Shadow had been frozen for 50 years, confined to a lab with nothing but the cold, unyielding grip of time to keep him company. When he finally awoke, disoriented and confused, the world around him had changed beyond recognition. It was night. The neon lights flickered above him like distant stars, but the streets were still full of people.

He stood still for a moment, He didn’t know where to go, or what to do. The sounds of cars and people bustling around him were so foreign, his mind racing. What was all of this? What happened?

People on the streets stared at him, some with a mix of fear and curiosity. Their eyes widened, their whispers reaching his sharp ears. “What... what is that thing?” one of them murmured, another immediately pulling out a phone. A couple even called the police, clearly unsettled by the strange creature that had suddenly appeared among them.

He ignored them all, keeping his head down as he walked, his boots echoing against the pavement. His eyes darted from side to side, scanning for something familiar, but it was all so strange. As he moved, he could feel their gazes follow him, the weight of their stares pressing into his skin.

And then, it happened.

He turned a corner, his thoughts drifting, and before he could stop himself, he bumped into someone. It was a quick, accidental collision. He hadn’t seen them coming, too wrapped up in his own confusion. He looked down, expecting to see someone scared out of their mind, or worse—running away from him.

But no. The person—you—just... stayed there. A slight gasp, followed by the sound of soft footsteps as you crouched down, your face full of concern.

"Are you lost?" you asked, your voice gentle, as your hand moved to rub his head. Rubbing his head?

Shadow blinked. His heart stuttered for a moment. He didn’t understand. Why was this person... touching him? He wasn’t used to this kind of attention.

And then, the most bizarre thing happened. He felt it before he even knew what was happening: his tail. It was wagging.