This Scratch project is a part of a story series. You can read the story down below in the "Notes and Credits". Updates on Tuesdays & Fridays!
{Setting: Crisis City, The Hedgehog’s Home Base} Venice: *takes in a breath and the aura swirls around him again* … *lets out a pained grunt* Florence: *leans close and comfortingly nuzzles his head* Venice: *reaches with his shaky hand and rests it on her back, then shuts his eyes as he relaxes* Silver hesitantly steps in and approaches the bed, then gets on his tippy toes to peer up into it, but then ducks back down. Despite that, his top quills are left obvious and exposed, poking up above the frame. Venice: *feels his aura nearby* Mmh… *does a gesture with his hand, resembling a “come here” motion* Florence: *peers over* I think your Father wants you to come over to him, Silver. Silver: ! *shrinks down further behind the bed-frame and mumbles* …I don’t want to. Florence: *reassuring tone* It’s okay, Silver…please come up here. *leans away from Venice to hold her hand out to Silver* Silver: *glances at her hand for a second then hesitantly takes it and lets her pull him up* Silver climbs up into the bed, then nervously crawls over to Venice’s side, his eyes darting about. He tries to look at Venice, but he can’t help the urge to avert his eyes. Every second of looking at him puts a nauseating sensation in Silver’s stomach. Silver: *sits a foot away from Venice’s side, close behind his Mother, and keeps his head low. He tucks his hands into his lap, fidgeting with his cuffs and gloves.* . . . Florence: *empathetic frown* I’m right here, come on…he can’t see you from there. Florence gives Silver a firm, but gentle nudge forward, and Silver slowly scoots closer. His fidgeting intensifies as he keeps his gaze low and his hands close to himself, though there’s a glimpse of Venice’s side in his peripheral. Silver: *breathes heavily as his heart thuds against his chest* … Venice: *turns his head in their direction, then his hand retracts from Florence at a steady pace, and reaches for Silver* Venice simply goes to touch Silver’s head, but as his fingers rest on the boy’s fur, an instant chill shoots through Silver’s body. Through Venice’s glove, Silver feels his bony hand. Silver: !!! *jerks away with a frightened expression then scrambles backwards* Florence: ! Silver! She goes to grab him, but the (typically slow) child has already shot like a rocket off the bed and out of the room. Florence is stunned in disbelief. Venice: … *lowers his hand with a frown as his ears droop* Florence: *sighs and turns her attention back to Venice* H-he…it’s not your fault, Venice…he just— it’s hard for us to see you this way— and he’s still a little boy after all. *rests her hand on Venice’s face, and even she winces at the lack of squish to his cheek* …I…I better go talk to him. *gives Venice’s forehead a kiss then steps out of the room* Hoping off the bed she quickly trots out, then looks around and finds Silver somewhat buried in the torn cushion of an armchair in the living room space. Stuffing is puffed up around him, as he’s attempted to curl up into a ball, but seems to be struggling to do so…though his quills are sharply perking up from his body. Florence cracks a faint smile at his strange ball pose, then steps over and kneels close by him. She goes to rest her hand on him, but is pricked through her gloves by his quills, so she retracts. Florence: *leans onto the chair as she gazes at her son* Silver, what’s wrong? Can you talk to me, please? Silver: *curls up tighter* . . . Florence: *thinks for a moment, then lets out a soft sigh* I don’t know exactly how all of this makes you feel…but I remember how I felt when my family was unwell. Silver: … ? *curiously peers at her* Florence: My family was always there to protect and take care of me…and they were the strongest people I knew for the longest time…before I met your Father. To watch them suddenly become weak, hurt, and struggling…or even see them die…I felt sick, scared— and angry too. Sometimes I felt uncomfortable being around them…because every time I looked at them it reminded me how unwell they were, and what was going to happen. *her voice wavers* And I didn’t want to think about them dying…about never seeing them again. It hurt so much. I wanted them to be the way I remembered them again. Silver: . . . *shuffles to readjust his position and sniffles* Father…doesn’t look or feel the same anymore. I don’t like it. Is…is he going to stay that way? Florence: He’s going to do his best to heal his body, but he can’t heal everything. He’ll never be the same as he was before he started removing his cuffs. Silver: *tucks his hands closer to his face to rub under his eyes* …w-what are we going to do when he…when he dies? Florence: *takes in a breath as her ears lower, and her hands clench tight* …what I know for sure is…we’re going to be okay. I will still be here for you and take care of you, Silver. And I’m certain we can figure out any challenge we’ll face together.
