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Knuckles was the last out of the car. A foolish mistake. The sun was low, the house barely visible, and none of the Wachowskis were as aware of their surroundings as he, not even the wolf. It wouldn't have happened if he had gotten out first, he was sure. If only he'd jumped out of the car immediately. A quick check of the perimeter would have changed everything. But he didn't do that.
He fumbled with the plastic bags for a moment before he pushed the door open. By then Sonic was at the front of House Wachowski, arms laden with groceries, teasing as Tails was slow to follow. Maddie brought up the rear, carrying the more precious cargo: eggs, bread, and chips. Tom was heading for the mail box while the wolf trotted along beside him, sniffing the grass as he went.
Then Tails' security lights lit up the front of the house.
Knuckles was still struggling to get his mitts around those stupid plastic straps and heard the collective gasp. The air grew still. Knuckles' quills stood on end. Maddie spoke with chilling calm:
"Don't move."
Knuckles looked up just as the creature rose above the bushes. It was so close to them. So close to his family. Dark, flashing eyes, rolling muscles, white teeth. It roared.
The crowd gasped in fright and excitement. The weight at Knuckles' wrists was slight, but enough to tie him down. He could only stare up at the massive beast, the glowing eyes, the flailing limbs, the shine of teeth. The massive beast took a step toward him and Knuckles knew what he had to do.
He shot forward, fast as lightning. Electricity arced off his body, power coiled in his every movement as he reared back. The noise as his fist struck home was tremendous. The beast's dying shriek was drowned beneath the crowd's roar.
Knuckles stepped back, gore dripping from his spur. The chains hung from his wrist and—
The plastic snapped. The bag's contents spilled across the ground.
The noise of the faceless crowd vanished with dizzying speed, replaced by a cacophany of individual voices.
"Dude! What the—"
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh—"
"Tails don't look—"
"—just surprised it! You didn't have to—"
"Ozzie, stay back! No!"
Something was yelling at him. He turned and the family wolf darted back, still barking. At him. The fur on the back of his neck stood up. Tom grabbed him by the collar.
Maddie was suddenly very close. "Knuckles!" She said, angry and shocked.
Knuckles looked down. It wasn't a monster. It was a bear. Or what used to be a bear. The gore he'd seen was still there. There was no approving crowd here either. Everyone had something to say and they were all saying it at once. None of them were pleased.
Maddie leaned into his space, her gaze piercing. Analyzing. "Knuckles?"
Knuckles suddenly realized he was breathing hard. Which was silly. He'd hardly fought, only swung a fist. What reason did he have to be out of breath? And why was he shaking?
"Knuckles?" Maddie grabbed his arm and he started, looking up at her stupidly. She was still staring, but she didn't seem angry or shocked or analyzing. She seemed almost scared.
He needed to say something. Something reassuring. But instead he looked down at the mess on his glove. The words that tumbled slowly from his mouth weren't reassuring for anyone:
"I… didn't mean to do that."