She watched her sons in the back seat. Sonic and Tails were talking softly, and Tail's head came to rest on Sonic's shoulder. She wondered if Sonic was telling him about today, about the little echidna. She then moved her gaze to her oldest. He stared out the window again, but instead of watching the scenery with wonder, his eyes seemed distant. Lost. She fought the urge to reach for him, to stroke his hand, to run her fingers through his quills. She knew enough about him to know when he needed his space.
After the wandering incident the day had gone down hill. The mood seemed to wane a bit and the bubbling excitement that had been the theme of the day seemed to drain out of them. Tails and Sonic still seemed interested, but Tails could tell something was wrong and Sonic, being the good brother that he is, knew the time wasn't right to talk.
And Knuckles, he had not said a word since the incident. He walked behind the others, eyes down cast. She tried multiple times to meet his gaze, to try and make a connection, but he was determined not to look up. Occasionally he would gaze at an animal in front of him, almost gazing past it. Tom tried to talk to him, to get a response, but with no success.
Her heart was breaking apart watching him. She didn't understand what had happened back at the zoo, but something had shifted in him after his interaction with the small animal and she didn't know what to do to help him.
The rest of the car ride was silent. Tail had fallen asleep and Sonic sat with his head resting on top of his little brothers.
When they pulled into the driveway and parked, Tom looked at her. He obviously noticed the change in Knuckles the rest of the day. She had yet to tell him what she witnessed. For some reason it felt private, personal. She would eventually tell him, but not now, not while her kid was hurting.
She heard the rear car door open and the car bounced as her oldest slid out of the seat. He walked away from the car without looking back and wandered to the back yard. She watched him turn the corner and walk out of sight.
"What's going on?" Tom asked, but Maddie was barely paying attention, her eyes fixed on the spot where Knuckles had disappeared.
"Honey, why don't you take the others inside. Tails is exhausted and I'm sure Sonic is hungry."
"But," he stammered.
"Please?" she said.
He looked at her, about to say something else, but her pleading gaze stopped him. He nodded and put his hand on hers.
"Come on boys, let's get some food and get to bed." He picked up Tails and nestled his head onto his chest to carry him inside.
Sonic was also staring where Knuckle's had disappeared, but was drawn away by Tom's voice.
"I'm starving," he said. He slid out of the car and met Maddie's eyes. She could tell he wanted to follow Knuckles, but after her gaze, he went with Tom. "I could eat, like, 100 chili dogs!"
Maddie smiled as she listened to their voices get softer as they made their way into the house.
She slid out of the car and made her way to the back of the house, following the path of her oldest. It was dark out, but in the moon's glow she could make out his form sitting against a tree in the yard, his gaze pointing toward the stars. At least he hadn't wandered far.
She walked over and silently sat next to him, as close to him as possible without making physical contact. He did not react.
They sat that way for a long time, staring at the stars. Occasionally she would move her gaze to look at her son, but he continued to stare pointedly at the sky. She wasn't sure how long they would sit there, but she refused to yield and determined to wait, even if it meant sitting in the yard all night. The silence stretched for so long that when words were spoken, she jumped at the unexpected sound.
"Why was he imprisoned?"
She looked toward him, but his eyes still stared upward, not meeting her gaze.
"A zoo takes animals from around the world and takes care of them. They are a way for others to see and experience animals that they may not be able to see otherwise. The animals are normally very well taken care of." she explained.
"But why would they take these animals from their homes?" He asked, his voice not hard or angry, just confused, lost.
"I don't always know." she answered honestly. "Sometimes they are injured, sometimes they lost their home due to the ignorance of other humans, sometimes they are born in captivity and would not survive in their natural home." She eyed him carefully but his face didn't change. She sighed. "I don't know why he was there," she explained, "but I'm sure he is well taken care of."
He was silent then. She continued to watch him carefully, her chest tight as she waited for him to speak again.
"Will I be imprisoned?"
"No!" she gasped. "No, sweetie, never."
He continued to stare at the stars. She watched his steely gaze. His face never changed. She wanted to reach for him, to hold him…
"I am sorry for wandering." he said, his eyes finally leaving the sky and making their way to the ground. Anywhere but meeting her eyes.
"It's OK, sweetie, we aren't mad."
"I have been the last of my kind for so long," he continued. "Though not the same, I did not expect to see a member of my kind." He lowered his hand and ran it through the grass. "He was primitive, he was un-evolved, but he was still a brother."
She watched as he moved his eyes back to the stars.
"What were you speaking to him?" she asked softly, trying to keep him talking, trying to urge him to trust her, to let her help.
"The language of my people." he answered simply.
"Could he understand you?"
"I believe so."
She watched with wide eyes, waiting, hoping that he would look at her. "What did you say to him?"
"I told him I was happy to meet his acquaintance. I asked him his story, though he could not tell me." She watched as his mouth twitched upward, almost a soft smile. "I told him to try the grapes."
She grinned at his attempted joke. He was loosening up.
"I wished I could free him, but I knew I could not." he said, his grin melting off his face.
Maddie nudged a bit closer so her arm was just touching his. He stiffened slightly, but relaxed quickly as he got used to the unexpected contact.
"I know it's hard, sweetie, but you did the right thing." She slowly reached her hand out and tentatively placed it on his shoulder. This time he did not bristle. "Being the last of your kind must be very hard, very lonely."
His eyes dropped back to the ground. "Yes."
She gently nudged him further. "How long have you been alone?"
"A very long time." he simply stated. "Since my tribe left for battle and did not return."
She knew this much. Sonic had told her about Longclaw and about how he and Knuckles realized that their people fought one another leaving them alone. The same battle had orphaned them both. Her heart began to ache for this young warrior, this kid, who had lost everything. He had been alone even longer than Sonic. She couldn't help herself, she moved her arm around his shoulders and pulled him gently toward her. Once again she felt him bristle at the contact, but he did not pull away.
"My entire life from that day has been to track down the Emerald for the honor of my people." He continued. "It was a life of solitude, but I had a purpose. Now that this has been achieved my mind is no longer been consumed by the Emerald. I find my mind wandering to my father, to my home before it was broken. It makes me feel very lonely, sad, feelings that I was able to repress for a very long time."
"It's OK to be sad." she started, tightening her grip around his shoulders. "You have been through a lot of trauma. You lost your entire family. You have never been able to rest, to be a kid. It will take time, but I assure you that we will not leave you. We can be your new home."
He finally turned his head and met her eyes. They were soft, sad, but hopeful.
"You are not alone anymore." she said softly. Her heart leapt in her chest as she felt him lean closer to her on his own accord. She tightened her grip in reassurance.
They sat silently for some time, his body nestled into hers, her arms wrapped around his small but firm frame. Absent mindedly she began to stroke his back as he continued to relax into her side.
Suddenly he lifted his head and lifted his eyes to meet hers. He looked so young.
"May we visit my friend again?" he asked softly, almost tentatively. She stared back down at his sweet face.
"Of course we can." she said, pulling him closer. "Of course."
There was so much more to say. So much more to unpack. So much more pain and insecurity. But tonight was the first step.
She felt him sigh and relax back into her side and her heart burst with happiness. It had only been a few weeks, but these sweet souls were already deep in her heart. She would do anything for them, protect them, help them, heal them.
"I love you, sweetie" she murmured.
She heard him hum softly in response and a soft smile passed over her face.
She finally stood and lowered her hand to grasp his and pull him to his feet. "Come on, sweetie, let's get you inside." and hand in hand the slowly walked back to the house. Back home.