A/N: Sorry about the mix up everybody. ^^;

Chapter 4

"Rouge...are you okay?" Lilly leaned over Rouge's shoulder trying to see her face. Rouge's eyes were half closed. She was dazing in and out. The two were far from the city now. She was starting to fall downward. She didn't know it, but she was in a familiar place. Lilly looked down and could see that they were getting closer and closer to the trees. Suddenly Rouge's body went limp. Lilly locked her arms Rouge. "W-We're falling!" She was screaming but nothing seemed to wake Rouge. Lilly was losing her grip on Rouge due to the force of the wind. "AHhhh! Help!" She screamed as she was separated from Rouge. She watched helplessly as Rouge fell away from her. Lilly felt a sting as she hit the tops of a large tree. Her first instinct was to grab onto the branches that she past. "AHhh!" She yelled a she held onto a branch but lost her grip and plunked down hitting a few other branches on the way down. When she finally hit the ground she let out a yelp. "Uh." She rubbed her back. "Owwww..." She clenched her teeth and rolled over. "Um...W-Where am I...?" She wondered as she looked up. She checked herself over and saw that she was only covered in a few minor cuts and bruises. "W-Where is m-" She paused and put her fingers over her mouth. She couldn't call Rouge that. She got up onto her weary legs. "I-I have to find her." Lilly scrambled to her feet.

The sky overhead was blue and only a few clouds passed by. Knuckles rested against the master emerald. His dreads blue in the light breeze that past him. He cracked open his eyes, but only a little. The violet orbs crossed the open meadow as he looked down from the altar. He could sense another presence. He didn't speak he only closed his eyes again.

Lilly looked out from a bush. She could make a stone altar with a huge gem sitting atop it. "Wow..." She blinked. "I-I don't think he could help..." She had spotted Knuckles. "He looks kinda mean..." She began to back away. She turned and started carefully move back the way she came, when suddenly she was lifted up off her feet. "AHhh!" She yelled as she scrambled under her captures grip.

"And just what are you doing here?" Knuckles had the girl by the waist of her pants. She only whimpered and tried to get away. Knuckles looked her over. "You don't have any wings, how did you even get up here?" He flipped her over to face him. "Well?" She reached out and grabbed his other hand and bit down on it. "Owww!" He dropped her onto the ground. "Why you little-"

"You're a bully!" She stomped down on his foot before running off.

"OW!" Knuckles hopped on one foot holding his now injured one. When he finally put his foot back down he ran after her catching Lilly easily. This time he held her by her shoulders as he knelt down to her. "Look little girl I'm...I'm sorry." he said in an annoyed voice. Knuckles had realized that his usual direct question wasn't going to help in this situation. "Please tell me what you are doing here." He asked a little more gently this time.

"Um..." She looked up into Knuckles eyes. "Y-You aren't going to hurt me?"

"No. I'm not." He gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm looking for my mom-" Suddenly Lilly realized what she had just said.

"Your mom?" He blinked. "That must be how you got here." He set her on his knee. "How did you get sepereated from her?"

"We were flying and I think she was hurt after those men chased us and now...she...she might be..." For the first time the reality of the situation hit Lilly. Rouge might be hurt badly or maybe even dead. Lilly began to whimper and tears welled up in her eyes.

Knuckles jaw dropped as he looked at her. "Uh-uh d-don't cry!" Knuckles had no idea how to deal with crying.

"I'm not crying!" Lilly wailed as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Yes you are!"

"No I'm not!"

Knuckles sighed. "Look if I help you find your mom will you stop crying?"

Lilly whipped her face with the back of her hand. "Y-Yes." She whimpered.

"Okay come on." He lifted her up onto his shoulders.

"What's your name?" Lilly asked as she rested her chin on top of his head.

"Knuckles."

"I'm Lilly."