.:He looked around, sort of scared by the area:.

"The thing about barren islands," Sonic said. "Is that nothing can attack you,"

.:he tilted his head, surprised by the fact:.

"Mrrp." Shell mumbled. "Alright then."

Sonic looked at him as if it was obvious. "There's nothing to attack, therefore nothing to attack it, if that makes sense,"

Knuckles remained awake, keeping lookout. He glanced at the other two from time to time. The sky was clear, a thin cresant moon and flickering stars only served to emphasize the darkness surrounding them.

Shell (like always :P) was curled up near the back end of the cave, bioluminescent scales lighting up softly in patterns with each ragged breath. Some of the glowing scales didn't glow however, as they were the closest to the infected wounds on her side and chest.

Knuckles glanced at the two for what felt like the 15th time. He sighed, walked over to the fire and sat down, gazing intently into the flames.

Shell kept muttering things like 'sand', 'fire', 'challenger', or 'stupid lemming'. Occasionally she would mumble something unaudible or in her species' native tongue.

('Stupid lemming'? Yep, I remember that one. All the way on page 20something.)

After a while, Knuckles got up and returned to his spot by the cave entrance, starring at the sky absently. Eventually, he dozed off.