Thorny

Thorny is a Mobian Needle Bird (half bird, half porcupine).

History
One day, which happens to be Sally Acorn's birthday, the bird attempts to fly out of a tree, but since its wing is broken, it fails and drops... directly onto Sonic the Hedgehog's head. Sonic feeds the bird some needle berries, nicknames it "Thorny", and plans to give it to Sally for her birthday. However, when Sally sees Thorny, she orders Sonic to get rid of the bird. Although Sonic pleads with her, she reminds him of the "cute animals" he had previously found that turned out to be sent by Robotnik. When Thorny eats Sally's needle berry birthday cake, the princess has another reason to reject it. And so as Sonic reluctantly finds a new home for Thorny high up in a tree, Sally goes out to pick needle berries for a new cake. Suddenly, Sally finds herself caught by a tree: another one of Robotnik's forest traps. Sonic dashes in the direction of the shriek, but is unable to locate the tree which is holding Sally. Just before Sonic is caught by another forest trap, Thorny snatches Sonic up into the air and flies the hedgehog over to Sally (he can fly now that his wing is healed). Sonic disarms the tree, but finds Robotnik pointing a freeze gun at him. However, Thorny swoops overhead, drops an egg on Robotnik's head, and sends a number of thorns into the villain's posterior. Seeing how Thorny saved the day, Sally decides to make Thorny an honorary member of the Knothole Freedom Fighters. (StH: #9)