Winds of Freedom

Chapter 42: Into the Hideout

{A/N}

I swear these two will be the last references to that web series.

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Chapter 42: Into the Hideout

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Trail Ocean – Evening Hours

The setting sun painted the sky with hues of deep orange and purple as it sank lower toward the horizon. The waters of Trail Ocean were calm and serene, save for the rippling waves left in the wake of a small red motorboat cutting through the sea at impressive speed.

"Wooooo! This is so faaaast!" Carol yelled, her voice filled with excitement. She leaned forward on the bow of the boat, one hand gripping the side while the other held onto her new cowboy hat to keep it from flying off. The wind sending her fur fluttering wildly as she grinned.

Knuckles shot her a sharp glare. "Hey! Sit down or you'll fall!" he barked, his tone tinged with annoyance.

Carol waved him off dismissively. "Relax, Knux! Like I'm gonna fall—"

The boat suddenly hit a small wave, causing it to jump slightly. Carol wobbled precariously, her arms flailing as she fought to keep her balance.

"W-Whoa! Okay, nevermind!" she yelped, quickly dropping back into her seat. Clutching the boat tightly, her face a mix of embarrassment and nervous laughter. "Sitting now!"

Knuckles let out an exasperated sigh, shaking his head. "I swear..." he muttered under his breath. After a moment, he glanced toward the horizon as he scanned for their destination. "Are we close?"

Carol, still recovering from her near tumble, gave him a sheepish grin, trying to play it cool. "Yup! Before nightfall, we'll hit the forest. This baby's fast! Tails made it, yeah?" Her eyes sparkled as she added, "Oh, I'm totally gonna ask him to build me a new bike when we're done with this. A custom one, with turbo boosters and everything!"

"Worry about that later," Knuckles replied. A patch of land began to emerge in the distance, the dark outline of Shang Tu's forest becoming clearer. "We're approaching. I'll find a place to hide the boat so it doesn't get stolen."

Carol nodded, her expression turning more serious. She glanced at the approaching shoreline, her heart starting to beat faster. They would be docking near the forest, a familiar place she hadn't seen in a long time.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. Returning to a place she once called home, even briefly, carried its own weight. But she pushed those feelings aside, forcing a confident grin.

"Alright," she said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Like Sonic would say, let's not be late to the party! Time to make a big entrance and do some serious homewrecking!"

Knuckles allowed himself a small smirk at her words, giving the throttle one last push as the motorboat surged forward, cutting through the water toward Shang Tu. The distant forest looming closer with every second.

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Pangu Forest – Red Scarves Hideout

The dense canopy of Pangu Forest filtered the last rays of sunlight as night set in. Deep within this wilderness stood the underground secret base of the Red Scarves.

Inside, the hideout buzzed with muted activity. Members of the notorious gang patrolled the narrow corridors and hidden alcoves with ease, their movements stealthy, their conversations hushed.