Disclaimer: I don't own Sonic or any of the characters in this fanfic.

…I'm dead, aren't I?

I couldn't sense anything…no pain, no scent of singed flesh or feathers, and it was completely dark.

…I don't like the dark.

I remembered that, every time I'd been scared, one person would always be there for me. When I was younger (and much smaller and weaker), he'd let me cling to him until I felt better, and he'd always been there with reassuring words. His soft, warm fur was always soothing to me, and, though I realized that I never told him how grateful I was for his comfort, I found myself wishing that I'd thanked him.

…I'm sorry…

The darkness was suffocating, and the complete silence was starting to scare me.

…I'm so sorry…!

The darkness was choking me, and now I could feel my lungs burning. It hurt, everything hurt, and I was panicking; my friend wasn't here with me, so I didn't have anyone here to protect me, nobody was here to comfort me, and I had no one to ease my pain.

No!

I was lost. I was alone.

I'm sorry!

But something was now taking me away from the scary darkness; I felt myself being pulled from this place…

…Please…forgive me…

~x~x~x~

I felt my chest heave, my lungs expelling a foreign substance that should never have been in them, my mouth opening as water was forced out of me in rough, painful coughs. My head was tilted to the side, so choking on the liquid wasn't an option, thankfully. My body continued to eject any remaining water, and I started to feel sick.

…Ugh…

I felt something gently grasp my side, lifting me and turning me at an angle so that the water would be expelled easier.

"It's okay, little one."

…Huh?

The last of the water was finally out of my lungs, and I felt myself being picked up. Despite my body's protests, I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was very blurry, so I could barely make out the shape of someone…

"Just hang on for a little longer, okay?"

This person shifted me in their arms so that I was resting in a somewhat more comfortable position.

…I don't recognize that voice…

My eyes slowly started to close. As I was carried to a destination that I wasn't aware of, I realized that, even though I was with a stranger, I didn't feel afraid anymore. I didn't feel fear, I didn't feel alone, I didn't feel lost…

…I feel safe…

A small smile formed on my beak before I was tugged away into unconsciousness once more.