Sir Sonic at first reached for his sheathed longsword when he first noticed the intruder to his pavilion, his training as a knight taught him to always uphold the law whenever it had been broken…However, he thought that he would mock the wannabe robber before he took him into custody and so, with an amused and somewhat arrogant tone, he asked the figure hunched over his treasure chest,
"Looking for something…Thief?"
The robber froze, like a dear caught in headlights…His small frame beginning to tremble as he realised that he had just been caught trying to plunder from the chest of THE greatest knight in all of the kingdom of Acorn and arguably beyond…Sonic couldn't blame the poor fellow for being petrified.
Nonetheless, the knight allowed himself to unsheathe his blade…A beautiful longsword with a blade that was sharper than a needle's point and that shimmered a moonlight silver in colour…It's handle wrapped in luxurious red leather and it's cross guarded hilt was beautiful, wrapped in gold leaf and inlaid with small floral patterns that led to a shimmering orb of lapis lazuli in it's heart…He pointed the blade at the robber and spoke once again,
"That's right, I see what you were up to…Now, turn and face me so that I can see the fellow brave or stupid enough to try and steal from me!"
The figure slowly raised his trembling hands in the air…Terrified and ragged gasps for breath permeating from the robber…All before he slowly turned around, revealing himself to the knight who had caught him red-handed in his attempted theft…
Sir Sonic was…horrified, he had just expected the robber to be a stout fellow at first, due to the shorter height that the robber had…But he wasn't met by the form of a stout mobian or human…But…Instead he was met with the heart-breaking, frightened gaze of a young fox boy…Barely older than eight years old…
His terror filled eyes were sky blue in sheen and glimmered like stars, small crystal, tears slowly leaking from the corners of the boy's peepers…His fur was grimy, dirty and unkempt…Discoloured from the layers of dust, mud, spider's webs and chaos knows what…From the dingy grey and sandy yellow colouring suggested, he bet that the fur was a far brighter colour originally.
The boy himself was also extremely thin, gaunt ad sickly looking…Resembling a skeleton with fur more than an actual, living being…And even through the fur, the knight could clearly see some poorly healed and pus-dripping cuts and ugly purplish welts that adorned the fox's arms, neck, tail and lower legs, signalling that the boy was no stranger to beatings…And Sonic could feel bile rising in his throat like magma in a dormant volcano at the thought of those cruel enough to do such a thing to the poor kid.
From the state of the boy's clothes too: A dingy, moth-eaten and grubby brown, sleeveless tunic and patchy brown trousers that , through wear and tear now resembled shorts as they had been badly torn apart just above the fox's knobbly knees…As the cogs of Sonic's mind turned…he was able to make some very clear assumptions.
1. The kid was clearly very poor due to his malnourished state and poor condition of his clothes.
2. He was likely here to try and steal some gold so he could afford to improve his quality of life due to his very miserable financial state
3. The kid needed help…Badly…He may not have been aware of it, but he clearly looked like he was in need of a hot meal and a bath as well…Due to the fact a foul odour of dirt and rubbish clung to him like a tick on a dog.
Sonic's face slowly fell, taking a more sympathetic gaze towards the small kid, lowering his blade and placing it back in its sheath, he spoke…his tone softer and more caring,
"Oh…I am sorry kid; I didn't mean to scare you…Are you alri-Hey!"
Sonic wasn't even able to finish his sentence as the kid raced past him, his small frame like dirty yellow blur of fur as he raced out of the pavilion, but Sonic wasn't going to let up that easily and he started to run after the kid, throwing aside the cloth that stood between him and the outside world…
…
Miles ran, he ran as fast as his little legs would allow him too, the adrenaline in his veins bringing him enough energy to overload a power-station…He could hear the knight's calls following behind him as he raced through the tournament grounds…His small frame heading towards one of the fighting arenas where three knights were locked in a bitter struggle, the first of them clad in rose-gold, coloured floral patterned armour and wielding a large two handed Warhammer, the second of them a knight clad in darker black iron coloured armour that was sleeker and marked with red markings who wielded a large, shining glaive and the third was clad in brutal, battle worn armour that was covered in spikes, with two particularly large ones emerging from the gauntlets…He wielded two lethal looking axes…
When he sprinted into the arena, he could hear the shocked cries and roars of the audience as he rushed right through them, their gazes locked on him as they lowered their weapons and looked on in confusion as he sprinted between them, his small frame slipping and scrambling on the cobbles…All the while Sonic followed suite and calling out to the others,
"Stop that kid!"
Those words only made the fox's heart pound like a drum as he rushed over the fence and into the surrounding crowd, pushing, shoving and kicking his way through the sea of legs and kids…All the while he could hear the heavy sounds of plate armour on stone…
He rushed out of the large mob and into a small alleyway, hoping that in there he would be able to lose them in the shadows…After all, all that there was in the alley was a large pile of rubbish, a few street signs that hung from the old stone walls…Miles skidded to a halt, letting out a few ragged breaths as he tried to regain some energy and get his bearings…However he could feel the terror build up within him once again as he heard the knight's voice once again,
"There you are!"
The fox turned around, just to see the azure hedgehog standing at the end of the alley, flanked by the three knights who's helmets had been removed and now hung at their waists, revealing the scarred faces of a young, female hedgehog the colour of strawberry pink, another older looking hedgehog the colour of midnight with crimson stripes in his quills and a heavy, older looking Echidna with blood red quills…Each of them looked dead serious and their eyes were barring into him with accusatory gazes.
However, the faces of the knights twisted with surprise and shock as the azure hedgehog stepped forward and spoke to him,
"Listen kid…I'm not going to hurt you; you don't need to run away from us. Listen, if you just come with us, we ca-"
"Liar!"
Miles yelled back at the hedgehog, all before he turned away from the knights and as quick as a flash clambered the pile of rubbish before leaping to grab one signpost…Using them as climbing spikes to reach the roof…A few loose tiles coming loose and shattering on the ground before the knights with a loud crashing noise.
Miles allowed himself to giggle as he heard the knight curse with frustration before barking at his friends to follow him and not let him get away…All the while he sprinted across the tops of houses, pubs, businesses, the lot…A rooftop run that would allow him to escape and hopefully find a place to lay low and wait for everything to blow over…
He allowed himself to indulge in the thrill of the chase now, the feeling of freedom the sheer speed and height gave him was intoxicating…Like a powerful drug that only encouraged him to go faster and faster…He was leaking rooftops now...Like a frog between lily pads while he heard the knights sprinting after him below…
However, he could feel all that thrill evaporate when he saw the next gap he had to leap…It was far wider, and he didn't think that he would be able to make it if he did jump, yet there was no other route he could take, lest he be caught by the knights…And so, with fear filling his veins and chilling his blood like ice…He accelerated his speed and with a deep breath…He leapt…
Time seemed to slow down while he was in the air…His eyes darted around him, gazing upon the crowded street below…An unpleasant chill racing down his spin as he realised that missing this jump meant almost certain death or injury…The cobbles below…His heart began to pound even harder as he saw just how much further he had to go if he was going to make it to the other side of the street…As he grew closer and closer, he noticed he was starting to fall lower and lower as well…However at the same time he was close…Agonisingly close to being able to make it…
He collided with the stone wall with a loud thud, sending a horrible, dull pain shooting through his chest…The impact causing him to lose the grip of the roof with one hand…Leaving him dangling from the roof with only one of them…The fox's breaths coming out in scared, ragged gasps as he realised that the only thing that was separating him from getting away and continuing to live in the shadows and a horrible death or injury was his one small hand that clung to the edge of the roof for dear life.
However, his terror amplified dramatically when he began to feel his grip on the edge slowly begin to slip…His arm growing sore and tired…His fingers slipping from the roof tile that they desperately gripped on to…However, despite his ever so desperate attempts to hang onto the rooftile…He knew he couldn't hold on for long…And so…feeling his death was imminent, he closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing…Hoping that he could at least die without panicking.
However, all of that calm demeanour vanished once again as he felt his grip on the rooftile finally slip away…The world once again seeming to go in slow motion as he plummeted to the street below…So…This was it, he was going to die…Pity, he thought that he'd at least live a few more years…however he could still feel that lust for life fighting desperately within him…And because of that he curled into a ball mid-air in a feeble attempt to reduce his chances of death or severe injury from the fall…He knew it likely wasn't going to work however it gave him a very miniscule sense of comfort…Like lighting a match in the middle of a blizzard…
As he saw the ground grow closer and closer, he once more squeezed his eyes shut…Hoping that his death would be painless and quick…However, curiously…There was no sudden white light or stinging pain…There was no pearly gates or soothing angelic choirs…Neither was their scorching hellfire and the agonised screams of a million damned souls…Instead he found himself in uncomfortable, metal covered arms…He slowly opened his eyes…And lo and behold…the hedgehog had caught him…
"Gotcha, you gave us a good chase kid…But there's nowhere to run away now." The knight said, a bemused smirk plastered on his face while his emerald, green eyes stared down at the kid…Miles could only look up at the knight with shock and wonder…He was utterly gobsmacked at what had just happened…The hedgehog…Saved him? Nobody had ever even showed him any form of kindness before and yet the knight had…saved him? Something was off about this; nobody ever just saved or helped him out of the blue…Why would the knight do such a thing for him…
All of his will to struggle or fight slowly seeped from the fox as it was replaced by utter curiosity as to the knight's decision to save his life…He felt compelled to let the hedgehog take him to wherever he intended to take him…
…
Sonic rushed through the crowd's ignoring the gasps and cheers that the numerous people made at his heroic act…He needed to get the kid somewhere quieter and thankfully such a place was able to present itself in the form of a quiet little street corner…One that was tucked away from the rest of the slum and home to little more than rats, flies and other vermin…
Gently, he placed the kid back down on the floor before helping him back up to his feet, even going as far as to dust the kid off a little bit. All the while hoping the spry and swift little thing didn't try to flee once more…He was getting tired…However he was pleasantly surprised to see the kid only staring up at him with curiosity, surprise and graefulness…
"Y-y-you saved me…" He squeaked out in a voice barely above a whisper.
"You're welcome kid, now…Care to tell me why you were trying to steal from me? It's not very ni-"
"THERE YOU ARE!"
Both of them turned around as the bellowing voice sounded out, revealing the three knights jogging towards them…Each of their faces red and out of breath with irritated, poisonous glares…
"Ah, there you guys are…I wonder when you three were gonna show up heh heh." Sonic chuckled in an extremely jovial and semi-mocking voice…Making the trio scowl in response.
"Enough of your jokes Sonic! Now, you! You're coming with us!" The black hedgehog yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at Miles…Who cowered slightly in response, shifting himself so that he was hiding behind Sonic.
"Easy there Shadow, he didn't steal anything…At least he couldn't get the opportunity…Do you really think that the kid should face the same punishment as the common thief? Does an eight-year-old boy really deserve to lose his hand?"
"Of course he doesn't Sonic, but the kid still caused a disruption…He has to face some consequences for what he's done…It doesn't have to be violent, but it still has to be something." The Echidna responded. His eyes fixated on the frightened boy…His gaze more sympathetic than Shadow and yet still hard and unyielding as rock…
"Well…Yes, but I really don't think that the kid is in any condition to face any punishment, something lighter is more in order I think…C'mon kid, step forward." Sonic said reassuringly, gently nudging the fox in front of him…Making him stand before the three knights like a prisoner on trial…All of their gazes softening when the saw the dishevelled state he was in,
"Take him home guys, and make sure you tell his mother what he's been up to." Sonic said with a somewhat let down sigh…However as the pink hedgehog reached out her hand to the boy, Miles spoke in a quiet and sad voice.
"I-I don't have a mum…"
Their faces fell, sympathy filling their faces when the kid spoke…However Sonic spoke once again, wanting to try his luck again,
"Oh…I see, well tell his father then."
"I don't have a dad either…"
Their gazes grew only more and more sympathetic and saddened at this news, and Sonic's already wavering smile had evaporated like water on a hot pan.
"Well, what about grandparents or caretaker?"
The fox shook his head once more...His eyes beginning to well slightly with tears, a few sniffles escaping the poor fox…Inciting the hedgehog to place a hand on his shoulder, if for any reason..to provide a bit of comfort.
"Well…Uhhhh…What about friends? You've got them right?"
"No…"
"At the very least…You have somewhere to stay right?"
"No…I've been homeless my entire life…"
The silence that followed was incredible…For an eternal minute the only sounds that could be heard was the faint goings on of the rest of the city outside of the alleyway…As well as the faint crying of the young fox…
"But why? There are plenty of orphanages in the city and know damn well that the majority would be willing to take in kids like you." Sonic said.
"They wouldn't take me…"
"Why?!"
The fox stepped forward…And sinking his head in shame…he began to move his tail…And then slowly, ever so slowly…It began to shift, unfurling itself and revealing that it was not just one tail…But two, two large, bushy, white tipped tails that were covered in cuts and bruises and welts…
"That's why…I'm a freak…" The fox bitterly muttered…Staring down at the ground and not even looking up to face the knights…Expecting them to react with disgust and then either jeer and laugh…Or beat him like a disobedient dog…Just like everyone else…However, once again his expectations were subverted…When he let an armoured hand grasp his shoulder…He looked up and saw the sympathy filled eyes of Sonic looking down at him…
"You're no freak kid…Just because you have two tails doesn't mean that people have an excuse to shut you out from the rest of society…Now, can you tell me your name boy?"
The fox was taken aback, and he voiced this surprise,
"Wuh…What?"
"What's you're name kid? I need to know your name."
"Oh…Um…It's Miles…"
"Well…Miles…You'll be coming with me, back to Castle Acorn…Because I have an idea…An idea…that can change your life for the better…"