Long ago, at the beginning of the Eggman War...
The red wolf ran through the streets of Sunset City, desperately avoiding the laser fire Eggman's robots were dropping onto the city. Loudspeakers on the air ships above proclaimed the doctor's victory over Sonic, gloating about how hopeless the situation now was. Ash and smoke made their way into the wolf's lungs, choking him as he ran against the crowd. He didn't care about his own safety, his thoughts were only held by concern for one person.
He cursed himself for taking a culinary class across town. He should've been at her side from the beginning of this nightmare, should be there now to protect her. He could only pray that he wasn't too late to save her now.
At last, he reached the building he was looking for, the explosions in the distance were getting closer and closer. He didn't have much time. He ran towards it but was stopped by two rescue workers before he could get too close. "Sir! You have to stay back! It's too dangerous!"
"No, you don't understand! My girlfriend is in there!" the wolf protested, breaking free of their grip and running further. "Sir, you have to get-" But the rescue worker was soon interrupted by the explosion of the building in front of them, knocking all three off of their feet. the wolf was the first of them to stir, and could only stare at the burning wreckage in front of him and scream.
"SARAH!"
Days later, the wolf laid in a private medical ward, staring at the charred and wrinkled picture in his bandaged hands. As soon as the fire had been extinguished, he had dug through the wreckage, desperately hoping beyond hope that she had survived. That somehow, she had been shielded from the blast.
This picture was now all that was left of Sarah.
Digging through the wreckage had left him burned and scarred...But above all else, he was angry. Angry at the life he had been robbed of, angry at what he and others had now lost, but most of all, he was angry at the man who started it all.
He gently touched Sarah's face on the photo. She'd always been so happy, so full of life...But now she was gone. All he could do now is burn down the people who ended her life too soon.
Rumors of a Resistance effort had begun to spread around the medical ward he was in. He didn't know if they were true, but if they were, as soon as he was out of this dump, he'd see about joining up with them.
Whatever small part Jack the Wolf could play in taking down Eggman, he was gonna do it.