Crimson Blood and Silver Skin

Friend or Foe?

((Just a quick note before you start, that up there looks like what the archer is wearing and the weaponry too...okay? Just wanted to clear things up. You may continue.))

Silver's POV

"Be careful son." Mom told me.

"I will." I said riding off into the forest. It felt good to go every once in a while and feel the fresh air hit my face. The birds tweeted and the sun smiled. It was a thick area, full of trees. Their leaves covered the sky, while their trunks stood like well separated pillars. I dismounted Flame and let him rain around for a while.

I too, decided to explore the thick forest and wonderful woods. The grass was green and there were rose bushes all over the place. I saw something fly by, it was a black crow. It landed on a branch above me.

Dumb birds, always eating our crops. I picked up a rock and threw it at it, but missed. I threw another rock, this time forcing it to the sky. It made a horrid cry. I continued to throw rocks at it.

Shadow's POV

I noticed a crow crying near by. It was being disturbed. Such wonderful creatures that are misunderstood. Soon enough, I noticed it was trying to avoid flying rocks. I decided to investigate.

Narrator's POV

As Silver continued to throw rocks, someone watched him.

"Go away annoying bird." He stated picking up another rock, but it was knocked out of his hand with an arrow before he released it. He looked from where the arrow came from. He saw an archer, who's face was cover by the hood of a leather cloak, pointing at him.

"You do it again, and you're dead." Stated the archer. The crow flew over to the archer and landed on his shoulder. He put his bow down, still with an arrow in it. He crossed the crow's neck. It gave a pleasured croak.

"I-I'm sorry... Is he yours?" Asked Silver.

"Raised him since he was a chick... Now..." The archer picked up his bow, pointing at Silver again. "Who are you? And what are you doing in my territory?" He asked.

"I mean you or your bird no harm." Silver put his hands up.

"The dagger..." Silver looked at him dumbfounded. Then realized he was talking about the dagger in the sheath of Silver's belt.

"Oh..." Silver pulled it out and dropped it to the ground.

"Now kick it over here..." Silver did so. The archer whistled. The majestic black bird picked it up, then again, sat on his master's shoulder. "Now, state your business." 

"I-I'm Prince Silver...son of the King and Queen of The Kingdom of Starlight." The archer lowered his bow.

"Starlight?" He chuckled. "Oh, I'm sorry your majesty..." He bowed. He laughed.

"What's so funny?" Asked Silver.

The archer stopped laughing and pointed at Silver again. "That's not funny..." He said lowly.

"Are you gonna kill me?" Asked Silver.

"Who said I wasn't?"

"Well, if you were...you would've done it by now..." The archer smirked and put his bow down.

"You're a brave kid." The archer put his arrow back in his quiver and held his arrow. He took his hood off, showing his identity. "Here." He tossed Silver his dagger. Silver let it hit the ground, then picked it up. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I just came for a stroll. You?"

"I guard these parts. I can hear and feel everything around me. I feel the wind, the trees... I heard the ants marching and the butterfly's wings flutter. These parts are special to me. I protect them from any harm."

"Why?"

"My mother loved these woods... She grew up in them. I never got to meet my mother, she died from child labor...but sometimes, I can still feel her roaming through these woods. She's here to protect these parts along with me or do my father says..." Suddenly a loud horn was heard.

"That's my call...maybe we can discuss this later?" Silver asked.

"I'm a man of my word..." The archer put his hood back on. Silver mounted his horse.

"Alright... See you later, uh..."

"Shadow...but you can call me a friend."

And with those words, the cloaked hedgehog was gone, out of Silver's sight. He shook his head and proceeded to his home.

Silver's POV

The gates opened as I trotted in with Flame into the kingdom's stables. There I dismounted him, and the stable worker took him. I entered the gates, father and mother awaited my arrival.

"See? I told you I'd be fine..."

Shadow's POV

I entered my bedroom through my window. I put my bow down. Lucas landed on my windowsill. I have him a few pieces of bread. He gladly enjoyed them. I took my quiver off and took my satchel, and placed it in a treasure like box; along with my bow and arrows, and locked it. I hung my cloak on a deer antler that was stuck to the wall.

It was time for some grub. I hurried over to the dinning table, sliding on the stair rail. I sat down, at the table and was ready to dig in.

"Mhm..." My father cleared his throat. I rolled my eyes and rolled up my sleeves. He looked down at my lap. I put a napkin down there. "That's better..." He grabbed his fork and knife and cut some of the nicely cooked meat.

I grabbed my hot roll and tore a piece placing it in my mouth. Mephiles kicked me under the table.

"What?" I asked. He signaled his eyes at my roll. I put down and cut it in half, placing butter upon it, and right when I was going to take a bite...

"Shadow the hedgehog!" My father called. I dropped the roll and stood from the table. "Have you no time to wash your hands?" He asked. I looked down at my hands.

"They're not that dirty..." I stated.

"Go up and get washed." He demanded. I walked up to my bedroom and went into the bathroom.

"Stupid rules...stupid soap...stupid hands...stupid dirt!" I said finally drying my hands.

Today was gonna be a long day.

A life like this ain't easy...

You've got meeting...

Meetings...

Meetings...

And more meetings... Then you have to do speeches and read, read, read! Ug, takes valuable outdoor time!

I was gonna meet Prince Silver at the woods tomorrow anyway, so I could just go out when I desire... Well, that's if...the dogs don't show up. By that I mean the men that I owe some money to...

It started off as a friendly bet, but I took it too far. What can I say? I'm the Prince of Mischief. What would you expect?