𝙰𝚙𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚎

      Sonic stayed with the naga for about three more days. The naga's victim, which the striped one had previously eaten, had already been digested, after which he began to little by little also eat meat from the refrigerator, because there were still supplies. He began to fatten the hedgehog every day and gradually the baby’s belly became larger, larger and rounder. With such a belly, he could barely move. Or rather, he could still move. He just had to force himself to do it, as he became slow. Even at supersonic speed, he began to move more slowly, so that it seemed as if he was just running as usual, like all ordinary mortals. This made him even run out of steam a little, get tired and sit down. As the night approached, Sonic already felt that he was full and was almost groaning from the pain in his stomach from overeating. The striped one brought the baby some extra mashed potatoes. — Here's a refill, Sonic. — Thank you. Do not want anymore. — What happened to you? — I think I’ve eaten too much and my stomach hurts. Nothing else will fit into me. — It's a pity! I prepared it for you. Such tasty and healthy potatoes. — Shadow said sadly, shifting the bowl of mashed potatoes to himself, deciding to eat it himself along with the fried steak. — Would you like a drink? — No. Thank you. I better go and lie down! — the hedgehog answered and, barely holding on to the table, tried to get down. But I just couldn’t resist and fell to the floor on my stomach. It hurt so much that he groaned. — “Looks like I overdid it.” — Shadow thought, got up from the table, picked up the baby and put it in his nest. He was still moaning, holding his stomach. Striped opened a small cache in the form of a boulder, which covered a hole in the floor. Inside was a white chest, and inside it were medicines from bandages to pills and bottles of liquids. Among the pills he found one for stomach pain. He takes a glass cup, pours some juice and brings it to Sonic. He was still lying there, holding his stomach and moaning with his eyes closed. The naga took advantage of this. He quietly put a pill in his mouth and poured juice into his mouth so that he would wash the pill down. It worked. Sonic didn't even have time to feel anything and spit it out. — What did you give me? — Don't be afraid. This is to prevent your stomach from hurting. He really didn't hurt that much anymore. Sonic could relax and gradually he did not notice how he fell asleep. The striped one himself finished his dinner, climbed into the nest, covered Sonic with his tail, like a blanket, and also fell asleep.

***

      This time, Shadow woke up earlier than Sonic, ate raw and whole sausage from the refrigerator, so as not to waste time on breakfast right away, and headed for the exit. Suddenly something grabbed him by the tail. He turned and saw the hedgehog himself, who grabbed him. — Uh. What are you doing? — asked the predator. — Sorry, I’m just bored sitting at your house all day. Can I go with you! — With me? — Shadow asked and began to think about it. — Promise to stay close and not leave my side! — I promise, Shadow. — Sonic agreed. Having agreed, the nag and the baby left the house and walked together through the dried-up swamp. The snake-hedgehog crawled slowly and looked around, and the little hedgehog ran after him, jumping. Although with such a big belly it was difficult for him to move. While they were walking, Sonic, after about half an hour, was already tired and began to catch his breath. Stopping in place, next to the oak tree, he fell a little behind the striped snake hedgehog. — Wait for me! — he asked through shortness of breath. Naga turned back and returned to the baby. — Did you run around? Not as fast as before. — Well, yes. You have fattened me up so much that I begin to get tired when moving and almost become lazy. — Sonic explained. Shadow rolled his eyes, smiling, and took the baby in his arms. Although he was heavier due to the added weight, the naked body was strong enough to hold him up. — I don’t understand why you feed me so much so that I become so fat? — What do you mean why? You always ate only porridge and nothing else. So to speak, I decided to take pity on you and give you the most fried, sweet and fatty foods so that you can fill up for your entire lost life. — A! Okay. — Sonic answered. — “He still doesn’t know that I’m actually fattening him up on purpose. But when he finally understands this, it will be too late.” — Shadow himself grinned in his thoughts. Then he noticed a spring with a river through which drinking and slightly salty mineral water flowed. — Look! Spring! The hedgehog himself barely got off the naga’s arms and crawled to the river. He took some water in his hand and drank. The water was indeed salty, as it was mineral, but for that it was very healthy. Even though he winced from the salt water, he still drank it. At this time, Shadow spat out from his mouth the empty teapot he had been carrying in his stomach. Having collected this very water, he closes the kettle and swallows it again. Sonic at this time noticed a grasshopper that was chirping and jumping past him. The hedgehog tried to grab him, but the grasshopper managed to jump away. Sonic jumped up and tried to catch it, but only fell to the ground and the grasshopper ran away. — What are you doing? — the naga didn’t understand, looking at Sonic. — I'm hunting. But something doesn’t work out. Striped laughed and said: — So you won’t succeed. Let me teach you! — he suggested to Sonic and looked around. Nag saw nearby a stupid chicken that had escaped from the village and was walking free through the forest. — O! Here. First, hide! The main thing is not to make a sound! Hide! — he whispered to the hedgehog, pointing his claw at the chicken, which was nearby, walking along and just pecking something. Sonic lay down on all fours and hid like a cat, preparing to attack. — Get ready!... Wait until the victim suspects danger... A-a-and... Attack! — he finished, waving his hand and Sonic quickly ran to the attack. The chicken, when she saw that the hedgehog was running towards her, did not have time to think of running away, when the baby immediately caught her in his arms. The chicken tried to break free and fly away, screaming in her chicken language, but Sonic held her tightly and refused to let go. Shadow laughed and said: — Well done, Sonic. This is how you have to hunt if you want to survive in the forest to get food. — Food? — The hedgehog's eyes bulged and looked at the chicken itself, which this time no longer resisted or tried to escape. She just looked at Sonic with her stupid eyes and didn’t understand what he would do to her now. Sonic himself decided that she was sad and looked at him sadly, begging him to let her go. Sonic almost cried himself, but found it difficult to hold back his tears. He lowers the chicken to the ground and lets it go. — Run! Run, baby! — he told her and gently pushed her with his palm so that she would run away. However, she simply walked away slowly and did not forget to cluck under her beak. Letting the chicken go, he went to Shadow and waited for him to crawl further so that he could follow him. He stood still and didn’t understand why he let her go. He even asked him about it: — I don’t understand?... Why did you let her go?... She’s your prey. You caught it, which means you have to eat it. Why did you let her go and get her go? — I just felt sorry for her. I didn’t want her to get hurt... It’s just that this chicken was... So small... So defenseless... And she didn’t even resist... I didn’t want her to suffer because of me. Let him run. The main thing is that you at least taught me how to hunt. — the hedgehog explained and only smiled at the last phrase. After all, at least the baby listened to him and actually learned at least something from him. — Shadow, tell me honestly! If you were in my place, would you do the same? Why eat something so small and defenseless? A? The striped naga only became thoughtful and could not answer him. The only thing he answered you was: — Let's better go home! I'll make you some tea! Without waiting for an answer from the naga, Sonic followed him and decided not to pester him with this question. While they were walking, Sonic also followed the naked one, but lagged behind a little, as he was again tired from the road. Shadow even forgot about it, that he didn’t think to stop and help him, picking him up again. The hedgehog got tired again and stopped, catching his breath. — Wait for me, Shadow! But he had already crawled so far away from him that he did not hear him. Sonic could only stand in place for a while and rest so that he could move on and return home. Otherwise, suddenly he will scold him again for disobeying him and not always being by his side. Although part of this is Shadow’s own fault. He walks straight along the trail of a long tail left in the sand and along the way he stops again, catching his breath. His breathing could not cope with his obesity. Even my heart was beating so fast in my chest that my chest felt like it was heartburn or something like hot. Tired from the road, the kid sits down next to an oak tree and decides to sit for a while. Maybe Shadow himself will come back for him and pick him up, since he found him by smell last time. Suddenly, Sonic heard a roar. At first he thought it was like his stomach was growling. This would be logical, because he has now become fat and now eats too much. However, the growl came from a different place. He barely rose to his feet and looked around. A large dire wolf, covered with thick dark blue fur and with a scar under its eye, jumped out from behind a huge hummock. He looked at the hedgehog with terrible lights in his eyes and licked his lips. Finally he found his prey. Sonic gasped and widened his eyes, realizing that the beast wanted to eat him. The direwolf jumped, stretched his paws forward and opened his mouth, trying to catch the boy. Sonic luckily manages to dodge and runs away. The huge wolf gets on all fours, wags its tail, standing still, like a hidden cat, and runs to attack after its prey. Sonic tried to run as fast as he could. However, this time he was not so fast. His super speed dropped sharply to only one hundred and twenty kilometers per hour. Gradually he slowed down and ran out of steam. Even the vision in his eyes blurred and he got tired again. However, he did not want to stop, since that predator was chasing him and was about to catch up with him. The direwolf, by the way, did not lag behind and ran exactly after him, despite the fact that he had essentially almost pulled away from him. Having reached a huge log, he jumped and tried to climb. However, Sonic was tired and almost moaned through his teeth, trying to climb. Unable to resist, he falls to the ground and looking upside down at the direwolf behind him, he could no longer do anything. All that was left was to close your eyes and pray. The wolf came running and jumped up with a roar, preparing to pounce on the baby and eat him. Suddenly, Shadow himself jumped out from behind the other side of the log with his loud roar, like a lion's, and his arms outstretched. The wolf widened his eyes and froze in place, frightened by such an animal on his way. The nag pounced on him, knocked him over and threw him back. The direwolf stands up, shakes off his muzzle and looks menacingly at the striped naga. Even the naked man himself looks at the wolf menacingly and hisses at him through his fangs. The wolf attacks first and stands on its hind legs, trying to pounce on the snake’s head, and the snake grabs its muzzle with both hands. The wolf barks and tries to bite the naga, holding him by the shoulders with its front paws. Shadow held his muzzle tightly and did not let him get close to him. — Ugh! Do you even brush your teeth, dog-freak? Without waiting for an answer, he raises his tail, squeezes the tip of the tail like a fist and sharply hits the direwolf on the nose with it. He yelps from the blow and falls back. Having come to his senses, he sees that Shadow is standing above him and taller than him, and then growls loudly at him like a huge monster. His wolf got scared and, yapping along the road like a crying puppy, ran away. — Run, run, you coward! — he hissed after him, and then turned to the hedgehog and crawled towards him. — Sonic, are you okay? — Seems to be yes. — the blue fat man answered and looked around. The striped naga saved him from that wolf. He couldn't believe his eyes. — Glory to Chaos! — he answers and hugs the hedgehog. — I'm sorry I left you here alone! What a fool I am! I didn’t keep track you, but I barely saved you. — Everything is fine! Thanks for saving me, dad. — the hedgehog answers and his eyes bulge out from the fact that he just called Shadow dad. Even Shadow widened his eyes at what he heard, took the baby by the shoulders and looked at him. — You called me dad? — Uh... I guess... Yes... — Sonic answered a little shyly. Yes. This was unexpected for both of them. Although there is no need to blame Sonic here. After all, he always wanted a father who would always protect him, forgive him for any stupidity, calm him down if somewhere was bad or sad, take pity on him, and even help anyone out of trouble. He always wanted such a dad. While Shadow also once dreamed as a child that in the future, when he grows up and becomes an adult, and then gets married, he will also have his own son or at least a daughter, whom he will always protect from big and scary ones, and will also teach him to hunt, just as he had previously taught the hedgehog to hunt that chicken. He didn’t answer anything, Shadow simply hugged the baby again, which he was surprised by, but then he smiled and also hugged him back. After that, Shadow crawled home, but this time he held Sonic in his arms, because he understood that he was already tired and had walked around the forest that day. And for one thing I suffered all that running and chasing from that huge wolf.