I'm walking with no destination. I have no one except my only friend Thunder the Phoenix. I am Shadow, a human born in the everfree forest. I was born eight years ago today; later that evening my mother found me, a muddy mess covered in sticks and leaves. She raised me for a good seven years and nine months. Three months before my birthday her and my father were murdered by a pack of Timberwolves. Her last words to me still echo in my mind.

"Summer run, run and don't stop. Don't worry momma is going to be okay, I promise."

I came back later to see them in a pile of meat and bones. I cried that day until I ran out of tears, and even then I mourned the death of my mother. After, I buried my mother and left her some Poison Joke flowers because they were her favorite. Then I packed the rest of the food and other supplies I could find and left with no other words spoken. I still couldn't believe that she was gone, she was my rock, my family. She was the only one I could name that loved me. Rest in Piece Elizabeth "Momma" Shadow…

In a week I met the only thing that kept me alive. An abandoned baby Phoenix that I came to love and name Thunder. I raised him and made sure his health came before mine. We grew up together feeding off the scraps I gathered from that day but days grew longer and supplies grew thin.

I walk through the shroud of shadows cast upon us by the lunar light. Though this may seem difficult for some but I adapted to this darkness as I learned that is was safer to travel during the night. I pass by an abnormally large tree to take a rest, breaking out the last slices of bread for me and Thunder, speaking of which. "Hey buddy, c'mon get up its time for lunch." I reach into my backpack shaking the little bird awake making sure to not be too rough. Thunder stretches his wings and wakes up looking at me angrily until I flash the slice of bread. "Cheep Cheep" a sign of happiness from the small bird. I break the piece into four quarters and hand thunder three as I slowly nibble on my small portion. As a baby bird he needs more food than I do.

I watch him feast on his small pieces of food, pausing my intake to remind him to eat slowly for he might not get to eat for another week or so. I finish my small portion and let my eyes wander around for some more tokens of food. I scavenge the area hoping to find a few berries or if I am lucky enough, a small fruit tree. I spot some white berries a few feet away from me. Walking over, I pick up a hand full and bring them back to Thunder checking them on the way to my friendly companion. I eye them over, smelling it and eventually trying one for myself. As I swallow the berry I feel pain invade my throat and stomach as I fall to the ground clutching my abdominals, tears streaming down my face as I scream in pain, fading from all consciousness I see my small pet hover above me as I blackout.