.:note: …Once again, my sincerest apologies for losing my sanity. :.

.:chapter 7: going to town

After many hours, I finally awoke. My eyes fluttered open and I sat up, yawning faintly, stretching as well. Hey, I survived my first day of banishment. Oh yeah, I wanted a medal.

A big, pretty one. That was shiny.

I glanced over to the door to notice it had been opened. I slunk out of the room, glancing around. Half of the lights were on, yet it was still moderately dark inside. I looked around, trying to look for something to do. I coughed faintly, quietly mumbling. "…Taw-kaw? Tank?"

I couldn't see, nor hear either of them. All I could hear was the gentle hum that many electronic devices made.. In this case, a shining box. It only had one shining side, though… and there were people inside it… and they didn't look happy. I crept over to the box, with intentions on laughing at the trapped people. But as soon as I got over to the box, the image changed. It was now images of rather interesting sights. A waterfall, a plain, a forest, and a… person wearing funny clothing? This intrigued me. He looked so happy to be in the box. I eventually asked him why he was so happy, and yet he didn't say anything - however… his mouthed moved. Was he mute? I assumed so. But, I noted that all the creatures inside the box were mute. Or maybe it was a shield blocking out sounds… I didn't know.

I heard footsteps, and looked up above the box. It was Tank, and he had food in his hand, eating it voraciously. I tilted my head curiously, sitting up and squeaking a hello, in the form of one of the few words I could utter that he could comprehend. "Tank!"

"Oh, you're awake… what are you doing out here?" Tank said, stuffing the last bits of whatever food he had in his mouth, licking his fingers. I blinked, pausing for a minute, then waving in distress, trying to get him to come over, with a very urgent sounding whimper.

He did just what I wanted, coming over to me. I shoved my hand in the direction of the box, trying to tell him about the trapped people, without actually speaking. He didn't seem alarmed in any way. "..Yes, that's a TV." He said in a praising tone, which really…wasn't the response I wanted, at all. "What's wrong with it?"

I whined again, pointing at the person. I wanted to know why he was there. I was more concerned about my fate -- was I destined to be trapped in a tiny box like this too, to be laughed at?

Tank sighed, still not understanding… and I as well, didn't understand him. It was mutual, no?

"Anyways, come with me. Tuck and I want to show you around." And thus, he grabbed me by my arm again. I really didn't like that… but he was stronger than I was, so I couldn't rebel in a successful manner… so I just went along quietly, although the furrowed brow was thrown into the mix.

I glanced back at the box, and saw something that surprised me. I saw my false-God, Robotnik, briefly appear. I squeaked, "Robotnik!" And pointed again, trying to stress that I wanted to stare at the box, but Tank was stubborn. As was I, but this goes back to the whole 'I'm weaker than he is' thing.

I wanted to know, what was Robotnik doing in the box? Did these two capture him? Oh, no. That interfered with my plans. And I wasn't going to have that. As soon as the two were distracted, I was going to figure out how to dismantle that prison and free Robotnik… and perhaps he'd be so grateful, that I could be one of his top workers. Oh, joy. That'd be just great… pity he didn't speak Mizzulian… or at least, I didn't think he did.

Eventually, Tank and Tucker met up with each other outside of their abode, and led me around. They showed me many things, trying to teach me to the best of their abilities, and I was trying to learn at the same effort level. But it wasn't going to well.

Tucker sighed, "I'ma thinkin' we'll need ta enroll 'er into one o' dose English classes… y'know, dose ones dat teach ya how to speak English better?"

"…No crap, Tuck. it's a possibility, but the thing is… I think they might need to know what language the person speaks natively, and the expense could be an issue."

"…Dunno, and… maybe."

I blinked. "Grass?" I quietly asked, having learned this new word, although still not completely understanding what it meant. I couldn't remember what they told me it was… but I liked the sound of it. Grass. Yes, it left a funny feeling in your mouth when you said it. Say it with me. Grass.

Tank looked at me oddly. "What about grass?"

"Grass."

"…Yesss…w hat about it?"

"….Grass!"

Tank sighed in a frustrated manner. I pointed at Tank's quills and energetically spoke out again, "Grass!"

Tucker laughed at this. "She's got a point, ya know, you do look like ya got grass stickin' out every this way and that."

"..Gee, thanks."

"Y'welcome." Tucker grinned sardonically.

I developed a few odd looks from pointing at things and calling them grass, namely, a fire hydrant, a stone, and a woman… in which I got slapped from. I didn't mind it though, I was used to being struck. Not that I was abused, but… let's not get into those types of things right now.

Yes.

Let your imagination soar.

Pervert.

Anyways…

Tank and Tucker were finding amusement in my fascination with everything, leading me to different areas with many, many more interesting things, indoors and out. I quickly learned what a 'store' was, as well as a 'mall', 'park', and 'restaurant'… although I couldn't properly pronounce that one quite yet. I referred to it as a 'restraint', which they as well, found humorous.

Having mentioning said areas had caused me to realize that I was hungry. Actually, it was my stomach growling that gave it away. I glanced down and whined, then looking back at the two, asking them with body language for food.

Tucker gave me a pretzel that he had gotten not too long ago from a portable stand near the lake in the park. I twittered with glee and took it, not once putting into consideration that he could've poisoned it… which I normally did. But at the moment, I didn't care. I was hungry. Very. I hadn't eaten since before the trial.

I consumed the pretzel very quickly, not caring that I strongly disliked the taste of it. This satisfied me for now, but my curiosity was still killing me. I took off running, trying my best to take in all the scenery without missing anything from speed… as well as trying to not run into people like I did Tank when I first met him.

"Hey - hey! Stop!" The two males chimed together, Tank taking off first, Tucker following right after. I stopped abruptly as I heard the 's' word. I didn't like that word, because I was normally scolded afterwards. And I didn't like being scolded. And thus, I hated the word.

I looked behind me to see the two, looking rather pissed. They apparently didn't like me running.

"Where the hell do you think you were going?" Tucker hissed at me, as he slowed down, almost being struck by Tucker from Tucker's inability to stop at an adequate time.

Told you, the scorning came after the 'stop'.

"…No." I replied in a monotonous tone, although I knew it wasn't a sufficient answer.

Tucker sighed. "Why did I even bother taking you? I could've left you on the street."

His tone didn't sound too pleasing to the ear, and I frowned. Was I being that bad by just running? Was it forbidden to run in this society?

"Sorry?" I asked quietly, thinking I said the right word.

"What did you say?"

"….sorry?"

I felt stupid at that moment for repeating myself, sure that it wasn't what I was supposed to do. I felt helpless, lost… and every synonym you could ever possibly fathom for 'ignorant'. Stupid, uninformed, unintelligent, dim, daft… you get the point.

Tucker blinked and glanced away. "Mm… methinks that we'd betta be goin' back home now. It's gettin' kinda late." It was somewhat obvious he was just trying to make Tank forget that he even doubted taking me in. Or at least, I hoped so, from the tone he used. "Home?" I repeated, "Late?"
"Yes."

Tank then grabbed my arm again, and I whined, clearly demonstrating my dislike of him doing that. But he did it anyways. "Shut up."

"Touchy, aren't we, today?" Tucker said whilst putting another one of those flaming sticks in his mouth. I once again watched him do this. "What?" I asked, which sounded more like a noise that an angry mole would make for being discovered doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing.

"…Say what?"
"…Say…" Pause. "What? Say."

"..Yeah, like I said. Say what?"

"Say what!"

"Oh shut up, you two."

And with that tone, I could tell Tank didn't want to hear anything else from me. So I silenced myself for the rest of the walk back 'home'. Tucker, however, freely chatted away without any penalties on his half.

Damn them and their ability to speak the same language.

end:.