Chapter Eight

Oblivious to the second party following him, Sonic continued to walk to his moonpool. He stopped once he reached the shore, staring down into the glowing water as the moon shined upon it through the hole in the ceiling, wondering if it was worth going through the transformation again, twice in the same day. The softs ripples of the tide beckoned to him, pleading for him to return to his true home, but it was his paranoia, the fear of something happening to his best friend and future mate, that got him to make up his mind.

Shadow watched from the darkness in confusion as Sonic pulled off his gloves, socks, and shoes, setting them beside the water. Then, his eyes widened as with no hesitation at all, Sonic dove headfirst into the water.

What was he doing?! Sonic doesn't know how to swim! Did he fall?!

Coming to an irrational thought that maybe he had just slipped, Shadow stepped out from his hiding place and quickly went up to the water. As he looked down into the pool, he could see bubbles rising from Sonic's throat in a scream he could not hear as he squirmed and thrashed around, hugging himself as his eyes squeezed shut in what was obviously pain.

'He's hurt himself!' The ebony hedgehog thought, his eyes wide and ears up in concern as he kicked his shoes off, knowing that the metal in them would only make him sink. "Hold on, Sonic! I'm coming!" And without a second thought, he dove into the water after the blue hedgehog.

The rush from the dive obscured his vision, making it impossible to see anything. When he was fully submerged, he batted the bubbles away from his vision. He turned to Sonic to grab him and get him out, hoping that he wasn't too late, but he suddenly stopped. His eyes widened and his mouth hung slightly open in shock at what floated in front of him.

Sonic's back was faced to him as he panted, catching his breath from the agonizing transformation. His barbed tail paddled loosely in the water, keeping him afloat from the bottom of the pool. He sighed and turned around to leave through the tunnel, but he abruptly stopped when he saw Shadow in front of him, staring at him with wide, frightened eyes.

'No.' He thought. This couldn't be. He wasn't supposed to be discovered! Especially not by HIM!

"Sonic?" Shadow's voice bubbled through the water. The sound didn't carry well, barely reaching the Siren's ears.

Why did he follow him?

Why didn't he just stay in the bedroom?!

Suddenly, instincts overtook him and Sonic hissed and screamed, glaring dangerously at the hedgehog in front of him. He started to charge at him, swimming at a pace that was almost as fast as he was on land.

Seeing the oncoming attack, Shadow tried to back away from his rival, but even without his metal shoes on, the water made him slower. Suddenly, Sonic headbutted him right in the chest, knocking the air out of the ebony hedgehog and sending him back a few feet. Shadow shook his head clear and tried to locate where Sonic had gone, but he had disappeared! It was just a moonpool! He couldn't hide that well!

Suddenly, Sonic knocked into him from behind, headbutting his side as he disorientated his rival. He grabbed onto his shoulders and pressed him down the water, screaming in rage as he tried to drown him. Bubbles flew from Shadow's mouth as he struggled against Sonic's grip. Panic was filling his chest as he started to lose air, fast. He kicked and he squirmed, hitting Sonic with his fists until he was able to get his foot between them and he roughly kicked him away.

With Sonic's claws off of him Shadow began to swim as fast as he could back up to the surface. His head broke through the water and he took a deep gaspful breath. He scrambled to the side of the pool, but just as he was about to pull himself out, he was yanked back down. He kicked his legs out at Sonic as the Siren began to pull him back down. His eyes widened in fear as his back touched the floor of the moonpool. Sonic was really trying to kill him!

The Siren hissed and snarled at the struggling hedgehog, keeping his claws pressed into his shoulders as he held him down. Shadow again batted at his face with his fists, squirming to get out. Sonic was starting to get fed up with the struggle, wanting this to end quicker so he could go find Ryn, and the moment he left it open, the Siren dug his teeth into Shadow's shoulder.

The ebony hedgehog screamed out in pain, unheard by the water blocking the sound. Blood rose from the bite, the wound stinging from the saltwater. He fixed Sonic with hard glare, filled with fear but also determination. He reached his hand on the floor, feeling around for something to defend himself with. At last, his hand fell on a large rock, big and heavy enough to do some damage.

'Sorry Sonic.' He thought as he grabbed onto the rock and swung as hard as he could against Sonic's head.

Sonic hissed and squealed from the pain, releasing Shadow and swimming back. As he turned, his tail whipped across Shadow's face, the stinger leaving a nice red scratch on his cheek. Paying no mind to it, Shadow scrambled back up to the surface, partly pleased to see his rival retreating through the tunnel. He pulled himself onto the shore of the moonpool, coughing and gasping for breath. He dragged himself away from the water as far as he could, afraid that Sonic would come back for a round three.

When he was sure he was safe enough, Shadow laid on the floor of the cave, hugging himself and trembling from the frightening experience, ignoring the blood that was spilling from his shoulder.

He had never been scared of Sonic before. But after what just happened… he'll never be able to look at his rival the same way ever again.