Stubborn Love: Lost In The Amazon (Sonadow)

Run Away

Day 7

Three days later, the two hedgehogs with their two Indian guides were still paddling down the river in their canoe. They had only made it a fourth down the river and still had so far to go to reach Eldorado. It's not like they were any hurry, they still had about four weeks to find and study the Devil Dragon, but let's remember, Sonic hates water.

“Will you at least try to relax?” Shadow frowned at the blue hedgehog, who was hanging onto the sides of the canoe for dear life.

“I'm trying Shads, I really am.” Sonic gasped, trying his best not to hyperventilate as he stared at the water. “But it's not so easy to get over your fears so quickly.”

“I understand.” Shadow sighed, scooting closer over to his companion, placing his hands on his shoulders. Sonic paid no attention, unable to look away from the river. Shadow frowned at this. “Sonic, look at me.”

Sonic's form stayed rigid.

“Look at me, Sonic.”

Sonic, gulping fearfully, finally turned his head to Shadow, giving him his full attention when he saw the other smiling reassuringly.

“Remember my promise.” Shadow smiled, pinky up. “Remember.”

Sonic looked at Shadow and smiled warmly, wrapping his pinky around the ebony's.

“As long as you don't break your promise, I'll try to stay relaxed.”

“I don't plan to.”

“Sombra!”

At the shout of his name from one of their guides, Shadow turned his attention from Sonic over to the Indians in the front.

“O que é isso?” (What is it?) He asked.

“Outra pista do caminho do diabo à frente.” (Another clue of the Devil's path up ahead.)

“What did he say?” Sonic asked.

“Another clue to the Devil Dragon.” Shadow answered, turning his attention to where the guide was pointing. Ever since the group had started down the river, they had been finding more and more clues to the giant lizard. Footprints, nests, droppings, and even the occasional pile of animal bones that the hedgehogs both hoped were just normal animals and not unexpecting Mobians.

Sure enough, when Shadow looked to the bank by the river, a large pile of bones sat by the bank.

“Excelente. Vamos atracar e ver mais de perto.” (Excellent. Let's dock and get a closer look.) Shadow nodded.

“We're getting a closer look?” Sonic questioned.

“Yep, have to.” Shadow nodded, proud of his companion for recognizing some words of the foreign language after teaching a few to him. “Gotta see how long ago our Devil Dragon has eaten, to determine how close we are to it. That's what we've been doing this whole time.”

“I know,” Sonic sighed, his head hanging sadly with his ears pressed to his head. “I just don't like looking at dead bodies, no matter where the bones come from.”

“... Me either.”

With those final words, the Indians docked the canoe and the two hedgehogs got out, approaching the pile of bones laid scattered across the ground.

The bones were picked clean of all meat and tissue and completely sun bleached white. Little traces of untouched blood scattered across the bones, some dried black, some still a little fresh.