Chapter 18: Whisper

Sonic was on the move once again. He careened around a few dozen trees and picked up speed as he dashed past large brown mountains and into the red desert where, more than once, he had danced with Dr. Eggman, or even Snively once he took over. Now, he was free to do as he pleased; running faster than he could've physically conceived he could go. The wind whipped through his ears at breathtaking speeds, so much that he was sure his eardrums would ache by the time he'd stopped. He'd been exploring for an hour now, only running for about a fraction of that time. A large amount of that time had been spent fast asleep in the soft grass and flower beds beneath the gray, snow-capped mountains somewhere to the east.

Now, heading west into the desert, he knew beyond lay civilization. He would soon be dodging fruit and vegetable stands, sipping cool lemonade in the shade of an awning, and leaping across the rooftops, trying his best to reach for the clouds far above his head. Heat from his running made a faint sweat begin beneath his fur, but at that exact moment, he didn't care. Besides, Amy found his sweat sexy for some reason.

His thoughts were interrupted by a vibration coming from his belt he wore strictly for adventuring purposes—albeit an unwilling tie to home. Well, between Amy and the kids, he needed a way to communicate. He checked the caller ID—Amy—and flipped the top open. "Hellloo?"

All Amy on the other line heard was the whipping wind. "Sonic, d'ya mind slowing down a bit? I can't hear you at all."

"Sure! No prob! Give me a sec…" Sonic dashed into a reverse spin-dash, slowing his movement considerably. "Okay, how's this?"

"Better."

"Man, you called me out, Ames! I was just about to go look for some civilization! I seem to require a chilidog stand!" Indeed, his stomach was growling. Not that it was enough to make him weak or anything, but certainly he would feel more comfortable once he'd had a snack or two.

"Never mind that, Sonic! I think you might need to come home."

Sonic stopped on a dime, his first thought being his frail daughter. "What's the emergency? What's wrong with Whisper?"

"I can't see her anymore! At first, I could detect her wind. But, when I called her, she didn't come!"

"Damn the little devil!" Sonic cursed, dashing under the shade of a cactus and sitting to continue his conversation. "I told her to come when called!"

"Sonic, it may not be she's disobeying. It may be…something worse." Amy sounded freaked, and for good reason. Sonic was starting to feel uneasy himself.

"Not a problem, Amy. I'll be back soon. In the meantime, keep calling her. She might turn up." Sonic's commands were rushed as he stood, stretching briefly.

"Okay. Please hurry." Amy hung up.

Sonic hurried. He pulled himself into the wind with such force that he almost lost his grip on his cell phone. Twice.

He took a shortcut across the ocean, pealing out a path of water before him, and pretty soon, he began to see the house. He could make out Amy's pink form, from this distance just a blob, standing on the porch, calling. It seemed she'd just gotten there as Sonic stopped on a dime at the foot of the steps.

"Any luck, Amy?" Sonic wondered, rising to kiss her cheek briefly. She was dressed in a beautiful cotton summer dress with sweeping sleeves and a bright blue color that brought out the pink of her fur. Her cleavage peeked out, which thrilled Sonic immensely. But, when he began to touch it, Amy pushed him away.

"Stop, no, and we have to find her, Sonic!" Amy scolded. "I'm so worried!"

"What color is her wind, if I see her running?"

"Same color as yours…uh…" When she saw her boyfriend's confused expression, she elaborated. "Light blue."

Sonic nodded dutifully. "Got it. And don't worry, I'll get her out of trouble." He raised his leg in preparation.

"Sonic! Wait!" Amy dashed down the steps after his, touching his lips with hers fleetingly. "If you find her passed out, get her to a hospital first, then contact me. Understand?"

Sonic smiled, winking. "I might be a fool, Amy, but I can follow orders. I'll be back before you know it." And away he went.

Exhausted from worry, Amy collapsed on the steps and put her head in her hands. She didn't want Sonic—or her daughter—to see her crying, but she couldn't help it. Whisper…where are you?! Her mind raced as she tried not to conjure up the worst.

Perhaps if she was awake, Whisper could run from harms such as predatory animals or a prowling robot. But, passed out, she was helpless.