Nightfall was coming near. The sun's rays were slowly withdrawing back behind the mountain, leaving a cold shadow that now overlooked the forest. Sonic, slightly shivering from the cold, knew he had to find a safe place to transform and prepare for another restless night. The sun slowly sunk lower, and soon, it would be night. It doesn't matter where he goes; Sonic still hates his transformation. Finding himself a comfortable spot, leaning against a tree root, Sonic waited.

The moon crept its way onto the starry sky, illuminating the land with its silvery glow. Sonic watched it, feeling a soothing wave of calmness and a heartwarming feeling of being welcomed home. He smiled gently, knowing that he had at least one friend out here, the shining moon that greeted him with open arms every night, telling him everything will be alright because it will always be watching over him. It was nice, but he misses his old friends still. The feeling of hugging them, racing through the luscious green fields with them felt much different and much more warming than what the moon can give him.

That heartwarming feel was gone as soon as it came when a sharp pain struck Sonic out of nowhere. Forcing his body to move, Sonic put himself onto all fours, shaking violently. He let out an agonised scream as razor-sharp canine teeth grew out of his gums, replacing his typical straight ones. His limbs grew more prominent, and his bones stretched to fit the now longer legs and arms. His hands expanded, so big that they ripped off his gloves that he had just replaced that morning. New fur burst out of his skin, like a bomb that had gone off inside him, and the fur was the contents. Finally, the pain eased away, giving the now transformed hedgehog a chance to breathe. Sonic slowly brought himself onto his two feet, still weak from the agonizing transformation that he went through yet again. Gently shaking his head, he slowly started to walk, adapting to this form again. Just another night of foraging, another night with no rest. Surely he can handle this.

~~~

It's been hours, and Sonic hasn't been lucky. He was unable to find any food, let alone prey he could hunt and sustain his hunger. There isn't a safe supply of water anywhere near his location, and so far, the only thing he could feed on was the peeling tree bark. It wouldn't be his first choice to appetize his stomach, but he has no other choice. The bark was stiff; saying that it tasted like wood would be an understatement. It was far worse than wood; it tasted like sand that was mushed together with rocks and mud. Sonic gagged as he chewed into the bark, knowing he has no other choice other than starving. This will have to satisfy him for now, at least until he can find some berries or a critter he can hunt down easily.

The night dragged on, and Sonic's luck didn't increase much. The closest thing to actual food he managed to get was some acorns that had fallen out of an old oak tree.
Think on the bright side, Sonic. It's better than starving. So he reminded himself as he munched away at the small nuts he picked up. Even though it's not as savoury as a squirrel or a wild berry, it's still food.

But then something savoury did come. Not in physical form, but a scent. A breadcrumb trail for someone with a good sense of smell. Unbeknownst to most of the world now, Sonic's new form gives him a few new tricks. A good sense of smell, for example.

Following his sharp nose, Sonic found himself foraging through the forest, following the scent. He didn't realise where he was going; all he knew was that there was food, and he was going to get it. Or some of it, at least, to fill his stomach. His nose took him past every kind of tree, taking him through bushes and thorns, litters of leaves and rotten logs. It wasn't until Sonic arrived at the very edge of the forest when he realised that something wasn't right. Looking up, he saw that the canopy was thin, and ahead of him was an open field. Grassland.

This isn't right... He thought. There's someone here, out on the grassland. Otherwise, I wouldn't have left the heart of the forest.

Sonic knows that this is not safe in any way, shape or form, but his stomach had different plans. Putting behind all his anxiety, Sonic stepped out onto the field. Taking each step with caution, moving slowly and staying low to the ground, Sonic made his way through the grassland. Even though he is close to the ground and the grass stood taller than him, he can still recognise a fire just a few metres away. Moving closer with each step, Sonic could now hear voices, one that resonated in his mind. A voice he thought he'd never hear again, a deep, scowling voice. The voice of a hedgehog he once did combat with, rivalling in speed, agility and confidence.