Chapter Text
“My children,” wheezes Dr. Gerald Robotnik, gesturing from his deathbed to the two figures huddled in the doorway. “Come… closer.”
They shuffle closer. “Grandfather,” says Maria, meekly. She wants to say more, but her voice sticks stubborn in her throat.
Besides her Shadow grumbles, barely audible, “We aren't kids anymore.”
The professor chuckles hoarsely. “Oh, but you look so young to these old eyes… listen to me, my clever children, who know so much.” His vacant gaze is wistful.
“There is a place I must tell you about. When I was young… so very young, such a long time ago… I lived on a place called Piñata Island.
“It is a wonderful place, filled with many unique animals, and… fascinating plants. I always wanted to go back and study the peculiar ecosystem, but it was never the right time.” He pauses, breathing slightly harder from the effort of speaking so long.
“I could live… ten lifetimes there, and it would not be time enough to uncover the secrets those islands hold.”
He looks so sad, regret lining the many weary angles of his ancient face. Then his expression lifts, however lightly, and he sighs. “So, I must leave the islands and their secrets… to the two of you. I have some land there, a small piece of property… it isn't much, but there is the sort of place where you do not need much to be happy.”
He reaches out to them, and they surge forward to clasp his trembling hands within their own.
“Go. Learn the ways of the island. Protect each other. I know… you will do well.”
“We will,” says Maria, eyes wide, lower lip trembling.
Shadow inclines his head, clasps tighter the wizened hand cradled in his paws. “I promise we will make you proud.”
“That… I was never in doubt of,” says Gerald weakly. “Come… here.”
They fly into his arms and cling to him tightly. He quickly tires and must let go to lay down again; they crawl into bed alongside him and lay there, listening, as his ragged panting shifts to the gentle, if slightly hoarse, deep breaths of slumber.
He sleeps, his grandchildren tucked into the crook of either arm. They remain awake, quiet, listening.
Its late into the night when his breath slips away, so peacefully that for a moment they do not realize what has just happened.
Then too many seconds have passed, and twin wails ring out as his chest does not rise again.
Several weeks pass by in a haze before they remember their grandfather’s final request. They don’t speak of it, much, except to agree that they’re going.
There’s nothing left for them here. With grandfather gone, GUN is taking an interest. Better to leave now, remove themselves quietly from the picture before some uppity general does it for them.
They pack their belongings, and leave on the next ship.
Among the few physical items Gerald left to them, there is a large box. Inside they find the deed to the promised land, as well as a sealed letter and several mysterious, oddly shaped parcels.
They read the letter first.
To my dear Shadow, and my darling Maria,
If you are reading this letter, then you are following in my footsteps, as has long been my secret hope.
I’m sure you have many questions about the place to which I have sent you. I shall do my best to anticipate them, and answer what I can.
The Archipelapiñatago is not well understood among human civilization. It belongs to the Mobians, who do not often allow humans to settle within their more protected territories.
Our family is one of those privileged few. It has been many years now since any Robotnik called the island home. This must be corrected. Our ancestral home must not be allowed to rot away and be forgotten.
I have included with this letter a map. The Archipelapiñatago is a large region with many islands exhibiting a remarkable variety of ecosystems.
Your new home is on the largest island. It goes by several names, but most simply call it Piñata Island. It has a warm and mild climate, and is the most densely populated of all the islands. Current data indicates it has the widest biodiversity of any single island in the region, however such a claim is difficult to substantiate without dedicated research.
The local culture is fairly unique among Mobian civilizations. It is customary to wear a mask as well as the standard gloves and shoes. There is little data on how this practice originated, but the residents adhere to it without exception, and I recommend the two of you do the same.
It is customary to make your own mask, but it will take time to learn the craft. In the meantime, choose from among the masks I have included. Treat them well; each one is a family heirloom, passed down to me by my own father.
Follow the path I have marked out for you on the map. Some of the roads may have changed in the time since this map was drawn; I trust that together, you will be able to overcome any challenge in that regard.
Treat the Island with respect. Do whatever you will within the bounds of the garden, but do not meddle with what lies outside your property lines.
It is likely that the local wildlife will attempt to make a home in your garden as soon as it becomes a suitable habitat. Trust me when I say it’s better to work with them than against them. Treat them fairly and they will reward you in due time.
I am only sorry that I cannot be at your side for this adventure. The island is a truly wonderful place; I often imagine what it would be like to see it all for the first time again!
The two of you have been my guiding light through my twilight years. Now you must light the way for each other.
Love,
Grandfather
Maria refolds the letter, careful not to let her tears mar it, and slips it safely back into the envelope. She then takes the second piece of paper and unfolds it; as promised, its a map.
It shows a chain of islands. The largest are clustered in one spot, becoming smaller and more distant from each other as it continues towards either end. The northernmost tip has several small islands colored entirely white. The southern tip consists of a single medium-sized island accompanied by several slender barrier islands. The terrain there is color-coded warm, sandy brown.
Shadow leans in and points to a small circle drawn in faded blue ink, along the coast of the largest island (although not by much.) “There,” he murmurs. “That’s where we’re going.”
The ocean journey is uneventful. They spend most of their time in their cabin; as it turns out, while Maria quite enjoys the brisk sea breeze and constant rolling motion, Shadow has a tendency to get… seasick. It’s not as bad as some of the other passengers have it, but its enough to keep him bound to bed or chair with a bucket close at hand.
Pulling into port is a relief. Some of the sailors don masks as they draw near the busy docks; most do not. A few make comments under their breath and snigger nastily to each other.
The wayward siblings share a look, and retreat to the cabin to retrieve their chosen masks.
For Maria, the choice was easy. There were only two masks small enough to fit her slender face: a gnarled green face, possibly reptilian in nature, with red swirling horns sticking out every which way, or a golden half-mask set with rays splayed outward like the spokes of the sun.
She dons the glimmering golden mask. It fits like a glove, resting perfectly over the curve of her angular nose.
Shadow chooses the simplest design of those available. A smooth black shell, with vivid red framing the eyeholes and dramatic striping dividing it vertically in half.
They study each other for a long moment. Maria thinks that once, she might have laughed at how silly he looks, his face all covered up and smoothed over, like a painted egg.
She hasn’t laughed since Grandfather died.
Shadow is the first to break the silence. “It suits you,” he says.
“I thought so,” Maria says. “Do you think they’ll mind that they can see my mouth?”
“He wouldn’t have given it to us if it’s not suitable.”
The sailors haul their luggage down the gangway and stack it a short ways from the dock, but that’s the furthest they’ll go. Shadow and Maria are left to stand and stare dismally at this new problem.
“You know,” Maria says after a long moment, “It really didn’t feel like that much when we were packing.”
Shadow nods in agreement. “I don’t think we can carry this all in one trip,” he says seriously.
Maria pulls out the map and carefully unfolds it. She purses her lips as she scans through the legend and then follows the thin path traced out for them with her finger.
“The cabin is two miles out of town,” she says eventually. “If we take the more valuable things with us first, then…”
“Should you walk that far?” Shadow asks, sounding mildly alarmed. “You’re getting stronger, but if we make two trips, that’s eight miles.” He casts a critical eye at the collection of boxes, bags, and suitcases heaped on the pavement before them. “And I think it might take more than two trips.”
Maria sighs. Truthfully, she probably can’t do all that. If it was just the walking, then maybe, but if she’s helping to carry things…
“Hey! Hello! Sorry, I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but it sounds like you two could use a porter!”
They turn. There’s a person approaching them, wildly waving as a long striped tail twists back and forth behind them. Their mask is stark white, with two long pointed ears swooping back, and a slanting muzzle that comes to a sharp point. Their eyes are violet, gleaming with good humor from within the mask.
Maria steps forward and offers her hand. “Hello,” she says brightly. “You heard right. Am I correct in assuming you’re offering your services?”
“That I am! The name’s Tangle, local tail-for-hire. You got rings, then I got you!”
They do have rings, thanks to Grandfather’s foresight. They’re not rich by any means, but he left them enough of the Mobian currency that they won’t struggle to build a life here.
They haggle, briefly. Shadow’s not a very good negotiator, which is why Maria does the talking. She talks Tangle down to a price that’s fair for both parties. Honestly, she probably could have gotten a really good deal if she kept pushing… but Tangle seems sweet, if a little naive. Maria prefers to show mercy in such cases.
Shadow counts out the rings, and Tangle hefts nearly their entire collection of luggage with just her tail. Shadow insists on carrying what little is left, and Maria is left with just her satchel to hold.
Tangle takes one look at the map and confidently announces that she knows exactly where they’re going. She leads them through town, moving with such speed that they nearly lose her a few times- although admittedly that's moreso because there's so much to look at.
Its the most colorful place either of them have ever seen. All the inhabitants are wearing masks, most of them incredibly elaborate and all of them brightly painted. A few folks stop and wave as they pass through, but most go about their day without acknowledging the necomwers in their midst.
The plants are huge and vibrant, many of the otherwise commonplace flowers sporting unusual patterns on their petals and leaves. Maria sees several species she thinks she recognizes, but there's just enough difference from the ones she's used to that she can't be sure.
The further they go, the more interesting things get. At the sight of a bird wheeling overhead, Maria stops right in her tracks to stare up at it, spellbound— it’s so colorful! And its patterns are so intricate-…she squints, trying to see it better, but the winged shape wheels higher and disappears into a cloud bank.
“Maria,” calls Shadow from ahead, “We’re going to lose her!” She comes back to herself with a start and races to catch up.
Hardly a minute passes before a dog barks somewhere nearby, followed by an earsplitting yowl and a frenzy of yelps. Moments later a blue blur streaks out of a nearby alleyway, followed by a smaller blip of fuzzy yellow.
The two creatures dart right between Shadow and Maria, sending them reeling away from each other as the animals slow and turn to fight.
The blue thing is a dog, or something very similar. It’s stocky, with a square head and short, stubby tail. The throat and belly are bright white, a matching ring around its middle lined with rows of neat, oddly geometric triangles.
The cat— that’s what the other creature is, it’s the biggest, pointest cat she’s ever seen —arches its back and hisses. It has a ringed tail and elegant orange stripes looping around its body.
Tangle doubles back. “Don’t get between them!” she yelps. She ushers them away from the fight and gives the two spatting creatures a wide berth. “That barkbark is just a big softie, but you do not wanna mess with a kittyfloss. It’ll shred you like confetti!”
“Kittyfloss? Is that what you call the cats here?” Maria asks.
At the same time, Shadow mutters “I’d like to see it try.”
Tangle lets out a snort of laughter. “You two are pretty new around here, arentcha?”
“We just got off the boat today.” Maria’s happy to volunteer the information. “We were told a little about this place, but… I don’t think we got the whole story.”
“Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me,” Tangle says cheerfully. “Most folks don’t believe we really exist, way out here. You kinda gotta see it to believe it.”
Maria looks around at her surroundings. “I’m seeing it,” she murmurs.
A flock of pigeons fly by— except these pigeons are purple, their bodies made from the same strange scaly substance as the dog and the cat —the kittyfloss.
One of the pigeons is carrying something, a big blocky object strapped to its body. She does a double take when she sees it, and the bird swings back to swoop past her. There’s a flash of light, the click and whirr of a camera shutter, and when the stars clear from her eyes the pigeon is just a speck in the sky, darting after its flock.
“Shadow, did you see that?” she whispers, elbowing him.
“Maria, look,” he says, catching her elbow and pointing with his other hand.
She follows his gaze, and gasps. There’s a flock of sheep grazing in a little gated paddock, fuzzy bodies all bunched together, heads down and peacefully chewing. White and black wool, all shot through with swirling gold patterns: beautiful, but that’s not what Shadow’s pointing at.
One of the sheep is pink.
Tangle notices they’re lagging and once again doubles back. “What are you two gawking at— wait, the goobas? Really? They don’t do anything, they’re like, the most boring piñata you could have picked.”
“Sheep don’t come in that color,” Shadow says.
“Yeah, probably ate something it shouldn’t have. Or maybe its gardener did it on purpose. C’mon, we gotta get a move on if you wanna get there before sunset!”
While they walk, Tangle takes pity on them and gives them a crash course on the island's unique ecosystem.
Flesh-and-blood animals are rare here. Its mostly just the Mobians themselves, and whatever livestock they've brought over from other islands. When they're seen, if they're seen at all, it's usually migratory birds blown out of their way by a storm, or seagoing creatures that swim in unusually close. There are a few villagers who keep chickens and sheep— actual sheep, not the papery gooba creatures —as many Mobians are omnivorous and occasionally like to have meat to eat.
“You can't eat a piñata,” Tangle explains. “They're just paper! Well, I guess you can eat the candy, but after a while you get sick.”
Maria asks if there's something wrong with the candy, to make it dangerous to eat. Tangle stares at her for a long second and then starts to explain how nutrition and food groups work.
Maria cuts her off, face glowing scarlet, and promises that she knows all about that.
Tangle just shrugs and picks right back up where she left off, explaining that despite the fantastical nature of the living piñatas— yes, living piñatas, Maria still isn't entirely convinced she's not dreaming —they don't really try to keep them a secret. Anyone who hasn't seen the island with their own eyes assumes it's just a folk story at best, or else a trick, meant to lure unsuspecting people to the island.
“Which isn't a very nice assumption,” Tangle grumbles, “but if it means humans stay away, then I guess it's alright.”
Shadow and Maria exchange a glance. He narrows his eyes, implores her not to say it. She sticks her tongue out at him, then squares her shoulders and turns to their guide.
“Tangle,” she says hesitantly, “I'm a human. Is that a problem?”
Tangle glances back over her shoulder. “You're living on the old Robotnik plot, right? As long as you don't turn out like that other fellow, you'll be alright. We like Robotniks here.”
“Other fellow?” she echoes. Shadow elbows her.
Tangle sounds like she's scowling beneath the mask when she answers. “Just a big fat rotten egg. If you want some advice, then I'll tell ya not to go asking about him, otherwise the folks around here will get skeeved out. You're better off minding your own business, instead of getting associated with someone like him.”
Shadow gives her another warning glare and this time, although there's quite a lot she'd like to ask, Maria listens.
Tangle keeps talking, sounding more cheerful as she goes on. “You two seem nice though, I'm sure you won't have any trouble. We don't get many newcomers here!”
Shadow speaks up, clearly eager to change the subject. “Because no one believes this place actually exists?”
“That's part of it, but mostly it's cause there's hardly ever any room! We're already using all the land the island can spare. You guys are real lucky you got a place waiting for you… er, you do have the deed, right?”
“We do,” Shadow affirms, and Tangle sighs in relief.
“Good! Don't lose that. It's a huuuge hassle to get it fixed if you do, believe me.”
“Noted,” Shadow says. “We'll be careful with it.”
As they get further from town, the landscape changes. The town, situated right on the beach, had a distinctly tropical vibe, with palm trees and giant vibrant flowers to match. As they get further inland the trees change to bushy deciduous, and the flowers, while no less vibrant, get smaller and less extravagant.
“It's super nice out this way,” Tangle remarks as they pass through a particularly thickly wooded area, the road narrowing to a squeeze as encroaching branches reach out to snag at their clothes. “I heard this whole area used to be a giant orchard. Most of the fruit trees are gone now, but I bet some of them are still around. If they're still producing it'll give you a head start.”
Maria and Shadow both perk up, albeit for slightly different reasons; Maria has always been rather enchanted by the concept of living off the land, while she knows Shadow is just thinking of the grocery budget.
“What kind of fruit?” he asks, and Tangle shrugs.
“Dunno. All kinds grow around here. This corner of the island, it'll probably be apples or hazelnuts. Maybe both, if you're lucky!”
As they walk the road becomes even more impossibly narrow and overgrown. It's clear that people rarely come this way, evidenced by the grass growing between the crumbling wheel ruts, and the tree roots stretching across the ditches to dig into and break up the beaten dirt.
The woods get thicker, downright claustrophobic in the way the trees crowd together and arch their branches across the road, blocking out most of the dimming light. Maria has to squint at the rough ground beneath her feet. She reaches for Shadow's paw instinctively— he's got excellent night vision —but remembers he's carrying things and quickly drops her hand again.
“Shouldn't be too far now,” Tangle says, peering into the dense thicket to either side of them. “The gate should be somewhere right around here— aha!”
The “gate” is no more than a rotten wooden post, one hinge still attached and hanging loosely on by a single rusty nail. The rest of the fence isn't looking much better; where it hasn't succumbed to fungus and rot, it's been tangled up in thick brambles and now sags dangerously askew under the weight.
Looking deeper in, through the knotted branches and clustered leaves, they can see, just barely, a glimpse of pale stone, wound over and around with vines, shrouded by a squat roof. Best as they can tell from here, the cabin appears to be in one piece, but they'll have to get closer to say for certain.
The path itself is only slightly less overgrown than the wilderness around them. Tangle puts her hands on her hips, surveilling the blockage, and sighs. “I don't suppose either of you have a machete in any of these suitcases?”
Maria grins as Shadow allows himself a small, smug smile. “Yes, actually,” he says, indicating one of the bags Tangle has wrapped up in her tail. “Since the property was abandoned years ago, I thought it best to be prepared.”
The light is swiftly dying now, the faint sunlight filtering through the leaves fading to dusky, murky grey. Shadow’s quick to dig out the machete, and a pair of flashlights as well. He trades the suitcase he's been carrying for a backpack instead, so that his hands are free for bushwhacking.
He hands one flashlight to Maria and the other to Tangle. “Keep these steady for me,” he orders. “I'll cut a path.”
Tangle dutifully turns out the light, even as she peers dubiously at the thick tangle of thorny vines blocking their way. “Are you sure you don't wanna go back and get a room at the inn for the night? I can put in a good word for you, get you one cheap.”
“We've already come this far,” Maria protests. “We can hardly give up now!”
“This won't take long,” Shadow adds. He swings the machete forward to make the first cut, blade cutting clean through a mess of slender, snaking branches, before thudding into the thicker wood of a gnarled trunk and sticking there. He tugs it out with a grunt, hefts it high, and swings again.
As far as Maria’s aware, he hasn't used a machete before. That doesn't seem to matter, though; he's always been good with blades, and this one is no different. He wields it like an extension of himself, cutting steadily deeper into the thicket, trimming only what needs to be cut back so that they might pass, and no more.
Maria holds the light steady for Shadow to see by (night vision or not, the more light the better when he's swinging a sharp object around,) but she tilts it a little one way and then the other, trying to get a better look at this place that now belongs to them.
Her attention catches on a cluster of dark berries hanging from the thorny brambles, gleaming rich purple where the light shines. They look vaguely familiar, but different enough from what she's used to that she isn't sure.
Swish-thwack. Shadow steps deeper into the overgrowth, and Tangle and Maria follow. “Hey, Tangle,” she says quietly, gesturing towards another clump of fruit, “What kind of bushes are these?”
Tangle hardly glances at the fruit. “Blackberries,” she declares. “They're pretty tasty, but once they get like this there's no getting rid of them. You guys are gonna have one helluva time clearing this place out.”
Swish, thwack. Shadow cuts again, twigs and splinters and bits of leaves go flying. He's really getting into it, swinging and stepping forward and swinging again all in one smooth motion.
“Somehow, I don't think that will be a problem,” Maria remarks. Tangle follows her line of sight.
“Point taken,” she says after a moment.
Eventually they cut through the worst of the brambles. Once they get into the trees proper the undergrowth thins out, and it doesn't take long at all for Shadow to clear a path through to the cabin.
Shadow indicates for Maria to come closer, trades his machete for her flashlight. She steps back as he steps forward and opens the door.
A swirl of dust blows into his face, making him jerk back and blink frantically, muzzle screwing up as he tries— and fails —to fight off a sneeze.
“Ah-choo!”
“Bless you,” Maria says, prim, while Tangle snickers.
“Thanks,” Shadow says dryly. He pushes the door open wider and steps up into the doorway. He brandishes the flashlight before him, sweeping it through the ancient structure, before calling back, “All clear.”
Maria's eager to see the cabin for herself. “Is there just one room?” she asks, pushing past him.
He lets her, although he's quick to follow, shaking his head as he does. “No, it looks like there's another room, but you two can wait here while I check it out.”
“Where do you want me to put all this?” Tangle cuts in. “My tail feels like it's about to fall off!”
“Oh, anywhere is fine,” Maria tells her. “As long as it's not blocking a door.” She takes Tangle's flashlight and sweeps it across the dark room, looking for a good spot.
The cabin is dusty, as is to be expected of a building left empty for so long, but appears to be in surprisingly good shape. A few stray stones and chunks of mortar lay scattered on the floor, but the walls are thick and sturdy despite the handful of missing pieces. Set in the far wall, directly across from the front door, lies a fireplace. The only other thing of note is a door, wooden, and in much better shape than the fence outside.
Shadow beelines for the door. “I'll be right back,” he says, ears tilted forward, flashlight at the ready. Maria rolls her eyes a little. He's always been such a stickler for security protocol, turns out even being in the middle of nowhere won't dissuade him from it.
“You can put our things there,” Maria says, swinging the flashlight towards a different wall, where their luggage won't be in the way of anything important.
“You got it!” Tangle chirps. She starts stacking things with just enough sense that they don't immediately fall over. Maria makes a quiet mental note to unpack sooner rather than later.
Shadow returns from the other room, significantly dustier but otherwise no worse for wear. “I found the bathroom,” he says. As he speaks he crosses over to the mantle and balances his flashlight on the edge, so that the sweeping beam illuminates the room. “The good news is we have plumbing.”
“And the bad?”
He makes a face. The mask he's wearing covers most of it, but Maria can still tell by the way his ears twitch and his mouth twists. “The water isn't running. I'll have to look around tomorrow for a well.”
“Don't bother!” Tangle interrupts from across the room. “All the houses around here got hooked up to the town water supply ages ago. You'll have to ask someone at Restoration to turn it back on.”
Shadow flicks one ear at her. “Where's that?”
“Oh, the HQ is back in town. They'll probably want to send someone out to check on the pipes before they do anything, though. They're kinda anal about keeping everything up to code.” Tangle sets the last of their bags atop the teetering pile and steps back, hands on her hips as she surveys her work. “Betcha this place is hooked up to the electrical grid, too. It's old, but not that old. Restoration handles all the utilities, so you should ask about power too while you're there.”
“Good to know,” Shadow says. “I'll do that.”
“Thank you, Tangle,” adds Maria, stepping forward. “You've been super helpful with everything! We really appreciate you coming all the way out here.”
“Aw, it's no trouble, really! I like getting outta town from time to time, gives me an excuse to stretch my legs. ‘Sides, you folks seem nice. I'm always happy to help out a neighbor.”
“For a few rings, of course,” Maria teases, and Tangle laughs nervously.
“Hey, a lemur’s gotta eat! Arfur cuts us helpers a pretty good deal down at the inn, but-”
“Relax, I'm just messing with you. Here,” Maria rummages through her satchel, searching for her little purse, “a tip, for excellent service, and your very helpful advice.”
Tangle beams as she pockets the extra rings. “Hey, thanks! Listen, I oughta get back to town before the mallowolves start prowling, but are you guys sure you don't want a room back at the inn, just for the night? We got hot water, decent food, and plenty of good company.”
Shadow and Maria exchange a look. He's tempted by the suggestion, she can tell… and truth be told, so is she. A hot shower sounds heavenly right now, not to mention that she's pretty sure the only food they brought with them are granola bars and dried fruit.
But they'd have to walk all the way back, in the dark, only to come right back here in the morning. And a room costs rings, of which they only have so many to spare, and dinner will probably cost more.
And this is their place now, this dusty, crumbling little cabin. Now that they're here, it just doesn't feel right to abandon it again, even temporarily.
"Thank you for your concern, but I think we'll manage," Shadow tells her. "I'll speak to… Restoration, tomorrow, and if it'll be a few days before we have power and water, we may reconsider, but for now we're alright."
Tangle shrugs. "Alright, if you're sure. Well, I guess I'll be heading off then. You guys stay safe!"
Once she's gone, skipping down the old dirt road without a care in the world, Shadow and Maria turn their attention to more pressing matters: dinner.
“We should have gotten supplies while we were in town,” Shadow bemoans.
“We wouldn't have had time,” Maria reminds him. “We would have been walking in the dark.”
Shadow turns the flashlight over in his hands. “I suppose you're right,” he acquiesces. “Still, it would be nice to have something other than granola bars to eat.”
“I like granola bars,” she says, partly to be contrary, mostly because she really does like them, and he looks so dejected at not having anything better to offer. “Give me one of the peanut butter ones.”
He tosses her one, which she surprises and delights herself by actually catching it. He selects one for himself, one of their dwindling supply of chocolate chip, and unwraps it.
“This place is really cool,” Maria says, except she has a mouth full of granola bars, so what comes out is entirely unintelligible. Shadow stares at her with an expression of mingled horror and disgust.
She swallows, sticks her tongue out, and tries again.
Shadow rolls his eyes, but otherwise doesn't remark on her behavior. “It's fascinating,” he says. He takes a bite of his granola bar and thoughtfully munches for a moment before swallowing and continuing. “The animals here really are entirely unique. If they're actually made of paper and… and candy, then what does that mean for our understanding of life itself?”
He sounds just like Grandfather and Maria finds herself unexpectedly struck by the urge to cry. She fights down the welling lump in her throat and smiles instead. “Could they be artificially created lifeforms? Some people think the Mobians are secretly super technologically advanced, maybe they figured all that out ages ago.”
“Conspiracy theorists think that,” Shadow scoffs. “If Mobians were really so advanced, why would they allow themselves to be pushed out of their mainland territories?”
Maria shrugs, takes another bite of her granola bar while she thinks it over, and tries to ignore a niggling thread of discomfort; Shadow, despite being entirely a hedgehog, doesn't seem to recognize other Mobians as his kin. Reluctantly, she has to admit it makes sense; he's spent his whole life among humans, and can probably count on one hand the number of other Mobians he's even seen, let alone spoken to.
Shadow, oblivious to her train of thought, gestures with the half-eaten granola bar. “Anyway, if they were created,” he says, brows furrowed, “then what is their purpose? They aren't a suitable food source, and I can't imagine creatures made of paper have any offensive capabilities.”
“Do they have to have a purpose? Maybe they're alive just for the sake of living.”
Shadow shoots her a side eye, and she smiles innocently. They've had this conversation before, and she's sure they'll have it many times again.
Tonight, though, Shadow slides away from the subject by saying “We're getting ahead of ourselves. It's entirely possible, even if it seems unlikely by our understanding of biology, that they're a naturally occurring lifeform.”
“I'm not sure evolution works like that,” she says mildly. “Something must have happened to catalyze the existence of a candy-based ecosystem.”
Shadow's turn to shrug. “Perhaps someone on this island can tell us more. We've only just arrived, after all, we shouldn't be too hasty in our theories.”
He's got a point. “We have to go back to town tomorrow anyway, maybe we can ask if there's any academics or researchers around.”
Shadow nods. “Assuming they'd even talk to us,” he says skeptically.
“Pfft, don't be silly! Scholars love to talk about their work to anyone who'll listen, I'm sure they'll be happy to share. You know how excited Grandfather gets when—” She falters, suddenly stumbling over the words that had sprung out before she could think better of it.
Shadow is very still, across from her, but after a too-long moment of perfect silence he finally nods and says, quietly, “He was always pleased when we asked after his projects.”
“Yeah,” she murmurs. “He loved to tell us absolutely everything.”
“Even when we didn't understand it,” Shadow agrees.
They both lapse into silence. Maria finds she's lost her appetite, but she forces herself to finish her granola bar anyway.
Shadow rouses himself while she's still picking away. “I'm going to make a place for us to sleep,” he tells her, and her mouth is full so she just nods.
No one's lived here for decades. If there's a mattress somewhere in the cabin, it's certainly rotted to the point of uselessness by now. So Shadow sweeps clean the floor near the fireplace and pulls every last piece of bedding out of their bags (they brought plenty, in anticipation of this very issue) and he piles, folds, and arranges it all together until he's formed a cozy little nest on the floor.
When he's finished he leans back on his haunches and examines his handiwork. He sighs, not sounding entirely pleased, but he gestures Maria over anyway. “It will do for tonight, but I don't want to sleep on the floor for any longer than we have to. Do you think there's a mattress store here…?”
“Quit worrying so much,” Maria tells him. “We'll ask around tomorrow. Anyway, I think it's kinda fun! It's like a sleepover.”
He snorts. “If you say so.”
They don't want to run out the batteries on the flashlight until they know for sure they can get more, so once Maria’s done eating there's nothing else to do but go to bed. They crawl into the nest and Shadow flicks the blanket over her head, prompting her to yelp in surprise and then kick him.
He kicks back, and she shakes the blanket off and sticks her tongue out, even though it's far too dark for him to see her.
“Stop that,” he says.
“You can't prove anything,” she retorts. He huffs and she feels him shuffling, adjusting to get comfortable.
She does the same. Truth be told, it's not the most accommodating of beds; while there's enough padding that she's sure she'll be able to sleep, she can still feel the hard edge of the floor underneath.
Eventually she manages to settle in a way that hopefully won't leave her totally sore tomorrow. “Goodnight, Shadow,” she whispers.
“Goodnight, Maria,” he whispers back. After a moment he adds, audibly smiling, “Don't let the piñatas bite.”