Shadow didn't go to sleep right away. Instead, he stayed up for a few more hours to catch up on his reading. He didn't like sleeping for too long during the night--it felt unnatural...so, in turn, he rarely got a lot of sleep. He didn't check up on Angelo, though he was quite curious and wanted to...he respected his wishes.

after some time he finely fell asleep, his mental gifts blossoming open and broadcasting. his dreams were of his family death, each time they died in a different way. a few times in the dream both he and Shadow were trying to save his family but each time every one but Angelo died, even shadow died in the dreams.

Shadow dipped in his mind briefly to smack the bad dreams away. He tried to replace them with other dreams that his mind could conjure...happier dreams, or neutral dreams.

fighting shadows want to change the dreams, Angelo's mind brought up a new dream. they were in a house much like the one the both were in now, but none of Angelo's family was there. then the doors are pushed open by villagers who seem mad about something. Angelo is pulled aside and tied up and forced to watch them stake and behead Shadow. but there is a feeling to this dream that it is not a dream but what could be.
Angelo burst awake screaming.

Shadow set his book aside and quietly headed downstairs. He peeked around the corner of the garden. "Are you all right...? I heard screaming..." He'd always been wary about the nearby villagers figuring out what he was. It was why he always bought a lot of field property when he purchased homes. So he could see them coming from all sides if they chose to attack...

stumbling form the bedding not completely awake he ran to Shadow and wrapped is arms around him. tears streaming down his face, he had been crying for some time in his sleep. all the mental gifts again were shut down and dormant. "they killed you." Angelo said through his tears.

"It was a dream...it was just a dream." Shadow returned the semi-awkward hug, reaching one of his hands up to run it through his hair in a soothing manner. "You don't need to cry. It's all right."

"it did not feel like a dream." he buried his face into Shadow. I don't want to sleep alone, but I don't want to ask, I don't want to look like a baby. Angelo's hands shook as he clung to Shadow.

Shadow held him close, sensing that he was too afraid to fall asleep alone. "Are you still afraid? Would you like to come up and stay with me for the night?" he asked, sympathetically.

"I dont sleep well above the ground, but I dont want to be alone." Angelo felt so much like a little child, the child that he was not. if he was still with his family they would have told him to go back to sleep and would never have asked if he was still afraid. "maybe you would sleep down here?"

Shadow was wary about the insects. He chewed his lip and then he nodded, rubbing his shoulders. "I'll stay here with you, if that is what you want," he offered, softly.

"yes please." he looked up at shadow the need for some one to hold him and make him feel safe was clearly written on his face. he almost looked like a very young child looking up at a family member for comfort.

Shadow did indeed hold him--he wrapped his arms around him, gently scooped him up, and walked him back to where his bedding was. He sat down and then laid Angelo down, carefully.

pulling Shadows arms around him he snuggled up against him. it had been a very long time since he last was this close to another human being that it took him some time to get back to sleep the whole time he lay there thinking about how nice it was to be held and to feel safe. he also was enjoying the smell of Shadows skin.

Shadow held him, pulling the blankets up around them securely. Shadow didn't sleep for a while. Instead, he held Angelo, resting his chin on top of his head. He made sure that the way he was holding him felt like he was making a nice, safe, warm cocoon around him.

sleep finely found Angelo and the rest of the night he slept quietly. his dreams were null or good that they did not bug him.

Shadow fell asleep soon after. He didn't dream this time, which was good--it provided a deeper, uninterrupted sleep for him. When morning came around, Shadow instinctively shifted in the bedding as the sunlight hit him, pulling it up over his head so it was completely covering him.

having the blankets pulled up over his face woke Angelo instantly. his body ready to act but not moving. his family had enjoyed pulling his bedding around him and tying him up. twice they had tossed him in the stream nearby while still tied in his blankets. his body slowly relaxed as he realized where he was and that Shadow was still there with him. reaching up he gently touched Shadows face, he looked so kind when he was sleeping, not like when he was mad. Angelo's stomach growled, he would have to eat soon. slowly he tried to scoot out form shadows hold without waking him.

Shadow was already mostly awake. "Mm. Good morning...hey...would you mind fetching some of the Lampshade powder I have in the kitchen? It should be in a blue jar...I need to take some." He tried to keep the blankets completely covering him.

smiling Angelo nodded. "sure, would you like breakfast to? I was thinking of making something to eat." making sure the blanket did not come off of Shadow he watched his face.

"Mm...that sounds good...if it's not too much trouble for you, go on ahead..." Shadow seemed content, smiling. He didn't like the sunlight on his skin when he didn't have enough Lampshade powder in him. He burned, terribly, in minutes.

"so should I bring the lampshade powder first or make breakfast?" Angelo let the blanket fall as he crawled out from under it.

"The powder, please...I burn in mere minutes if I do not have that in my system," Shadow informed him, somewhat sheepishly. He had been going to take it last night, but he'd forgotten.

"alright." Angelo said happily as he walked off, returning a few moments latter he pushed the jar under the blanket. " can I use any of the meat in there?"

"As much as you like. I should go shopping today or tomorrow for some more meat, anyway." Shadow took a bit of the powder and then pulled the blanket off of himself, smiling in relief. He stood up.