Knuckles the Echidna
Part Ten
Once they were safe, they all panted in exhaustion.
"Are you okay?" Knuckles asked between breaths; looking at Sonic.
"Yeah, I'm fine." The hedgehog replied with a sigh of relief.
"That was a really brave thing you did, Knuckles." Tails told him.
Knuckles smiled.
"Well, you're my friends." He replied to Sonic and Tails. "I couldn't let you guys get hurt; or even worse killed." Knuckles told them. "I promised to protect anyone who is in trouble."
"Well, thanks buddy." Sonic smiled; giving him a thumbs up.
"You're welcome." Knuckles replied.
The three friends soon peered down over the edge where they had narrowly escaped with their lives. The six crocs below were trying to climb up the ledge; hissing and growling as they couldn't get far with their stubby legs. Knuckles and his friends were finally safe. Knuckles turned back to his friends.
"Lets get going." He stated. Soon, they got up and looked themselves over for injuries. It was then that Knuckles saw the tears and rips in his clothes. There was a rather well-sized section torn out of the bottom of his clothes; a larger section being taken from the back.
He could also see down mucky the water had been; since his honey brown tribal clothing now had a tint of dirty green from the chest down; as well as his spiked gloves and some on his bright crimson than that, he was perfectly fine. Knuckles then turned to his friends. Sonic was slightly covered with the brownish green swamp sludge.
His whole front and left side was tinted with the silt from when he fallen down. Blotches covered his face as well. Tails also had a few blotches of silt; which seemed to have stained his golden and white fur. As a slight breeze rushed though, Knuckles could feel a wetness about his face; indicating that he had sludge on his face as well; which was true. As side from the loamy grime, they were okay. Sonic, however, constantly kept trying to brush the gunk away; but was having no luck.
"Yuck!" Sonic said finally. "It's going to take three showers to get this stuff off." He complained.
Knuckles looked out to see sunlight up ahead.
"Come on, we should go." He stated. "I think we're almost out of the swamp." And so, they began their way through.
The ground around them was still a bit soft; but less so than in the bayou. As they continued on, the sun's light began to get brighter; indicating that the forest was ending. The bright, hot sun shimmered down through the leafy canopy. Before long, they came upon a small creak; which seemed to be feeding into the bayou.
Knuckles and his friends walked on. They followed the water; hoping to find a way out of the swamp. After about thirty minutes of walking, they soon saw the brightness of the sun up ahead. By that time, the gunk that had stuck in their fur and clothing had become dried and was able to be brushed away; leaving a light coat of dirt behind. Knuckles and his friends soon stopped as they came out into the open. They gazed out in awe at the sight before them.
The water had led them to open water; an ocean. But that was not what caught their attention. Up in the sky was a large slab of land; which seemed to be floating above the sea; many yards from shore. Knuckles let out a breath of astonishment as he marveled at the sight before him and his friends. It was Angel Island.
They had finally found it. Now all they had to do was figure out how to get there. Looking around, he soon spotted something to his right. About twenty feet away, was a tall cliffside; which had been polished and worn by the weather and wind. Knuckles gazed at the rock formation for a few moments. Soon, he turned to his friends.
"Guys, look." He pointed; before taking off for the rocks.
Sonic and Tails followed behind him. Reaching the formation, Knuckles, Sonic, and Tails began to climb up the smoothed cliffside. Before long they reach the top. The trio then turned toward the open water; their gaze landing on the floating land mass.
"Well, from where we're at, it doesn't seem to be that far away." Tails stated. It was true. From where they were now standing, it seemed somewhat closer.
"So how do we get there?" Sonic asked.
"We could try to glide." Knuckles piped up; talking to no one in particular.
His friends looked at him a surprise at his suggestion.
"Echidnas are able to glide for long distances by using their dreads and arms for leverage." He explained. "As long as there's a breeze to glide on." He finished after a moment.
"You know?" Tails began; in thought as a soft breeze rushed past them.
"That might actually work." He walked over to the ledge. "With this strong breeze, we can fly to the island. I'll use my tails as propellers and you can glide." He said to Knuckles.
"How would I get over there?" Asked Sonic; frowning.
"I could carry you over." Knuckles suggested.
"Actually Knuckles, I'll carry him over." Tails said. "You'll need your arms to help you glide."
"Sounds good to me." Sonic agreed with a smile.
"Okay then, lets go." Knuckles smiled.
With that said, Knuckles ran to the ledge and jumped; letting the wind catch beneath his dreads and carry him into the air.
"Hey! Wait for us!" Sonic shouted as Tails followed; catching Sonic as he jumped from the ledge.
Soon, they were headed after their friend; heading toward Angel Island.
A/N: This part is kinda short ^^; I hope that's okay :D
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