I do NOT own OTH (Dreamworks) nor do I own characters created by starwars4life. I only own OC's created by me.
Hedgies: Unforgettable Summers
Chapter 1: A Fear of What's to Come
"You piece of self-aware garbage. You absolute self-absorbed punk. What are you doing here? Why are you here? What? Your mom tells you ONE THING when you were 3 and you just take that as a code to live by? You're so full of yourself. You are FULL of yourself, and guess what? Now, you're bringing your cousins down with you! FULL OF YOURSELF!"
18-year-old porcupine Ike tried to shake his inner thoughts, while he listened to the stories at a support group he was attending.
A raccoon named Luanne was telling a story about her husband Sherman.
Luanne: It's just so hard…I want to say we still have that love, that spark we had when we met as teenagers but…I just don't see it…I just don't…"
Luanne starts bawling, as the leader of the support group, a porcupine named Bronx, hands her some leaves for tissues.
Luanne: I just fear that…I just fear that we won't be able to really give our daughter the best life…She's my world.
Luanne cries into the leaves, as the group listens, especially Ike.
"See? She has what a sane person calls a real world problem! She doesn't love her husband anymore! What's your "problem" again, Ike? Oh wait, don't tell me! I'm you! I already know! You need reassurance. You are SO Full of yourself!"
Bronx: Luanne, I speak for so many people here when I say…you are not alone. Many marriages feel like they lose a spark. But you and Sherman…have something very special. Now stand up.
Luanne hesitantly stands up, sniffling.
Bronx: Repeat after me… "I am good enough for Sherman".
Luanne mumbles the line, prompting Bronx to stand up.
Bronx: Loud and proud!
Luanne speaks up a bit when she repeats the line.
Bronx: With your chest, Luanne!
Luanne: I AM GOOD ENOUGH FOR SHERMAN!
She repeats the line while running out of the area where the support group is being held.
Bronx: Uh, Luanne! We still have 20 minutes left in the- She's gone…
"Wait, did she just leave? Ya know what, not important. Back to you, Ike. You are so FULL OF YOURSELF-"
Ike's inner monologue is interrupted by Bronx addressing the group.
Bronx: Well everyone, we have a new member with us today. He was very nervous about coming, per his mothers words, so let's give a warm welcome to our youngest member ever, Ike!
The group addresses Ike.
Bronx: So, Ike. What kind of stress have you been going through?
"Stress? That's what we're calling it?! It is you looking for peer approval, don't LIE TO YOURSELF-"
Ike: Hi, I'm Ike.
Group in Unison: Hi Ike.
"Wait, support groups actually do that? I swear I thought that was a movie thing, I dunno-"
Ike: My stress…started when I was 3 years old.
Luanne: Oh, baby, were you abused as a child?
Ike: WHAT?! No!
A wood tick named Fred shouts at the top of his lungs:
Fred: "DID SOMEBODY BULLY YOU FOR HAVING A LOUD VOICE?!"
Ike makes sure his hearing is still working, before continuing.
Ike: N-No, Fred.
Fred: …I'M STARTING TO THINK I'M THE ONLY ANIMAL WITH THAT PROBLEM!
Bronx: Everyone…Stop interrupting him…Ike, please continue.
Ike: Well, there was this thing my mom told me when I was really young…
Ike then remembers it like it was yesterday…
*FLASHBACK- 15 Years Ago*
Ike is being led out of the makeshift hospital room.
Ike: It had to be like, 10 seconds after my cousins Drake and Annie were born…My dad led me out of the room because I was being too loud. And then my mom said.
Emma: But you have every right to be excited Ike. And being the oldest means you have to be the most responsible when playing with your new cousins"
*Back to Present*
Emma's voice trails in Ike's head, as Ike continues his story.
Ike: And normally, that doesn't really affect me…See, I have 3 BC's, biological cousins, the twins, Drake and Annie, they're about 15, Ronny, he's our youngest, and he's 14. And then there's my little sister Bea…She's a riot, definitely more extreme than I was at that age.
Bronx: So where does your stress come in?
Ike looks down at his feet.
Ike: Well, we're all growing up, and…I feel like I can't always protect them…
Bronx: Mmm…I see, well, Ike. I want to let you know that…you can't be everywhere at once. Do you love your cousins?
Ike: Of course, more than anything in the world!
Bronx: And do you love hanging out with your cousins?
Ike: Yeah, I'd say so…I guess I'm just worried.
Bronx: About what, Ike?
Ike: …About growing apart…My grandmother on my dad's side says she grew apart from her brother and…I guess it worries me that it'll happen to me and them.
Bronx: Ike…can you stand up for me?
Ike reluctantly does so.
Bronx: Repeat after me… "I am good enough for my cousins".
Ike: (Barely a whisper) I am…good enough for my cousins…
Bronx: What was that?
Ike: I am good enough for my cousins.
Bronx: With your chest, Ike!
Ike: I am good enough for my cousins!
The group applauds him, as Ike's inner thoughts come back.
"You…are so…full of yourself…"
XXXXXXXX
Everyone is leaving the group, but Bronx catches Ike right before he leaves.
Bronx: Ike! I just wanted to say…ya know, your mother told me you were embarrassed about coming today.
Ike: A little bit. Ya know, I've always been the strong ringleader, so…I guess when my stress came in, it kinda worried me.
Bronx: You should never feel embarrassed about sharing your thoughts and feelings Ike. You never know who's willing to listen.
Ike: …I'll have to think about that…Hey thanks for having me.
Bronx: Anytime…And say hi to your mother and aunts for me!
Ike: I will! And how do you know them again?
Bronx: …Just an old friend…You take care Ike!
Ike: You too!
Ike then heads, glad to get some stress off his back.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Ike is hanging out with his cousins, thinking of things to do.
Ronny: We could go to the pool area of the playground!
Bea: We could play video games! I still need a rematch from when Ike and Drake whooped me.
Drake: Yeah. Well, I can't take all the credit. That's a team effort, right Ike?
But all that Ike could hear was his own inner voice, berating him.
"Listen to them…enjoying your company…YOUR company! Why are they enjoying your company?! If only they knew how "stressed" baby Ike is!"
Drake: I said right Ike?
"Drake's talking to you. Say something Ike!"
Drake: Hey dude…you ok?
Bea: Ike…is something wrong?
"SAY SOMETHING IKE!"
Ike: LEAVE ME ALONE!
Ike looks around at his startled cousins, realizing he couldn't balance his inner voice with what was going on around him. Ike walks away quickly before anyone has anything to say.
Drake: Ike? IKE?!
Ike doesn't listen, as he holds back tears.
XXXXXXX
Ike is sitting in his favorite downtime spot, a tree positioned perfectly over the suburban area that surrounded their home. Or more like, their home surrounding the suburban area.
Ike sighed. He knew he couldn't be too open about his stress. For one thing, though he loves his biological cousins, they're a bit competitive when it comes to each other. He fears his stress would be seen as a weakness to them.
Another thing he kept bringing up in his mind was his fear of growing apart from them. He didn't want that. His grandmother Penny always talked about how she wishes she kept in contact with her brother. He doesn't want that. He doesn't…he doesn't…
Boxer: Hey…you alright Erizo Saltarin?
Boxer. One of the three wolves in the third generation of Hedgies. Boxer has to be one of Ike's closest friends in his extended family, known as the "Hedgies".
Ike: Oh. Hey Boxer. How's it happening?
Boxer: I saw you freak out with the others back there…everything ok?
Ike: I'm fine…just been…moody.
Boxer: Oh. Wanna talk about it?
Ike: …Promise you won't tell anyone?
Boxer: Predator-Queller's Oath.
Ike chuckles, and turns his body to face Boxer, explaining his stress, including his visit with a support group earlier today.
Boxer: Wow…Ya know Erizo Saltarin, you really can't hide these feelings. S'not healthy.
Ike: Well, you KNOW how my cousins are. My BC's I mean.
Boxer nods, knowing the cousins' notable behavior.
Ike: And if they found out…they'd probably think I'm a wimp…That I can't handle the responsibility…
Boxer: How can you be so sure?
Ike: Again, do you KNOW my BC's?
Boxer: Well, they ARE still family, Ike…Maybe they wouldn't mind if you expressed these feelings.
Ike: …I just don't wanna grow apart from them.
Boxer: Ike…You can't hold onto them forever.
Ike sighs, his voice choking up as he says "I know."
Boxer extends his paw, as if to offer Ike down the tree. Ike takes his paw, and lands on Boxer's back.
Boxer: What matters is that you're with them right now. And nothing can take that away…Nothin!
Ike: Thanks Boxer…
Ike embraces the back of Boxer's neck, given the size difference. And even though it's a small embrace, Boxer feels so much love in it.
Boxer: You remember when we first started playing and hanging out?
Ike: Heh…Yeah, I was 5, maybe 6, you guys were about 1, 2 years old. At the time, I couldn't keep up with your guys' roughhousing.
Boxer: Yeah! That one time we tackled you, and you cried to Aunt Emma so loud!
Ike: Yeah. Uncle Kale grounded you guys for 2 weeks!
The two teens reflect on how much they've grown and matured since their early days.
Just then, they're joined by Boxer's triplet sister Percie, who carries Bea and Annie on her back, and their triplet brother Roaster, who carries Drake and Ronny on his back.
Drake: You feeling better man?
Ike: Yeah. Sorry for my meltdown earlier.
Annie: Don't worry about it, dude.
Ike is surprised by the comforting words, until Ronny adds on:
Ronny: Yeah, we know that "old man" energy can be a burden on ya sometimes!
The cousins laugh. Ike laughs along at what feels like their one joke about him, realizing maybe it isn't a good idea to tell them about his stress just yet.
XXXXXXXXXX
A squirrel, by the name of Reginald, or Reggie, approaches a coyote, with tattered, but otherwise looking like your average coyote, who seems to be twitching at random moments.
This coyote…is someone the wolf triplets' mother Clara never would think they'd see again.
He speaks as if he's always overdosing on caffeine. He grabs the squirrel by the stomach, and twitches as he asks "Have you found her yet?!"
Reginald: Not yet, mister Frenzy sir…
Frenzy: I am growing…IMPATIENT!
Frenzy emits an electric shock out of his paws, causing him to let go of Reginald.
Frenzy: I apologize, my furry friend…You understand how I get when I get…ANGRY!
He emits another electric shock, holding his paws in pain.
Frenzy: Find her…And bring her position to me…search the whole globe if you must. I must…have…MY REVENGE.
Once again, an electric shock emits from his paws. This prompts the frightened squirrel to leave, looking for Frenzy's target.
Frenzy: You did this to me Clara…MADE ME…A FREAK!
He shouts in pain as one more electric shock emits from his paws, this time emitting enough to destroy a nearby bush.
Frenzy: Just calm down Frenzy…You'll get your revenge. You'll get it…
What's next for our furry friends? Who is Frenzy? And why is he after Clara? What did Clara do to him? What's with the electricity thing? Tune in for chapter 2!