Nimbus' Destined

Camp Reunion

By the time they reached the Misty Bogs' edge, the sky had opened up, bringing down powerful torrents of rain. The trees of the bogs kept out part of the water, but the boys were still soaked.

Amanda, her wings wet, was forced to walk, and she led them to a wooden platform that spread out over the bog itself like a massive bridge that vanished into the distant wood. "From here, we'll be safe. The shield keeps out our enemies."

The wet bridge told them it didn't keep out rain, but they carefully stepped up and followed into the trees.

Shadow watched Sonic panic as they went farther into the bog, gripping the rope railing tightly. "You doing okay, brother?" He asked with a grin.

"Fine. Brother...!" Sonic growled. "It's just slippery..."

Shadow shrugged, continuing onward.
The smell of the bog wasn't as bad as he'd expected, instead having a slightly sweet smell, like distant flowers.

The group trudged along the bridge, their clothes clinging to them and their heads dripping.

Suddenly a loud boom of thunder shook the forest, and Sonic jumped, his feet slipping off the bridge and knocking him into the water. "Ah! Help!" He yelped before his head vanished under the murky water's surface.

"Sonic!" Shadow looked around, but his twin didn't even make a splash anywhere. "I'm going down there!"

"Careful, Shadow!" Rouge warned, then Shadow dove in after his brother.
The murky water and dark skies above made it impossible to see anything, but Shadow swam deeper. Where was he? Then he saw Sonic struggling to get loose, his boots trapped in the mud below.
Shadow quickly untied the laces as Sonic's struggles lessened, then pulled Sonic free from his shoes.

He swam up to the surface, taking deep breaths as Sonic coughed up dirty water. "You okay, Sonic?" He gasped.

"Th...Thank you..." Sonic whispered weakly.

"Over here, Shadow!" Silver was reaching out for them, and he hauled Sonic up onto the bridge before helping Shadow out. "You guys okay?"

"Cold and wet like everyone else..." Shadow gasped. "...just more stinky."

Amanda helped Sonic get up on his feet, putting his arm over her shoulder when he couldn't stay up on his own. "Good thing the camp isn't too much farther..."

...............................................................

Sonic's condition slowly worsened as they got closer to the camp, barely able to keep his head up, so Shadow took his other arm on his shoulder.

The camp was a bunch of hut-like buildings settled on the bog's edge. Thickly woven branches kept out most of the rain, though it still dripped here and there.

Fae hurried about in the clearing, but they paused when they saw them coming.

"You made it!" One cheered.

"Barely." Amanda replied, "We need to get him to Tansy. Take the rest of them to get dry clothes."

While the others left with the fae, Amanda led Shadow to what looked like the medical building. They stepped inside, where it was warmer. "Tansy."

The fox looked up and gasped. "Goodness! What happened, Amanda?"

"He fell into the bog on the way here." Amanda laid Sonic down on the bed, his face looking more pale in the light. "So did he."

"I feel fine." Shadow insisted.

"We can't take any chances out here. Sit down." Tansy turned to the back room. "Minnie, come check this one for me!"

Shadow didn't like being bossed around by women, but he obeyed.
As Tansy looked Sonic over, a hedgehog stepped out of the back room. Her quills were pulled back in a bandana, but her eyes were mismatched, one being yellow and the other green.

"Alright, look in the light, but not directly." She shone a light in his eyes, Shadow doing as she told him. "Good... Check your pulse..." She took his wrist and paused, "...what happened to your wrists?"

"Synthetic Chaos Energy."

The hedgehog murmured something under her breath, then felt his pulse. "...good. Okay, let me see inside your mouth."

Shadow hesitated, then opened his mouth. He flinched as she reached inside, nearly biting her fingers. "Ah! Sorry..." He murmured.

"It's okay. I didn't tell you I was going in...hmm."

"What?"

"...you're just now getting your last pair of molars back here...Your father had the same problem."

"How would you know that?" Shadow asked as she removed her fingers.

She raised an eyebrow. "How do you think, 'Red Rover...?'"

Shadow stared for a moment, then finally found the word. "...Mom?"