Untamable

Harsh Survival

" You completely disobeyed me!"  A hedgehog yelled his voice echoing down the alley way catching dark furred ears to perk in alert even the sea's waves crashing against the shore line to get to the boating dock couldn't drown out the yell. The captain turned to his crew giving out orders to anchor the ship as the ship came upon the loading doc, they had so much to pick up as they made landfill still the yelling didn't stop " How do you think I can trust you if you keep running off doing your own thing?" No response was heard but the yelling got the attention by the crew as they made sure the ship wasn't going to float away. The captain also was a bit worried seeing how everyone in the area didn't seem bothered by the shouting.  The captain left the ship first calling to his crew to follow some stayed on the ship to keep lookout making sure no one dared to enter as some grabbed some boxes and things to give to the village hoping to trade for food and supplies these pirates weren't the usual thieving brutes that others feared. The captain was about to step off the platform when another shout was heard " Twenty lashes just for your disobedience you menace, no that's not a harsh enough word, you're trash you don't belong here!" This  caught the captain's attention he looked back at his crew " Carry on ahead I'll catch up." With that Captain Shadow ran in the opposite direction toward where the yelling came from following the sounds of crying now passing by a few shops on the way but something in the window caught his attention a wanted sign.  It looked to be a child  he was wanted dead or alive but a pained cry caught the pirate's attention he couldn't stand it going off again no distractions to stop him turning corners but it was too late for Shadow to get there, the yelling and crying  seemed to of stopped noises were heard around him he had a sinking feeling something was wrong though unable to turn back he walked ahead but then a box was thrown hard out a door before the door slammed the heavy stench of alcohol could be smelled coming from the home The captain ran to  only to the  box with the  hole it was  taped shut at the top and even the bottom duct tape held it together, something was inside, it shook a bit and whimpers came from it a long with muffled sobs it appeared whatever had been tossed out was living the captain couldn't believe anyone could be so heartless he took a pocket knife out of his coat pocket and carefully used it as a box knife to rip a hole in the tape, whimpering was heard as the knife cut through but whatever was inside was curled up out of reach of the knife, tied up and bleeding from slash marks. Peeking inside the captain was surprised to find the wanted hedgehog pup from the sign in the store he was badly hurt Shadow couldn't leave him there though he then took off his coat after cutting the hedgehog's bindings off he wrapped the hedgehog in his coat carrying him to where he had left his crew, the injured hedgehog trembled in his arms even with the coat over him Shadow could still feel him shivering. He needed medical assistance but who would help? He was wanted but there was no reasoning on the sign, Shadow's crew were finished trading it seemed they were on their way back with the supplies and food when their captain reached them none asked about what he had wrapped  in his coat. 

Once back on the ship Shadow placed the hedgehog on a table still wrapped tightly in the soft material he was wrapped like a burrito crew members watched but only the ones that had healing abilities stepped forward Shadow grabbed another coat before going above deck to watch as his crew brought the supplies up his concerned mind was still on the hedgehog he brought in.  No sounds came from the alley though this time the captain looked back down where he had heard the yells wondering what had occurred before his crew had stopped  into the town before looking at his map crossing off the town and looking back at his crew. " We won't be doing anymore for this town either.... Now that we have an injured crew member  on board."  Shadow then said

" Arghhh that's the fifth town this month captain.... First it was the bar fight now this...." One crewmate was disappointed 

" What crew member? No one gave us any trouble there I didn't see anyone come in hurt." Another spoke.

" Other pirates are giving us a bad name is all it is. from the other villages... as for the injured one I ended up saving a blue hedgehog back there not exactly sure what happened but he was in terrible shape he was also on a wanted poster" The captain replied 

" Are you serious captain? Taking in a bounty we could've traded in for more supplies and food? " This one was angry thinking it was weak showing pity to a low life. The captain shook his head 

" I'm the captain of this ship, we have plenty of supplies and food now to get us by for a long time that village was probably the best one we came across but.....,that bounty was for a pup it wasn't worth it seeing him tossed out in a box. Adults are one thing but a youngster is another I can't risk his safety or ours  if they find out we took him." The crew dropped their remarks on the ordeal but Shadow just hoped they wouldn't come after him and his crew for what they did. 

It took a while before the hedgehog awoke laying on the coat, emerald eyes adjusting as he stretched but no pain was felt his injuries were healed but scars remained he was placed on a bed with the coat most of the crew were above deck but there was a guard left to check on the hedgehog while the captain was in his studies.

The hedgehog carefully slipped out of the bed only to be pinned down by a dog that was hiding under a bed it happily barked licking Sonic's face before something grapped the small dog to let the other up "  Sorry about him, this is Muttski he's kind of a therapy dog down here." A voice spoke above the hedgehog before an arm stretched out toward him the hedgehog was hesitant on taking the creature's hand but he did.  once he stood the black arm set the small tan dog down it had some dark brown spots on him he then ran to a bed and jumped up settling down for a nap. 

" Now then I have orders to escort you to the study room."  The tall dark creature then said before walking with the blue hedgehog out of the room to another part of the ship the azure hedgehog was afraid unsure on if he were captured by the ones who put up the wanted signs when Shadow found him he was unconscious so he had no idea what was happening until a door opened the hedgehog was pushed gently   from behind before the door closed, a few feet away was a table Shadow peeked up from his book he was reading  ruby red eyes met the other, but the other's gaze was on the shelves around the room. " oh you're awake then." The captain paused to put a book mark into the book before walking to the kid. Emerald eyes looked back at Shadow " Please sir I didn't mean to steal the candy or the food or the juice... I was so hungry...I just wanted to live..." He then curled up in a ball trembling before the captain.

" Well isn't this a surprise you're confessing hmm?" Shadow chuckled to himself " Don't worry kid, I saved you from a worse fate." The little rodent was picked up gently he didn't hurt the other while he was in his ball form, he was set on a chair after he uncurled Shadow took a seat in front of him same chair he was in when the other had entered. 

Confused eyes studied Shadow thinking about what he said he wasn't exactly sure if it was true. "Now then I've decided to take you in, my crew are also willing to have you on our team you'll be treated as family here. Me and my crew are pretty much outcasts I've had my share of hardship before being a captain.  But let's not dwell on the past, anyway I'm Shadow or captain Shadow." The captain grinned trying to be friendly after introducing himself.

" I suppose so....I don't want to go back there... As for a name well i've been called many names.... Disgrace, Menace, Trash... Street rat, Maurice...and why born.. I don't like any of those I never had a name that stuck to me..." Shadow could see that the pup he saved seemed to of had it rough he gave a nod before standing up to get a book before handing it to him " I'll allow you to pick a name for yourself from there it has many to choose from. The kid took it flipping to the S" page in the name book he knew how to read it seemed the dark hedgehog didn't seem interested to know about the past of the other he could tell he wasn't very open and he didn't want to push him besides to him Shadow was a stranger.

" This one sounds like me." He pointed to a word after about twenty minutes of studying the pages the word was Sonic which was often used to relate to sound or even things that traveled as fast.   " Hmmm Sonic, Sonic the hedgehog hmm? That does have quite a nice ring to it. well then Sonic welcome aboard the Ark I'll show you around once you get changed." Shadow took the book setting it on his desk before opening a drawer and handing the hedgehog an outfit. " I think you'll fit in this for now." It was his old outfit now he had a pup to pass it to just a headband, a shirt and a coat  the outfit was a light  blue and white with some red.  Sonic was given privacy as he changed he was surprised it fit him perfectly finally a new home and an actual  family he was excited to see what was in store for him as Shadow showed him around.  The name of the ship was Comet Colony Ark  but Shadow often called it The Ark it was a huge ship so many places to explore for the young hedgehog.