Shadow layed in his bed on his back. He had talked to Sonic. He told him how he thought Black Fire hated him.
"Hate you?! Shadow, I hear him crying every night because he thinks your dead! He loves you Shadow... you know that. He doesn't talk to anyone anymore. He misses you. I missed you." he said. "Now you don't?" I answered. " That's because I'm right here, stupid. But Shadow, please understand, everyone misses you. Please Shadow, come back with us..." His words were like poison. They hurt, badly. I looked down at my feet. I could imagine Black Fire, all alone, on earth with tears running down his face, not talking to anyone... It was a painful thought.
The innocent state I had never seen from him. I looked up at Sonic and saw that the look on his face was like his words. His face alone showed sadness far from what I could bear. I looked away. "I need to stay here." I said. "What?!" Sonic said. "Orchid needs me. Tell Black Fire that I'm alive and what I'm doing. I'm sure he'll understand. He did the same for me."
Shadow had written the event in his mind. He stared at the ceiling thinking. He spread his left arm out and felt something. Something was under the blanket... Shadow looked to the side and saw Orchid nestled in the covers next to him. He smiled. He slipped under the covers and held her hand. She was cold. He could hear her breathing a bit, proving that she was alive. She opened her eyes and looked at him. She smiled sleepily.
She shivered and he held her close, keeping her warm. She dug her face in his chest fur and he felt her cold hands wrap around him to his back. Shadow then felt the presence of someone he had not felt in a long time.
He felt Maria... Shadow lifted Orchid's head and looked at her. Her look was innocent but her whole self was not. He now knew who she really was. She was Maria. "Hi Shadow." she said. "Hello, Maria." he said back. Her face turned from sleepiness to shock. "How'd you know." she said. "I have a feeling that I've known all along." Shadow said. Orchid settled down but was still a bit confused. She looked at him. She touched his face. Shadow closed his eyes. He felt her put her hand behind his ear. She then started to scratch there. To Shadow, it felt good. He leaned into her hand and, to his surprize, he purred! He opened his eyes sleeply and smiled. He saw Orchid smile at him too. She stopped scratching but he still purred. They snuggled up to eachother. Shadow's purr got softer and more kitten-like. They looked at eachother smiling and, then, fell asleep.