Get silver 20ccs of good vibes and 50 mg of a fun time
The bright sun glistened through intense clouds of steam as the hoglet found himself suddenly back outside. Humidity slammed him at full force, water droplets clinging to his fur as the steam entered his lungs. With a slight cough, his nostrils trembled - twitching as the smell of minerals greeted him.
"Over here." The elderly badger called, prompting Shadow to follow her. Golden eyes glanced around, quickly realizing that they were at a natural water source.
Pools of water filled the area; their crystal blue color highlighted by the evergreen forest behind. White matter surrounded the pools - providing interesting contrast to the bark and leaves surrounding the whitewashed area. The thumping of boots against wood prompted Silver to look down. Boardwalk covered the ground they tread as rails and steps led to the steaming pools below.
"Careful." Shadow warned, slowly lowering the hoglet into the warm, bubbly water. Silver braced as his caked feet slipped into the water, only to find the sap protected his fur from the heat. The wooden stick slid out from under his arms, allowing his tiny body to sink to the bottom of the shallow section of the pool.
Leather gloves gripped the handrail as Shadow slid his boots off. Garments began to fling around as Shadow removed his outerwear. Knives accumulated on the wooden step as the objects were pulled from his boots and belt. Silver stared in awe at the sheer amount of weapons the adult had on his person. His armor guards were stacked and set gently on the wood. Leather boots were carefully set on the far side of the steps with well worn socks stuffed inside. His cloak was draped on the rail, followed by his gloves and belt. And finally, his shirt was pulled off, revealing a striking white patch on his chest and a very painful looking scar on his side.
Awkwardly, Silver watched as the adult lowered himself into the water with a sigh. The ranger pushed further into the soothing waters and lowered himself up to the neck. The normally intense eyes pulled into a relaxed half lidded daze. For the first time, Silver could have sworn the adult was enjoying himself.
"These hot springs are good for removing glue sap." Shadow explained, pulling his hands through his dirty quills. "After you loosen up I'll help you get clean."
With a content sigh, Silver slid down the mineral pool and allowed his body to relax. The warm water soothed his sore muscles and eased his pain. Sticking his nose in the spring, he blew bubbles into the frothy ripples.
Shadow continued to clean himself. Working his claws through his fur and quills; turning the dull dark fur into a brilliant mix of ebony and ruby. Dirt and leaves drifted through the pool and over the edge as the young hoglet realized the pools were fed by a collection of waterfalls. Each individual pool was connected to several others by a steady stream of flowing hot water. Blue marked paws reached out, feeling the gentle current running through the pond and carrying all the dirt and grime away. The sap flaked off and floated off his body and through the gap which led to the next pool.
"Let's get that all off you." Shadow sighed, floating over and taking the child in his hands. "I'll try to be gentle, but I have no guarantees."
Shadow's claws extended slightly, Shocking the young hoglet. Last he checked, hedgehogs couldn't do that. The adult noticed the child's alarm.
"I was designed to have this." He immediately explained. "Easier to pick locks and cause damage."
The claws brushed through Silver's ivory fur, catching the sap in a painful stick and pulling it off. Silver winced as individual hairs came loose and floated away with the current. Golden eyes closed and focused on the soothing steams in his lungs.
"They don't extend as far as a cat…" Shadow continued. "But they are helpful for small things such as this."
"This hurts…" Silver coughed, rubbing his eyes from pain.
"I know…" Shadow soothed. "But I was going to bring you into town for a different reason."
"A different reason?" Silver sniffed, looking up into the ruby eyes.
"It's a surprise." Shadow answered. "You'll find out after we're done."
It took Shadow a good twenty minutes to completely remove all the sticky substance out of Silver's fur. Seeing the hoglet was sore and sour, the ranger decided to let him sit in the springs a while longer. After the pain dulled, Silver found amusement by splashing and playing in the water. The warm current felt marvelous on his fur and it felt absolutely wonderful to have a warm bath for once.
Fliss was never allowed to heat up the water for the young kids in the orphanage. Mistress would alway yell and throw things if she caught the elder kids pulling a stunt like that. Always hissing for them to stop wasting time and bathe the "dirty sods". Silver always associated bath time with cold water and a ticking clock.
Shadow seemed to enjoy the spring too. The adult had laid his head on the side of the pool and let his eyes close. A wink of mischief crossed the hoglet's mind as an idea crossed his juvenile face. Shadow was off guard.
With a quick movement, Silver raced his fingers through the water; starling Shadow as the splash hit him in the face. The shocked look of the elder was too hilarious for Silver. Peals of laughter broke out through the air as the hoglet grabbed his belly and wheezed til his sides hurt. Silver only stopped when he ran out of air to breathe.
"Alright." Shadow grumbled, pulling himself out of the spring. "I think that's enough for now."
"Oh c'mon Shadow." A familiar voice cackled. "That was really funny."
The elderly badger stood over the duo, leaning over the boarded rails and observing the chaos below. Her wrinkled smile told Silver she had watched the whole affair and had taken it all in with great amusement. Silver smiled up, letting his pearly baby teeth bare in a friendly smile for the first time in a while.
"I haven't seen you look that surprised ever, old man." She grinned, handing the sopping wet ranger a towel. "Been a while since you worked with kids eh?"
"Juvenile behavior has never been amusing to me." Shadow growled, rubbing himself dry.
"C'mon Shadow." Silver giggled. "It's funny."
The hoglet found himself lifted out of the water and buried in a towel without a response. The rough rubbing of fur and quills caused a displeasured squeak to escape his lips. Before he could protest, he was plopped on the ground, towel over head.
Unsure how to escape the fabric prison, he wobbled around; tripping on the knitted sheet and stumbling about until his head hit a board rail with a clunk. Toppling back, he fell on his tail - feet raising into the air from the lost balance. A soft whap echoed through the towel as the badger seemingly smacked Shadow on his armored shoulder.
"Oh don't be mean." The badger lady grumbled, audibly hitting the elder with another displeasured thwap. "He's just a kid."
"Oh whatever." Shadow groaned in a strange and old accent. "I was gonna take him into town anyways."
The blinding sheet was lifted off the hoglet with a static filled crackle. With a surprised chirp, Silver felt his fur and quills raise. The weird tingly air brushed around him, quills covering his eyes as his pelt bulged out into an asymmetrical puff ball. Before he knew it, the badger lady was laughing again. This time, at him.
"Oh look at you." She coughed, kneeling down and brushing his wild coat. "You're as frizzed as a pomeranian."
Her wrinkly hands combed through his fur, taming the wild mound that was once a hedgehog named Silver. It didn't take her long to re-do his ivory pelt. The clink of metal caught their ears.
"Here's your payment." Shadow announced, holding out his fully clad hands with a mysterious bag. "Take what you need from it."
"Shadow." She coughed, sarcastically slapping his hand away with a ungraceful swipe. "That laugh was enough for me."
Reluctantly, the hedgehog withdrew his hand.
"Are you sure…?" He questioned, reaching down and taking the young hoglet's hand.
"Shadow." The badger snorted. "You've done enough for this town. Please - it's on the house."
With a lingering look, Shadow turned and walked away. Silver found himself led on, watching the elderly badger wave at him as she slipped out of view the second he entered the bathhouse. For a minute or two, all the hoglet could focus on was the heavy clunking of boots against board, but eventually the front door came into view.
"Thank you. Come again soon." The woman at the front desk boredly stated, not even glancing up from her book as the two opened the door.
The bright colors of the market outside overwhelmed Silver once again. As Shadow stepped off the stairs, he let go of the young hedgehog's hand; allowing Silver to roam free within the market as he pleased. Looking up in surprise, Silver opened his mouth to speak.
"Do not break anything." Shadow interrupted, looking down with his red eyes. "Do not touch anything without asking. And do not go anywhere you cannot see me."
Silver nodded, running slightly ahead to look at a beautifully colored tapestry. Three rules didn't seem too bad. This didn't seem like a bad place at all.
Cyan stained hands brushed across the tapestry, the bright orange colors depicting a hedgehog like himself; only blue and adorned with red shoes. A blazing kiln caught his eyes, prompting the hoglet to dash over to the craftsman working there. The elderly rat pushed and pulled a glowing stick in and out of the blaze. Silver blinked, feeling the heat from the furnace dry his eyes slightly. Slowly, the stick was drawn from the inferno and a white-hot orb was spun round and round and round…
Turning, Silver glanced around - trying to spot the elder in the street. Fortunately, the hoglet spotted the hooded adult speaking to some horse while holding his blade. As long as Shadow was in sight, he was fine.
Turning from the stall, the child spotted a basket full of strange fruits he had never seen before. The sight and colors of the fruits brought Silver to a run as he dashed over to investigate the exotic produce. Being closer, he could see the distinct shapes of the red, green, and orange foods. His nose twitched, trying to get a scent from each and every one of them. But one stood out from the others. It was red. Red like the sunset. Reaching out, his tiny paws brushed against the smooth outer layer of the fruit. Mouth watering just imagining the deliciousness of the tasty smelling food.
"It's an apple."
Silver jumped, looking up to see a white fox smiling at him. Shyly, he backed away, unsure of what to say to the young woman who ran the stall. Picking up the apple, she held it out to him.
"Here." She smiled, placing it in his trembling paws. "Its very good."
"Silver!" Shadow called. Silver looked over, seeing the adult gesturing to come. The hoglet reached out to the fox, looking to hand it back to her, only for her to shake her head.
"Keep it." She smiled, pushing the fruit back at him. "It's on me."
"Thank you!" He called, turning and running towards the adult. As he approached, Shadow held out his hands.
"Let me hold that." The ranger stated. "This is a little important."
"What is?" Silver inquired. Turning around to see who Shadow was talking to, made the golden eyes grow wide. He was standing in front of a shoe shop.
"Let's get those paws covered." Said the cobbler, with a toothy smile. Gesturing to a chair, the elderly bear guided the stunned child to sit.
"S shoes?" Silver gasped, looking up at the adult. "Aren't those…special?"
"Although it isn't normal for children to get shoes before twelve," Shadow answered, "You are way more active than the average child and therefore need foot protection."
"Just something simple." The cobbler shrugged. "I am not used to making shoes for someone as small as you, so I'm not going to get fancy."
Silver could only sit and shock as the bear held various soles up to the hoglet's paws. Shoes? At this age? It was unbelievable.
The cobbler continued working along as Shadow watched, occasionally making a comment on how strong it needed to be. Silver could only sit, slacked jawed in astonishment. The bear trimmed away at hardened soles, grinding them into shape and drawing grooves into the outsole. With expert precision, patterns were drawn into leather and shaved away into odd looking shapes. Needle and thread danced along the seams, bringing the flattened shapes into a three dimensional form. Blades and thread continued on in what seemed like minutes, but was, in reality, a few hours. Finally, the hardened claws presented a pair of tiny shoes, perfect for Silver's young paws.
The small boots were simple, yet beautiful according to the young hedgehog. The soft brown leather expertly held together by stitching and supported by harsh brown soles built to withstand weather and rough terrain. The hoglet couldn't even speak as he slowly slipped them on, the instructions of how to lace the boots falling away from his ears. His fur pressed against his legs as the boots were tightened around his calves, providing protection he didn't know he needed against the bushes and sticks. Standing, the hoglet took his steps, feet feeling no pain from the stones below. Golden eyes looked up, tears welling in the ultimate sign of gratitude for the cobbler.
"Aw don't cry." The bear laughed, patting Silver on the head. "It's only temporary - you'll grow out of those really fast."
"Here's your payment." Shadow stated, handing over a few disks. After a quick thank you, the bear turned and disappeared into the shop, leaving Silver in shock.A red object caught the hoglet's view as the ranger thrust the apple back into the hands of the small child.
"I know you'll like this." Shadow mumbled, walking off and gesturing for Silver to follow.
Ivory hands brushed over the shiny fruit, mentally preparing to take a bite of the beautiful object. Slowly, the fruit was raised to his mouth, baby canines sinking into the outer layer and into the sweet juiciness below. The sugary bite almost brought Silver to his knees as he had never tasted such deliciousness before. Raspberries were nothing compared to the absolute tastiness of the lovely symphony of flavor.
"Silver." Shadow called. "Lets go."