Stubborn Love: Lost In The Amazon (Sonadow)

Changing For The Better

Day 4

The next morning, a tragedy set over the group.

Since yesterday, Officer Charles has been quietly complaining to himself that his feet were hurting. When they had set up camp, the human had taken his boots off to lessen the pain some, completely ignoring his soaking wet socks from rain and river water. It was only in the morning, when Charles was grimacing in pain to put his boots back on, did Karl finally tell him to remove his socks. When he did, the three others gasped in shock.

Charles feet were covered in open sores, blisters running with fluid as delicate red flesh turned redder in the open air. Some of them even looked a bit infected.

"Just as I feared." Karl sighed, turning to look at the hedgehogs. "He has trench foot."

"Trench foot?" Sonic questioned. "What's that?"

"It's a serious medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary, and cold conditions." Karl explained. "It is one of many immersion foot syndromes. The use of the word trench in the name is a reference to trench warfare, mainly associated with World War I. Because Officer Charles wears steel toe boots, the water from yesterday has been trapped in his boots, unable to dry out and soaking his feet. The cold of the storm last night only made it worse. His feet are slowly starting to rot away. I'm sorry boys, but Officer Charles can't go on. He needs professional medical attention, immediately."

The boys were upset. Charles was honestly a tough cookie to last this long, only to be broken down by foot problems, even if they were lethal. But even though they were upset, nobody was more upset than Charles.

"Dammit!" The human cursed, slapping a frustrated hand against the ground as he stared at his rotting feet in shame. "4 days of traveling in the Amazon and this is what takes me down. Bullshit!"

"Officer..." Shadow started, trying to think of a way to calm him down.

"No Shadow, it's complete bullshit. I'm supposed to be a soldier of G.U.N, this cannot be the reason why I can't continue!"

Officer Charles sighed, his spirit deflated. With eyes filled with shame, he looked back up to the obsidian and crimson hedgehog in front of him.

"You were right, Shadow." He sighed sadly. "I'm not cut out for the jungle."

The human's statement hit Shadow like a 28 gauge bullet. He was regretting ever saying that to him yesterday during the river crossing. If he had known that this would happen, he never would've said anything in the first place.

"Officer Charles don't you ever say that." He growled, grabbing the human by the shoulders. "I was wrong to say such things to you. The Amazon is you're home, and I disrespected that knowledge. If anything, you're more cut out than any of us."

"But how can you say that after this?" Charles frowned, gesturing to his medical problem.

"You have no control over what happens medically." Shadow sighed. "This is just a minor setback. It could've happened to either one of us, including me, and I mean that. Just because I'm immortal and the Ultimate Lifeform doesn't mean I can't get hurt too."

Sonic smiled at Shadow's little speech. He never would've expected the ebony to go to such lengths to make someone feel better about themselves, admitting that he can have weaknesses too. After this and his little attempt to help Sonic crossing the river yesterday, it almost seems as if Shadow is trying to... better himself? Sonic really couldn't think of the word, but whatever it was, he liked it. He liked this new side of Shadow, and he hoped that he would be seeing it more often during the mission.