Still having health issues but i managed to pop this out for you guys

What a relief. Finally the demon was gone. This nightmare could finally be over with. Silver ran towards the adult, calling out his name as he stumbled over the destroyed landscape. Slowly, Shadow turned towards the hoglet, eyes half closed as their eyes met. Silver called again as the adult stumbled forwards, balance wavering as a hand outstretched towards the young child.

"Silver…"

Silver had only barely heard the name cross his mouth before the adult collapsed on the ground. With a cry, he ran forwards - shaking Shadow with all his might. His trembling fingers grasped onto the thick cloak, firmly pulling on the fabric in an attempt to move the adult from his place on the forest floor.

"Shadow!" He called. "Wake up!"

"I'm awake." Shadow gasped, wincing slightly from the touch.. "I'm just… just tired…"

With a small whimper, Silver sat down next to the adult.

"I thought you died…" He sniffled, curling up and wiping at his eyes. "So many others did…"

"I don't die easily." Shadow mumbled, flipping onto his back and closing his eyes. "Believe me - I've tried."

"Why did you fall over then?" Silver questioned, curling up on the ground. "I thought you didn't get tired…"

"I should rephrase that." Shadow groaned, digging a stick out of his quills. "I don't get tired easily."

Silver didn't respond. The only noises he could make were half formed whimpers and a weird choking noise. For some inexplicable reason, there was a deep stabbing feeling in his chest. That place he just escaped…was full of nightmares. Yes, that experience would be in his nightmares for a while.

"I bet you're a bit traumatized." Shadow mumbled, with his eyes still closed. "I'll try my best to get you healed from this as soon as possible."

"Traum'atized?" Silver hiccuped, feeling his eyes grow a bit damp once again. "What does that mean?"

Shadow didn't answer. The ruby eyes slid open to look at the trembling child before him. For a split second, Silver could make out a distinct sadness in more than just the stoney eyes. Shadow's deadpan expression could change after all. The adult blinked a few times, shaking his head. Before Silver could ask the question again, Shadow opened his mouth.

"It's a few bad memories you never forget." Shadow sighed, laying his head back on the ground. "If you're lucky - it stays as a bad memory."

"If you're unlucky?" Silver asked, wiping his eyes.

"They start messing with your head." Shadow answered, his voice bringing chills to the air. "They linger in your footsteps and they never go away."

The deep red eyes opened again; the ranger sitting upright to look the hoglet straight in the eyes. Silver felt his body grow cold as Shadow reached out and grabbed the hoglet by his shoulders. With a gulp, he stared into the intense glare of the slightly glowing eyes.

"I will do my best to keep those memories from ever happening." Shadow growled, a tinge of anger hinting in his voice. "I will make sure you do not. End up. Like me."

Shadow let go of the hoglet. With an exhausted sigh, he let himself fall back on the ground. The ruby eyes closed, leaving Silver with a weird feeling. With a whine, the hoglet leaned on the adult's torso. His head rose up and down with the ranger's slow breathing.

"Why…?" Silver sniffled, wiping away a tear.

Shadow held his breath. For a while, the two just laid there, contemplating what was wrong with the question before the adult released the air in his lungs. The shiny black nose twitched, lightly trembling before Shadow opened his mouth.

"You're not old enough to know."

With a groan, Silver stood up; not wanting to deal with Shadow's cryptic nature.

"I noticed you've used your powers." Shadow mentioned without moving. "I told you that it's in you."

Silver stopped before he could walk away. Cautiously, he looked at his hands. The cyan circles on his palms seemed to stare back as he examined his mysterious markings. Shadow was right. He was able to use his powers. With a twitch, Silver turned his eyes to a distant rock. Could he do it again?

Squinting, he focused his eyes. A deep breath filled his lungs as he extended his tiny paw. With the concentration, came the aura. Oh how beautiful it was to see that. Wonder filled his eyes as the cyan reflections danced in the glassy white mirrors.

His power was…different from Shadow's. The cyan definitely had an energy flow, but it wasn't the electric-fire thing Shadow had. It was more fluid, flowing around his hands like water in a stream.

"Getting a good look?" Shadow grunted, eyes open to watch the young hedgehog. Silver was startled.

"Y-yes." He squeaked, the blue fading from his hands. "It's pretty…"

Shadow's own hand lit up. Silver kneeled down, looking at the reddish orange energy with fascination. It was definitely brighter than his own, obscuring the ranger's glove in the wavering glow.

"Yours is a different kind of energy." Shadow mumbled, ceasing the blaze. "It comes from your body - not your environment."

"My...body?" Silver asked, looking at his hands. Shadow reached out, taking the hoglet's paws and poking the strange circles.

"You have these on your feet too." Shadow stated. "You're like a battery - it comes in and out through these. At least I think it does…"

Silver traced the circles, his finger mixing the blue and white hairs as it moved through the fur.

"Your real power is in that head of yours." Shadow continued, jabbing the hoglet on his forehead with a finger. "That's the thing you have to tame."

Shadow slowly moved his hand to his chest, inhaling deeply before speaking again.

"I can teach you all the physical things you'll need to know." He spoke. "But the real power is in your will."

Silver's eyes grew wide.

"That part is up to you." Shadow spoke, closing his eyes and laying his head back down. "If you really want to have this power - you have to never give up on it."

Silver stared at the adult with a mix of confusion and curiosity. Was he trying to be motivational?

"I'm gonna sleep." Shadow grumbled, turning on his side. "So leave me alone if you want to keep your limbs."

Nevermind. Shadow was still Shadow. Deadpan, stoic, and a bit unempathetic. Although at this point, Silver highly doubted the adult would actually intentionally hurt him. Although he was a bit mean, Shadow did seem to genuinely care about him. Even though his methods of looking after him were… lacking.

With a sigh, Silver stood back up. Looking at his hands, the hoglet let out a tiny smile. He did just figure out how to activate his powers after all. There was no way he wasn't gonna try to use it. Calling the aura once again, his golden eyes stared down at the rock. He was going to move it. Even if it took all night. If he can move a cell door, he can move a dinky little rock.

With a deep breath, Silver extended his paws. Golden eyes stared down at the rock, eyes every detail on its gray surface. A twitch of the hand, and the rock was enveloped by the cyan lights. Silver couldn't even speak as his face lit up like a lightbulb. A huge smile crossed his face as he turned his palms face up. Slowly, and thoughtfully, Silver raised his paws - the rock following in elevation. Yes.

"Shadow!" Silver cried. "I'm doing it!"

Golden eyes turned excitedly to the ranger, face full of pride as the rock stayed above the ground. However, Shadow laid unconscious on the ground, reminding the hoglet of the adult's previous predicament. He was in no mood to watch his young charge - nor was he in any…waking state.

Silver turned back to the rock, excited to find it still in his grasp. With a squint, he turned his hands, slowly twisting the rock in midair. At least he had control, even if it wasn't that great. Even though he could call the aura, he still couldn't do anything…quickly. Not like Shadow. Dropping the rock, Silver turned back to the adult. Shadow was right. Sleep would be good to get. Especially after today.

Grunting, the hoglet dropped to the decayed forest floor. Staring up at the bright sky, the hoglet pondered on the previous events. What the heck even happened?

Well first of all, he got caught by the…what was it…Syndicate people. They were really mean, sticking him in a cage and almost cutting him open. Yeah that fox was not very nice at all.

Second of all was Shadow. Scaring the crap out of him and burning the cave to the ground. Shadow never did anything subtly. He probably killed all those guards.

There were also the other kids. What was up with them? Being stuck in cages. Girls being drug off. The weird suit guys with said girls. The little kids. Money. That didn't make any sense in Silver's young head. He did admire the teens' determination to keep the younger ones safe though.

Turning, Silver huffed. The midday sun made it difficult to sleep. Flipping back over, the hoglet squeezed his eyes shut. His cheeks turned red as he puffed them out, squeezing his eyes shut in an attempt to force himself to sleep. There was no luck. Perhaps he just needed to relax instead.