Reason for week hiatus: I had to rework the outline for reasons. Might even rework it one MORE time. The exact same thing happened with the first version as well, several times.

*Knuckles's POV*

If any given survivor were to look at the red echidna right now, they'd come to the conclusion that all he was wondering was just whatever the hell he was doing out here.

And they'd be half right. Because Knuckles was wondering that with half of his mind.

He should've been fisting these green bastards in the mouth for the sake of his precious Emerald, and not some group of guys and girls that he just so happened to grow up with! J-Just imagine what the island had to look like! It could've been so populated that one step would warrant immediate death! They… They could've EATEN the Emerald! And then, not only would they be immortal, but…

But even worse… That flying creature...

But no. He was walking up to a wooden booth of some sort, watching flames engulf an entire once-thriving city. And with a narcissistic-ass blue hedgehog, a broody-ass black hedgehog, a bubbly-ass pink hedgehog, and a smart-ass fox.

Said booth held a single eager trader, looking up at Knuckles with a toothy smile hiding almost completely behind a silver beard… if toothy meant "with whatever was left." It almost made Knuckles sick to his stomach.

"Hey," the trader incoherently mumbled.

"Yeah, yeah," Knuckles groaned. "Look, do you have some fuel to spare in exchange for about $20?"

"I can give you 5!" the trader beamed, picking up a bright red gas can and holding it out to Knuckles. "4 more where that came from, all for the easy price of 20 bucks!"

Well… that was nice. Knuckles found his eyes widening.

"You got a-" he began to respond.

But he was cut off by a CASCADE of distant gunfire. The sonic booms it seemed to make, exactly.

"…Deal," Knuckles finished, placing the $20 on the trader's booth and taking the first gas can.

As soon as he could get the cap off to check its validity, the gunfire exploded into action again… this time seeming to grow quickly in frequency.

Maybe… there was an incoming horde? He looked up, noticing that all of the people currently staying in this area were all looking in one direction.

For a few moments, it was completely silent.

"What the hell IS THAT?!" a voice shook from somewhere in front of the crowd.

"Deer, it seems," another voice yelled back. "But… ZOMBIE deer."

At this point, those of the crowd that seemed to have children with them, especially, walked off with a quick pace.

Then, another shot rang through the air.

"That did nothing!" one of the voices shouted. "It just… BOUNCED right off of him!"

"RUN!" the other recognizable voice shrieked. "Everyone, get out of here!"

And then and there, nobody was up for objection. Suddenly, Knuckles successfully braced himself for the impact of a Mobian wave. Through the chaos, though, he managed to hang on to the one can of fuel he'd managed to acquire. As for the other four, either the trader or the others had scooped them all up on their ways out, within seconds.

He was able to dash back to their car, put the can of fuel in the trunk, and hop back into the car just as Rachel started it, put it into gear, and floored it. So if this was how this ENTIRE trip was gonna look…