Chapter 2: The Thorndyke Mansion

Sonic and Shadow ran out of the forest and into the city. A few minutes later, they reached the Thorndyke mansion and slowed to a stop. The two werewolves closed their eyes and willed themselves to transform. Suddenly, they felt themselves reverting to their original forms. Their thick claws retracted into their feet as paws began to break apart, forming hands and feet. Legs and arms twisted and shortened, changing their posture so that they could stand upright. Their fur shortened, as did their tails. The muzzles on their face shortened, sinking into their face as ears twisted around, swiveling until they were pointing forward instead of sideways. Finally, fangs retracted into their mouths and the transformation stopped.

In place of the wolves were two anthropomorphic hedgehogs. Sonic and Shadow looked at each other and walked inside the mansion. Tails and Knuckles were sitting on the couch, and looked up as the two hedgehogs sat down beside them.

"So, how was your run in the forest?" Tails asked.

Sonic sighed. "Not bad. Shadow, unfortunately, had to kill a deer because he was hungry."

Tails gasped in shock and glared at Shadow, who crossed his arms and snickered.

The two-tailed fox shook his head and groaned. He looked at Sonic, who was tapping his foot impatiently. "When are you going to run again?"

"I don't know, Tails. Usually, Shadow and I like to run in our werewolf form at night but I might go for a speed run tomorrow morning."

As they were talking, Ella and Mr. Tanaka walked in, holding plates of food.

"Is anyone hungry?" Ella asked. She put some food in front of them. Sonic grabbed a chili dog and gulped it down in a matter of seconds.

Everyone looked at Sonic, who was eating chili dogs as fast as he could. When he was done, he licked his lips and glanced at Knuckles, who was resting against the couch.

"Why is he so lazy?" Sonic asked Shadow.

Shadow looked at Knuckles. "He's had a rough day, I heard."

Sonic nodded and walked upstairs to his room. He picked up a picture that was sitting by his bed and looked at it. The picture was of him and Chris Thorndyke, taken a few months ago. He sighed and put the picture down, thinking of Chris, and how he had died. It had happened a few weeks ago, when Sonic was bitten by a werewolf. He had gone on a killing spree in his werewolf form and had killed Chris's parents, and later Chris himself. Since then, he had regretted it and wished he could take it back. Now, Ella and Mr. Tanaka had to take care of the house with Chris and his parents gone.

Shadow walked in and sat down next to Sonic. "Still moping, I see."

Sonic nodded. "I can't believe he's dead."

Shadow sighed. "You didn't have control of the curse then; now you do."

"When is the next full moon?"

"I...think it's in a few days."

"We won't have control then."

Shadow nodded, and stood up. "I'll leave you alone; you need to rest." He walked out the room and closed the door behind him.

Sonic looked at the picture one last time and felt tears flowing down his cheeks. He shook his head and lay down on the bed. Hopefully, he would be in a better mood by tomorrow. With that thought in his mind, he smiled and closed his eyes before going to sleep.