They finally stopped at a small clear river with a few fish in it.
"oh my, this is positively beautiful" Mom said as she laid a blanket down. Their Aunt smiled and set down their basket of food on the blanket and sat down along with he sister as they waited for the boys to catch up.
"Sister, knowing Shadow…we wont have to put our plan into action, just follow my lead" their Mom said as she lowered herself on the blanket, followed shortly by her sister.

A few seconds later Sonic, Tails, and Shadow came into view
"c'mon boys, come have lunch!" Sonic and Tails ran over to them with large grins on their faces while Shadow took his time walking up to them.
"Shadow sweetie, c'mon" his Mom said with a smile. Shadow just put his hands in his pockets
"I'm gonna look around…" he said then walked off through the trees. Sonic, Tails, and not even Shadow noticed the exchange of glances between the two women.

"uwah! that was good" Sonic said as he leaned back slightly taking a drink of his soda. Tails nodded in agreement.
"I'm glad you boys liked it" Sonic's mom said.
"oh…" his aunt looked at her small wrist watch "…perhaps you should look for Shadow, Sonic" she suggested.
"but Tail-"
"he can come with us, plus his dad'll be worried" his mother said.
"ok, bye Tails" Sonic said as he go up.
"bye Sonic" Tail waved with a huge grin. Sonic gave a thumbs up and ran off into the trees

Shadow stopped by the same river he was supposed to be eating by, he was just further down. He sighed and sat down on the ground that was covered in orange leaves. He was watching the steady flow of the water as it came seemingly from no where. The water calmed him for some reason, he decided to lay down and relax for a while.

"Shadow!?!" Sonic sighed, he'd been running for 2 minuets and he was bored. "C'mon Shadow….where the hell are ya?!?" Sonic yelled as he slumped against a tree. 'damn it, when I find you Shadow…' Sonic continued running. Sonic finally saw a black and red lump on the forest floor next to the river. 'must be Shadow' Sonic said as he sped towards his brother. The cobalt humal frowned when he arrived to Shadow to find he was asleep, he knelt down by his brother and shook him slightly. Shadow didn't wake up. Sonic pulled the head phones from his ears, then leaned in really close to his ear. "Shadow……WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!" Sonic yelled. Shadow stirred slightly then sat up.
"shesh, you don't have to yell." Shadow looked around. "it's already night time" Shadow said looking up at the sky.
"yeah, we better get going" Sonic said as he helped his brother up and they started making their way back to the hot springs

It was REALLY dark now, and the woodland creatures had started making noises. Sonic heard a twig snap behind him, his ears flicked and immediately he jumped grabbing Shadow's arm.
"what the hell's wrong with you?" he asked
"me pfft…nothing, I'm fine" Sonic said with his signature grin letting Shadow go. But his grin fell when he heard another twig snap and he was on Shadow again. "d-did you hear that?" Shadow rolled his eyes.
"here" he handed Sonic his head phones and his ipod. Sonic looked at it for a second and blinked
"thanks Shadow" Sonic said smiling slightly, because Shadow NEVER let him use his ipod let alone touch it. He put the head phones on and turned the music on. Shadow then wrapped his arm around Sonic's shoulders for more comfort. When Shadow did Sonic felt his cheeks warm up, then he smirked and wrapped and arm around Shadow's waist and rested his head on his brothers shoulder. Shadow tensed up but then relaxed as he held Sonic closer.