Chapter 5: Exploring

"Anyone know how to get to the Throat Of The World?" Sonic asked.

"I'm sure there's a map that could show us," Shadow said.

"Let's ask around."

After a bit of searching, Sonic had finally bought a map. "Here we go," he said, holding the map for the others to see. "Now where is it..."

Shadow pointed to the highest mountain on the map. "Here," he said. "It'll take at least a week to get there."

"With my speed?"

"Well..." Shadow looked at Sonic. "How long do you think it'll take us?"

"Two days tops. Maybe less. Unless you think we should take our time to really enjoy the world."

"Sounds good."

"Let's get going then."

He ran off. Shadow chuckled and followed him, as did Shadic and Manic.

"Same as ever, isn't he?" Manic asked, grinning widely as he looked at Shadow.

"He's always been that way," Shadow said.

"I know."

"So...apparently Shadic has magic," Manic said.

Shadow nodded. "I should've seen it coming."

"What do you mean?"

"My father could use magic, and I can do a little."

"Cool. What magic can you use?" Manic asked.

"Nothing amazing. Just a few illusion spells, but mostly I just use it for fighting."

"Can Sonic use any magic?"

"Now that he's the Dragonborn, probably."

Shadic walked up beside him. "Whatcha talking about?"

"Magic in the family," Shadow said.

"Do you have any magic, Manic?"

The vampire shook his head. "Not really."

"How come?" Shadic asked.

"Because I don't." Shadic nodded as Sonic zoomed up. Manic looked at him. "Find anything interesting ahead of us?" Manic asked.

"There's a town just ahead," Sonic said.

"Anything else?"

"An old ruin."

"And you want to go into it, right?" Shadow asked with a smile.

"You bet," Sonic said.

"Then let's go. I'm sure we have time."

Sonic smiled and ran ahead as the others followed. They stopped at the ruins and looked around. At Sonic's insistence, they went into the ruins. Shadow sighed and looked around. It was pitch black and they didn't have any light.

"We should light a torch," Shadow said.

"I agree," Sonic said, lighting a torch. They looked around as the light filled the area. "Shall we?" Sonic asked.

Sonic led the way deeper into the ruins. The three followed him.

"Do you know where you're going?" Manic asked.

"Of course not. I've never been here before."

Manic chuckled, but then stopped. He sniffed and his eyes turned yellow. "There are vampires in this ruin."

"Then we should be careful," Sonic said.

"I'll scout ahead," Manic said as he turned into a bat and flew further into the ruin.

"Should we wait here for him?" Sonic asked.

"I suppose," Shadow said.

"If there aren't too many vampires, are we going to go farther in?" Shadic asked.

"Possibly."

A few minutes later, Manic came back. "There aren't too many of them. About five."

"Good," Shadow said. "Let's continue, then."

Manic smiled and shifted into a wolf. They were careful about moving deeper into the ruins, not wanting to fight any vampires unless they had to. They passed the vampires quietly, hoping not to disturb them. Fortunately they passed by the vampires without being noticed. Sonic breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Manic.

"That was easy."

Manic wagged his tail.

"What do you think we'll find down here?" Manic asked as he shifted back.

"Not sure," Sonic said. "But we can find out. How do you like being a wolf and bat, anyway?"

"I prefer this form. The others are just helpful in certain situations."

"What kind of situations?"

"Ones that are easier to do as a bat or wolf."

"What's your favorite form to take? Bat, mist or wolf?" Shadic asked.

"Probably mist."

"Can you control the weather at all?"

"Of course not. People can't control the weather."

"Really? I heard vampires can cause storms and stuff."

Manic chuckled. "People love to exaggerate and make up things." Shadic chuckled as well. They came to a clearing and saw more vampires. Manic frowned. "This ruin must be home to a coven."

"I thought you said there weren't that many," Shadow whispered in irritation.

"I didn't go very far," Manic whispered back. "Come on; let's get out of here."

Sonic nodded and they turned around. They walked out of the ruin ten minutes later.

"Well this sucks," Sonic said.

"Sorry about that," Manic said.

"Not your fault."

"Should we continue?"

"Of course. What else would we do?"

Manic smiled and they ran off. A few hours later they reached a town.

"It's getting late," Shadow said. "Should we find an inn for the night?"

"That would be nice," Shadic said.

They found an inn a few minutes later and went inside. The man at the desk looked at them as they walked up. "Good evening. How many rooms would you like?"

Sonic looked at his family. "How many rooms should we get?"

"Two or three," Manic said. "How many beds per room?"

"Two," the man said.

"Two rooms should work then." Manic smiled at Shadic. "Unless you don't want to share a room with me."

"I'll be fine," Shadic said, smiling back at Manic.

The man gave them two keys. Once he told them which rooms they were for, the group went to the rooms.

"Good night," Shadic told his parents. He looked at Manic. "You don't need to sleep at night since you're a vampire, do you?"

"Of course I need to sleep," Manic laughed. "Just not as often as you do. Or as long."

Shadic chuckled. "How long have you been a vampire?"

"A year or two."

"Do you like being one?"

"I'm not sure how to answer that."

"Why's that?" Shadic asked.

"I don't mind being a vampire, but I still don't like being one either."

"What advantages and disadvantages are there to being one?"

"It's pretty hard to keep myself alive, for one thing. I am stronger than I used to be though. Have better senses and reflexes too. The sunlight makes me feel weak the longer I'm in it."

"That's interesting," Shadic said, yawning.

"You should get some sleep."

Shadic smiled and lay down on the bed. Manic did the same, and they fell asleep.