Sonic opened his eyes. It hadn't been a dream. They were still in a pit under the Redwoods National Park, he'd still freaked out last night, and Shadow had actually held him down and talked him to sleep. Beyond that, the dream he'd had afterwards had apparently come true, too.

Shadow the Hedgehog was cuddling him.

His arms were around Sonic from the back, holding him against his chest, his head over Sonic's shoulder.

Sonic was both entranced and terrified. Was Shadow aware of what he was doing? Could he get out of this tangle without accidentally giving Shadow a face-full of quills?

He was about to find out firsthand…

Shadow was awake, but not up; only hazily aware of her surroundings. She knew that she was holding something, or someone in front of her, and it was sort of struggling to get out of her grip. She let it go, rolling over and away from it. Then she was up.

She shook her head and looked up as Sonic was trying to reach the exit of the hollow. He jumped up, his spin jump loosening the dirt around the hole and lowering the handhold. He climbed out and turned around, sticking his head back in the hole.

"You comin', Shadow?"

Shadow nodded and stood up, climbing out as Sonic had.

"So what now?"

"I don't know, you're the one with the Chaos Emerald," replied Sonic, leading the two of them deeper into the woods.

Sonic wasn't really sure where they were going, or why they were running away from Redwood Park. The authorities would understand the situation; they had made loopholes for Sonic before.

"What, does that make me leader or something?"

"No, it's just-…" What did the Chaos Emerald have to do with anything, anyway? Sonic was still in the lead, Shadow rarely-questioningly following.

"Six in the morning. Nothing to do," sighed Shadow, kicking at rocks and actually really looking like he was enjoying the scenery.

Sonic enjoyed it too. Early fall meant that the leaves were just starting to turn colors and nobody was really in a rush to prepare for winter yet.

Sonic's breath seized in his chest. That unfamiliar territory in his mind sent him another message:

'Almost Mating Season.'

Sonic had stopped walking. He felt Shadow put his hand on his shoulder. Sonic did not want a repeat of last night, though.

"Sonic? Are you okay? Do you need to stop?"

Sonic whirled around, appearing flustered, his hands up to stop Shadow from touching him.

"I'm fine- just fine! Um. Do you think we should head back to town?" Sonic was changing the subject.

"Why? Do you? I don't think it's a bad idea."

Sonic sighed, a hint of relief in his eyes as he turned back around, still leading onward.

"I think we can get everything straightened out with the police. Maybe they'll just let us off with… public service or something."

"Shadow," laughed Sonic, "I think we might be able to talk them into giving us a full pardon if we just explain what happened!"

Shadow was still serious. "Breaking into a hospital to visit a patient outside of visiting hours? Property damage? Leaving the scene of a crime?"

Sonic stopped again; probably to actually think about the situation.

"I don't look good in orange."

"I think you do (kind of) but I don't think you'll be wearing any anytime soon, if we play our cards right."

Sonic turned and looked at Shadow with a raised eyebrow.

"Huh."

Shadow raised an eyebrow in response.

"'Huh'? What do you mean by 'huh'?"

Sonic turned back around, unable to stop the strange smile that had crept onto his face.

'He Digs Us,' chuckled Uncharted Territory, materializing in Sonic's mind as himself in a red robe with a pitchfork, standing on Sonic's shoulder.

Sonic shivered; though given mental form, this creature of his psyche was still frighteningly sketchy. Sonic was a little… distrustful of it.

Sonic did not answer. Shadow had understood that Sonic could be cloudy sometimes, but this was getting ridiculous. She decided not to cause him bodily harm, but continue to follow. She could hear the sound of cars ahead, dulled by crowds and pigeons. Redwood Park was not far.