*Double Posting today! *
The next morning, Tom and Maddie decided to take the boys hiking. They packed their backpacks up with supplies and before they left, Tom was scrapping the fire pit.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Sonic asked. Then he realized what he said. "Wow, I am never going to get used to calling you that."
"I know. I'll have to get used to it myself. Tom said. And to answer your question, I am making sure our fire from last night is fully extinguished. The weather has been kind of dry recently and one strong wind can reignite any remaining embers. Remember, if you see any sign of smoke, you get as far away from it as you can."
"I know about fire safety, dad, trust me." Tom ruffled his quills and they all set out on the hiking trail. They got about halfway through the forest when Sonic saw a mountain peak up ahead.
"Hey, Tails, want to go exploring? We can go to that mountain up there." Sonic said.
"Heck yeah I do!" Tails said.
"Hey Knucklehead, bet I can beat you to the top of that mountain!"
"Absolutely not, Sonic. Maddie scolded. You guys are not going anywhere near the mountains."
"Aw mum, come on. I've gone up mountains before. I've never gotten hurt, not once!"
"What if this time you do get hurt? And what if you get lost?"
"Knuckles will be with us. Sure, he's stubborn, but he won't let anything happen to us."
"We just want you to be cautious, Sonic. Tom said. You're our son now, we don't want anything to happen to you."
"So, as your son, trust me to be careful. You do trust me, right?"
"Of course we do."
"Then know when I say I promise to be careful. We all will. I got to have some freedom to do my own thing, right? Besides, this gives you two some time to yourself. You guys haven't had some quiet time since I moved in, so go do some exploring. Go see a waterfall. Have some fun, but not too much fun."
"Okay, okay, enough of that."
"You know he's right, Tom. The waterfall is one of the most amazing sights of this park. That was where we had our first kiss, remember?" Maddie said. Tom looked at her, and then at the three boys.
"Knuckles, will you keep an eye on them?" He said.
"As much as I dislike the hedgehog, I will keep an eye on him and the fox." Knuckles said.
"Alright, fine. Go explore the mountains. But do not stay there too late or you'll never find your way back. And when you are done, go straight back to the campsite. Stay together. Understood?"
"You got it, donut dad! Last one to the top is a rotten egg!" Sonic yelled as he took off. Tails and Knuckles ran after him. Maddie sighed and leaned against Tom.
"Not even a full day of him being our son and he's already running off on his own." She said. "You think he'll be okay?"
"Sonic doesn't go looking for trouble, it usually finds him." Maddie looked at her husband. "It will be fine, Mads. We knew taking him in would be a challenge. We'll worry about him from afar, but we also need to give him the freedom to do his own thing, like he said."
"We can, and we will, within reason. I just don't want him to be reckless."
"He won't be. I think after this last fight with Robotnik, he's learning to know the difference between reckless and responsible.
"I hope you're right. I love that annoying little hedgehog. He's changed our life so much, I just don't want anything to happen to him." Tom hugged her. He loved Sonic too. He'll be okay. Tom thought.
"Wow, what a view! Tails exclaimed. You can see everything up here!" Knuckles and Sonic looked out at the sight before them. They saw the entire forest as well as the highway in the distance. To the right was the river. Knuckles scoffed.
"Yeah it's nice, I guess. He said. But you know the sight I enjoyed? Seeing you crying like a baby last night." He looked at Sonic when he said this, which made the blue hedgehog annoyed.
"What is wrong with you?" Sonic asked.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Can you stop being so negative towards me? It was fine at first, but it's been six months, dude. You always have an attitude with me. We've joined an alliance, the three of us. The least you can do is be nice to me."
"Sorry, it was just weird to see you break down like that. And alliance or not, I can make fun of you if I want to. It's what friends do."
"Not to the point where they tear them down. So I showed some emotion last night, big deal. You don't need to make fun of me for it. You have no idea what I've been through the last ten years!" That hit Knuckles hard. The echidna turned to look at him.
"What did you just say to me?" Knuckles said softly.
"Guys..." Tails began to say. Sonic and Knuckles ignored him.
"Before I met Tom and Maddie, I was alone for ten years! I had no one! I lost the one person who meant more to me than anything. Do you not recall that?" Knuckles balled up his fist and rushed at Sonic, shoving him down the side of the hill. Sonic rolled to the bottom and hit the ground hard. In a flash, Knuckles was there holding him down.
"And do you not recall that I also was alone? I lost my father! And my entire village! I had lost everything, just like you did!"
"Guys?" Tails tried again.
"At least you had a father! You had friends, people who loved you. I didn't! I don't even know who my real parents are!" Sonic yelled. Knuckles face softened.
"What, what?"
"Will you two knock it off? There's something I need to tell you!" Tails shouted.
"What is it, Tails!?" Sonic yelled.
"We have to get out of here, now! Look!" He pointed, making the hedgehog and echidna turn. What they saw shook them to their core: bright red flames and a cloud of smoke inching towards them.
"Oh crud." Sonic said