"Is he going to be okay?"

A clunk, some shuffling.

"Yes, he should be waking up soon."

There was elucidate flash, aiming at his eyes. He stirred, hearing excited murmurs.

"He's waking up! He's waking up! Dad! Knuckles!"

A whizz, thumping away, a soft but sweet chuckle. His surroundings had become clear, as he opened his flickering eyelids.

A hunched figure looking down at him, their brown eyes reflected his whacked out body. They smiled brightly, putting something down.

"Hey Tails, feeling better?"

It echoed, ringing in his ears. His neck cracked as he nodded. The fox's vision slowly restored itself and his hearing had gotten slightly better.

Then he realised who was sitting beside him, he cranked up, wincing painfully, as his back ached. "Ow!" He whimpered, her hand grabbing his.

"Tails."

He twitched, avoiding the careful gaze.

"Tails. I know you can hear me, please just look at me."

He cautiously turned his head, foreign fingers looped with his own. The fox drew his knees to his chest, scoping out the room.

Small, door is closed, no windows, Mrs. Wachowski is looking at him weirdly, floor is patterned with navy blue squares, the bed is lumpy, his butt hurts.

"Tails."

Please, no. Just stop.

Maddie saw a small scared child, one who had endured through who knows what. It didn't matter, if he was absolutely terrified of her, she had to make an effort

She sat on the makeshift bed, holding the gloved paw tighter. Tails' eyes widened, trying to kick away. He sniffled, he was on the verge of breaking down again.

"I'm sorry, please just leave. I'll do whatever you want, just- just-" He tired to pull his palm away, working his other arm. "Just- just- just- come on-"

The vet didn't budge, she came even closer, invading his personal space, she felt his heart thump against her chest. He panted, she held him firmly in place, forcing him to oblige.

"It's okay, baby. I'm not going to hurt you. Okay?" She extended her arm come over his furry back. She seeped through his coat of yellow fur, guiding her palm to just behind his ear.

Tails' ears were flat against his skull, his fur pointed up, every feature still. There was no time to run away, the others had come in.

"Tails! How you doing, bud?"

"Fox, I knew you would recover quickly, you are very strong!"

It didn't stop, just conversation overlapping conversation. He was still forced under Mrs. Wachowski's warmth, the fox did the only reasonable thing to mind.

In a flash, he bit the kind woman's hand, pained by how quickly she was withdrawn from the hug. His soul was empty, his heart sky-high and a sack of buried liquid was well on its way.

His eyes burned, it was bitter, scattered gasps of shock and whispers. Mrs. Wachowski held her hand, checking over it, Mr. Wachowski running to her side.

The stench of blood wafted through the room, b-blood? No- no- no! His head hurt, he could taste the faint trickle of blood on his lips. He- hurt-?

It was dizzy, sloppy, his throat was dry from bawling, he slammed through the door. Stupid- stupid- stupid- he didn't pay attention to where he was escaping to, but he was outside.

"Tails, no! Come back!"

Sonic, he was tempted, but continued his quest for freedom. He screwed up, he didn't deserve their hospitality any longer, they're angry at him, he's dumb, why?! Why did he do that?

His shoes scrapped along the concrete of the road, as he hovered slightly above the ground, using his namesakes to propel himself forward.

"TAILS! LOOK OUT!"

A beep, something metal, harsh, it collided into him. Sent him off balance, crashing into the rocky road below him. The thing had stopped entirely, someone coming towards him. Saying something, his ears were loopy and he looked like a potato!

That's it, he's gone crazy. Everything around him is extremely colourful and hazy. It's nice but blinding. Now a purple- blue? Haha, it's looks so silly! Like a pineapple, it's on top of him, shouting into his face.

His ribs were probably broken, and his legs were oddly numb. Hmm, maybe a tooth fell out, his face is drenched with stickiness.

The world starts spinning, he laughs because it's exhilarating, so ridiculous. He pops his tongue, cooing. "Woah, my head's spinning!"

Something talks back, but it's deep, an elephant maybe! He can't move his hands to wave at it, where ever it is. "Mr. Elephant, where are youuuu?"

It trumpeted, aiming its trunk at the potato. Why was Mr. Elephant so angry, this was very fun!

Now, he's being lifted off the floor, into something soft but ow- it was frizzy and hot! But it reminds him of a roller coaster, ha! Has he even been on one before?!

It's the elephant or pineapple? This is so confusing!

It has wavy lines coming out of it, holding his face, it's mouth is moving, so the fox opens his. Giggling, as he tastes something drip into his mouth. A smoothie?!

He blows a raspberry, the wind brushes against his fur, and he can't really concentrate anymore. Black dots surround his vision, he wants to say goodbye first because the thing holding him feels nice.

"Goodbye! Mr-!"

--

"MOM! DAD! EVERYONE! QUICK! CALL A HOSPITAL!" Sonic barged in, panting, jogging on the spot repeating his phrase. In his arms laid an unconscious Tails, bits of blood all over his wake, his arm was bent backwards, dangling in a weird position.

"Oh my gosh! Sonic!"

"CALL THE HOSPITAL!" He shrieked back, tears flooding his once cheerful eyes. "HURRY! I DON'T FEEL HIM BREATHING!"

Tom stood dumbfounded, snapping out of his stupor, he hastily ripped his cell out of his pocket. He wasted no time, phone to his ear, waiting for an answer.

While Tom called, Maddie checked over Tails, testing his heart beat with her thumb, relieved that it was still there. "He'll be okay-"

"I DON'T CARE, HE NEEDS- HE GOT HIT BY A CAR, MADDIE. IT WAS BIG TOO- AND- AND-" he continued his watery rambles, ignoring that Tom was on the phone with someone.

Knuckles stood by Tom's side, watching Sonic prance around anxiously, Maddie trying her best to calm him down. How could this have happened, how could he allow this?

As a tribe member, as the eldest of the bunch, he was meant to be looking over everyone. Guarding, projecting, he was foolish. This was unacceptable, the fox was injured because of his idea of a meeting, he knew Tails didn't handle big crowds well.

He wasn't as confident as Sonic or him. The fox obtained a panic attack. According to Maddie, that was a great burden.

"KNUCKLES! HURRY UP YOU SLOW PIECE OF SHIT! THE AMBULANCE IS HERE!"

"SONIC!"

The echidna for once, didn't allow an insult to enrage him. He considered the current situation and followed behind them