They had walked to the kangaroos, the boys walking side by side and Tom in front.
Knuckles had seemed interested in their behavior while Tails commented on their hopping ability. One of the kangaroos had come up close through the walk about, causing Knuckles to stiffen and raise his gloves, eyes narrow.
Maddie had quickly put her hands on his shoulders and assured him they were in no danger.
"How can you be sure…he is…eyeing us…"
She watched as Tom smiled, amused. "These guys are known to pack a punch," he started. "But i promise, they would be no match for you."
It had taken him a moment, but when she felt his muscles relax under her hands she grinned and gave him a small half hug. He had let her.
Now they were staring at Koala's, sleeping in the trees behind the glass.
"So sloooow!" Sonic whined. "How can anything get through life without a little speed?"
"It says here that Koala's sleep twenty or more hours a day." Tom said. "Kind of like a blue hedgehog I know."
"Yeah right." Her blue son stated, rolling his eyes. "Fifteen or sixteen at most!"
She laughed and looked down at her son and ruffled his quills. She ran her eyes over to her youngest and smiled as he bounced back and forth. She ran her eyes further, and her eye didn't catch red. She frowned and looked to her left - no oldest. She felt her chest tighten and her heart speed up.
"Tom?" she asked, keeping her voice calm but looking all around her in a panic.
"Yeah?"
"Where's Knuckles?" she breathed.
She watched as her husband starting looking around and realized for the first time that the eldest was no longer with them. She watched as the panic entered his face.
"Knuckles?" he yelled, continuing to scan their surroundings. "Knux?"
"Oh my God, Tom." she said. "Where is he?" She was trembling slightly. Calm down, Maddie. She said to herself. He's gotta be near by. I swear he was just here.
"You take Tails, and retrace our steps, make sure we didn't leave him behind. Sonic, we'll move forward and hope he is just a few steps ahead."
She watched as Tom nodded and took Tails' hand and walked away with a brisk pace. She quickly took steps forward.
"Maddie, want me to use my powers? I could find him in a sec." Sonic offered.
"No, no, sweetie." She answered back, but continuing to move forward. "He's gotta be close…" her voice trailed off when she spotted red quills as she turned the corner at the end of the path. She took a deep breath and placed a hand on her chest in relief.
"Tom, he's…" she shouted, then trailed off again. Knuckles was on his knees, his fists up against the glass in front of him.
"Knux!" Sonic yelled next to her and moved forward toward his brother, but she placed a hand on his shoulder and stopped him, curiosity getting the best of her.
She slowly moved forward watching her oldest as he stared intently through the glass. He did not seem to notice her approach, so deeply lost in his thoughts. As she came up near him she looked to the plaque hanging on the glass.
"Short-beaked Echidna." she whispered.
She turned her gaze to her eldest and followed his gaze. Just behind the glass a small spiny animal was perched up, it's nose up to the glass and twitching quickly in interest. She watched in wonder as Knuckles brought his gloved hand down to the animals level and the little marsupial began to lick the glass at the level of his hand. He then bent over and lowered his head to the animals level, pressing his nose to the glass over the small echidna's.
They touched noses through the glass. Her son's eyes slipped shut and she heard a soft sound coming from his mouth. She found herself stepping close, entranced by what she was watching. As she stepped forward she could hear his words, though could not understand them. He was speaking softly to the little echidna in another language, a foreign language, and alien language. She watched as the small animal began to twitch his nose more aggressively and scratching at the glass as if in understanding. Knuckles pinched his eyes tighter, then forced them open to look back at the animal. He then stood and put his gloved hand to his chest and bowed his head down.
"It was good to meet you, small friend." she heard him murmur. Then he turned his head and met her eyes.
"Knuckles," she started, but could not find the words to continue. He stared at her quietly.
"Knuckles!" Tom shouted, running past Maddie and up to his red son, breaking their contact. "You can't wander off like that! You scared us half to death!"
She watched as his gaze immediately dropped from hers, making contact with the pavement below his feet. Tom ran up to him and put his hands on his shoulders.
"You have to tell us where you are going." he said, the panic slowly leaving his voice.
"I am sorry Mr. Tom." Knuckled said softly, his eyes still at his feet.
Maddie immediately moved forward and put her hand on Tom's shoulder. When he looked up to meet her eyes she gave him a curt shake of the head. "Not now…" she communicated through her eyes. "Later."
He took his hands off the eldest's shoulders and stood, placing a hand on the top of his head. Sonic came up next to Maddie and put his hand in hers. She looked down to meet his concerned eyes. He had seen Knuckles with the animal as well. She gave him a reassuring smile and squeezed his hand.
"Come on, let's keep going."
Tom seemed to hesitate, wanting to speak further to his eldest, but she met his eyes and shook her head again. He frowned, and at first she was worried he would push, but then he took his hand and placed it on the younger boys shoulders, urging them forward. "Come on, boys," he said simply and Tails, and Sonic moved forward past her red child. Sonic gave a concerned look back, but once he saw Maddie staying with him, he seemed to force himself to walk with Tom.
She looked down at her oldest, heart tight in her chest. He stood still, his eyes to the ground. She walked up to him and gently ran her hand over the quills on his head. He stiffened at the touch.
"Come on, sweetie." she said. "Let's go." He slowly turned, eyes still at his feet, and followed her.