THE FORGOTTEN TRIBE, Part 2: COVENANT
Writer: Ken Penders
Penciler: Manny Galan
Inker: Andrew Pepoy
Colorist: Barry Grossman
Letterer: Vickie Williams
Editor: Justin Freddy Gabrie

Many of the echidnas from the tribe are barely hanging on to ledges above the lava. Knuckles says that if "we" (meaning him & Athair) don't do something that the echidnas are going to die to which Athair calmly replies with "Nobody's going to die." Then, Athair begins to levitate in the air and so do all the echidnas who were previously about to fall in the lava. However, the lava is still rising and Knuckles glides down to rescue an echidna that's in the way. They both catch on fire though and Knux has them both roll on the ground until it's put out. The echidna Knuckles saved wasn't even singed, unlike Knuckles who is completely burned. Suddenly, the injuries that Knux didn't even feel, heal almost miraculously. Before how or why can be discussed, Athair comments that everyone's safety is more important. The tribe is lifted up from the area, which is quickly being covered in lava, and taken to a safe place where everyone begins to setup camp.

Meanwhile in Echidnaopolis, the Chaotix, who are soaked from the rain, have reached Constable Remington's office. Remington tells them that Knuckles has left the Floating Island "on a mission of great importance" but won't say anything else about it. However, he does tell them that they have a new partner: Julie-Su!

Back with the tribe, Athair is talking with Yanar and asks Knuckles to join them. Knuckles makes it obvious to Yanar that he's definitely not a member of the Athair fan club and asks Athair "Why did you abandon your duties as a Guardian?" When Athair was very young, his mother Janelle-Li was Guardian of Floating Island. One day, Athair watched Janelle-Li disappear into a wall of flame near the edge of the Forbidden Zone. Athair was now the Guardian. The Ancient Walkers came to Athair one day and transported him to Mobius where he found echidnas (to Athair's surprise) "assembling in a very reverent manner." Athair walked up and was approached by an old echidna who says that Athair must be the new Mitre who will lead the tribe to Albion, where echidnas "sprang forth." Athair knew this was his calling and accepted it. The Ancient Walkers took Athair to Haven where he saw his mother again. Janelle-Li decided to become Guardian again so that Athair could be a Mitre. Athair tells Knuckles that the Brotherhood is "what Guardians aspire to" and "Haven is where they go." As Mitre, Athair got the soultouch and married Crystal-La and they had a son named Sabre. Several years later, the Ancient Walkers told Athair that Janelle-Li was going to die soon, but Athair stayed with the tribe. Sabre, who now refuses to talk to Athair, went with the Ancient Walkers and became Guardian with the help of Archimedes. In recent history, the tribe had a run-in with the now deceased Robotnik and one of the many lost to roboticization was his wife. Ever since, Athair has worked as an agent for the Ancient Walkers as well as Mitre. Knuckles is tired and leaves to go to bed. Once Knux is out of ear shot, Yanar asks Athair if he thinks Knux is ready. Athair responds with basically a maybe and mentions that he must leave for he has "a higher path to follow."

It's morning and as Knuckles leaves his tent, he asks Yanar "where's Athair?" Yanar tells Knux that Athair left to which Knuckles starts ranting about Athair's lack of commitment. Yanar ends it by telling Knuckles that Knux is supposed to lead them now. With Knuckles in the lead, the tribe reaches the Kingdom of Mercia. A female echidna approaches Knuckles and tells him that her brothers Zax and Raynor have wandered off. Knux tells her to stay here while he goes looking for them because she'll be "safer." She takes offense to that and flips Knuckles, who is a good sport about being shown up. She introduces herself as "Mari-An" and goes off with Knuckles in search of her brothers.

"Moments later," Yanar and the tribe begin to setup camp when they all hear sounds near by. As they go to check them out, they find robots. One of them grabs Yanar, while another says "You-will-surrender-or-else-his-life-is-forfeit." Mari-An and Knuckles aren't having any luck tracking down her brothers so Knux decides that they should split up and meet up in an hour. Meanwhile, the robot that had Yanar throws him into a dungeon. However, Yanar finds out he's not alone. His cellmates are a fox and a hedgehog, known as Tails and Sonic! At that moment, Knuckles is searching around, but he doesn't notice a cyan hedgehog up in the trees with a bow and arrow aimed at him.

To Be Continued in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #58