Chapter 9: Rapid Struggle

Day 8

Sonic took the tin cup and dipped it into the Amazon River, bringing it back up once it was full. He scrambled back up the bank, where Shadow was sitting by the small fire they had made, reading the map with intense concentration. The azure hedgehog placed the cup onto the fire, watching the water boil until it was at a bubbling point before pouring two servings of rice in the water.

"So, if I'm reading this correctly, we should be right here." Shadow announced as he pointed to a spot somewhere halfway down the Amazon River. Sonic looked over the hedgehog's shoulder to see where he was pointing. "And Eldorado is supposed to be somewhere at the end of the river, right?"

"That's what the stories say." Sonic nodded.

"Excellent, we're nearly halfway there, and closer to the creature than before. How are our supplies doing?"

"Well, let me see." Sonic frowned as he looked through the supplies in his bag. "We have about a can and a half of insect repellent. The rope is still going strong. Lighter still has plenty of fluid left in it. We have a bit more rice left. The machete, still sharp, and we hadn't needed the first aid kit yet, so that's still full. If I had to estimate, if we ration properly, our supplies should be able to last us for about 2 weeks, maybe even longer."

"Perfect," Shadow nodded, folding the map and putting it away. "Then let's finish our breakfast quickly and get this show on the road. It's just you and me now, Sonic, but we can manage. Right?"

"Right Shads." Sonic smiled, holding up his trademark thumbs up. "Nothing can bring us down."

…

A few hours later, Sonic and Shadow were paddling through the river in their canoe, continuing their journey deeper into uncharted miles of the Amazon. Like before, every mile or so, they would stop and dock the boat, looking for clues to the Devil Dragon, or taking needed breaks.

The last break they had, Shadow was coming back from the jungle when Sonic called out to him.

"Shadow, look at this!" He called to the ebony hedgehog.

Shadow frowned with interest as he approached the younger hedgehog, looking to where he was pointing. He couldn't hide the surprised gasp he gave when he saw another five foot wide footprint of the giant lizard, this one a bit fresher.

"It's still partly fresh." Sonic frowned as he pulled off a glove and felt the mud with his fingers. He looked up at Shadow. "What are you thinking?"

"That we're getting close." Shadow nodded.

Now, the two were back on the river, paddling with as much strength as they could through the fighting waters, which was strange to them. The water had been mostly calm since they started their journey. Why was the river suddenly getting stronger and faster? As they turned a corner in the river, they had their answer.

Rapids.

Big, dangerous rapids filled with strong, white frothing water, splashing against sharp rocks sticking out of the water. The river was so shallow here, that the hedgehogs could see the bottom whenever the water jumped.

"You think those are the rapids the hyena was telling us about?" Sonic gulped, clearly nervous.

"More than likely." Shadow nodded.

"How are we gonna get through?"

Shadow was thinking. The rapids were highly dangerous, too dangerous to attempt paddling through them. There were a lot of them too, and look extremely strong, it may take them a few days to get through them. But how to do it in the first place? There was only one way.

"Sonic, you're not gonna like this."

"Oh no, what now?"

"These rapids are too dangerous to try paddling the canoe through. With one strong wave, the canoe will hit one of the rocks and shatter, but there is a way we can get through." Shadow sighed and looked to Sonic, giving him the most sympathetic look he could muster. "We're gonna have to get out and pull the canoe through. The water is shallow enough for us to see where to put our feet, so we won't slip. It may take a few days because of how large these rapids are, but I know we can do it."

Sonic's body immediately started to tremble. Shadow had to be joking, right? Get out and pull the canoe through? In those rapids? It was suicide! There's no way they'd be able to make it through that! Was there?

The more Sonic thought about it, the more he realized Shadow was right. It was their only option. Either that, or continue on foot, which would take them longer to reach Eldorado. Finally, he sighed and nodded.

"Alright, let's do it."

"Really?" Shadow was shocked. "You're not gonna fight me on this?"

"Of course not. It's like you said, it's our only option. Besides… I trust you."

Shadow felt a warm pinging sensation in his chest when he heard Sonic say that. He trusted him? Sonic's never trusted him before. He guessed it was his own fault. He did like to play dirty most of the time.

Shadow smiled and nodded, liking this new feeling. He didn't wanna lose it, so he was determined to keep Sonic's trust.

"Alright then. I'll take the responsibility of pushing the boat from behind. Sonic, I want you up front pulling on it, that way, if you accidently let go and slip, I'll be able to catch you if the river tries taking you away."

"Sounds good to me, Shads. Let's do this."

…

Day 10

Three days is exactly how long it took for the hedgehog duo to get their canoe through the rapids. There were a lot more rapids in this ride than they realized. On the third day, they were exhausted but they continued to pull through. They were on the finally stretch, Sonic pulling from the front while Shadow pushed from behind. They were soaked and sore, but they were almost through.

Finally, after what seemed like months, the two hedgehogs gave it all they got and got the canoe past the final rapid.

"WOOHOO!" Shadow couldn't help but cheer, sending amused snickers through his companion. "We finally did it! Nothing but smooth sailing now!"

"Wow Shads," Sonic chuckled. "Am I rubbing off on ya?"

"No," Shadow raised an eyeridge in confusion. "What? Am I not allowed to be excited?"

"It's just that, I've never seen you this way before."

"Well, better get used to seeing a lot more than that, Faker. After all, we're stuck here until the month is over. And I already said I wanted to try and make friends with you. Doesn't that mean getting to know each other?"

"Yeah, you have a point."

Sonic and Shadow chuckled together before the ebony sighed.

"Alright then hedgehog, time to get back up and running." He said as he started climbing back onto the boat.

"Umm…" Sonic hesitated, looking back from the boat and to the rapids behind. "Don't you think we should pull the canoe a little further away from the rapids?"

"Nonsense." Shadow shook his head. "We're far enough away that we can paddle away from them. Nothing to worry about. Bow get up here."

Sonic sighed and climbed back onto the boat with Shadow, grabbing his paddle as Shadow did the same, a heavy feeling unable to leave his stomach.

The two hedgehogs dipped their paddles into the river and began rowing, or, well, attempting to.

They paddled and they paddled, but they didn't seem to be going anywhere. They tried paddling faster and harder, and suddenly, they were moving, but not the way they wanted to go.

"The rapids are pulling us back!" Sonic shouted, dread filling the pit of his stomach. "I told you we should've pulled away farther!"

"Nevermind that now, we need to keep this boat afloat!" Shadow shouted back. Honestly, he was ashamed of himself. Why hadn't he listened to his companion? It wasn't like he offered anything bad, he just wanted to pull the canoe a little further away from the rapids, why hadn't he done so?! Now they were paying the price for his stubbornness! "Paddle Sonic! We can't hit the rocks!"

Sonic and Shadow were panicking as they paddled through the water, trying to keep their canoe afloat and avoid hitting the rocks. They couldn't risk it. They would lose so much if they did. The water roared in their ears and splashed in their faces as it rocked the boat, spinning them around and around.

Suddenly…

BWAM!

The hedgehogs cried out as the canoe hit one of the rocks jutting out of the water, shattering on impact. The boat toppled over, dumping everything it held into the water. Sonic and Shadow, along with all of their needed supplies, were swept down the river. Unable to concentrate on anything but themselves and each other, the hedgehogs paid no attention to their lot items and continued to fight through the water, trying to get to each other.

The rapids pushed and pulled the hedgehogs around, smashing their bodies against the rocks and pulling them underwater. They struggled against the water, crying out to each other when their heads broke the surface. Eventually, Shadow's body finally washed up against the shore and he grabbed onto the bank, coughing and sputtering out the water he had consumed. He held his body tightly as he stood up, shaking from the effort. As battered as he was, he forced himself to turn around in search of Sonic, but he was met with a terrifying sight as he realized that he couldn't spot the azure hedgehog anywhere!

"Sonic! Sonic!" He called desperately, but he was met with silence.

Shadow continued to call his companion's name, hoping, praying, practically BEGGING for a reply… he got none. Shadow couldn't believe it.

"Sonic…" He whimpered pitifully as he fell to his knees, placing his head in his arms on the ground.

He just couldn't believe it! He was lost, alone in the Amazon Rainforest. He had lost everything. The gun, the map, the supplies, the communication with G.U.N headquarters. But most importantly… Sonic… his only friend in this messed up world. He had promised. He had promised to protect him, to be there for him during this mission… and he had failed.

With this horrible realization, Shadow sat up on his knees and gave out a loud anguished cry, tears rolling down his face, filled with self-hatred.