The Guardian

Chapter fourteen

It was 4 AM when we finally made it to Carl's house. The big dent in his corn field was still there from last time.

"Oops."

"Quiet now bud, we don't wanna wake them."
I patted Silver gently as he set down by the barn to make as little noise as possible, so we didn't wake up the family.

"NOT TODAY YE LITTLE CRETINS!"  Carl came out of the barn with his old shotgun, and his casual tank top.

"WOAH CARL CHILL OUT!" I put my hands up while Silver and Clare moved back a little. Carl looked shocked, and I knew why. I took off my helmet, and his expression changed as he put the shotgun down.

"Well my prayers have been answered, Miles, am I glad to see you!" I was sure he had a million questions. And I had only one.

"What are you doing up so late in your barn?" I scratched my ear.

"It's my cow, ever since those... THINGS.. These black creatures, kept trying to kill my milk cow!" He motioned me inside, and froze when he saw Silver and Clare. "I'll be damned..." He walked up to Silver and examined him. Silver wagged his tail rapidly.
"Now THAT, is one helluva Bird." He looked at me.

Carl motioned us inside and made sure we were alone as he shut the door behind us.

"What made ya come back?" Carl locked the doors and set his shotgun down. I sat in the same spot on the same green tractor.

"You're the only person I could think of when it comes to keeping a low profile from the world. And plus, I think someone's onto me."

Silver lied down next to Carl's cow. Clare was floating around, examining the barn animals.

"Think it's Sonic who's onto ye'?" Carl pulled out a cigar and a lighter.

"Maybe, maybe not. He usually leaves shoe prints, but I didn't see anything."

He lit his cigar and inhaled slowly, took it out, and blew the smoke out of his nose. Moments later it smelt like a small fire.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much, no one knows who 'the guardian' really is besides that you're a Fox. Hell they even made a news channel JUST for you called 'Fox news'."

"They did? That's cool. You're not surprised that I'm the guardian at all? Not even a little bit?"

Carl shook his head as he took another hit of his cigar.

"You said you were in here because of 'black creatures', how did you kill them?" Clare flew in front of Carl as he choked on some smoke and coughed.

"I killed them with my shotgun, of course!

It made sense to me. Close ranged, and what looked like an illegally sawed off barrel. I didn't care much though.

"Where's the rest of your family?" I got off the tractor and sat next to silver, rubbing his ear.

"In the house. They're safe of course." Carl yawned and wiped his eyes in exhaustion. He looked like he hadn't gotten sleep in days.

"I got it from here, Carl. You look like you need sleep." I stood up and motioned him out.

"Yeah, you're probably right." He grabbed his gun and unlocked the door.