SORRY X 1,000,000,000,000 for not updating, I am super sorry! I've just been so busy for the past few months that I haven't been able to update for so long! But I'm back on track now :D

I hope you can forgive me!

SORRY!

Chapter Twenty One

Sonic's POV

The next morning after everyone was rested and fully recovered, me, Tails, Knuckles and Shadow decided to head out to the destroyed areas in hope to find survivors.

We went to the island first but there was no hope at all, they were all dead. The island was still smoking and we had to leave because the air was too hard to breathe in. We headed to the city next and yelled around as we tried to find anyone.

I was just about to give up when I heard soft cries that sure as hell didn't come from the others. My ears and head perked up as I tried to locate to owner of the soft whimpers; I was shocked, there was an actual survivor!

I ran around a pile of building rubble and skidded to a halt at the sight before me. There was a dead fox with her fur all burnt but kneeling by her side was a crying girl who was begging her mother to wake up. She couldn't have been older than Flash, her fur was a soft, pale gray with bright green eyes.

I slowly approached the crying girl, afraid that I might frighten her. "Hey there"

The girl yelped and spun around, huddling closer to her dead mother. She started to tremble with fright as she observed me. I walked even slower towards her.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you" I said in a soothing voice, "I've come to save you"

The little girl whimpered, "Can you save my mummy, she isn't waking up" she cried.

I suddenly felt quite sick. How the heck am I going to break it to this girl that her mother was never going to wake up? I approached her a bit more, "I'm really sorry, I won't be able to wake her up"

The little girl cried more and ran to me in fright and hugged my legs, clearly in hope for warmth and comfort. I sighed in sympathy; she must be so confused, so scared. I picked her up and cradled her trembling body to my chest, close to the sound of my beating heart. I tried to calm her with shushing noises, but I could tell that she was absolutely terrified.

I turned around to find Tails looking at me in amazement. "You found a survivor?"

"Yeah, her mother's died though. We need to take her back to our place" I said as a thought came to me, "Say kid, do you have a father?"

"I dunno" she cried.

I shrugged at Tails who only looked sympathetically at the little fox girl. "Well, we haven't found anyone else so I think we should head back. I'll get Knuckles and Shadow"

With that he ran away to find the others. I looked down at the little fox, "Hey, do you have a name?"

"My name's Soot" she murmured as she huddled closer to me. Soot, I guess that fitted her pretty well with the gray fur.

Soon Tails and Knuckles approached me and Soot. Knuckles' eyes widened at Soot before saying, "Shadow's already gone back to tell everyone about the survivor coming"

"Okay, we'd better head back then" I said as I ran at a slower pace so I wouldn't frighten Soot.

We all came back to my place and Amy opened the door before gasping, "Oh my gosh, I didn't realise she was so young! And cute!"

"Her mother didn't make it" I said as we entered the place, Soot was still trembling in fright. Amy softly took her into her own arms and rocked her slowly. Flash was behind her looking up at Soot curiously, looking a little sympathetic.

"Me and Cream will take care of her for now and give her a bath or something" said Amy.

"Okay, I'm just gonna go for a run. Wanna come Flash?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Maybe later, I'll stay and help mum with the girl" said Flash.

...Okay, forget that I said that I knew the answer because that was not what I was expecting at all. Flash never turned down an afternoon run before. Heck, he never turned down any run!

"Buddy?"

Flash obviously knew what I was thinking because he answered, "Well, she looks really scared so I figured maybe if I talked to her she might feel better. Strange adults are really scary, but kids aren't"

I blinked in surprise, I didn't realise that Flash actually thinked that. I smiled warmly in understanding and ruffled his quills. "Good idea buddy, I'll see you later then"

I ran outside and began my run and around 150mph, feeling kinda lonely without Flash. But I knew his heart was in the right place so I shook off the lonely feeling and continued running towards Green Hill Zone.

I figured that everything was going to be okay now. We found a survivor, Crystal was locked up, Breeze was going to get married and have a child (as much as that thought annoyed me, I accepted it). Yep, everything was going to be just fine now...

Nope! The story ain't finished just yet! There's still ages to go!

So tune in for next time! WHICH WILL BE SOON, I PROMISE! Pinkie swear and cross my heart!

Review if you wanna, I won't force you!