Thorns and Roses Chp 63

     At the workshop, Sonic was in his room sitting on his bed with Shadow, Amy and Tails in there as well.

"I'm sorry guys." Sonic looked directly at Amy, who had her arms crossed, while speaking, "I just…lost it."

"It's okay Sonic. It's not the first time I've been in a situation like that." Amy blushed a little.

"What?" Sonic looked at Amy sternly.

"Well uh…" Amy looked nervously over at Shadow, who was sitting quietly in a chair in the corner, away from everyone else. He was keeping to himself and he looked up at Amy. Sonic glared over at Shadow.

"I meant that I was in danger more than once." Amy corrected herself.

Sonic relaxed, "Oh. Well, I was going to talk to Shadow about this. He knows more in this department than anyone else I know." Everyone looked at Shadow after Sonic spoke as if they were waiting for a full explanation. Shadow sighed and stood.

"Sonic. You have no experience in this form. It's not like you can just overcome it. It takes time to master." Shadow gave a brief explanation, but couldn't help but notice Tails staring at his wounds even though he was on the other side of the room. Shadow left the room immediately, leaving Sonic a bit confused.

Amy followed Shadow quickly. Perhaps this is what he intended. Amy followed Shadow into his room. She peaked around the doorway in his room and saw him grip the blood-stained sheets. Amy thought she was unnoticed, but she was wrong. "Come in, Amy." Shadow said. Amy dropped her ears and entered with her hands behind her back.

"Sit down for a minute." He looked at her and sat down on the edge of his bed.

She sat down nervously, "Yes?"

"What happened to me?" Shadow was slightly hunched over with both hands on the bed.

"What do you mean?" Amy questioned curiously.

"I don't…remember." Shadow rubbed his eye with the palm of his hand.

"I was going to ask you the same thing anyway." Amy said comfortingly, "But you do remember me right?"

Shadow leaned up and lifted Amy's head with his finger to face his, "How could I forget you?" He grinned softly, "I remember everything except for that day."

"Wait a minute!" Shadow stood quickly, ruining Amy's moment.

"What?" She stood also in disappointment.

"Sonic got bit. But I wasn't awake when he did!" Shadow said as his mind wondered.

"Your point?" Amy wrapped her hands around his arm.

"Who else could Sonic have gotten bitten by besides me? I'm the only one of my kind around here now." Shadow explained.

Amy's eyes filled with discouragement and anger, "You mean that tacky dressed, big-eared tramp is here again?"

Shadow didn't reply as he was deep in thought, "I must see Sonic alone. You may come if you like, but that little fox mustn't hear."

Amy nodded and followed Shadow to Sonic's room. Amy asked if the three could talk for a minute and the young fox's face dropped. He was left out now to wait in the hall with the door shut.

"Do you remember what happened to you, Sonic?" Shadow questioned directly.

Sonic put his finger under his chin and thought, "Um. I remember saying a few…words…and then someone grabbed me."

"Did you see or recognize the face?" Amy questioned ahead of Shadow.

"Not necessarily, but I did remember the voice." Sonic replied.

Shadow drew more interested, "Female?"

"I…don't know. I kind of blurred for a moment and then everything got painful." Sonic answered.

"Mm." Shadow took Amy by the hand and left the room immediately.

"Oh, bye Sonic!" Amy spoke quickly, being dragged by Shadow, "Hi Tails!"

Tails looked at the two confusingly as he watched them run down the stairs and out the door.

"Shadow, where are you taking me?" Amy giggled.

Shadow slowed down soon when he reached the road. He was perfectly fine, but Amy was losing breath. She playfully through her arms around Shadow's neck and continued laughing. Her fragrance wafted up in his face. He had almost forgotten the ecstasy that comes from her scent. He ignored it even though it made him a bit nervous, "Okay, okay. I've caught my breath. Now where are we going?" She said.
"J-just out and about." He replied. She stood normally and leaned her head over on Shadow's shoulder, momentarily forgetting about Sonic's current problem, "Is that so?"
"Are you sure you feel safe around me?" Shadow questioned. Amy looked at him strangely, still wearing a half grin, "What?"

"You heard me." He replies.

"Where did that question come from?" She questioned again.

"I…don't know." He answered then quickly changed the subject, "Where were you yesterday?"

Amy knew Shadow couldn't remember very much of yesterday, so she replied calmly, "Well, I was on a picnic with Sonic, Cream, and Tails."

"Where was I?"

"You said you wanted to stay home."

Now, the two were down the road far enough than nobody could hear them, even though it didn't matter. "How long were you gone?" Shadow asked Amy.

"A good while. It was about lunch time when I left, and it wasn't until dark when I returned." Amy answered.

Shadow look up upward and watched the trees blow in the wind while he felt of the holes in his stomach. The scratch on his side from the female was gone when Shadow awoke this morning anyway; leaving him unaware that he had it in the first place. There was silence for a while. Amy felt bad for Shadow. She wondered why all these bad things happen to him, and then she wondered if this was the reason Shadow was always so… upset looking. Shortly, they entered an especially dark part of the forest. The sun was hidden from sight because the trees and briers were so thick around the road and overhead.
     Suddenly, a scream was heard from the way they just came. Shadow was the first to turn around. There was a hill in the road they came from, causing the workshop to not be visible.

"Why did I do that?" Shadow shouted as he snatched Amy's hand in his fist and pulled her into his arms while skating to the workshop.

"What?" Amy questioned loudly.

"I left Sonic alone!" He shouted.

Due to Shadow's speed, the workshop was in sight within 3 seconds. Shadow sped quickly into the yard and heard something that sounded like glass breaking in the back yard. Amy pointed to it. "No time!" Shadow responded as he pulled her into the house and locked the door behind him. He ran up the stairs so fast it's like he glided over them. Amy followed. When they reached the top, they saw Tails lying on the floor, crying with blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

"What happened?" Shadow questioned.

Amy walked to Tails and bent down. "I-I don't know. I just asked Sonic if he wanted some water, and he…he…" Tails grabbed his cheek, where a bloody bruise was appearing. He breathed in quickly while speaking. Shadow gripped his fists. Amy looked up at him as if she was waiting for him to demand and order, but he just stared at Tails' bruise. She thought she saw him grit his teeth. Before she could say anything further, Shadow was already half-way down the stairs. He slammed the front door open and went off in the direction the glass was shattered in.
     "Shadow!" Amy ran down the stairs and into the front yard, "Where are you going?"  Shadow walked quickly, "I'm going find Sonic." Amy caught up, "I'm going too!" Shadow faced her, "No! I'm going alone and you're staying with that fox!"

"And who are you to tell me what to do?" She snapped angrily. "Someone who knows what'll happen if he manages to find you two," Shadow exclaimed. Amy softened her expression, but kept it firm, "I'm going with you, and you better not try to stop me." He saw that it was pointless to argue, so he gave a hesitant nod and Amy grinned in return.