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Rhythmic thumping echoed through his ears. His feet pounded into the ground, which went from hard concrete to slowly go into the bare earth. Blue quills shot out everywhere as the boy ran faster. A gruff voice was yelling from somewhere behind the kid.Darts whized past the kid, dangerously embedding into the ground. Sparks of blue electricity erupted around the area and filled it with intense light.Suddenly a burst of energy erupted around the boy as he sped faster and faster. A sonic boom echoed into the ground and through a forest.The forest had changed, the ground was wetter and the sky was filled with clouds. The boy tripped over himself and landed in the mud. His ears flicked back and forth on top of his head. Muffled voices came close to the area and the boy's heart sank. A high-pitched ringing shot through his ears, making him cover his ears and curl up.- - -Breakfast was always peaceful(for the most part) for the Wachowski family. But when a surge of energy burst through the air, taking out all of the electricity, everyone glanced at each other and more importantly; Sonic.The energy burst was similar to him but it couldn't be. Sonic was sitting at the table. If he was the source everything would have been blown back.Sonic sprung up and looked to the back door."Sonic-" Maddie tried to get her kid to wait but he was already out the door before she finished.Tom jogged to his work uniform and grabbed his belt, he tugged it on and raced after Sonic.Tails grabbed his Miles Electric. The three still in the house then followed after the other two.- - -The boy shook his head frantically, more blue quills sinking into the mud and trees around him. He forced himself to a stand. He wobbled to a tree and climbed up as quickly as he could. Just in time too!His dull green eyes widened in surprise. A blue hedgehog sped through the area, skidded to a stop; which sprayed mud everywhere, and then ran back in 5 seconds.A human male ran into view, he grabbed his knees and panted hard."Sonic! You can't just run out like-""Dad look! Quills! They look like mine! Except..." Sonic trailed off as he looked closely at the quills."Why is there so many?" Tom panted and stood up straighter."That's not a good sign. These quills are clipped, making it hard to hurt things. Also, this many coming out means major stress!" Sonic tapped his foot.The boy stared at the hedgehog. He looked so healthy compared to him.The boy was also a hedgehog. His quills were darker and shorter, from being clipped, and his eyes were dull. The other hedgehog was bright and so full of life.The boy decided to risk everything. He slid down the tree, scaring both the human and the hedgehog."Woah!" Sonic gasped."You okay, buddy?" Tom immediately got a thick sense of dread while looking at the boy."....Swift." the boy grunted and pointed a thumb back at himself.After all, if they both called Sonic it would cause panic. Or so Swift thought."Well, Swift... you look like your swiftly gonna pass out soon." Sonic joked.Swift stared at him. Obviously, these two didn't notice how similar Sonic and himself looked. Or they chose to ignore it. Either way, they seemed to carefree.Swift would not fall for anything ever again.Sonic sighed seeing Swift tense up and his quills lifting in defense."Dude, you're defenseless with those quills. Let us-"Knuckles had arrived first. He was on guard immediately. Swift knew for a fact he couldn't win against an Echidna.Swift stumbled back, he wouldn't be able to run with how injured he was. When two others arrived he sighed in defeat.With tired eyes, he looked at all of them. The human lady had such intense worry and anger in her eyes. But that anger wasn't directed at Swift.Swift took one step before passing out. Sonic jolted forward and caught him. He lifted him and stared at the others with concern."He's so light! Like.. lighter than the toaster!" Sonic's ears pinned back.The first other hedgehog that he finally meets is heavily injured and traumatized.This was not how they planned their weekend to go.
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Maddie looked over the paperwork again for the tenth time. This younger hedgehog was definitely related to Sonic. So closely related they had to be brothers. The DNA was so close to being the same but had some differences.Maddie handed the papers to Sonic. He was speed reading but stopped and went back to re-read carefully."I HAVE A BROTHER!?"- - -The sterile air of the vet clinic made Swift wake up with a jolt. He slammed himself back and hit the wall with a loud smack.
He let himself be captured again! He let himself be trapped! What was he thinking?
When someone got into his point of view he growled and swiped at them. Someone else came over and pulled the one person away. He focused on where he was and saw he slipped at the human lady. The other blue hedgehog had pulled her away.Swift immediately yelled apologies in another language that no one except Knuckles recognized."He is saying sorry." Knuckles huffed out when he realized no one else understood Swift."What language was that?" Maddie turned to her oldest."Chao. Normally it takes years for someone to understand the chao language that isn't a chao.""I haven't heard of that before." Sonic looked at Swift.Maddie quickly placed a hand on his head. It was to distract him and make him think before he said anything.Swift glanced between everyone. They hadn't been trying to hurt him even after he attacked. Something felt super wrong."Well... I'm Sonic! That is Knuckles, and this is Maddie!" Sonic ran around as he introduced them."...Human... is.. nice?" Swift slowly said. He didn't want to say anything wrong."Of course. I don't want to harm you in any way, Swift." Maddie smiled warmly at him.Swift looked around the room. It was a medium-sized room with a metal table that was up against the wall, that Swift was sitting on. A couple of monitors were near the table and counters were on another wall. Many things were on the counter.Knuckles was leaning on the counters but he was on high alert. Swift swallowed harshly."Where... am I?" He asked."Green Hills Montana!" Sonic put his hands on his hips.Swift tilted his head. He was far from the place where he was being kept then. Maybe, hopefully, it doesn't even exist in this world.Sonic raced out of the room and Knuckles growled something under his breath. He came over to where Swift was.Maddie looked Swift over the best she could before leaving the room."I do not trust you hedgehog." Knuckles grunted."I couldn't even hurt anyone if tried." Swift curled up a bit.Knuckles looked his over thoughtfully before going to the door. He didn't leave but wanted to check in on everyone else.Swift's eyes drifted closed. He was exhausted.• • •
Paws thundered into the cold earth below. Tears streamed down the hoglets face as he ran.
He kept running until he collapsed.
Longclaw's words echoed in his mind. "Keep running, Sonic! Don't let anyone catch you!"
The mess of blue quills curled into a ball. Rain burst from the sky into the forest.
Heavy boots landed themselves a few feet away from the hoglet.
Gloved hands picked him up.
"Don't worry. I won't hurt you. ... yet." The man said with malice.