Chapter 1: Misery love company.

Fiona rushed hard through the silent thicket as she made her way through the thicket. The Great Forest had certainly seen better days since the beginning of the war, but, in the end, it proved to be one of the most resilient fighters in the battle. Numerous times it had been burned, blown up, cut down, and all but annihilated, and yet it still stood proud and tall as a safe haven for all creatures great and small seeking shelter. Which made it all the more perfect for the fleeing Fiona. She had lost sight of the Zone Patrol not but three days ago, but she wasn't about to risk being caught. The look on Zonic's face, while hilarious at the time, was an evident enough sign that she had made a dangerous enemy. She wasn't entirely certain if she was even safe in her own dimension after what she did, but it was her hope that she had put just enough distance between herself and them to give her a chance to hide.

At last, her tired legs finally gave out, and she crashed at the base of large oak tree. With little strength remaining, she allowed herself a moment of respite, even closing her eyes as she drifted off into a light sleep. For the major part, it was a dreamless sleep; no color, but plenty of sound. Unfortunately, it wasn't really a dream. It was, in truth, a flashback from earlier that same day. A conversation, in fact.

…

"Where are you going?"

"Where do you think? I'm blowing this popstand! I've had it up to here with this whole stupid situation."

"But wait up! I can't run as fast as you!"

"Heh, what makes you think you're coming, doll. From here on out, I fly solo."

"W-wha?"

"Look, kiddo, it's been real, it's been fun, but it hasn't been real fun. Frankly, you're starting to cramp my style, and I don't really need you anymore."

"You…YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! What about us? We had something! Not to mention you wouldn't even be free if it weren't for me! You need me!"

SLAM!

"Oh, please, get over yourself, Fiona. I singlehandedly conquered my own world before I met you. All you ever were was some starry eyed little dew drop that wanted to do everything I asked you to do. Well, I'm done asking for stuff, so you can take a hike. Ha! Need you? Had something? You're every bit as pathetic as the day we first met. What a joke!"

…..

Fiona's eyes snapped over with a sudden shock, only for her to squeeze her eyes shut again as she tried to fight off a sudden burst of tears. She had loved him, given him everything she had ever had, and he had just thrown her away like an old sack of garbage. How had it all gone so wrong? She was finally happy, or at least what she had considered happy, only to have it all taken away from her again.

So, here she was: lost, alone, and she had no one to turn to. She may as well of been in that cage again back in Robotropolis. She never could figure out why Robotnik didn't robotisize her like the others, often figuring that he had a camera hidden in her cell so as to watch her suffering like some sick sitcom. Even after she had escaped, she had often found herself checking the corners of any room she was sleeping in for bugs. But, in a way, her current situation was almost worse. At least back then, she had the assumption that if someone was watching then she wasn't completely alone. But out here, out in the open woods, it was just her. No one else was around.

SNAP!

Or, perhaps, maybe not!

Fiona burst to her feet and she swept her gaze around the immediate area. The last few shades of twilight had lengthened the shadows considerably, and it was hard to see but a few feet ahead of herself. She squinted, and she could barely make out telltale shapes of wolves. Not mobian wolves, mind you, but genuine, devour everything in sight, animal wolves. A shiver of dread raced up and down Fiona's spine, and her mind began to buzz. So far, it didn't seem like they had seen her. With that in mind, if she were very quiet, she might just be able to sneak away without incident.

Unfortunately, just as she had started to round the trunk of her tree, the air was split by the shrill sound of a wolf howl. With panic setting in, Fiona broke out into a straight sprint, and she could hear the snapping jaws and pounding feet of the large wolf pack behind her. One part of her brain stated that there was no possible way she could outrun the vicious predators, but the rest of her brain told that small part to shut up and let her run. The way she saw it, if she could find a tree that she could scale quickly, then she would be able to hole up in it for a while until the hungry beasts got bored. However, in the process of running, she wasn't paying close enough attention to her surroundings. In particular, the large root of a tree that she caught her foot on. She fell face first into the dirt, and she couldn't conceal a cry of pain as she clutched at her ankle. She tried to rise, but another shot of pain knocked her over again. Through the tears, she could see the wolf pack circling around her, their yellow eyes flickering with ravenous anticipation. There was murder in their eyes, and she was their victim. Her heart froze in her chest, and she choked out a sob as she curled up defensively. She couldn't do anything but remain still and wait for what was to come. She didn't want to die, especially not like this, and she wished now more than ever that she wasn't alone.

"Help!" she squeaked pitifully as the nearest wolf drew into a crouch as it prepared itself to pounce. "Anyone, please! Help me!"

"Hang on! I'm coming!"

Fiona's head shot up, and she looked just in time to see a blur of white slam into the attacking wolf, sending it sprawling into its brothers. To Fiona's wonder, she beheld a solid white mobian now standing over her. He was perhaps the average height for a common mobian, but he had a massive mane that made him appear bigger. Fiona had never seen a mobian lion before, but she wouldn't have ever guessed that they were white. The figure was even carrying a stick with aboriginal symbols carved into it, so he must have been a Down Unda native as well. What was he doing in a place like this?

After recovering from the lion's attack, the wolf howled to its pack, and the fight was on. From all sides, the beasts piled onto the lion, biting and clawing as he tried to bash them away. With a swing of his stick, the lion swatted back three, only for a fourth to tackled him and knock him to the ground. It was all he could do to keep its jaws away from his face, but, after placing one hand under the beast's throat and giving it a tight squeeze, the creature finally retreated to catch it's breathe.

In the process, The lion had dropped his stick, and it landed next to Fiona. Without a second thought, she snatched it up and used it to push herself up onto her knees. She couldn't stand, but that didn't mean she couldn't fight. She began to swing the stick madly, not focusing on a single target, and she successfully knocked aside a wolf that had latched onto the lion's arm. He thanked her by booting another wolf away from her, as well as tossing another over his shoulder.

At last, the wolves all retreated and regrouped, and it was evident that they intended to attack in a large force. The lion stood defensively over Fiona's form, his blue eyes blazing. He planted his feet, took in a deep breathe, and then he cut loose with a roar. Fiona had to yank down hard on her ears out of fear of going deaf, but it seemed to have a different effect on the wolves. All of a sudden, they no longer looked so menacing. In fact, they looked much more docile. Meek even. The lion took one bold step forward, and he locked his gaze onto the head wolf, meeting his eyes.

"That's right! I'm the alpha here! You want her, you have to get through me!"

His nostrils flared, and his eyes narrowed into slits.

"And you do NOT want to go through me!"

The lead wolf held his stare for a long time, sizing up the mobian carefully and waiting for a break. Instead, the lion took a deep breathe, and that was enough. Like a tide of dark fur, the wolves parted ranks and receded back into the forest around them. When the last one was no longer in sight, the lion finally released his breathe, and he collapsed to the ground in a heap. It should also be noted that he was laughing.

"By dingo, that was close!" he wheezed, his voice now thick with the common Down Unda accent. "Had those squirrelly beasts of called my bluff, we would've been lunch for sure."

He sat back up, and then he turned back to Fiona.

"How about you, miss? You alright?"

Fiona gave him a blank stare, a bit at a loss for words. She offered him a nod, and then she tried to stand again. She didn't get very far when her ankle burned with pain, and she was brought to her knees once again. The lion's eyes widened.

"Hey, you're hurt!"

Fiona flashed him an incredulous look. He was the one covered from head to toe in claw and bite marks, not to mention his arm was bleeding, and it was her injury he was worried about?

He got up, wincing lightly at his own tender wounds, and he extended a hand towards her.

"Come on. There should be a town or something nearby. I can carry you and…"

Fiona suddenly lashed out, even smacking the lion's hand with his own stick, and he jumped back with a shocked expression on his face. Fiona then struggled to a standing position, doing her best to put as little weight on her foot as she could, and she handed the stick back to the lion.

"Thanks, but no thanks." she said as she turned up her nose. "I'm perfectly capable of getting about myself, and I don't need any help."

The lion accepted his stick, though he was fixing Fiona with skeptical looks.

"You sure seemed to need my help when those wolves showed up, sheila."

"It's Fiona!", the fox said snippily, "and, while you have my thanks for the save, the crisis is over. I have to be going. Have a nice day."

She started off walking again, and then subsequently fell onto her face. As she struggled onto her hands and knees, she shot a look back towards the lion, whom was now wearing a bit of a smug look.

"You can go whenever you like. I'm perfectly fine."

Using a tree for balance, Fiona rose back up to a standing position, and she carefully made her way forward from tree to tree. Every so often she would groan and eek as her foot gave her pain, though she refused to show any further weakness to the lion. Unfortunately, that was starting to prove difficult when the guy started to follow after her. He never said a word, but just the fact that he was there was starting to annoy her.

Eventually, her other leg gave out, and she once again started to fall. However, this time, instead of falling on her face, the lion swept in and kept her steady. He still said nothing, but the look on his face conveyed his anticipation for Fiona's next words. With no other options, Fiona could only breathe a defeated sigh.

"Ok, fine. I guess I would be kind of easy prey if those wolves came back, anyway."

"That's the spirit!" the lion declared with gusto.

Before Fiona could say anything else, he suddenly swept her up bridal style, though he was careful of her foot. The swift movement made her nauseous, and she shot an angry glare towards her would-be savior.

"Watch it, you big palooka! I'm not a sack of potatoes, ya know."

The lion ducked his head bashfully, and he offered a friendly smile in apology.

"Sorry 'bout that, Shei…er, Fiona. It's been nearly three weeks since I last saw anyone, so I guess I got a little excited at the prospect of company."

Fiona rolled her eyes up to the sky. That was just what she needed right now, a socially deprived buffoon. Then again, given her previous string of luck, she figured that it was better than being out in a dark forest by herself. Better to take her blessings when she could get them.

"Whatever. Just be a bit more delicate, alright? Also, I guess we're gonna be stuck together for a while, so I guess I may as well know your name."

The lion grinned from ear to ear.

"Name's Judah Brightpelt of Miracle Forest, ma'am, and I'm glad to make your acquaintance."

With that, the two made their way back into the thicket of the dark wood just as the last few rays of day gave way to the twinkling stars of night. The forest was once again silent and still, and yet there was an odd wind rustling through the upper branches of the mighty oaks. The wheels of fate had started to turn ever so slowly as the beginning of a new and grand adventure began to take form.