Shadows POV

I shot up in bed frantically looking around, my vision blurry.

"Shadow! Calm down!"

I look over of where the voice came from and saw blue... like that other hedgehog...

I started to back up a little bit. I crawled backwards but I felt nothing to place my hand on. The next thing I know, I'm falling. I hit the floor with a 'thud' and squeeze my eyes shut at the pain that intruded my skull. I groaned and reached my right hand to the back of my head. I felt a bump and my hand became wet. I pulled my hand to the front of my face were I saw a crimson liquid covering my hand.

Blood....

I had panicked, fell, hit the ground hard, and now I'm bleeding... all on Christmas Day morning... A figure comes from the side and looks at me.

"Shadow? You okay?" it said.

I looked at it and waited for my vision to clear. A moment later it fully cleared and I saw Maria's worried face. I stared at her for a moment trying to process fully what happened.

"Maria?" I squeaked out.

"Are you okay Shadow? I tried to wake you up but you didn't and you started to whimper and then you woke and, and..." she said frantically as she came down and held me in her lap, tears threatening to come out her eyes.

"Sorry... I had a strange dream that had freaked me out... I didn't mean to panic..." I said softly, looking at her with apologetic eyes.

She gave a sigh of relief and closed her eyes, one stray tear rolling down her cheek. She then tilted her head down a little more and I heard her sniffle. I reached up to her with my non-covered bliss hand, and thumbed her stray tear, cupping her cheek afterwards. She opened her eyes once more and looked at me. I try to give a reassuring smile and I must have failed horribly as I heard Maria giggle. Her laugh made me smile knowing she was alright now.

"Come on, I need to fix the damage you did to yourself. Then we can get dressed and go get breakfast," Maria said with a soft smile while getting up and going to the bathroom for the emergency first aid kit.

Once she left, I brought my legs down from on my bed and got up off the floor. Once I stood to my full height, I looked at the bed and noticed the teddy bear that Maria had given me the night before.

I smiled at the thought about all the different ways I could repay Maria for the gifts she gave me. I looked down in thought and saw that I was still wearing the sweater that she had made me. Then I remembered our conversation last night... I feel bad for everyone on the ARK... They don't celebrate holidays...

I was in such deep thought that I didn't notice Maria come up and sit down in front of me. She reached her hand out and grabbed mine and I jumped being brought out of my thoughts.

"So jumpy... I need you to sit on the bed so I could get to your wound," she said.

I nodded and moved so I would sit next to her on the bed. Once I sat down, I turned away from her so she could get my head. As she started to clean my head injury, I let my mind wander so I didn't feel the pain. Even if I can heal quicker than any being on ARK, thanks to Mr. Claine (sarcasm), it's better if I use medical help as well.

As my mind wandered, I thought about my dream last night... and that other hedgehog... what's his name again? I think I had called him Faker... I think that's a nickname though. What kind of nickname is that? Why was he following me? To go to some get together? How was he keeping up with me in the first place?! He didn't have skates! But he was actually running... with his feet... somehow.... but last I checked, Maria said that the fastest thing on Earth was the... cheetah...? and it could only go sixty mile per hour, if I used my skates while running I'm as fast, and sometimes faster, than sound. Why was I annoyed by him? Where we actually down on Earth?

Oh my god.... all these questions are giving me a headache for my already hurt head...

"I'm done Shads. We can get dressed and get breakfast now," Maria said breaking me from my thoughts once more.

I gave a sigh of relief as I would have something to keep my mind off that dream...

I get my cloths as Maria walks into the bathroom to shower. I probably won't be able to get one for a few hours. At least until my head is healed.

I started to take off my pj shirt and walked over to my sliding mirror to get a shirt. I reached for the handle on he mirror but stopped as I saw the scar on my stomach. I slowly reached a hand up to it and traced the mark down my stomach... the one Claine gave to me five years ago...

I sigh and look down at my stomach before sighing again and opening the mirror door to get my shirt. Once having my shirt I put it on, a red t-shirt like the one I first wore. I then walk over to my dresser to get my other cloths. I open the first drawer and my mind brings last nights dream up again...

I hope I can keep my mind off that dream long enough to forget about it... or it might drive me insane to figure it out...