Chapter Nine: Christmas Scavenger Hunt Part Two

Where is that dove? Kristen thought to herself. The only thing that everybody knows is that Jess could've hidden it anywhere, in a present, under a hidden crack in the floor. It could even be as tiny as a pin! Kristen decided to look for it near the tree. Perhaps it's some kind of decoration?

As the hedgehog ran up to the Christmas tree, she spotted Sonic looking at the tree also.

"Hey Sonic." Kristen said, looking at the tree.

"Umm…hi." He answered, a little blush appearing on his cheeks. Kristen didn't notice it and continued to search through the tree, looking back at her list every few seconds. She detected something, glancing at the list, then at the tree, and the list again.

"You found something?" Sonic asked, curious.

"N-nothing!" Kristen said quickly, sticking out her tongue.

"C'mon! I promise I won't steal it!" Sonic pleaded. Kristen rolled her eyes.

"On the list, it says 'Is this a Christmas Card?", and look at that card there!" She pointed at a piece of paper folded in half. On it says, 'Happy Easter!'. Kristen grabbed it and put it in a bag she got to put her items in.

"Nice detective work!" Sonic said, winking. Kristen smiled warmly.

"Thanks!" She said while checking it off on the list. "But I better ask Coral if this is the right thing…" She added.

"So…um…don't you think the clue 'Kiss Under the Mistletoe' seems…I don't know, odd?" Sonic asked, attempting to start a conversation.

"Yea, I noticed that too. I wonder what it means." She speculated out loud.

Shadow wandered off. He figured that he should move on with the rest of the items than concentrating on one clue. His eyes focused on "Kiss Under the Mistletoe" and wondered what it meant. He looked up and saw a piece of mistletoe above him. Maybe the item is here somewhere… He thought.

"Hello, you must be Shadow the Hedgehog." Said a shy voice. Shadow looked for the source of the voice. It was Coral. Shadow nodded.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Coral." She smiled. Shadow smiled also, which is unusual.

"You found anything?" She asked. Shadow shook his head, but couldn't help but glance upward to the mistletoe. Coral noticed it and looked up, curious, and then blushed. Shadow looked down towards the hedgehog and perceived the faint blush on Coral's cheeks.

"I—I…uh…" Shadow flushed slightly.

"I doubt that's what Jess meant in the list…" Coral said, looking down.

"Coral!" Shouted Kristen from the tree. Coral looked up.

"Yes?"

"Can you come over here to make sure if this is the right thing?" She asked, shaking a bag.

"Sure!" Coral agreed, and started wheeling away from Shadow but not before whispering, "I'll see you later…Shadow…"

The black hedgehog snapped out of his reverie and rushed towards her. "Let me help you."

"No thank you. I'm fine."

Shadow didn't say anything, and started to push Coral towards Kristen and Sonic.

"Look at the two lovebirds…" Sonic said.

"We are not lovebirds!" Shadow hissed.

"Yea right." The blue hedgehog rolled his eyes.

"Thanks so much." Coral whispered to Kristen as they got away from the two hedgehogs. Coral confirmed that the Easter Card is most likely the mystery item.

"Why?" Kristen asked, confused.

"Um…nothing!"