Well here it is everyone, the next chapter. I'm sorry that this took so long to come out but I am writing more than one story. I also had to debate on whether or not to split this chapter up. I have a lot of content for it! I would like to go ahead and thank Tails1, Supersaiyaninfinitygohan, Matthew069, Miles Depth, Crawford15 and the ever anonymous Guest for their reviews. With this said it's also time I did the disclaimer again. I will do the disclaimer again every time I add another OC into the mix.
DISCLAIMER
I don't own Tails, Fiona, Blaze or any other Sonic the Hedgehog character mentioned herein. The belong to SEGA, Sonic Team, Archie Comics and DiC respectively. I so own Nova 'Snow' Hunter, Mara 'Rain' Wolfe, Chase the Werewolf and Ariel the Werefox which are my OC's. I don't own Doug Percy Doberman, he belongs to my friend Brandon the Lynx. Swift the Hedgehog (a.k.a Swift the Werehog) is property of xXTheRedHedgehogXx and is used with permission. I also don't own the story cover. That is the property of Lord Kiyo from Deviant Art and is used with his permission. I own the story plot and the universe it takes place in.
With all this said and done I hope everyone enjoys:
Chapter 4: Tails Decision Part 1
Tails groggily opened his eyes, his mind cloudy and slow. His head finally cleared and everything that happened last night came back to him.
'Was it all a dream,' he thought wonderingly, 'or was it?' Suddenly, as if to answer his question, his ears picked up the sounds of singing and clattering pans. Tails pulled on his gloves, a pair of shorts and his shoes then walked downstairs As he waked into the main area/kitchen Tails realized it was real.
"Good morning darin canary," Snow said grinning, "thought you dreamed all that didn't ya?"
"How'd you know that," the fox replied in awe.
"Simple, I thought the same after my first transformation," Snow replied simply. Tails was about to reply when there was a knock on the door.
"Tails, it's Sally. Let me in, I got something to show you in the paper," The person on the other side of the door called out.
"I was never here," Snow, said seriously, "Crystal Control!" in an ice blue flash he vanished, leaving a puzzled yellow fox to open the door.
"What's up Aunt sally," Tails questioned the squirrel upon opening the door. Without saying anything Sally held up the front page of the Station Square Gazette. Tails grabbed it and read the headline and story under it:
MISSING HERO SPOTTED!
Local Hero and member of the Sonic Heroes Nova "Snow" Hunter was spotted in Station Square for the first time since he vanished six months ago. Eye witness reports say that he was in Station Square Park around seven in the morning yesterday with three others described as a red and cream colored female fox, a lilac and white female cat and a brown and white female rabbit with a southern accent. The three who were spotted with Nova match the descriptions of three Mobians that belong to the WERE TRIBE that is rumored to exist in Westopolis Woods. It's unclear what the much-loved young hero was doing there with them but some speculate that this rumored tribe is behind his disappearance six months ago. Prior to vanishing Nova was reportedly seen at the doctor's office complaining of being bitten by a rabid wolf. The main question in our staff's mind is whether he is back or not?
After reading Tails shrugged and said, "If he is back, he hasn't been here. I don't know who the cat is but the other two sound like Aunt Bunnie and Fiona."
"It sure sounds like it," Sally agreed, "who knows, maybe if he is back he'll stop by." Tails didn't say anything so Sally frowned and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. When Tails stayed silent she left. Once Sally was out of sight Tails looked up and laughed before spinning his namesakes to hover up to the tree limb over his house where his friend was literally hanging upside down by his four tails. Tails continued to laugh as he mirrored the snowy fox's currently position.
"So," Snow inquired, "how was your visit with Aunt Sally?"
"Good," Tails replied, "she showed me the news paper. You were front-page news. So where did you go?"
"Nowhere," Snow replied, "I've been hangin here the whole time." The two of them laughed as they let go of the branch and hovered to the ground.
"Snow, I thought about what you said and asked me before I went to sleep last night and," Tails paused as Snow looked on curiously, "I want to go with you. I want to join the tribe. If it weren't for you and Fiona I'd still be moping around. You showed me what freedom really is and I want to be free." Tails waited to see what his friend/self adopted brother would say.
"Very well," Snow finally replied, "I just need to collect the girls then we'll go. I have to change first though." Without another word Snow went upstairs. After waiting for a bit Tails looked up and nearly jumped out of his skin as a completely different fox walked downstairs! Gone was the bad boy look that his friend usually had. In its place was a calm, confident and strong predator. Tails looked over his friends' new attire. The white fox was now naked except for a loincloth bound to his waist by a rope. He had two red lines on each cheek, two red lines and a 'v' on his left bicep and the upper part of his right leg, finally there were three red 'v' shaped marks on his chest. Snow also wore a necklace that appeared to be made of teeth and his ever present Chaos Crystal around his neck, a tooth wristband on his left wrist, a black with white and ice blue stripes sweat band on his right wrist, a tooth anklet on his right ankle and a black ankle band with white and ice blue stripes on his left ankle. Tails also couldn't help but noticing a bow and quiver on Nova's back and a dagger on his waist.
"N-N-Nova," Tails nervously said, slightly afraid of the fox standing before him. He immediately calmed down when his friend inclined his head in response and his fear turned to astonishment.
Snow smiled, "This is what we of the Were Tribe wear, well at least the males do. Only the Hunters, indicated by their markings being red or white, carry weapons constantly. Leaders will have black markings and usually don't have a single weapon on them. Our current leaders are Aero the Werefox and Pyra the Werehog, when you meet them treat them with respect. Healers have blue markings and carry no weapons ever, they are non-combatants. Our current Tribal Healer is Bunnie the Wererabbit. Any other colors than that is a regular member of the tribe, our young, elders, those with children and those with disabilities of some sort. Oh, and from now on call me either Snow or Snow the Werefox. It's my tribal name."
"Okay Snow," Tails replied, "do I have to wear that too?" Snow walked up to him and nodded. He then proceeded to adorn Tails with the same markings he had. After he was finished he nodded and stepped back.
"I left a spare loincloth upstairs," Snow said cheerily, "go get ready while I go collect the girls." Tails nodded and went to change.
'I'm glad you chose to join the tribe,' Snow thought to himself as he walked out.
"Nova, is that you," a voice queried, causing Snow to jump.
Snow turned to see Sally and nodded, "Yes, Aunt Sally. It's me, but at the same time it's not me."
Sally looked at him in puzzlement, "What do you mean?"
Snow simply shook his head as he started spinning his four tails, "I need to go. I have things to do."
"Nova wait," Sally exclaimed, but it was too late. She watched as her adopted nephew flew off. Sally shook her head sadly and started back to Station Square.
"The air feels great,' Snow thought as he propelled himself through the morning sky. He hated doing that to his adopted Aunt but he had a new family now, he couldn't let himself mourn what wasn't meant to be. He looked down and saw his friends Blaze and Fiona walking around with Bunnie and Rouge. Snow smiled and landed behind them.
"Good morning ladies," he said causing them to turn around, "I hope you enjoyed your sleepover."
"Snow," Blaze replied, noticing his change in attire, "Time to go?" At his nod the three girls separated themselves for Rouge and walked over to him, stripping to reveal that they were wearing their tribal attire underneath their street clothes. They then reapplied their paints. Snow looked on as they did so. Blaze's tribal clothing was exactly like his own except for the fact that her wrist and ankle bands where Blaze with single violet and white stripes and she had a strip of cloth wrapped around her chest. She wore the same color paints as Snow did, minus the 'v' marks on her chest. She also was missing the 'v' mark on her arm and leg as only full hunters had those. Fiona wore the same clothing as blaze but applied her marks with white paint. Bunnie wore the same cloth wrap and loincloth but she carried no weapons and had nothing on her wrists or ankles and nothing around her neck; when she applied her paints had two blue marks on each cheek and two blue 'v' marks on both arms and legs, she was the tribe's healer and the tribe was always well under her care.
"Will we see you guys again," Rouge asked Snow.
The white fox simply shrugged, "Only time will tell. Bye for now batgirl." He then walked up to Blaze and hugged her, which caused them both to blush. "Hold on tight Blaze," he told her. With that said he spun up his tails and grabbed Fiona and Bunnie.
As they took off Snow heard Rouge call out, "Take care fox boy!" Snow flew on, headed for Tails place in Mystic Ruins.
Tails was ready and waiting for Snow's return. He looked down at the piece of paper in his hand. It was a note he had written for Sonic and Sally. He had made his decision and he wasn't about to let anyone stop him. He stood there for a moment before he walked out of his home. He had nothing with him, wanting to start fresh. Plus there is the fact that Snow told him most technology is taboo in the tribe and violators were killed instantly. He hesitated for a moment then went back in and grabbed his gear board Yellow Tail and walked back out. Extreme Gear was one of the few pieces of tech that Snow said was okay.
"I guess that's that,' the young fox thought as he took a breath and quickly closed and locked the door, 'Wonder if my snow friend felt the same way as I do when he left?' He shook his head, squared his shoulders and attached the now folded not to the door and placed the key under the mat. He turned around and noticed that Snow was back. He started to laugh at the sight! Bunnie and Fiona stood to either side of him, slightly windblown, while a lilac she cat was wrapped around him, her fur on end and holding onto him like her life depended on it. He fell silent as Fiona walked slowly towards him.
"Miles," the vixen hesitantly started, "I'm sorry about yesterday…" She didn't get any farther before Tails stopped her by holding up his hand.
"Please don't apologize, Fi," Tails replied with an uncharacteristic amount of confidence, "if anything I should thank you. If it weren't for you nipping me I wouldn't feel this great! For the first time in my life I feel so alive and free."
"What are you talking about," Fiona ask, clearly confused. To answer her question Tails transformed.
"When you nipped me, you set me free," Tails replied, "and for that I thank you Fiona." Fiona smiled and transformed. Together they lifted their heads skyward and howled. They both jumped and looked behind them when the heard a second chorus of howls. Snow, Blaze and Bunnie were on all fours in their Wereforms grinning.
"Everyone ready to go," Snow inquired after they had all changed back to normal. The girls nodded in response.
"What about you Tails," the snowy todd asked, "are you ready to start your new, more wild and free life?"
"Yeah, swirlin Snow. I'm about as ready as I'll ever be," the yellow Kitsune replied. It was then the girls all noticed something as they looked from one fox to the other.
"Tails, suga," Bunnie said, casting a glance at the other girls, "would ya come and stand next to suga-Snow?" Puzzled, Tails complied.
"Could they have figured it out,' Snow wondered as the girls looked at the two of them. His question was soon answered.
"Snow," Blaze started, "is there something you're hiding? Mainly from Tails? I don't know if he noticed but we have now." At this point Tails turned to face his friend, confusion written all over.
Snow took a deep breath and reached to his eyes and proceeded to pull out what looked like contacts. "No more secrets then," Snow said as he turned to Tails and looked at him with sky blue eyes rather than ice blue, "I lied when we first met four years ago. My name isn't Nova Hunter. It's Nova Prower. My parent are Rosemary and Amadeus, not Star and Andromeda. We're brothers, in identical twins separated at birth." Snow went to say more but was cut off when Tails rushed up and wrapped him up in a crushing hug, joyful tears in his eyes. At the display of brotherly affection from the fox he thought would hate him forever once his secret came out Snow's eyes misted and he returned the hug.
"I have a brother," Tails said, half crying, "you don't need to finish. I'm so happy right now! I have a new outlook on life and my long time best friend turns out to be my long lost brother! What more can one young fox ask for!" At this point both fox boy's burst into tears. The girls looked on, tears flowing, silent and uncheck at the sight of the happy reunion. After a while the two foxes broke apart. As they did so an ice blue glow and a canary yellow glow appeared between them. When the glow faded Tails had a Chaos Crystal around his neck as well.
"Let's get going everyone," Snow finally said. The girls then noticed for the first time that Tails was wearing tribal clothing as well. "Tails asked me to present him to Aero and Pyra," the snowy fox said when he noticed their look, "he wants to, like the four of us did, join the tribe." The others looked at Tails and smiled. Snow led them to the waterfall at the edge of Mystic Forest. He suddenly stopped, took a deep breath and smiled. He motioned to Blaze and Fiona, who immediately pulled their bows and notched an arrow. Tails watched this puzzled.
Bunnie watched as the white fox suddenly vanished into thin air and told Tails, "Just stay still suga. Snow's found out we have a tail. Someone is tracking us." Soon the four of them were surrounded. A young green vixen stepped in front of the others.
"Lower your bows," the vixen said, "you are trespassing on Were Tribe territory." No more was said as all saw a white blur and suddenly Snow was behind the vixen with his dagger at her throat.
"Tell them to lower their bows Ariel," Snow hissed in her ear, "You know me and the other three. Plus I can vouch for the two-tailed fox. Aero will be extremely pissed about this."
"Snow," Ariel replied as she lowered her bow, "only one Hunter could ever get the drop on me. Everyone lower your bows! They're tribe. Welcome home Snow, Fiona, Blaze and Bunnie." The others with her lowered their bows. As Snow looked he saw three of them had failed to comply. He recognized them instantly.
"Rain, Swift and Chase," Snow said challengingly, "you were given an order by the patrol leader. Comply or are you intent on fighting the tribe's best Hunter and two of the best Apprentice Hunters." Rain and swift immediately lowered their bows but Chase didn't.
"You have a non-were with you," chase replied, "you broke the law and should be taken into custody."
Ariel started to speak but Snow beat her to it, "Why don't we let my twin handle this!" At that point Tails stepped forward and everyone watched as his body changed. His fangs got longer and sharper, he got taller and more muscular, bones grinding as they thickened and shifted to handle his more massive form. Tails dropped to all fours and bared his teeth challengingly. Without a word Chase dropped his bow and hit the ground where he lay prone. Tails changed back and stood there, still confused. "Anyone else need evidence my twin is a were," Snow asked challengingly.
"So," Ariel said with evident curiosity, "your twin have a name?"
"Oops," Snow replied shyly, "got so caught up I forgot introductions. Ariel the Werefox, Chase the Werewolf, Swift the Werehog, Rain the Werewolf, I want you to meet my twin brother Miles Prower. Everyone usually calls him Tails. Tails, the four in front of you are some of the tribes' Apprentice Hunters. Most of the time, apprentices are assigned in groups of four to patrol our territory when not training. Most of the time a Hunter will tail them to make sure all goes right."
"You're right young Snow," a voice said from the white fox's right, "and this group isn't followed by a mere Hunter." Snow turned and immediately bowed to the amber she hog with black markings. When Tails saw the markings he remembered his brother's words and bowed as well.
"Chieftess Pyra, it's an honor to see you once again," Snow said as she returned their bow.
"The honor belongs with us young one," an emerald and white male fox with black markings replied as he made himself known. Everyone bowed once again. The fox returned their bow.
"Chief Aero," Fiona returned, "it's very unusual for both you and Pyra to be out like this. Any particular reason for it?"
"Oh, I'm not tracking this patrol," Aero replied, "I was merely in the area and stuck around when I noticed the encounter." Aero walked up to Tails.
"You look almost like Snow," he mused as he looked the fox over, "you also know our customs and stations, plus I know you're a were as I saw you change. Tell me, what's your name and how you know so much about us?"
"My name is Miles Prower, sir," Tails replied without flinching under the older fox's hard stare, "my friends call me Tails because of my twin tails. As to why I know so much, it's because Snow and I are twins. When he passed through Station Square he dropped by, some things happened and I became a Were. He told me about the tribe and when he said he had to leave I asked him to take me with."
"Why is it that you wished to come with him," Pyra asked curiously, "surely he told you that our lives aren't anything grand?"
"I wish to join and stand by my brother's side as a Were Tribe Hunter," Tails replied confidently, "he told me how you live and all that I would lose. I made the decision to join anyway and nothing will change my mind. Plus, Snow is the only living family I have left."
"I can see that you two are brothers," Aero replied, "you're just as stubborn as he is."
"I believe Aero will agree with me that if you can complete three tasks, or trials, if you will, that we set before you then we will be glad to have you among us," Pyra stated.
"I do concur," Aero replied, "but first I ask if any of you are willing to come forward and vouch for young Tails' integrity and trustworthiness?"
Snow immediately stepped forward, "I, Snow the Werefox am willing."
"I, Fiona the Werefox am willing also," the vixen replied as she stepped next to Snow.
"I, Bunnie the Wererabbit ahm willin as well," the Southern Rabbit replied.
"Even though I just met him earlier today, I, Blaze the Werecat am willing as well," Blaze declared.
"I may have just met him but, I, Ariel the Werefox will vouch for him too," the green vixen stated, "we all know Snow well and if Snow says Tails is trustworthy then I trust him as well." Snow blinked gratefully at her.
Aero nodded when nobody else stepped forward, "Very well, let's begin the trials."
"Your first trial will test your ability to tap into your primal nature. In order to survive in the tribe all of us learn to accept the primal form that runs in our blood. In your case that of a fox," Pyra explained, "at my word Snow, Blaze, Ariel, Fiona, Swift, Chase, Rain and Bunnie will vanish into the surrounding area. To pass this trial all you need to do is use your innate cunning, stealth and tracking skills to locate them and relieve them of the colored ribbon they each carry. Once you have done this come back and we will give you your next trial. Are you ready young Tails?"
"Yes," Tails replied, "I'm ready."
"Then go everyone," Pyra exclaimed. At this everyone except Tails and the two leaders scattered.
Tails tried to take off immediately but Aero put a restraining hand on his shoulder, "First you should calm yourself and focus inward and bring out the long dormant animal nature inside yourself." Tails nodded and closed his eyes to concentrate. Tails removed the gloves he'd always wore and dropped to all fours.
"You may go now young Tails," Pyra said. Tails nodded and sniffed the air. He then located Fiona's scent first and headed off in the direction she went.
Well there it is, I have decided to split this into a two or three part chapter. Keep an eye out for Chapter 5: Tails Decision Part 2! You may also feel free to check out my other story as well: High School Days. It's pretty much an Alternate Reality of this world. Until then Read, Review and above all: Enjoy!