The boy remained upright on his knees for a little while longer, frowning unhappily at the ground. He didn't agree. Really, it sounded a great deal less cut-and-dry the more he learned about it – it being...whatever made Shadow Shadow, anyhow.

He slumped and scooted backward against the wall again, nestled between the sketchbook and the hedgehog with his knees drawn up. Even in glimpsing the rat making its way along with its meal did little to energize him; he had no desire to draw anymore. Not rats, anyhow.

Man...if only he hadn't left his guitar to ruin in that garden...