(Sonic, Tails, Cream and Amy are copyright Sega/Sonic Team)
The Day After
Tails woke to the huge, inviting panorama that was the roof of the forest shrouded in mist. It was still early morning and the sun was coming up behind him, striking the hanging mist giving it a faint golden glow it almost looked like a gold roof. A gentle breeze blew in from the east, bringing cool, crisp air with it making the world feel brand new and untouched. Tails then noticed the faint dawn chorus had just begun.
"Yeah, this is the life, this suits me fine," Tails mentioned to himself whilst skimming a hand over the surface of the grass beneath, throwing dew in random directions.
"I suppose I better find something to eat, I wonder what to try and find," he thought aloud whilst packing his remaining possessions into his black and green bag to take with him. The bag was given to him by the cult that led him into his new life, it seemed strong enough to last a few years at least, and after that Tails guessed he could always get another one.
"Look Rachel, it's another happy being, yes?"
Tails spun round at hearing this familiar voice, he was slightly pleased to hear the voice, it was like hearing the voice of a long lost friend, only a small wave of disappointment flew over Tails when he realised who it was. He wanted to ask so many questions, but somehow his mind was silenced, he just seemed to stop thinking, something that he had never managed successfully before.
"He is isn't he Louis? How was your first night then?" Rachel asked gently.
"Well, ah, how did you know where I was, how, why are you up this early?" Tails asked in complete confusion, trying to start up a good train of thought again.
"Ah, well, we like to check up on our new recruits, yes? And no one ever strays far after a first night so we can usually catch them, but we have to get them early, yes?" Louis said, clearing Tails confusion.
"Oh well, ah, I found it comfortable I suppose, waking up to this morning though was great. I do feel more awake I guess." Tails said, slightly unsure of himself.
"Oh, that's good, we like that, well, we're glad you're doing okay and, can we have a picture for our records to show other people, you know, like we showed you?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah I would be glad to!" Tails said as Louis unpacked his camera, ready for the shot.
"Smile!"
Tails picture was then taken, his digitised form ready to be shown to the world, or rather, anybody who could be persuaded to go to the meetings. Louis and Rachel then headed off, probably to try and find another of their new recruits, or to persuade others to join them at a meeting. Tails on the other hand simply went of in search of food.
Sonic was still not seeing any action being taken to try and bring Tails back, both Knuckles and Amy believed he would come back and refused to help in a search on the belief he would return after a week. Sonic considered asking Rouge and Shadow for help, but Rouge would probably not be interested and Shadow, well, Shadow had about as much compassion as a lump of coal still sitting in its seam beneath the planet's surface. Sonic decided to try Cream, after all she was a friend, just a friend that probably would not be able to help, but maybe she could talk Amy round to his way of thinking.
Sonic stood at the end of the path leading up to her house, he waited, hesitating for a while wondering if this was a good move or not. He knew Cream would get worried, but he did not want to concern her too much or even scare her. He kicked the ground with his foot noticing the neat border between the path and grass, for the length of the path it looked as though the border was precisely the same width. Vanilla probably worked very hard to make it like that and Sonic thought he was probably the only person to notice. He was getting sidetracked now, so decided to take the plunge and walk up the path and knock on the door. Cream answered.
"Oh hi Sonic," she said with a bright smile on her face.
"Heya Cream, how are you doing?"
"Oh I'm fine thanks, would you like to come in?" She asked stepping aside.
"That would be great Cream cause I need to tell you something important," Sonic said with a hint of seriousness in his voice.
"Important? I don't think I've ever been told anything important before," Cream said thinking hard, "No I don't think I have, sit wherever you want and help yourself to a biscuit, would you like something to drink?"
"Water please, thanks." Sonic then reached forward and grabbed a biscuit off the white plate on the table.
"My Mother is in town for a couple of hours, I didn't want to go today, I didn't really feel like it," Cream carried on as she walked back to Sonic with his water, "So what is so important Sonic, I'm really interested now."
So once again Sonic ploughed through the story of how Tails was persuaded to join this new lifestyle phenomenon, at least it was his first time explaining for the day. He found that having a sleep last night had really helped sort the story out in his mind, but he still wanted to send out a search party to bring Tails back. Cream listened attentively and Sonic could see the various reactions on her face as he told the story, at least it was all sinking in he thought.
He finished the story then took in one huge sigh of relief and sat still for a second or two. He then awaited Creams final reaction or the barrage of questions that would follow. Sonic looked at her face but it was blank, she was not going to give away anything, it was not a face of shock, confusion or disbelief, just blank nothingness. He decided it was best to let her come round in her own time.
