MOVE FORWARD 2
Shadow fell asleep as soon as he reached peace. Sonic looked at him as his eyes closed unopposed. He leaned back and felt the Shadow's body like a steam heater, the spikes of the two helped keep out the cold ground. The temperature was falling considerably. Because of this and because Sonic, after half an hour, was already bored waiting for him to wake up, he called the other hedgehog and shook him.-Let me sleep, pup.-he said, barely opening his mouth.-Do you know how to make fire? It's freezing.-he asked him, and Shadow replied with a falling voice-You've finished me, I can't do anything, I need... sleep.-Get up! You have to make a fire or we will freeze!-Lie down on me, nothing will happen to you.-Sonic got up with a lot of energy and pulled his arm to lift him up, but it was impossible. Shadow smiled and amused himself with his clumsiness as he was slightly dragged across the field.-Come on, Shadow, stand up!-said Sonic, applying all his strength and clenching his teeth.-Call me my love, my hedgehog... call me my protector.-What?-Tell me I'm your hedgehog.-Please, Shadow, don't be corny. You? with those things?-Say it.-I won't!-Say it.-Sonic let go and let his hand hit the ground, he crossed his arms stubbornly.-No!-Say it.-Oh, right! Get up, my wol…!-and he cut himself, his face was red with shame-...fie.-Did you say... wolfie?-he replied.-I'm not a wolf, I'm a hedgehog.-You're more of a wolf than anything else. You're lonely, you lurk, and you're a devou…rer-Shadow looked at him pleased-I'm a hedgehog.-he insisted to challenge him.-Shut up, I'll call you what I want. You call me puppy, we're even.-Shadow stood up, struggling, but he did it. He kissed him on the red, burning cheek. He said-we're even, puppy. I also accept that you call me the coolest.-Shut up now and start making the fire.-said Sonic still with a red face.
Together they gathered branches, carried them into the space inside the cave and next to the hidden emeralds Shadow produced the first sparks with two stones. The two of them were sitting one on each side and Sonic was resting his back on the cave throat.-Hey.-he said-What is all this about the experiment and the punishment you have said? Are you still thinking about it?-Of course, it's what I am.-No, Shadow, you are what you do today, that's too old, man.-I need a past.-Your past sucks! Forget everything, you can change, you can be someone new.-You can´t understand that not everything can or has to be light, this is me, and I am darkness. We are the day and the night. Both are necessary.-Stop digressing and get out of your bubble.-Maybe you're right.-he said and with this the two remained silent.-How are you? Have you warmed up?-asked Shadow-Yes, much better.-and after admiring the fire a little he added-You are better than you think.-and started throwing tiny stones into the flames.-You on your own blame yourself for things in the past, but it wasn't like that.-Shadow mirrored the actions Sonic used to discharge his affliction, taking little stones too and moving them between his fingers and then throwing them in the same place.-So many things, pup… From the most essential to the most general of my life, everything has to be assimilated. I have to overcome everything on my own. I need time and patience.-Again they took a moment to continue talking, both looked at the moon and the stars.-Just stop blaming you and go easy on yourself. You asked me if you had punished yourself enough. Yes, wolfie, stop hurting yourself.-Shadow looked at him and then lowered his head.-How sweet you are.-said. Sonic passed his hand over the fire playing with it. He replied:-So are you.-He didn't dare tell him but he thought it -I love you, buddy.- and in his head he also heard Shadow replying to him in the same words.
The two slept huddled together. It was as if they had become wild hedgehogs again between nature, as if that valley was the only place they knew and needed to be happy. The night cradled them, with its perfume and its sounds it put them to sleep, love made their youth greening again and the emotion of being alive in that one moment made them noble and free.