Chapter 7: Changing For The Better
Day 4
The next morning, a tragedy set over the group.
Since yesterday, Officer Charles has been quietly complaining to himself that his feet were hurting. When they had set up camp, the human had taken his boots off to lessen the pain some, completely ignoring his soaking wet socks from rain and river water. It was only in the morning, when Charles was grimacing in pain to put his boots back on, did Karl finally tell him to remove his socks. When he did, the three others gasped in shock.
Charles feet were covered in open sores, blisters running with fluid as delicate red flesh turned redder in the open air. Some of them even looked a bit infected.
"Just as I feared." Karl sighed, turning to look at the hedgehogs. "He has trench foot."
"Trench foot?" Sonic questioned. "What's that?"
"It's a serious medical condition caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary, and cold conditions." Karl explained. "It is one of many immersion foot syndromes. The use of the word trench in the name is a reference to trench warfare, mainly associated with World War I. Because Officer Charles wears steel toe boots, the water from yesterday has been trapped in his boots, unable to dry out and soaking his feet. The cold of the storm last night only made it worse. His feet are slowly starting to rot away. I'm sorry boys, but Officer Charles can't go on. He needs professional medical attention, immediately."
The boys were upset. Charles was honestly a tough cookie to last this long, only to be broken down by foot problems, even if they were lethal. But even though they were upset, nobody was more upset than Charles.
"Dammit!" The human cursed, slapping a frustrated hand against the ground as he stared at his rotting feet in shame. "4 days of traveling in the Amazon and this is what takes me down. Bullshit!"
"Officer…" Shadow started, trying to think of a way to calm him down.
"No Shadow, it's complete bullshit. I'm supposed to be a soldier of G.U.N, this cannot be the reason why I can't continue!"
Officer Charles sighed, his spirit deflated. With eyes filled with shame, he looked back up to the obsidian and crimson hedgehog in front of him.
"You were right, Shadow." He sighed sadly. "I'm not cut out for the jungle."
The human's statement hit Shadow like a 28 gauge bullet. He was regretting ever saying that to him yesterday during the river crossing. If he had known that this would happen, he never would've said anything in the first place.
"Officer Charles don't you ever say that." He growled, grabbing the human by the shoulders. "I was wrong to say such things to you. The Amazon is you're home, and I disrespected that knowledge. If anything, you're more cut out than any of us."
"But how can you say that after this?" Charles frowned, gesturing to his medical problem.
"You have no control over what happens medically." Shadow sighed. "This is just a minor setback. It could've happened to either one of us, including me, and I mean that. Just because I'm immortal and the Ultimate Lifeform doesn't mean I can't get hurt too."
Sonic smiled at Shadow's little speech. He never would've expected the ebony to go to such lengths to make someone feel better about themselves, admitting that he can have weaknesses too. After this and his little attempt to help Sonic crossing the river yesterday, it almost seems as if Shadow is trying to… better himself? Sonic really couldn't think of the word, but whatever it was, he liked it. He liked this new side of Shadow, and he hoped that he would be seeing it more often during the mission.
Officer Charles smiled, appreciating Shadow's attempt in cheering him up.
"You guys should go on without me." He suddenly told them. "I can make it out of the jungle myself."
"Absolutely not." Karl frowned. "There's no telling on what kind of danger you'd be putting yourself through if you went along on your own. Somebody is gonna have to go with you."
"Well, this is Shadow and I's mission," Sonic piped up. "And we should be reaching the Indian tribe today, according to your map, so, what if Shadow and I continue on our own, while Karl takes Officer Charles back to the village? What do you think, Shads?"
"It could work." Shadow agreed, turning to their guide. "Karl?"
"If you guys think you can do it, then go on ahead without us." Karl nodded, taking off his rifle and rolling up the map, giving the hedgehog both. "Take these with you, you'll need them."
"Thank you," Shadow nodded before turning to Sonic. "Come on, Faker. Let's hit the road."
…
One hour later, Sonic and Shadow were walking through the rainforest on their own, the two humans long gone the other way back to the village. Shadow took the lead as he held the map, checking over it every once in awhile to be sure of their direction. Sonic was following behind, the hunting rifle hanging over his shoulder. As they walked, Sonic looked up to his companion and smiled.
"That was a really nice thing you did for Officer Charles back there."
"What are you talking about, Faker?"
"I mean how you tried to make him feel better after he was clearly upset about having to end the journey short because of medical problems. He believed himself that even if he lived here his whole life, he was no match for the jungle, and your little comment to him yesterday really hit the nail in the head a little deeper on that. But then you swooped in and admitted you were wrong. I admire you for that."
"Pft, I was only speaking the truth." Shadow rolled his eyes.
"Still though, you easily could've let him believe it, but you didn't. I like this new side of you, Shads. First you help me with the river yesterday, and then you cheer up Officer Charles. It's so unlike you, but I like it."
Shadow blushed at Sonic's statement. Some things he said about that just didn't sound right.
"What do you mean you 'like' it?" He seethed.
"I'm… not implying anything, Shads, if that's what you're thinking." Sonic couldn't help but blush, his mind immediately going to the gutter at Shadow's sneer.
"You better not be." The ebony hissed. "This is completely platonic. I only did those things in favor of the mission and my reputation with G.U.N. Nothing is going to change that, do you understand?"
For some reason, Sonic could feel his heart breaking, which didn't make any sense. He didn't have feelings for the ebony hedgehog… did he?
Sonic shook his head. Of course not! He was simply heartbroken because he was so sure that Shadow was changing for the better and thought that he could actually start trying to be friends with him. But of course, like everything with Shadow, it was an empty hope.
"Yeah," He finally sighed, hanging his head with his ears flat against his head. "I understand."
Shadow took no note of Sonic's sudden depressed state when he suddenly heard noises up ahead. Frowning, he cautiously moved towards the noise, Sonic following close behind just as quiet as he heard it too. When they reached some ferns, Shadow took a hand and quietly moved them away. What the two hedgehogs saw on the other side made them sigh in relief.
Behind the ferns was a rather large river bank covered in sand and wood, decorated with little huts as tanned South American humans with black hair and jungle attire prance around, looking busy without a care in the world.
"This must be the Indian tribe that Karl was talking about." Sonic guessed, causing Shadow to roll his eyes.
"No, what gave it away?"
"Olhe para lá!"
Before the two hedgehogs could start another argument, another voice called out from the tribe, gaining their attention. As they turned their heads to the source of the shout, they saw a little Indian boy pointing at them with eyes wide with terror. Everyone else in the tribe eventually stopped too, turning to look at the hedgehogs in equal fear.
"Uh oh." Sonic gulped as two Indian warriors came out, pointing their spears at the intruders in defence. "How are we gonna get outta this one? We need one of their guides."
"Leave this to me, Faker."
With that, Shadow slowly and cautiously walked out of the ferns, his hands held up to show surrender. Sonic gulped and followed his lead, hoping that whatever the ebony had planned worked.
"Você fala inglês?" (Do you speak english?) Shadow asked.
"Não, nós não temos uso para que a língua estrangeira saia de nossas línguas." (No, we do not have use for that foreign language to roll off our tongues.) The warrior on the left sneered. "Mas você é um Mobian e conhece a nossa língua. Que negócio você tem aqui, estranho?" (But you are a Mobian, and know our language. What business do you have here, stranger?)
"Meu nome é Shadow the Hedgehog, e este é meu companheiro, Sonic the Hedgehog." (My name is Shadow the Hedgehog, and this is my companion, Sonic the Hedgehog.) The ebony introduced himself and Sonic. "Nós chegamos à Amazônia em uma missão de G.U.N. Uma estranha criatura disse ter sido avistada e estamos aqui para descobrir o que é. Um índio da tribo Awa nos informou que a estranha criatura está indo para Eldorado. Nós estávamos esperando que um de sua tribo estaria disposto a nos guiar pelo rio até o local." (We come to the Amazon on a mission from G.U.N. A strange creature has said to have been spotted and we are here to discover what it is. An Indian from the Awa tribe has informed us that the strange creature is headed to Eldorado. We were hoping that one from your tribe would be willing to guide us down the river to said location.)
At this, everyone in the tribe looked to each other. Should they believe these strangers? They did seem to come out of nowhere. However, it was true that something unusual was lurking around the jungle. They have seen it themselves. At last, the two warriors nodded and lowered their weapons.
"O que você fala da criatura é verdade. Nós vimos o Dragão do Diabo nós mesmos." (What you speak of the creature is true. We have seen the Devil Dragon ourselves.) The one on the right informed. "Está no caminho para Eldorado, mas a selva é implacável. Nós seremos seus guias, mas devemos ir de canoa." (It is on the path to Eldorado, but the jungle is unforgiving. We will be your guides, but we must go by canoe.)
"Meu companheiro está terrivelmente com medo da água. Tem certeza de que não há outro jeito?" (My companion is terribly afraid of water. Are you sure there is no other way?) Shadow asked.
"Com medo não. Viajar a pé levaria muito tempo, com muitos desvios no caminho. Não, o caminho mais rápido para Eldorado é pelo rio, então sugiro que você faça algo sobre o medo de seu amigo." (Afraid not. Traveling by foot would take too long, with many detours in the way. No, the quickest way to Eldorado is by the river, so I suggest you do something about your friend's fear.)
With that, the two warriors walked away, most likely to get a canoe ready. With everything in order, the rest of the tribe went about their business. Sonic sighed in relief before looking up at Shadow.
"So, what was that all about?" He asked him.
"Well, I have good news, and then I have bad news." Shadow sighed, looking at the blue.
"Uh oh."
"Good news is, those two warriors are gonna be our guides to Eldorado."
"And the bad news?"
"We're gonna have to take a canoe down the river to reach it."
"Down… the river?" Sonic gulped, turning to look at the greenish-brown water of the Amazon River. While yes, it wasn't raging like the river from yesterday, it still really big, and not to mention, deep as well. Sonic could feel himself growing dizzy and nauseous just thinking about being on the water. He probably showed it too, as Shadow suddenly reached over and held him up by his shoulders.
"Woah! Don't faint on me, Faker!" He hissed, shaking the blue to somewhat of a coherent state. "Remember, I promised you that I wouldn't let you drown. I pinky sweared on it, remember?"
At that statement, Shadow held up his pinky into Sonic's view, said hedgehog glaring at it suspiciously.
"Yeah, but back then you were only thinking about the mission, you said so yourself." He hissed.
"I was wrong, ok." Shadow sighed, his ears falling to his head. Why did he feel so bad all of a sudden? "To be honest, Sonic, I'm absolutely terrified for your life. It wasn't until we officially started the mission, walking through the jungle during that first day did I realize just how vulnerable you are, and I'm sure you're aware of that too."
Sonic gulped. He really didn't want to be reminded that the jungle could easily take him if he'd let it. What was Shadow getting at though? He was fearing for his life? This was a sudden change.
"Look Sonic," The ebony continued. "My mind will mostly be on the mission, but I'm also doing my best to get along with you. I don't want us to keep fighting all the time. We make a pretty good team, otherwise, Commander never would've put us together. I'm hoping, that sometime at the end of this, we can be somewhat friends?"
What in the world was he thinking?! What was he saying?! Shadow literally didn't have a clue. Perhaps he was just following the Commanders orders to form some kind of friendship with the azure hedgehog, but involuntarily? Yeah, that had to be it.
Sonic, however, smiled once more. Shadow didn't want to fight? He wanted to try and be friends? This definitely was new, and WAY out of character. But he really liked it. That same warm fuzzy feeling from yesterday filled his stomach. What was it?
"Do you really mean it, Shads?"
"I do, Sonic. And listen," Shadow suddenly took his pinky finger and wrapped it around Sonic's, said hedgehog's face coming up in surprise, staring directly into ruby orbs. "No matter what happens here in the Amazon, I will always protect you."
Sonic could feel tears filling up his eyes and he quickly blinked them away, not wanting to cry over something so simple. He shook his head and chuckled, looking up at the obsidian hedgehog.
"Come on then. Let's go find us a giant monitor lizard."