Chapter 1

The humidity was killing him. It was too hot and sticky, even sitting underneath the trees did little to relieve the discomfort. Although the morning was young, the sun was nearly febrile. It didn't help that his fur was mostly black. The ebony watched the lake's undulating surface with nothing particular on his mind. The sounds of nature were so soothing. He stretched his limbs and let out a small yawn.

If I weren't so drowsy, he thought, perhaps I would tread the water for a while.

His eyelids grew heavy, soon the music of songbirds and the whispering of the lake lulled him into slumber.

He could see absolutely nothing. His surroundings were completely bleached, some form of intense light blinded him. He shielded his face the best he could, and after some time it finally dimmed. Blinking a few times, he stared straight ahead. The only thing that could be seen for miles was forestry and… snow? Though he could not feel the cold, he shivered. An imprint in the mess of tiny ice crystals had caught his attention. A set of two at a time, moving in a forward direction, seemingly in a hurry. Some kind of urge overcame him, he wanted to know where they were headed and why. He began to trek slowly, the impressions in the snow as his only guide.

Everything was fine. Or, for the most part anyway. Something was nagging at him, but he couldn't quite define what it was. But he did know one thing; there was nothing for the azure one to do. Nobody needed rescuing, which was a relief. But the fact left him in a state of ennui.

Well I'm not going to just sit here and let myself feel this way. He told himself. Gazing up at the sky, he silently pondered for a minute. He wasn't in the mood to go for a run; he has done this nearly every day and it has begun to bore him. Everything was always the same, and so bland. Suddenly it struck him, he needed a change of scenery. But…. where to go on a muggy day like today? He could go to the ice cream parlour, except the lines will be excruciatingly long.

After some time of thinking, he came to the conclusion that every place would be busy, and he needed a place that wasn't public and was secluded….. And finally he knew where to go.

He could focus on nothing but the impressions, everything which surrounded him no longer mattered. He could hear no sound except his own light breathing, puffs of hot air rose into the frigid, and became visible with each exhale.

"How long I have searched I do not know," he said into the empty air. "But I do know one thing. Time is only an illusion here, created only for a sense of security, but at the same time, a sense of fear."

He wasn't aware of why he said these words, at first he wasn't even aware it was he who was speaking. He didn't know why he was so eager to search the barren woodland, but somehow, he felt that if he did, he would find something great. Something that would change him in some kind of unexplainable way. His walking abruptly ceased. He had reached a clearing, and the prints had ceased. Swiftly the snow began to melt, and before he knew it, the weather was warm and everything was green again. Almost as if the seasons had changed in the blink of an eye.

"What is the meaning of this?" He wondered aloud, when he noticed a plump, oval object embedded into the rich, dark soil. It's pale golden shine contrasted greatly. He seemed increasingly aware of his surroundings now, it was as if his senses were heightened. He could hear every sound as the seasons began to change again, sounds from trickling streams to the rustle of every leaf, everything in sight had become more vibrant, no detail, no matter how excruciating, could not escape the sharpness of his ruby eyes. The scenery flowed so beautifully and gracefully from Winter to Spring, then Spring to Summer, then, Autumn, and back to Winter in a continuous loop. As it did, the object had split, and a new sproutling had bloomed from within.

With his speed quicker than that of sound, he arrived at his destination within seconds. Somehow the weather seemed hotter here, but perhaps it was because the area was more out in the open, and also at lower elevation than where his house was. He stopped to take in the ravishing scenery. The water glittered as the sun seemingly smiled upon it, and it gently lapped at the shoreline. The sound was no more than a silent whisper, and nothing else stirred. Until a slight movement caught his attention. He whirled around to find himself looking at a sleeping black and red hedgehog none other than Shadow, who turned over and promptly resumed steady breathing. Nice day for a nap, eh? he thought in amusement. The sun was a bit higher now, and the temperature only rose. Beads of sweat began to form on his face. It was too hot to just stand there, he decided that he would go for a swim. He began to take off his gloves, shoes, and socks, then proceeded with the plan. With an outstretched leg, he dipped his toes into the water, testing the temperature. It was about as cold as lukewarm cereal. If he had been here earlier, the water would have almost been too cold to be in. But since the sun's been up, it has warmed the lake greatly. He trotted further in until he was up to his chest. The water was definitely cooler underneath the surface. A small shiver crawled up his spine. Sand felt like silk underneath his feet, and he couldn't resist squishing it. Amused, his lips curved slightly upwards into a little smile.

Shadow wasn't sure how long he had been static for, but it was long enough for the sproutling to become a sapling. At first there were no defining features, but as he kept a steady watch, large tendrils began to seep from the soil. They wrapped themselves continuously around the tree in some kind of gentle embrace. Yet, at the same time, their grip was like one of a scared mother holding onto their child in a defensive manner. He could sense a wise being with a loving soul as the tree became enormous. At one point he had to bend backwards to see the tree. It loomed over him, it's magnificence was a bit intimidating. After what felt like forever, Branches hung down like ropes, except more delicate and beautiful. The lavender colored blossoms were in full bloom, and only added to that effect. Light seemingly glowed from it's core. It pulsed softly, almost like a heartbeat. Slowly, he reached out with his hand and placed his palm on on the trunk. He was filled with warmth and fondness, and he smiled. He could feel it's life force becoming one with his, he could feel the beast touch his mind. He didn't think a plant could have a mind, much less a tree. But he could feel it there, he could feel its presence. A bold, feminine voice spoke to him.

"Stay strong in pursuit of your dreams, Shadow, do not let fear get in the way! Speak your mind,

do what is right... even if it hurts." Just as quick as it started, everything blurred, then faded to black.