Sonic didn't know how much longer he could go on like this. He hugged his shivering body and took a few deep breaths before continuing through the desolate streets.
Where is everybody? Sonic wondered as the streetlights flickered in the heavy snow. Sonic looked around as his fur stood on end. He had heard a sound. He looked behind himself and thought he saw a figure coming toward him. Sonic took a battle stance, but realized that the figure was just a small kitten. It ran to him and jumped into his arms.
``Hey little kitty. What are you doing out in this storm?'' Sonic held the kitten close to his heart, feeling it shiver from the bitter cold. Sonic took another look around. He couldn't leave the kitten in the cold. ``I'll take care of you little kitten.''
Sonic walked for what seemed like hours, but he was totally lost, and not only that, but the cold seemed to have wormed its way into his bones. The kitten mewed softly.
``It's okay,'' Sonic whispered to it, ``I promise, we're almost home.'' Sonic winced, feeling deathly cold. The cat mewed again. Sonic hugged it closer to his heart. Sonic walked for a few more minutes before he heard a low growl. He looked around, startled. It didn't take him long to realize that the growling was coming from his tummy. He was starving. It seemed the kitten was too because it had started kneading Sonic's chest, looking for milk. Sonic was even more desperate to get home. It felt like days before he collapsed onto the snow and fainted.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Sonic slowly opened his eyes to find himself in his bed. He rubbed his head as he sat up, still a little tired.
Was that all a dream?
Sonic walked out to the kitchen to find breakfast ready for him. Tails gave him a big smile.
``Hi Sonic.''
``Hi Tails. Uh, what happened yesterday?''
``I found you unconscious and covered in snow from the blizzard.'' Sonic was about to aske about the kitten when Tails continued, ``I wouldn't have found you if it hadn't had been for your kitten.'' Sonic looked beside his feet and there was the kitten! Sonic picked it up and hugged it.
``Oh, thank you kitty! What's your name?''
``I don't have one. . .'' it meowed, revealing itself as a female.
``Hmm. . .'' Sonic thought. ``Well, since you gave me the hope that I'd get home somehow, I'll name you. . .Hope.'' Hope mewed happily and to this day, she still gives Sonic hope in the hardest of times.
