Sonic blurs down a winding forest trail. His quills stream straight back. Leaves swirl around his ankles. He skids to a halt and grins.
A rabbit, a turtle, and a squirrel jog up, breathing hard and smiling. Sonic bounces on his toes. 'Race me!' he calls.
'Race me!' he calls. Sonic zooms forward in a blue streak. The wind whooshes through the trees.
The trail turns into a blue streak. His friends chase behind, laughing. Dandelion fluff rains down around them. The rabbit puffs her cheeks and pumps harder.
Sonic zips ahead so fast he becomes a blue streak. The wind whooshes past his ears. His friends giggle behind him.
Just as Sonic is about to cross, the board flips with a clap — a second finish line waits fifty feet further! Sonic skids, his shoes smoking. His friends burst into giggles.
Sonic laughs too. He grabs his friends' paws. 'Again!' he says, and they all zoom toward the new line together.
They all zoom toward the new line. The wind whooshes. Leaves dance. Everyone crosses the finish line in a tangle of happy feet.
Under the streamers, they tumble together in a happy pile of paws and laughter. Sonic's quills settle as he looks up at his friends.
'Best race ever,' Sonic thinks. The forest trail stretches out ahead, waiting for tomorrow.
The wind rustles the leaves. Somewhere, the rabbit calls 'Rematch tomorrow!' The squirrel waves. Sonic grins back.
The forest trail glows golden in the evening light. Tomorrow brings another race. The wind whooshes through the trees.