~Pack of Wolves~

Having awoken long before the morning sun, Infinite had taken the now-dry cups out of the sink and was looking for a place to put them. Where were they supposed to go?

Tawny entered the kitchen, tiredly rubbing her eyes. "What did I miss?" she asked tiredly. "Did they get away from the zombie-infested robot scrapyard?"

"I wouldn't know, I turned the movie off when you died of boredom," Infinite answered flatly, not even looking at her as he continued to open cupboards in search of the one which held the cups. Tawny's eyes managed to open wider to show that she was now a little more awake, and she stared at the jackal oddly.

"What are you doing?" she asked him, only then noticing that the house was a little cleaner, especially as she peeped her head through the door to look back into the living room. "Have you been cleaning?"

"No," Infinite answered. "I put everything you left out away. I just need to find where these cups go."

"Top cupboard to the left," Tawny pointed, stifling a chuckle. Infinite faced the cupboard she had gestured to, and then frowned.

"Of course," he grumbled, placing both cups inside the cupboard and then turning back to the hybrid.

"I'm gonna go and look for more survivors today," Tawny announced. "It'll make the clean-up job go by much faster. You wanna join me again, mercenary?"

Infinite narrowed his eyes, not pleased with Tawny's new word which she used to describe him. "No," he said to her. "I find the task to be dull."

"You think everything is dull," the coyote-jackal pointed out. "Well then, suit yourself. But don't blame me if you get bored."

He wasn't going to.

Tawny left the house, and Infinite left shortly after. He wasn't going to stay there and do nothing. He was going to find something to do.

Staying in the city was not ideal for him, so he decided to once again head in the direction of Green Hill. Maybe beyond that area he would be able to find somewhere more peaceful and isolated, just so he could spend some well-deserved time alone.

"So, what's the deal with you two?"

Oh, not that guy again…

Infinite grimaced and then looked up, seeing Ridge sitting upon a higher platform within the grassy location. The older jackal hopped down to his level, grinning at him.

"You again," Infinite hissed lowly.

"I'm difficult to get rid of," Ridge responded smugly, putting his arm around the ex-mercenary. "So then, mind explaining what's going on between you and her?"

"Nothing," Infinite spat, pushing him away. "Why is it interesting to you? How often do you watch her life?" Ridge had never exactly admitted to being Tawny's father, after all.

"I've watched her grow since she was just a little baby," Ridge shrugged. "I can't get any closer than that, I'm afraid."

"Why?" Infinite pressed. "Why do you watch her, and why can't you get close?" He knew the answer, but he just wanted to hear Ridge say it.

"Something tells me that you already know the answer," Ridge said to him, eyeing Infinite carefully but with a smirk on his face. "Now then, why don't you answer my question, Zero?"

"I did," Infinite told him. "Nothing is going on between us, and if anyone so much as suggests such an idea, I will personally end their miserable lives."

"I'm suggesting it," Ridge pushed, stepping closer to Infinite in a daring manner. "Tawny found you outside the city after you apparently walked all the way from Eggman's fortress, and within the space of a few days, she was letting you stay at her house."

"She's just soft," Infinite excused, looking away from Ridge. "I had no place to go, so naturally she took me in."

"And why did you have no place?" Ridge interrogated. "Was your house destroyed in the war?"

"I have no reason to answer your questions," Infinite growled, turning on his heel and walking away. He didn't want to speak to Ridge right now; he just wanted to be alone, and he also wanted to remove the make-shift bandage on his leg, since he believed it had healed enough.

"I didn't think you came from here," Ridge continued, causing Infinite to stop walking. "In fact, I don't think you have a home anywhere, do you? The closest thing you had to a home was that fortress."

Infinite turned his head and narrowed his eyes back at Ridge. "What are you attempting to imply?" he queried with a quiet voice. This, in all honesty, was not looking too good.

Ridge just chuckled upon seeing Infinite's reaction. "I think you know exactly what I'm implying…

Infinite."

Infinite felt his eyes widen – something which he couldn't even control. His fists clenched tightly and he grinded his teeth together, and his heart pounded against his chest.

Ridge laughed at Infinite's reaction. "Ha! I knew it!" he reacted proudly. "That's why you came from the fortress! That's why nobody recognises you – because they've only seen you in a mask!"

No longer in control of himself, Infinite dashed towards Ridge and jumped up, making an attempt to bring the older jackal to the ground. Ridge grinned and caught his fists, then throwing Infinite to the ground. Infinite hit a rock, once again grimacing as he tried to get up.

"Relax, Zero, your secret's safe with me," Ridge assured, gaining Infinite's immediate attention. "After all, you didn't admit that you're Infinite. Just like how I didn't admit that I'm Tawny's father."

So, he knew that Infinite had made such an assumption.

"What do you want…?" Infinite growled as he finally stood on his two feet, slightly hunched over due to mildly wounding his back.

"I want Tawny to be safe," Ridge stated. "She sees something in you, but the last time she saw something in someone, he hurt her."

Was that the guy Tawny had just told him about?

"I'm not going to hurt her," Infinite said, somewhat surprised that those were his own words. "I have no reason to harm her. All I want is to be alone."

"Until you get enough strength to start another war?" Ridge asked. Infinite scowled at him.

"Perhaps," he answered darkly. "And what will you do about it? You can kill me here, but if you believe Tawny cares about me, then you'll only be destroying her from the inside. Some father you are, abandoning your own daughter and breaking her until she is in pieces."

Ridge's smug expression faded and he now glared hard at Infinite. Without saying anything, he grabbed the younger jackal by his throat and lifted him up with one hand, choking him. Infinite clawed at his hand and snarled, thrashing in his grasp, unable to free himself. Knowing this, he locked his eyes onto Ridge's as if expecting death to embrace him soon. He wasn't going to look away from his killer.

"Hmph," Ridge then huffed with a slight smirk. "That's what I thought." He dropped Infinite on the floor, and the scar-faced jackal rubbed his throat and coughed. "You're pathetic. Harmless. Weak. You don't have the strength to even defend yourself." The dark brown jackal tilted his head. "Or maybe you secretly wish you could die."

"Shut up…" Infinite rasped, glaring up at him. Ridge couldn't contain his low laughter.

"Tawny can handle you," he stated. "Without your power source, you're just some sad little jackal." His gaze softened slightly. "But from what I've seen, I wouldn't go as far as to say you were evil."

Infinite looked up at him oddly.

"I saw you save that kid," Ridge pointed out, "and you've been spending time with Tawny. You could've killed her if you really wanted to, but obviously you don't want to because you're not Infinite anymore, and I doubt you ever will be." Infinite glared at him again, but Ridge simply shook his head. "Don't look at me like that. You know it, too, kiddo. That's why you're prepared to die. You don't know what your future has in store for ya."

He… was right.

Infinite didn't know what his future would be like. Sooner or later everyone would likely find out that he was Infinite, and he'd probably be arrested or killed. There was no way for him to get his power back, and even if there was…

Tawny had softened him.

Not just Tawny, but this new way of life. The simple, luxurious way of life he wished he could've had when growing up, and even the innocent words which came from Ace's mouth – the words which came from a child he had ruined the life of.

Facing reality had made him soft.

Weak.

Ridge helped Infinite get back on his feet. "Y'know, if you open your eyes, you might start enjoying your new life," the older jackal said. "I don't think that mask helped you see very well."

Maybe it didn't.

Maybe… things weren't going to be so bad.

Suddenly, Ridge let out a yell of pain and fell to the ground. Infinite's eyes went wide as he stared down at the thief, who had been shot in the back, but then his eyes scanned the area rapidly. Laughter surrounded him, and before he knew it, he was being circled by Scar and his Wolf Squad.

"Well, well, well. I didn't think you were still alive, Zero," Scar greeted in a mocking tone of voice, his grin wide. "I thought you died along with the rest of your squad."

Infinite's fists clenched, but he didn't give much more of a reaction.

"So then, what got you talking to this old coot?" the wolf continued. "Trying to resolve your childhood father problems, are you?"

"I've beaten you enough times in the past, Scar," Infinite managed to say calmly. "I'll do it again here and now." Scar could only laugh loudly.

"You're forgetting that you don't have a squad to help you this time," he pointed out, then drawing out a gun. "Don't worry; you'll be joining them soon."

Ridge suddenly jumped up to his feet and tackled Scar violently, pinning him to the ground. He sharply turned his head to face Infinite. "Run!" he shouted at him. Infinite glowered angrily.

"I'm no coward," he hissed. "I will never flee."

"You want these low-lives to be the end of you?" Ridge asked, holding up Scar as a shield when one of the other wolves made an attempt to strike him. Infinite could see his point – he couldn't win on his own. He wasn't armed and he had no backup.

Ridge would no doubt be held captive by Wolf Squad rather than killed, so there was no need to worry about him.

…Worry?

No, Infinite wasn't worried… was he?

…Even so, he knew that fleeing was the best option, much to his dismay. Not thinking about the option for much longer, he turned and sprinted back towards the city.

One wolf stepped forwards in an attempt to chase the jackal down, but Scar halted him after escaping from Ridge's grasp. "Let him run," he commanded, then grinning. "He'll be back. We have his new friend."

Ridge watched as Infinite fled, and couldn't help but smile a little. Infinite was not going to accept death at the hands of Wolf Squad, and he was returning to the city – to Tawny.

Infinite ran through the city, having never felt this panicked in a long time. Why was he even panicking? Surely leaving Ridge in the hands of Wolf Squad was beneficial to him, seeing that the older jackal knew his secret?

…No. If he didn't rescue him, then Ridge would tell Scar that he was Infinite. That's the sort of thing his own father would have done.

…But Ridge wasn't the same as his father. Ridge cared about Tawny and wanted the best for her. Besides, it wouldn't be right to leave Ridge in the hands of those mangy dogs. They didn't deserve the satisfaction of killing someone like Ridge. They didn't deserve to destroy Tawny's family.

Infinite spotted Tawny ahead, watching as she was just leaving the temporary hospital (presumably after taking in another survivor she had found). Before she could even spot him coming towards her, Infinite pounced and landed right in front of her, making her jump with surprise.

"Zero!" she reacted. "Don't do that, you almost made me jump outta my fur!"

"Wolf Squad have Ridge," Infinite announced immediately, watching Tawny's expression sink.

"They what?" she asked.

"I encountered Ridge in Green Hill, and they ambushed us," Infinite explained simply. "They will kill him if we don't… save him."

"…I guess I do owe it to him…" Tawny murmured. "He saved me from them once, so I should save him from them, too."

"We'll be able to find them in Green Hill," Infinite stated. "That seems to be their place of hiding. I've encountered them there twice now."

"Even if they're not there, I bet they would've left tracks like they always do," Tawny added. Infinite nodded in agreement.

"Let's go," he ordered, turning and running again. Tawny ran just behind him.

Wolf Squad could not be allowed to find out that he was Infinite. They would never stop pursuing him if they knew such information, and his life would be one of constant running. He had to rescue Ridge for the sake of keeping his identity safe.

And… perhaps he also wanted to save him for Tawny's sake, too.

~End of Chapter~