I must be dreaming (Sonic the hedgehog)

Chapter 2

Thick snow covered the ground and as Sonic sped along he smiled; admiring how it seemed to shine, almost sparkling.
As he headed on, something caught his attention; something laying in the snow just up the hill.
"Huh?.. What the... What's that?" he muttered to himself, running towards it. "Oh man!" he yelped, a look of shock on his face.

A body lay before him, limp and lifeless. He knelt beside it, leaning down "Hey! Hey! Can you hear me?" he asked in a loud, clear voice.
He placed his hand gently on the cold shoulder, giving it a little shake.
"Hey!... Oh man... eh.. oh... Wait, I know.." he babbled then leaned down, pressing an ear against the chest of the pale figure.
As he listened, he heard a faint heart-beat "Phew" he sighed, a feeling of reasurance as he sat up.
"That's a relief, for an awful moment there I thought she was...." he said softly, reaching out to move the soaked hood and messy hair from her face.

"Why Sonic dear, what are you doing over there on the ground?. Are You ok?" came a voice from behind, making Sonic jump.
Turning around he saw Vanilla the rabbit making her way up the path towards him, a large shopping basket in her hand.
"I found someone here in the snow.. she's unconcious but still breathing" he called back to her.
"Oh.. my goodness.. umm, my house isn't far from here. Bring her there and I'll see if I can get some help" Vanilla said gesturing towards the town.
Sonic nodded, gently lifting the woman in to his arms.
"Can't say I've ever seen her before" he said as he followed Vanilla down the path.
"Well, I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it all eventually, sweety. But for now lets just get the poor dear out of the cold and back to health." she replied as they made their way to her house.

As the sun set over the near by bay an un-nerving feeling crept in.
"I can't stand this... it's been three days! why hasn't she called?" said Sonic, a worried look on his face as he paced back and fourth.
"Well.. Cream's mum did say she'd call if there were any changes.. right?" Tails replied reasuringly as he watched his friend walk from one end of the room to the other.
"Eh?.. oh.. well.. yeah, but.." Sonic babbled pacing faster as he scratched his head.
"So, there probably hasn't been any change. Don't worry Sonic, I'm sure both Cream and her mum are taking good care of... hey, wait.. what was her name?" Tails asked, a curious look on his face as he looked over at Sonic.

Sonic stood in the middle of the room. Arms crossed, tapping his foot in frustration. "Hmm?... oh... actually, I don't know. She was unconcious when I found her. Sure would be nice to know though. Who she is... where she came from.." he sighed.
Tails nodded, smiling at him. "I'll make a drink, ok?" he said gesturing towards the kitchen. Sonic nodded, giving Tails a thumbs up as he began pacing again.
Tails shrugged, as he headed towards the kitchen counter he noticed a figure in the doorway "Huh?!.. oh, Knuckles, it's you" he waved, inviting him in.

The echidna walked in, heading over to tails. "Eh-hem.. Hello Tails.. eh, the door was open so I figured.." he smiled awkwardly, scratching his head.
"Soo... did you see the big explosion the other night?.. weird huh? I was... eh.." said Knuckles, stopping mid-sentence as he noticed Sonic. "What's up with him?" he asked curiously, as he looked through the doorway, watching the hedgehog pace round and round. "He's gonna wear a hole in the floor" he said, smirking.
"Sonic came across someone collapsed in the snow while he was out running the other day. Cream's mum took her home to take care of her and Sonic's now waiting to hear any news" Tails explained as he poured out three hot drinks, handing one to knuckles.
"Oh.. thanks" said Knuckles as he followed the twin tailed fox in to the next room. "Why get so up tight about a stranger?" Knuckles asked, shrugging.

Sonic stopped and looked at him. "You weren't there! you didn't see. She was barely alive... if... if I hadn't found her when I did, I don't think she'd.." Sonic's voice trailed off, shaking his head as he took the steamy mug from Tails.
"Ok, ok... so you wanna be sure she made it, I get it." Knuckles replied, rolling his eyes. A worried look slowly crept across his face as he looked over at his foxy friend. Tails simply shrugged and sat down in his chair.

As he sat there in front of his computer; Tails leant back scratching his head, a frustraited expression on his face.
"Hmm.. well, there's nothing about anyone local going missing. I've even called Vector to look in to it. Without getting some info from her first-hand, I'm afraid we're stumped" he sighed looking over at Sonic.
"Well, she was still unconcious when I left Cream and Vanilla's house... and I didn't get a clear look at her face. She was such a mess.. but I'm pretty sure I've never seen her before" Sonic said as he walked up beside Tails, looking blankly towards the computer screen.
"Well how can you tell if you couldn't actually see their face?" came a familiar, somewhat sarcastic voice.
"Amy" Sonic sighed leaning his head down, his back to her.
"I heard something was going on, you never tell me anything!" Amy frowned stomping her foot on the floor and crossing her arms.
"We don't know much ourselves" said Tails, giving her a friendly smile.
As an awkward silence fell across the room the phone began to ring. Sonic dashed to it, grabbing the reciver "Hello?... oh.. ok.. oh great! thanks, I'll be there in a flash!" he smiled.

The others looked at him curiously as he put the reciver down, a big smile on his face.
"What was that about?" Amy asked in an almost demanding tone.
"Vani... eh.. I mean Mrs Rabbit says she's awake, I gotta go!" Sonic said excitedly and sped off out the door.
"Hey! wait! what?... she? what do you mean she?.. nobody told me it was a she!... Sonic!!" Amy called after him, glairing.
"I gotta see what all the fuss is about" Knuckles grunted sarcasticly, a curious smirk on his face as he headed out the door.
"Guess we should follow" Tails smiled awkwardly, slowly edging past Amy towards the door.
Amy shrugged "Hmm.. welcoming a new friend is always fun.." she smiled and followed Tails out the door.
Outside in the shadows a dark figure stood watching as the two set off.
"Hmm.. interesting" a low voice muttered and the shadowy figure disapeared.