Knothole- Surprise visit

[AnT]

The little strove, on a beat up hover car, was quite a peaceful one. The rays shining through the green trees above, the colorful flowers on the bushes, the flying fishes, Griff could only say...

"Magnificent...isn't it guys?" He couldn't blame Mighty, Honey, and Scorra for leaving. If he were in their shoes, he done the same.

[Jamie Lee]

Zachary didn't respond. He was currently reclining back, his eyes filled with a glassy thoughtful look as he gazed out into the forest. There was a soft smile on his face.

Coconuts, meanwhile, was fiddling around with his cat's cradle string. "Huh? Oh, yeah, sure sure."

[DB]

Lilli, meanwhile...

"one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish..."

[AnT]

Smirking at the bot, Griff kept his eye on the 'road'. "Oh come on, Coco! Enjoy the view! It's really great out---oh, we're here!"

And Griff stopped the car before the bridge, where they can see the village across the lake; right where they can see the strange white stage roofs or something.

"Here we are guys! Knothole!"

[Jamie Lee]

Zack seemed slightly disappointed when the ride finally came to its end. He was rather enjoying the feel of the breeze against his fur; it wasn't something he got to experience often underground. Securing his cane in one hand he made a short groan as he pulled himself from the car then turned to offer his other hand to help Lilli.

"Yeah, I sees it," Coconuts said distractedly, glancing up from his string every few moments to get a look at their surroundings. When the hover car finally came to its halt he glanced up at the village and began to motion like he was going to loop his string around his neck...

... Only to stop short and frown. In the sunlight his meticulously polished armor reflected brightly, and he tapped one of his fingers against the door in thought. Suddenly shifted himself more firmly into his seat.

"You know, I think I'm gonna just sit here and wait on youse guys."

[AnT]

"You're missing out!" He really doesn't understand Coconuts. To Griff, he misses out a lot. But he wasn't one to argue with people.

But speaking of arguing, the last time he was here...he foolishly had to steal their Power Rock in order to save Lower Mobius. Sure, Sonic forgave him, but he hasn't spoke with Sally. Boy, he surely wasn't in the mood to deal with her, but if he bumps into the chance, then he must. Actually, he might as well. He doesn't want to waltz in the village without permission.

Now, where was Sally's hut at? He wondered, studying the village sight from the other side of the river.

[Leda]

"Sonic, I really don't think we should just go blindly charging out into the northern countryside," Sally could be overheard insisting. "You ALWAYS leap before you look!"

Though it wasn't in view to the Lower Mobius group, at that moment Sally sighed and folded her arms. "I'm just as concerned about what's going on as you are, but what exactly do you plan to do? Just keep running all over the continent hoping to find someone?" The princess frowned. "I know it's asking a lot of you, but I need you to be patient. At least give Uncle Chuck a chance to get us some information first."

[Lans]

However, Sonic was IMpatiently pacing back and forth in front of her.

"Hey there used to be a city up there right? So the FFs there would be around there. I don't wanna just sit around when we KNOW Buttnik's cookin up something for them! Heck, maybe they'd find us, like how we met Griff."

[DB]

The younger echidna snapped out of her revelry at her uncle's offer.

Nodding graciously, he took his hand and stepped out of the car.

"This place is really pretty. I like it."

[Jamie Lee]

"Eh," the moneybot replied to Griff, twisting himself to sit sideways along the seat after Zachary and Lilli vacated.

"Mm," Zack hummed in agreement, "Much nicer than that hole in the ground."

He glanced aside at the direction of the two arguing figures, then looked over at Griff. "Seems you're popular around here."

[AnT]

Sheepishly chuckling, Griff walked over the bridge, following the voices that led him behind a hut. "Um...hey guys! I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

[Leda]

Sally sighed and rolled her eyes up toward the clouds. "Sonic, don't you think it'd be better to have some DIRECTION? And no, just 'north' doesn't count. It's reckless and foolish to just wander around in a territory we're not familiar with in the hopes that we may, possibly, somehow, by chance, happen upon a Freedom Fighter group! What happened with Griff was pure dumb--"

Just then said goat greeted them. The princess paused with surprise before finally finishing her sentence. "...luck." Sally shook her head quickly before flashing a perplexed smile at her old aquaintance. "Hi, Griff! What are you doing here?"

[Lans]

Sonic turned to the newcommers, a welcoming grin on his face. "Hey, Griff! How's things in moleville?"

[AnT]

Rubbing the back of his head, sheepishly, "Heh heh...well we thought we should get some fresh surface air. You know how it is living under Robotropolis and all."

Clearing his throat, "But seriously, did any Lower Mobius people happened to drop by?"

[Leda]

The princess's friendly features flickered to an annoyed scowl as her eyes snapped to the hedgehog at her side. Honestly, could Sonic GET anymore childish?! Making a mental note to whack him upside the head once they were in private, Sally returned her attention to Griff.

"Actually, yes, we got some new residents from Lower Mobius just yesterday. A guy named Mighty and a girl named Honey showed up with a little boy... I believe Tails said his name is Ray." Suddenly the ground squirrel's expression sobered. "Why, is there a problem?"

[Jamie Lee]

"We're mostly concerned about them," Zachary suddenly said, stepping up behind Griff after listening to the conversation for a moment, "They left rather suddenly you see. No warning."

And then, turning toward Sally, he gave a formal bow. "Greetings your Majesty. My name is Dr. Zachary. I served your father during the Great War."

[DB]

And then the other echidna stepped up, holding up a multicoloured, wool tote bag.

"I brought sandwiches."

[Lans]

"They didn't...take anything they weren't supposed to did they?" Sonic asked, unintentionally poking an old wound.

[AnT]

"..................I deserved that."

[Lans]

Sonic winced. "Er...didn't mean it like that."

[Leda]

Every once in a while, Sally found it better for her mental health to just ignore Sonic and his buffoonery all together. After that last exchange, the princess decided that this was probably one of those times.

Instead she turned to Zachary and Lilli, and greeted them with a friendly smile. "Welcome to Knothole! I see you apparently know me already; this is my friend Sonic." Sally paused to motion to the hedgehog at her side. "He and I once visited your city, after receiving some much-needed help from Griff. I never met Mighty and Honey personally, but I did see Honey in passing. But as to your concerns, you don't need to worry; they're here, and they're safe. I'm sure we'll run into them sooner or later when we give you the tour."

At the presentation of the tote, Sally's smile shifted to a look of pleasant surprise. "Thank you! I'm sure these will come in handy at lunch time; I'll be sure to take them to the kitchen and get them refridgerated quickly."

He said he served Daddy, the ground squirrel silently recalled, glancing quickly at the echidna cyborg. I wonder if he knew him... I hope I have an opportunity to ask him later on!

[Jamie Lee]

Zachary glanced at Sonic as he was introduced and nodded to him. "I know of your visit. I'm the one responsible for the power stone and maintaining Lower Mobius' climate."

He gave a brief glance to Griff before turning his gaze to Lilli and smiling softly. "This is my niece, Lilli."

[DB]

The lilac echidna just smiled. There was no reason to say anything, as, after all, her uncle had just introduced her for her.

Hopefully they liked the sandwiches.

She really hoped they did.

[AnT]

"Ah, well that's kind of you, Sally. I'm sure my friends here will enjoy seeing the sights of your village." Turning around, and peaking over the hut they stood near of, Griff called out over to the car that sat on the other side of the bridge. "ISN'T THAT RIGHT, COCO?? WE GONNA TOOOOUR!!!"

[Jamie Lee]

"TELL THEM I'M DEAD!" Coconuts yelled back.

[AnT]

Grinning, Griff turned back to Sally, jerking his thumb in the direction where Coconuts is. "He said he'll LOVE to go!" ^^

[Lans]

"Right, suuuure he did," Sonic said with a smirk. He looked the others over appreciatively. "Heh, echidnas seems to be popping out of the ground recently," he said to himself...then broke into a small chuckle as he realized the pun in that statement.

[Leda]

The princess arched an inquisitive eyebrow, meanwhile. "If he doesn't want to go, he doesn't have to," Sally commented with a twinge of surprise to her voice. "He's welcome to look around on his own or wait for us in the commons, or even stay behind if he wants." She let out a soft chuckle. "We're a liberal bunch here!"

[Jamie Lee]

I doubt that much so. We should probably drag him out before he does wonder off and start a commotion, Zachary thought to himself, idly twisting the end of his cane into the dirt while glancing off toward the area in question. Despite his thoughts, he neither made a move to speak or carry them out.

[AnT]

Chuckling, sheepishly, Griff rubbed his head. "Yeah, I guess...but I kinda said that because sometimes it's not a good idea to leave him alone in a place he's not familiar with. He has issues with...ehe heh...germs."