Sonic ran.
He ran through the trees and over the frozen ground. Up and down the forest floor, methodically, back and forth, through the swallowing dark, so as not to miss any inch of the land. So as not to miss any sign of his missing brother.
Brother. That was what Knuckles and Tails were now. Brothers. His brothers.
He had wanted a brother, a family, for so long. A companion that understood him, that loved him, that would be there for him no matter what.
How had he been so lucky to find two. Two amazing friends that had promised to never leave each other. For better or worse they would stay together. What could be more brotherly than that?
He took a deep breath as he made another turn, continuing to cover as much ground as possible. Looking behind every bush, around every tree, through every shadow. The snow had started to come down.
He knew that Knuckles was struggling. Earth was a hard place to get used to. It was so different from home. Different in good ways, and different in different ways. It had been hard for Sonic to settle in to such a strange planet. And if it had been hard for Sonic, it must be almost impossible for Knuckles. He had lived such a different life. They were the same, but so very different. Sonic had years to watch, learn, and understand the cultures of Earth, or at least Green Hill's, so when he had been accepted into Tom and Maddie's home he had at least an idea of how to exist. Not that it was easy at first, but he had a sharp advantage. Knuckles had been dropped in like a child falling through frozen ice. Sonic was trying to grab his hand, to throw him life lines, but somehow he still felt Knuckles was drowning.
The ground was beginning to develop a solid dusting of snow, kicking up around him as he ran through at blinding speeds.
He had been looking for what seemed to be hours. He had always had trouble with time. Time always seemed so off, so distant for someone that moved through life with speed. But now, time mattered. Time mattered more now than he could ever remember.
He took a deep breath and pushed himself forward. He had to find his brother. He knew Knuckles was tough, but even the toughest creatures are no match for unforgiving cold, and even with his coat, his hat, and his speed, even Sonic couldn't ignore the sharply dropping temperature and the thinking storm of snow. And as he made another round of the surrounding forest, he found himself beginning to worry, something he had not allowed himself to feel until now. Before, finding Knuckles quickly had been a certainty, but after coming up empty for this long, Sonic was beginning to wonder if he had gone further. And if he had gone further…how far would he go?
He knew, without a doubt, that Knuckles was still on this planet. The Master Emerald was still tucked safe under the floorboards of the attic. His whole life had been about finding the emerald - there was no way he would disappear without it. Not in a million years.
But from there, there was no telling how far he would go. He had never seen his brother look so defeated as he did this morning, as he watched from the window while Maddie scolded. That thought spurred Sonic on. He was not going home until he found him, even if it took him all night.
His eyes darted back and forth, and if he had not been paying strict attention he would have missed it.
In a sliver of moonlight that somehow was cutting through the curtains of snowflakes, a boulder seemed to be out of place against a wall of rock. He could see thick dirt over the side, dirt that likely was under it, against the ground, until very recently. A boulder that would have taken a lot of strength to displace. He zipped closer to examine the area, and right behind the boulder was a hole in the rock. A small cave.
His heart lifted. He took a tentative step forward.
"Knux?" he called. Silence. He moved forward still. His eyes began to slowly adjust to the dark and some blurred details of the surrounding rock became more evident. He took a few more steps forward.
"Knux? You here?"
If it wouldn't have been for a streak of moonlight reflecting off the aggressively falling snow he would have missed it. An outline of a figure hunched toward the far wall of the small cave. A figure with the glint of red quills.
"Knuckles!" he exclaimed with relief, the outside storm suddenly of no matter as he took in the form of his older brother. "Geez, Knux, we've been worried sick…we…" his voice trailed off as he stepped closer. His brother was there, but Sonic had never seen him look so lost. He sat with his legs and arms drawn to his body, staring into the darkness, eyes distant.
"Knux?" he said softly as he approached. The echidna did not acknowledge his presence. He continued to move forward until he was right next to his brother and tentatively sat down next to him, his arm making light contact with the other. He was cold.
"Hey bud. Are you ok?" He tentatively reached his arm out to sling around his brothers shoulders. Sonic felt his muscles tense at the contact, but he did not shy away.
He tried to look his brother up and down, to try and catch his eyes, to get him to acknowledge his presence, but Knuckles continued to stare straight ahead, the only sign of life coming from his occasional blink and the condensation as breath met cold air.
"Knuckles, I came to get you and bring you home. It's going to get real cold tonight and the snow is really picking up." he started, but there was no response. "Knux…no one is mad…about this morning. Maddie feels real bad about it."
He felt his brother's muscles tense at the sound of her name, but no other response was seen. Sonic took a deep breath. This was getting him nowhere. He continued to sit next to his brother but any other words died in his throat. He began to look ahead in the direction that Knuckles was staring…into the nothingness.
A chill caught him as the wind whipped into the cave. Sonic sighed, watching his breath as it misted from his mouth into the air. His brother made no additional moves. Well, if he was going to just sit here he wasn't going to let his brother freeze. He unzipped his jacket, a jacket that has always been too big for him, and pulled his arm out of the sleeve. He once again reached his arm out around his brother, taking the coat with him and wrapping it around the echidna's exposed side. He pulled his brother close to him, closing any remaining distance between the two, pulling their bodies together to wrap the coat as tightly as possible. He shivered again as his brother's cold skin made contact with his.
"Knux, you're freezing. Come on…we need to get home."
"How did you do it?" a deep voice rasped, making Sonic jump at the unexpected sound.
"Do what?"
"How did you get used to Earth? How did you make this planet home?"
Sonic was quiet for a moment, digesting the question and unconsciously pulling his jacket tighter, his brother closer.
"It wasn't easy," he spoke honestly. "I was here for a long time, way before I made a home with Tom and Maddie. I was able to watch and observe. And even though I was alone, it brought me comfort to watch the people of this town live their lives. I watched them play games, go to work, eat dinners. I had time to learn." Sonic took a deep breath. "And Hell, even Tails got to watch for awhile. While he watched me he took in a lot about life on Earth. Even he had time."
Sonic paused, daring a glance at his older brother. His eyes remained focused ahead, but he could see a small furrow in the brow, his eyes slightly more narrow. He was thinking.
"Look, Knux…I know this has been hard for you. I can't even imagine how confusing and frustrating it must be to be thrust into a culture you know nothing about, expected to pick it up and blend in with almost no time to take in the amount of change you truly experienced…" Sonic trailed off, trying to choose his next words carefully. He felt his brother shift slightly next to him.
"To be honest, Knux, I've been in awe of how much you've learned in such a short amount of time. I'm super proud of you." He left those words hanging in the air, allowing them to float above, willing them to sink in. He was rewarded with with the muscles next to his relaxing ever so slightly and he could almost imagine seeing the tension rise from between them.
"I thank you." he heard his brother rumble. His voice sounded thick.
They sat in silence, Sonic taking comfort in the chasm between them seeming smaller, more reachable. Maybe…just maybe…he was getting through.
After some time had passed, Sonic felt another chill go up his spine. He couldn't image how cold Knuckles must feel.
"Come on, bro, let's go home." He felt the body next to him stiffen again. Sonic frowned.
"I don't think I can." he heard.
"What do you mean?" Sonic asked, a bit of fear entering his voice. "Come on, Knux, you have to come home."
"I can make a shelter out here. Where I can be alone. Where I can still watch the emerald." he said sadly. "It is for the best."
"That's not happening!" Sonic said forcefully. "No, out of the question."
"I cause nothing but problems." he stated softly. "I do not think I can hurt Mr. Tom and Miss Maddie anymore."
"Hurt them?" Sonic asked incredulously. "What do you mean hurt them? Knux, they love you. They are so worried about you. They want you home."
He felt Knuckle's breaths become shorter. He could palpably feel the pain and anxiety radiating of his brothers form.
"I…" he started. Sonic stopped him.
"No. No excuses. We need you to come home. We need…" he trailed took a deep breath, willing his courage to continue. "I…" he restated, allowing his voice to break with emotion. "I need my brother. I need you home."
The statement hung in the air like their breath in the cold. Sonic's chest felt tight, his fear bubbling in his chest as he waited. He turned his head toward his brother's and saw a small frown and a furrowed brow.
"You…I'm…I'm your brother?" he asked tentatively, so softly that Sonic could barely make it out over the howling wind.
"Of course you are." Sonic said, pulling him closer. "You are my family. The second we came together as a new tribe, as a team, you became my family. Brothers are not made by blood alone. They are made by commitment, they are made by family, they are made by love."
He felt Knuckles release a shaky breath next to him.
"You are my brother." Sonic said again, with no room for argument. He took a deep breath, willing himself to ask the question he needed answered. "Am I yours?"
He felt the form next to him take in a deep breath and release it slowly.
"Yes." he said softly.
Sonic's heart filled with relief and joy. He pulled Knuckles closer again in a half hug, wrapping the coat as tightly around them as possible. Becoming one.
"So will you come home?" Sonic asked softly.
"Yes." he stated.
Sonic released a breath that he didn't know he was holding. "Thank goodness…" he breathed. "Come on…let's get warm." He stood and reached his hand down. His brother took it lightly and pulled himself to his feet. Sonic felt a shiver wrack his body. He turned, ready to lead his brother out of the cave when all of his relief turned to dread.
"Oh no…"
The snow had been coming down hard and had drifted into the cave, covering the entrance at least 70% with snow.
"Oh man…" he said. "Ok, hang on, I'm going to spin a tunnel and see how bad it is…"
"I am sorry…we lingered too long…" he heard his brother say behind him.
"No, no it's ok…" Sonic answered, trying to keep his voice steady. "Hang on, I'll be right back.
He felt the sparks from his skin as he curled and moved forward. He felt the snow all around him as he burrowed forward, but made sure to aim up. It was only a second before he breached the top of the drift and looked around. There was at least 3-4 feet of snow on the ground. As tall as they were, maybe taller. Sonic frowned. He may be able to run his way through the snow, but he couldn't be sure that it wouldn't cave in around them if Knuckles tried to follow. And there was no way he could do it while dragging Knuckles behind. And whatever sign of the moon that had existed before was gone, covering the world in a pitch blackness that would be impossible to navigate through in this weather. They were stuck. He slid back through the tunnel he created and back into the cave.
"The snow is taller than we are," he started. "There is no way were are going to make it through in the pitch black. Maybe by morning we will be able to see and get home."
"Do you have a communication device?" Knuckles asked. Sonic's heart lifted as he began to pat his pockets for his phone, but as fast as it had lifted it plummeted back down. He had left his phone at home.
"I forgot it…" Sonic trailed. "We really are stuck…"
"This is my fault…"
"Stop, Knux…" Sonic warned, shooting him a glance that was not to be argued with. "This is no ones fault." He took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts. "OK…how are we going to keep warm?"
"I saw some sticks…" Knuckles started. "I will gather them. We can make a small fire. This will buy us time and warmth."
"And where will we get the fire from?" Sonic asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. This did not deter Knuckles as he moved forward and began to gather sticks.
"When I was on my own I would have to create my own warmth." he began, his eyes trained on his task. "After many cold nights I discovered that the sparks from my powers could catch wood a light. I made many fires by this method through the years."
He returned toward the front of the cave and dropped the sticks into a pile on the floor. He began to organize them into a tent like shape then took his fists and pushed them together, red light emitting from his gloves and quills. Sonic watched as the light touched the wood, creating smoke, then soon after, a small fire.
"Nice!" he exclaimed, impressed. "I wish I would have known to try that when I was stuck out here as a child."
Knuckles poked at the fire, trying to encourage it to grow. "How did you stay warm?" he asked.
"I actually would sneak through people's windows and sleep in their attic." Sonic admitted. "It wasn't my most honorable behavior, but I survived."
"One must do what it takes to survive." Knuckles answered. Sonic smiled.
After some trial and error they were able to figure out the draft in the cave enough to have the smoke waft out into the night, making the air in the cave much more tolerable. Soon after they found themselves sitting across from each other, the fire in the middle, soaking in as much heat as the small fire would allow.
"Ugh, I'm hungry." Sonic whined, trying to create some sort of conversation so he wouldn't drown in the quiet. "I could eat 100 chili dogs right now…"
"I don't know that I understand your chili dogs…" Knuckles stated, his brow furrowed. "I do not think I will ever be able to tolerate them."
"You know there is more to this world than grapes, bro." Sonic said, a glint in his eye.
"I am aware," his brother answered, his eyes trained on the fire. "You have seen me eat other foods that Miss Maddie has prepared. Just yesterday she made noodles with the meatballs. I enjoyed that." Knuckles let a small smile cross his face. "I just find grapes soothing. They remind me of home."
Sonic looked at him quizzically. Knuckles almost never spoke of his past.
"How do grapes remind you of home?" he asked, tentatively reaching out.
"Our tribe ate a wide variety of fruits and vegetables on our island. There was a fruit my father used to prepare often for dinner. It was my favorite. There is something about grapes that remind me of that fruit." He watched as an imperceptible emotion crossed his brother's face. "When I am reminded of that fruit, I am reminded of my father."
Sonic listened, taking in this new information. "It must have been hard losing your father so young." he said, trying to connect. His brother's eyes did not lift from the fire, but a soft expression came over his face that hinted of sadness.
"Yes." he said simply. There was a small pause as Sonic took the time to study his brother's features. He was surprised by his next words. "I am sure it must have been difficult to lose your mother as well."
Sonic's breath hitched in his throat as a lump formed. He looked away from his brother and gazed down. He had never had anyone refer to Longclaw as his mother besides he, himself. It touched him to hear Knuckles, sworn enemy of the owls by tribe and trade, to refer to her with such respect.
"Yes." he answered back. He looked up and suddenly met his brother's eye. He may have imagined it, but there was a trace of a smile across his lips.
Sonic swallowed down the lump in his throat and found himself scooting closer, trying to physically close the distance between him and the red echidna across the fire. It only just now hit him that he was hogging the coat that they had been sharing previously. A yawn hit him almost as quickly.
"You should sleep." Knuckles stated, his eyes returning back to the fire. "I can stay up and keep watch." Sonic watched as his brother was unable to hide a strong shiver.
"No, we will go to sleep together." he insisted. "You may not want to admit it, but you are freezing. This fire is not enough to keep you warm on its own." He took off his coat and gestured to his brother to come closer. "We will stay warmer if we huddle together. We can use my coat as a blanket." He held the coat up, waiting for his brother to make the next move. Knuckles looked toward Sonic, then back to the fire. Sonic watched as emotions slowly moved over his normally stoic face. After a long moment of silence he finally spoke.
"You are right," he said. "We will be better if we share our warmth."
Sonic smiled and closed the distance between them. He started by laying down next to the fire and gestured for his brother to join him. He watched as Knuckles slowly closed the distance and laid down behind him. Sonic took his coat and draped it over the both of them, taking comfort in the warmth both of their bodies created. He began to feel himself drift off when he felt a shift and the weight of an arm over his body. He couldn't help but smile and close the small sliver of space created by the new position. And with his brother by his side and the weight of his arm providing more comfort than a fire ever could, he drifted to sleep.