5
It had been a few days since Shadow left Maddie the rock and the note, and she's been thinking about how he's been ever since. She hasn't seen him anytime she goes to the clinic and she hasn't seen him lurking in any shady alleyways, and if she's being honest, she's a bit worried about him. She hasn't been able to check on or rebandage his leg, if it gets infected he could be in serious trouble, maybe even lose his leg. Just as she was starting to panic in her mind she was brought out of her head by a knocking on the window. When she turned her head to look out it she was met with the sight of a dirty black and red streaked hedgehog. She stood up instantly and opened the window for him to climb inside.
"May I have more of these smooth brown things?" Was the first thing out of his mouth once he was inside, holding up an empty ziploc baggie.
"Wha- what the heck happened to you!" She didn't raise her voice but he still seemed to tense up.
" If you're referring to my appearance, a small fluffy beast attempted to steal my cookie and I fought it." He spoke carefully, trying not to make her anymore upset.
She however, responded by laughing.
"Are you alright?" She chuckled
"Yes. I won" he stuck out his hand with the ziploc in it as if to silently remind her what he was here for.
"Alright, I'll give you more chocolate covered coffee beans. If, you take a bath and let me check your injuries." She had a hand in her hip and sly smile on her lips like she won.
Shadow considered these option before finally sighing, "I'll allow you to check over me." He crossed his arms after she grabbed the bag
"And a shower." She added but only got a head shake in response. "Shadow, you're filthy, you need to bathe. No one else is home so you'll be fine."
"No."
"No?" The look she gave him made his confident expression falter for a split second.
"I refuse to let my guard down around even you. Your kindness is just a ploy to capture me and take revenge. I know you aren't planning on doing much to help me, it would be a waste of energy, and I refuse to make my capture easy for you."
This silenced her.
"Shadow, you really think I would do that?"
"Of course."
"You know, some people actually want to help others. Even without anything in return. In this case, you get clean and I get to know you're not filthy and infected." She gestured to his leg and scratches, probably from the animal he fought.
He paused for a moment, thinking of Maria before sighing, "A quick shower and bandage, then I get my chocolate things and leave." He looked up at her expectantly.
"Sounds fair." She smiled and they shook on it, Shadow only hesitating for a second.
_
When Shadow got out of the shower he put his gloves and shoes on before slowly going down the stairs, favoring his hurt leg.
"That was quicker than I thought it would be." The lady smiled at him before handing him a bigger bag of more small brown things.
"...thank you" he mumbled as he sat on a chair she pulled out, by her medical supplies.
"So Shadow, correct my if I'm wrong, but you don't know my name do you?" He shook his head in response
"I've been calling you doctor lady in my head, it would be.. nice to have a name to put to the face."
She chuckled, the nickname reminded her of when sonic called her pretzel lady.
"Well, I'm Maddie."
Shadow met her eyes for a second before looking away, "Thank you, Maddie."
"It's not a problem, I love helping. It is my job after all."
She finished rebandaging his leg and patted his head before getting up to get him a glass of water. He accepted it with a thanks and sipped it slowly. Maddie's phone vibrated and she pulled it out before frowning.
"Looks like the boys are headed back home." Her words made Shadow set the cup down and look at her.
"Thank you for the assistance, but I should get going." He slid off the chair and headed towards the front door.
"Alright... Just, come to me if you need any help. You can trust me." She opened the door for him and waved as he left into the woods off to the side.
_
When shadow got back to his small fort he laid out the beans and separated them into piles of five. He was allowed to have one pile everyday, if he does it like that they should last him a few weeks, maybe a month. They had a smooth and sweet layer covering them but underneath was an even smoother, bittersweet crunch. That was his favorite part, he wished the flavor would last forever, but like everything else eventually, it was gone and replaced by nothingness. What a sad thought, the fact that life was ultimately meaningless since everything comes to an end eventually, some ending sooner than others.