Felinus sat at a table of the diner. It was one of the few places that he could order a mug of warm milk without getting strange looks. He pretended to read a newspaper while he kept watch on the nearby office building. He took a sip of his drink and resisted the urge to sigh. Mobius was beautiful, but it wasn't home. It would likely be a long time before he could consider this place home. There was so much he missed. The food, the culture, Plenty of other Nekos around, and even the few friendly Cainar's that refused to join old Nefarious's Cainar Empire. Sure there were a lot of things that were similar, but somehow that almost made it feel more wrong.

He shook his ears slightly bringing himself back to the present. Taking another sip of his drink he swiveled his ears taking in the sounds around him. As a Detective it always paid to know what was going on around you. He picked up the voices of a few regulars and the familiar voices from the park. Not too strange he mused to himself. All creatures have to eat. The fact that they chose the same diner was completely coincidence. His ears caught another conversation nearby.

"Did you hear about the robbery last night?"
"What's so special about that? Robberies are pretty common is some parts of the city."
"The family was rescued by some kind of super speedy hero."
The Second voice laughed. "How's that news Mr. Sonic is always saving someone."
"But it wasn't Mr. Sonic. It was someone else."
There was a snort, "Who else has super speed besides him and Shadow?"
The First voice replied, "Dunno They say he wore a mask. Beat the tar out of a bunch of lizard thugs and left them tied up for the police. They were notified by an anonymous call. Seems whoever it was didn't want the credit for it. The police talked to both the robbers and the family, but no one really knew anything about him."
The second voice sounded intrigued, "They don't know anything at all, The guy didn't say anything?"
The first voice lowered, "Almost nothing, though rumor has it he calls himself Tigerstripes. No one can find any record of someone with that name though. Nothing in phone or address books or anything."
The second creature mused, "Wonder if he's as fast as Mr. Sonic. More importantly what do you think Mr. Sonic thinks of all this?"

Felinus frowned behind his paper. He had not thought news would travel that fast. Apparently his actions last night were something of a novelty. Of course they wouldn't find him in the phone books that was the point of a secret Identity. Enemies were never merciful to the loved ones of those who thwarted them. Not that he had anyone left that was really close to him. The thought of his Friends Vanilla and Cream flashed across his mind. He did have something to protect after all. It was a good thing there was barely any record of his presence as a detective let alone as a superhero. Besides he had hardly beat the tar out of the thugs. The Neko martial arts of Softpaw relied on redirecting your opponents strength and energy, not punching them. He sipped the last of his milk catching sight of his target. Folding his paper he left a tip for the waitress and walked towards the street. He frowned thoughtfully as he wondered just who this Mr. Sonic was, completely unaware of whose table he passed by. He walked casually down the street keeping an eye on a certain blue jay across the street.

"Also," Sonic went on. "Hotdogs are more filling than fruit."
"That's very subjective--" Knuckles halted mid-sentance and glanced over a few tables away, catching a bit of their conversation. While Sonic had execellent eyes sight, the echidna's sense of hearing and smell doninated the hedgehog's.

"What's--" Sonic started, but was promptly cut off by a "Shh! Shut up for one minute, I'm listening. They just said something werid."

After a few moments, the echidna glanced back at Sonic. "...Where were you last night?" He said, keeping his voice low.
Sonic frowned. "Bunking at Tails' place. Why? What'd they say?"
"You were nowhere else?"
"...No? Can you answer my question?"
"Those two over there. Something about a robbery and a fast guy."

Sonic groaned. "This again? I'd rather not be handcuffed in a helicopter surrounded by G.U.N. agents Because the idiot with the footage was colorblind--"
"No, no, not like that. The guy stopped a robbery."
"To be clear, this isn't Shadow."
"Appearantly. And would Shadow mingle with pedestrians?"
Sonic laughed. "Yeah, no."

Felinus sighed as he left the office of his client. who would have thought he'd have to deal with a case simply because of a seed bread fetish. Apparently the Blue Jay loved it and the only place to sell it was a bakery halfway across town. He had been paid and left while his client mused to himself about how to add said bird delicacy to the staff menu. Felinus headed to the bank to deposit his check. Checking the Sun's position he had a few hours before dinner time. Then a few hours catnap until it was dark enough out. He scanned his surroundings thinking. He really needed a good secluded place to train. He won last night, but he was still a little rusty from his several months of inactivity. At the very least he needed a place to practice his softpaw technique.

After his deposit he decided to play tourist and explore the city. In the few short months since he had ended up here, he had not really explored everything the city had to offer. He would bet there was al least one martial arts studio but he doubted that they had any knowledge of his brand of self defense. He smiled whimsically at the thought of what they might think watching him do his softpaw exercises. Taking out his roadmap of the city he tried to decide where to start his exploring.

Yes I am very bad at remembering to ping.

Knuckles quickly noticed the smirk that had made it's way onto Sonic's face, and slowly shook his head in disapproval.
"I know what you're thinking... You wanna investigate, right?"
Sonic nodded in response with a sheepish smile. "Well, yeah--"
"And you're gonna beg him to race you."

Sonic tried (and failed) to look offended. "I don't beg!"
"Fine. Insist until he's annoyed enough to do it just to get you off their tail." Knuckles deadpanned.
"You don't know that!"
"Mm-hm. Sure I don't. Whatever. Can we just get moving?"

Sonic huffed, ears flattened. "Alright, alright." He grumbled. "No need to rain on my parade, though," He added under his breath.
"Knowing you? You'll cross paths anyway." Kncukles shrugged, stepping outside.
---
The duo strolled around town for about an hour and a half, Sonic cheerily chatting with pedestrians as Knuckles kept his senses alert for anything that could be disturbing the Emerald.

Felinus wandered around the city exploring different businesses and locations. He spotted an old junkyard that would make a good training run for later tonight. There were a few different kinds of parks and monuments. There were also a few interesting restraunts he might look up later. He felt himself relaxing as he explored. It had been some time since he simply took some time to enjoy himself. He was deciding what he should do for the rest of his free time when he heard a familiar voice hail his name.

"Felinus! Over here!" He turned to see Cream running up to him while Vanilla followed more slowly.
"Hey kiddo, how's it going?"
"Great we went shopping and now we're going to go to one of my favorite places."
Felinus smiled kindly at the excited rabbit, "Sounds Fur-tastic"
Cream giggled as Vanilla reached them. "We were going to the Chao garden for a few hours. What are you doing out and about?"
Felinus shrugged, "Nothing much just taking some time to explore the city and see what there is to see."
Cream looked up at him with her big eyes, "Have you ever been to the Chao Garden. Cheese loves it there." The small Chao in question Flew circles squeaking excitedly.
Felinus chuckled at the sight, "No I haven't seen the Chao garden yet. I was looking for a quiet place to do some of my exercises."
Vanilla looked thoughtful, "Well the Chao garden is peaceful and quiet. Perhaps you'd like to come along and see it for yourself.
Cream chipped in tugging on his paw, "Yes Mr. Felinus come with us. The Chao garden is sooo pretty."
Smiling as any resistance to the idea melted in the face of Cream's enthusiasm Felinus agreed.

The Chao garden was both peaceful and beautiful. With a number of the small creatures flying around. Cream and Cheese danced around as he and Vanilla sat watching them. "What kind of exercises do you do", Vanilla asked politely.
"Its a type of martial arts, kind of like Tai Chi. It focuses on focus precision and grace."
Vanilla dusted a speck of dust from the hem of her dress. "Oh, I'm afraid I don't know much about that."
Felinus laughed softly, "Just think of it as a slow graceful athletic dance".
"Would you show us?" Cream stated sitting on a nearby log, having left the play to see what her elders were taking about.
Felinus thought for a moment. He usually did not have an audience, however it was only his friends and a bunch of cute sweet natured Chao. He stood up smiling, "Why not."

After a some warm up stretches he slipped into the first familiar stance. Slowly taking measured breaths he glided into the slow graceful series of stances. His feet moved easily with the rest of him as he drank in the gardens tranquility. Felinus closed his eyes enjoying the calm serenity and friendly company. Cream watched curiously while Vanilla read the book she had brought, occasionally glancing up at their friend. Both laughed as a few Chao Impishly tried to imitate their feline friends moves in the peaceful afternoon.

Time passed, and Sonic sighed as he noticed Knuckles' somewhat frusterated expression.
"No dice?" He asked, half expecting the question to be brushed off.
"Nothing yet." Knuckles responded briefly.
Sonic pondered for a moment before continuing.
"At the risk of ticking you off, is there a slight possibility whatever's going on at your place is nothing?"

Knuckles narrowed his eyes and tried to keep a growl out of his voice.
"I thought it was nothing at the start, hedgehog. This has been going on for weeks. Then last night it just..."
Knuckles paused, trying to find a way to describe it.
"Whatever it was, the feeling got stronger. It wasn't normal."

Sonic tilted an ear and tapped his foot. He only vaguely understood Knuckles' bond with the Master Emerald. From what he could decipher, it was similar to the temperaroy union of soul and Chaos energy when one entered a Super state. The glaring difference was that you eventually had to leave a Super form, severing the bond (The alternative was not fun to think about). What Knuckles had? That was permanant.

That said, Knuckles' instincts reguarding the gemstone were infalliable.
"...Okay, got it." Sonic said, flashing the echidna a smile.

Felinus had finished his routine and was laying back on the grass dozing in the late afternoon. Vanilla who was reading her book looked up at an unusual sound. It wasn't really a growl, it was far softer and longer. A strangely soothing vibrating sound. It took some minutes before she realized the source of the sound. "Um Felinus are you alright?'
Said feline opened his eyes, "Huh?" The vibrating sound had stopped.
Vanilla seeming confused calrified, "Well um you seemed to be making a sort of sound" He frowned in confusion until cream piped up.
"It was a kind of rumbly sound, was your tummy growling?"
Felinus laughed before grinning sheepishly, "I didn't realize I'd started purring. Sorry if it scared you or anything."
Cream bounced closer, "Whats Purring?"
Felinus chuckled in embarrassment, "ITs just a sound cats make when they are happy or content. Its not really a controllable response. We just kinda do it automaticly."
Vanilla laughed, "Well its good to know that your happy. It was actually rather soothing to listen to."
Felinus cleared his throat and glanced at the sky, "Looks like its getting late. I spotted a interesting Italian place earlier. How about getting dinner there. My treat."
Vanilla stood up, "That's very nice of you, but you don't have too."
Felinus waved off her objection, "Nah its no problem. Rents already been paid for the month and I just got a check for a case. Besides," he grinned, "You guys have invited me plenty of places. My turn to invite you."
Vanilla laughed accepting defeat. "Well when you put it that way we accept. It sounds lovely."
"Yay!" Cream cheered.

Meanwhile in another part of the city. A certain trio of detectives was out and about. Vector the crocodile was ranting to his other teammates. "I can believe it, that stupid cat has the arrogance to set up shop as a detective, I mean who does he think he is?"
"Yeah", Charmy contributed.
"Then he has the gall to make a move on my girl!"
"What a meanie", Charmy added
Espio looked up, "You've never told Vanilla how you feel about her, so she might not know. Have you tried talking to Vanilla."
Vector almost exploded, "I was waiting for the right time! How can I talk to her when half the time she's out with that wannabe detective of a cat!" Vector started pacing, "I need something to impress Vanilla and get her back."
Espio closed his eyes again, "Have you thought about giving her some flowers."
Vector brushed it off, "Nah too small. It needs to be something big."
Charmy chipped in, "Yeah big!"
Vector snapped his claws, "That's it! What we need is a really big case. When we solve it, it will prove that we are the best detectives on the planet. No one will even notice that Wannabe furball." Vector blushed, "And Vanilla will finally notice how much cooler and better I am. I can almost hear her voice, Oh Vector I've never noticed how strong and brave you are...and how handsome too. How could I have ever been interested in the mangy cat compared to you." The other two members of Chaotix looked away from the day dreaming crocodile in embarrassment.
Espio spotted some familiar figures. "There's Sonic and Knuckels. I wonder what they're doing here."
Vector snapped out of his daydream. "Huh? Oh hey maybe they have a case for us.Saving the world would be just the thing to show up that Fuzzball. Hey sonic wait up!"

(Temporarily using Chaotix for the storyline. Probably best we share the rest of the unclaimed Sonic Characters to help the story to progress. So for now if you need to use any Sonic Characters in your posts feel free. )

(Sounds good to me.
Also, sorry for the shorter post. Expect that when I interact with other players; It's harder for me to get into more detail.)

Sonic's ears perked up and Knuckles glanced over his shoulder upon hearing the call. The two truned around and their eyes lit up a bit in recognition at who they saw.
"Yo, Chaotix!" The hedgehog cheerily greeted with a wave.
Knuckles gave a subtle nod and smile in hello as well. "Vector, Charmy, Espio." He acknowledged, calmly.
"How're you three? Haven't seen ya in a while. Anything going on?" Sonic inquired.

(I'm the same way, so don't worry about it.)

Vector rubbed his head trying to look cool. "Oh you know just the usual. So what's up with you guys. Any world saving daring do you need our help with? you know giant monsters, Eggman, aliens...anything?" Here Vector fell on his knees claws clasped pleadingly. Espio face palmed. as Charmy piped up.
"Vector needs to impress Vanilla so she'll pay attention to him and not the new Furball."
Vector stood up swiftly, "What are you talking about. I..uh just wanted to uh help our friends yeah that's it."