Author: (sits amid textbooks) Finals are almost over, but I'm submitting a new chapter anyway.

Shadow: (walks in with crutches and a leg in a cast) Start the fic already!

Author: (gives Shadow a death glare) Shadow, what did we say about insulting the author? Anyway, on with the fic!

Chapter 3: Dark Figures

"Maria will guide you on a tour of the ship. Please, make yourselves comfortable," said Geralde, moving aside for his granddaughter.

"Right this way" said Maria, motioning below deck.

xxx

"This will be your room, Sonick," said Maria, indicating a cabin.

Sonick stuck his head inside and grimaced. "The brig is bigger than this."

Out of the corner of his eye, Sonick saw something move. He whirled around, frantically scanning the hallway. "Sonick, what is it?" asked Miles anxiously.

"I think I just saw another hedgehog!" Sonick replied.

Maria laughed. "Oh, him? You don't need to worry."

"You can come out. Don't be frightened, these are our guests," she called into a dark part of the hallway. Sonick and Miles exchanged glances.

Sonick jumped a couple feet when an ebony hedgehog materialized from the shadows.

His face was adorned with red markings, and he wore a gray robe decorated with similar white and red markings. His red eyes flickered from Maria to Sonick briefly, then back to Maria.

"Ah, I see you've met our little friend!" Geralde's voice rang out through the hall. He came to a stop by Maria.

"Who is that?" Sonick indicated the silent hedgehog.

"This is Night Shadow, a native of the New World. We encountered him on our scouting voyage in Miles' ship, the Tornado," explained Geralde.

"We stumbled across him looking for firewood. He was lying in the forest unconscious. We eventually grew attached to him and decided to keep him as Maria's bodyguard. Maria hopes we can find Night Shadow's people on this voyage," finished Geralde.

"Pleased to meet you, Night Shadow," said Sonick, extending his hand.

Night Shadow didn't move, just continued staring.

"He doesn't talk," informed Geralde. "I don't really know exactly how much he understands us, if at all."

"How do you know his name if he never talks?" questioned Sonick.

"Maria named him and it seemed to fit, strangely enough. I would like to know what his real name is, of course!" said Geralde.

"Now, you must be tired. I'll just have the cook deliver a nice warm meal, how does that sound?" Geralde's eyes twinkled.

xxx

Maria and Night Shadow sat in the crow's nest, watching the stars.

"Why don't you tell anyone else you can talk?" asked Maria.

"I do not really know. You are the one I connect most with," intoned Night Shadow, who then stifled a yawn. "Forgive me. My rest has been…disturbed, these past few nights."

"Nightmares?" asked Maria.

Night Shadow appeared deep in thought. "They are definitely strange visions. I dream of the two of us in a gigantic place, made entirely of metal."

Maria shook her head. "I can not imagine a place like that."

Night Shadow continued. "I see a large group of red and black beings-"

"Your people?" Maria spoke in a hushed voice.

"They might be, though they do not look anything like me. Their eyes are solid green and they have large spines on their backs," said Night Shadow.

Maria repressed a shiver. "They sound like demons."

"And if I'm one of them-" Night Shadow was cut off by a large crash.

Maria sat up. "That came from the storage room!"

Night Shadow got to his feet. "No one is supposed to be in there. Stay here, Maria." He slid down the mast and ran towards the lower deck.

xxx

Night Shadow stepped cautiously into the storage room, holding a candle.

He walked through piles of meat, fruit, and water, before coming to a stop in front of a pile of spilled pears.

A frightened pair of eyes met him at the top of the pile, which quickly disappeared.

Night Shadow gave chase, leaping over barrels and dashing past crates as he pursued his quarry. Eventually, he pinned the fugitive down in a corner.

Holding the candle aloft, he got a closer look. It was a white bat, dressed in ragged black clothes and holding a pear.

The bat shrank back against the wall. "Don't be frightened," said Night Shadow. "I will not harm you. What is your name?"

"R-Rouja," the bat replied timidly.

Night Shadow examined her closely. "You're not a passenger, are you? Stealing food?"

Rouja hung her head in shame. "I'm a stowaway," she admitted quietly.

"My family…has nothing left. We've been wiped out by famine. Our only hope is for me to go to the New World and find a new, prosperous life, so I can send them the benefits." Tears flowed down her face.

"But you couldn't purchase a ticket," Night Shadow observed.

"We are poor. There is no place for people like us on board the Mayflower. I was forced to sneak aboard the secondary ship and hide here," said Rouja.

Suddenly, she fell to her knees and grabbed his hand. "Please, please don't tell the captain! I don't have anything else left!"

Rouja sobbed into her hands until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked into Night Shadow's red eyes. "If you promise to stay here and keep quiet, I will not tell anyone, especially the captain."

"Thank you," said Rouja, smiling through her tears.

Night Shadow turned to leave. "Wait!" called Rouja.

He stopped, but did not turn around. "Yes?"

"Why…why are you helping me?" she questioned. "It just seems so strange…"

"I think…I once knew someone like you," he said quietly. "I promised to assist her. For what purpose, I do not know."

"Well, how can you be so sure she's me?" asked Rouja skeptically.

"I know you," Night Shadow said quietly.

He walked out of the storage room, leaving a puzzled bat behind.

Shadow: OO

Author: Yes, I know it's a lot to take in in one chapter, but I'm tired of my short chapters, how about you?

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