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Grandmother had felt a corruption in the air and tranquility. There had been a sense of danger and disturbance referring to most likely the ancient guardian, or the chaos emeralds. This sent a brief moment of fear and concern racing through her mind. After a short while, the strange feelings of corruption died down, but Grandmother still felt a slight concern. She wondered where Tikal has wondered off to with that black hedgehog.

It didn't remain a mystery for very long once Shadow returned. He bared fresh injuries around his head, and wore an expression of uncertainty and some confusion. There was a sense of some relief, but even then; Grandma still felt unpleasant about what he may have done.

Tikal did not return directly to the pyramid as Shadow did. Grandma looked him over, as he stood there, seeming absent-minded and having not a word to say. "Well, it looks as if you have put up quite a fight there. Even if so, I must say that I am not pleased with it." she said out loud, taking a most accurate guess on what's happened. Shadow finally looked at her, looking rather surprised as to how she figured it out.

"I'm guessing that you have met the ancient guardian." She asked him. Shadow made a single nod that only seemed like a common gesture.

There was a slight look of curiosity in her eyes; though not enough to dominate her look of wisdom. "I just don't understand her…" Shadow said "Your granddaughter. She acts as if this was a big deal, and a crime I committed." There was some frustration left in him, for her defense over the water creature.

"She doesn't understand you." Grandma replied with a gentle smile. Shadow crossed his arms.

"Well I myself can't show any approval to anyone who has confronted the creature threateningly." she continued. "But you do not come from anywhere near here, and you still have yet to learn more about our people, and especially our neighbors."

Shadow looked to the exit that lead outside the pyramid, his arms still crossed. Tikal still hadn't returned; he wondered what she may be doing now.

"What does she see in that creature?" The black hedgehog still held an air of some annoyance; he was stubborn.

Grandmother's expression went from curiosity to thoughtfulness. A light smile was held on her face. There had been a long pause before she spoke again. "Her mother died, when she was very small…" Shadow looked back as if he hadn't the slightest idea what she meant.

"Her father had lost something meaningful in all of us, and so I had to raise her and teach her everything I knew. And of course I taught her about Chaos and all he protects. The ancient guardian of the emeralds has a special meaning to our people, or at least some of them."

She paused for a while, seeming to have thoughts of regret about something unknown to the hedgehog.

"His power to keep peace in the forest, and the protection he provides for such gentle creatures; it all has been a great influence to her since I taught her all about it." She concluded.

Shadow did not take much interest in stories like this, but listening to it made him take to mind the understanding of what the Chaos creature meant to Tikal, and probably others in the tribe.

"Something not to be interfered with, huh?" he said, in a tone that almost sound unimpressed. He would have seemed like the one to destroy anything, whether it had any religious meaning or not.

Grandmother nodded, and Shadow looked away; looking at the exit once again.

"You have a very different perspective on things." Grandma answered. "Maybe it's time we've learned about you. The best way for things to go, is for all of us to have an understanding in each other."

Shadow didn't feel so enthusiastic about some of the things in this time and place. But he started to have thought about Tikal and the way she cared about things.

"By the way, Young Man…" the elder echidna had mentioned one more thing to him; in a tone that sounded rather teasing "If you're getting any ideas about my granddaughter… Then you will be hearing from me."

. . .

The day after the fight, Shadow came out of the pyramid; his injuries seem to be healing faster than expected. He wandered through the streets which were almost empty. It wasn't long before he found Tikal near one of the gardens, seeming to be lost in thought. She sensed his presence and turned to see him. Her neutral expression changed to a welcoming smile.

"Hello Shadow." she said in that friendly tone of hers. Shadow was nearly taken aback by her kindness, and her seeming to forget what he had done. He knew he should explain something about himself to her, regarding his thoughts and possible threats. As kind as she had been to him, he had come to thoughts that maybe he didn't belong here.

She came up to him, her hands placed behind her back.

"Tikal…" he said "Listen, maybe there's something I should tell you…"

Before the hedgehog could say anything more, the sound of a horn blew out, grabbing the attention of everyone in the city.

"Pachacamac returns!" someone shouted from one of the high walls that enclosed around the city.

Description
Grandmother had felt a corruption in the air and tranquility. There had been a sense of danger and disturbance referring to most likely the ancient guardian, or the chaos emeralds. This sent a brief moment of fear and concern racing through her mind. After a short while, the strange feelings of corruption died down, but Grandmother still felt a slight concern. She wondered where Tikal has wondered off to with that black hedgehog.

It didn't remain a mystery for very long once Shadow returned. He bared fresh injuries around his head, and wore an expression of uncertainty and some confusion. There was a sense of some relief, but even then; Grandma still felt unpleasant about what he may have done.

Tikal did not return directly to the pyramid as Shadow did. Grandma looked him over, as he stood there, seeming absent-minded and having not a word to say. "Well, it looks as if you have put up quite a fight there. Even if so, I must say that I am not pleased with it." she said out loud, taking a most accurate guess on what's happened. Shadow finally looked at her, looking rather surprised as to how she figured it out.

"I'm guessing that you have met the ancient guardian." She asked him. Shadow made a single nod that only seemed like a common gesture.

There was a slight look of curiosity in her eyes; though not enough to dominate her look of wisdom. "I just don't understand her…" Shadow said "Your granddaughter. She acts as if this was a big deal, and a crime I committed." There was some frustration left in him, for her defense over the water creature.

"She doesn't understand you." Grandma replied with a gentle smile. Shadow crossed his arms.

"Well I myself can't show any approval to anyone who has confronted the creature threateningly." she continued. "But you do not come from anywhere near here, and you still have yet to learn more about our people, and especially our neighbors."

Shadow looked to the exit that lead outside the pyramid, his arms still crossed. Tikal still hadn't returned; he wondered what she may be doing now.

"What does she see in that creature?" The black hedgehog still held an air of some annoyance; he was stubborn.

Grandmother's expression went from curiosity to thoughtfulness. A light smile was held on her face. There had been a long pause before she spoke again. "Her mother died, when she was very small…" Shadow looked back as if he hadn't the slightest idea what she meant.

"Her father had lost something meaningful in all of us, and so I had to raise her and teach her everything I knew. And of course I taught her about Chaos and all he protects. The ancient guardian of the emeralds has a special meaning to our people, or at least some of them."

She paused for a while, seeming to have thoughts of regret about something unknown to the hedgehog.

"His power to keep peace in the forest, and the protection he provides for such gentle creatures; it all has been a great influence to her since I taught her all about it." She concluded.

Shadow did not take much interest in stories like this, but listening to it made him take to mind the understanding of what the Chaos creature meant to Tikal, and probably others in the tribe.

"Something not to be interfered with, huh?" he said, in a tone that almost sound unimpressed. He would have seemed like the one to destroy anything, whether it had any religious meaning or not.

Grandmother nodded, and Shadow looked away; looking at the exit once again.

"You have a very different perspective on things." Grandma answered. "Maybe it's time we've learned about you. The best way for things to go, is for all of us to have an understanding in each other."

Shadow didn't feel so enthusiastic about some of the things in this time and place. But he started to have thought about Tikal and the way she cared about things.

"By the way, Young Man…" the elder echidna had mentioned one more thing to him; in a tone that sounded rather teasing "If you're getting any ideas about my granddaughter… Then you will be hearing from me."

. . .

The day after the fight, Shadow came out of the pyramid; his injuries seem to be healing faster than expected. He wandered through the streets which were almost empty. It wasn't long before he found Tikal near one of the gardens, seeming to be lost in thought. She sensed his presence and turned to see him. Her neutral expression changed to a welcoming smile.

"Hello Shadow." she said in that friendly tone of hers. Shadow was nearly taken aback by her kindness, and her seeming to forget what he had done. He knew he should explain something about himself to her, regarding his thoughts and possible threats. As kind as she had been to him, he had come to thoughts that maybe he didn't belong here.

She came up to him, her hands placed behind her back.

"Tikal…" he said "Listen, maybe there's something I should tell you…"

Before the hedgehog could say anything more, the sound of a horn blew out, grabbing the attention of everyone in the city.

"Pachacamac returns!" someone shouted from one of the high walls that enclosed around the city.