Months went by without word from Tails or Sonic. Jade would often sit by the tablet Tails gave her a year ago. She wasn't sure how to use it but maybe she would figure it out when they called.
It was as if nothing had happened. Everything quickly went back to the way it was. Jade trained with Zavok and she'd yell if he went easy on her. After training she ended up with so many bruises that would heal in no time but this fact didn't stop Zazz from attacking Zavok. Zik would just laugh at Zazz and Zavok's fight. Zeena would tell her how she should take care of her hair, which Jade often ignored and tried her best to do the opposite. Zeena's scolding made her laugh but she still served well as a confidant whenever she needed one. The only thing that changed was Zor would help her with the cooking whenever he could. When did he suddenly become interested in such mundane things?
Today the wind blew harshly indicating a coming storm. It carried with it a strange feeling, like the feeling someone gets before a nightmare begins. Jade looked at the tablet sitting on the counter half covered with leeks and onions and other half cut vegetables. The screen was still black.
"Here, like this, Zor," Jade showed him how to stir the contents in the pan so they wouldn't burn. His eyes seemed far away. "What is it?" She finally asked softly.
"There's something wrong…I can just feel it. Something is going to happen."
Zor has always acted depressed or worried but this time it was different. She could tell by his voice he was really worried about something. "Take Zazz and go explore then. By the time you two get back dinner will be ready."
He nodded and ran out of the house as fast as his short legs could take him. Shortly after he left Zik walked in. "Zor is out?"
Jade nodded. "Yeah. Something is off and he just wanted to check out the Hex."
"I see…so you sense it too?" He didn't wait for Jade to nod or even turn around. "Zavok and the others are already checking everything out before you sent Zor out. You and I shall wait here for their report."
Jade didn't like the thought of waiting in the house for her brothers return but she didn't complain either. They waited silently for what felt like forever. With every minute Jade became more and more anxious.
Suddenly Zik dropped his cane to cover his ears. The only sound that could be heard, however, was the wind against the walls. "Master Zik?" She knelt by him but he pushed her back away from him.
"Find your brothers!" He commanded.
"What's going on?" She demanded trying to get close.
"I think it is Eggman. I think he found a conch!"
The last time she knew he came with a conch was when she was extremely sick. The first time a stranger had ever set foot on the Hex excluding herself. Jade ran outside by the back door hoping to avoid a confrontation with robots. The winds were against her, trying to push her backward but she kept going until she came to the top of a hill. When she looked back she could see Eggman's ship hovering over her house. Jade became deaf to everything except to the calling of her name. It was Tails and Sonic. She followed their plane to the bottom of the hill.
Jade hugged Sonic tightly. She seemed relieved to see him. "Are you okay?" Sonic asked but noticed something else about her face. "Where's the Deadly Six?"
"I think they're in trouble." She sounded out of breath, as if she'd been running this entire time. "I think Eggman's back with this…this conch. He must have found another one."
Sonic didn't wait to hear if she had anything else to say. He ran to the top of the hill. When he figured out where they were he turned to Tails. "I'll be back, buddy!" He ignored Tails' yelling at him to come back, he just wanted to help Jade and her brothers.
Zavok couldn't believe how easily Eggman made them bow with that stupid shell. He was relieved when he saw Jade wasn't in the house but his relief went away just as quickly as it came when he saw his master.
"Where could she have gone?" Eggman growled under his breath. "She couldn't have gotten far from the Hex."
Shots were fired outside where Eggman commanded his robots to stand guard. When he ran outside Zavok helped Zik to his feet. "Where is she?" he whispered hoping Eggman was far enough away to not hear them.
"I don't know. She ran out the back door." He answered.
Eggman started to yell and scream. Zazz looked out the window. "It's Sonic!" He yelled almost happily. Zavok looked out the window with him. Robots surrounded Sonic but he somehow never got hit with a bullet.
Nobody wanted to go outside for fear they would have to fight someone they hated and liked all at the same time. Jade once called it a friend-enemy relationship.
Sonic looked up as if someone called his name and then Jade jumped next to him with something almost like a long pole in her hands and at one end of it some visible electricity was being controlled. It looked like it would hurt if someone was touched by it.
"What is that girl thinking?" Zik asked in a worried voice.
Sonic looked like he was asking the same question. None of them had to hear her to know what her answer was. "My family protected me once. It's my turn to protect them."