I was given this job.
Why I had to become the guardian, watchman of the master emerald.
Out of all echidnas I'll probably never understand why they chose me for a task as ancient as the stars themselves. I remember...what do I remember? So long ago...so young...
I remember the creak of the huts door...the creak of sandaled feet on my bedroom floor. Young...I was so young. My studies and strengths were important too me, my knowledge and power. They said I was...interesting, different. Unique.
Do I curse this uniqueness? Should I? I remember my hands, their claws on the knuckles. The sign of a warrior? The sign of...a guardian?
Knuckles. Heh. My name, my curse. A joke from my parents and elders. The name was...is...appropriate. It got me the job that gave a lot. And took a lot away. Sometimes the loneliness creeps in and I curse those who brought me into this life only to make me a prisoner of my own home. And then I remember the island, the reason behind this...chaos. The only other link to my past. My home.
I remember their interest in me, the extra practice sessions they made me do. And I remember how on that night, while someone sobbed for me into another's arms. I remember their words... "Son...be better than the rest of them. Tougher than leather." And they took me away. To the destiny I didn't ask for or want. I remember the wolf, the one I had to kill or be slaughtered. I remember the nod. I remember the cheers. I remember the blood.
I sometimes miss the emotions ,the sounds. But I think I have found something others don't have: my reason. My purpose. And that knowledge is fuelled by something else. Battle. Battle and my friends. I remember the hedgehog. I remember the fox. I remember the...bat girl. I remember the...love?
I'll probably never know why I was given this job.
Why I had to become the guardian, watchman of the master emerald.
Out of all echidnas I'll probably never understand why they chose me for a task as ancient as the stars themselves. But I don't think I need to. I should go now. The emerald is calling me. Across the vast exotic land that is Angel Island. My island. My purpose. My home.