Author's note: Eh, you'll find out for yourself what the next feather type will be. There won't be any more after that; besides, Tails is running out of places to apply the towels. (laugh) Okay, on we go.
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Chapter 18: Terrafirma Jungle
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As we entered the jungle, we noticed a sign. It read as follows: "CAUTION: Terrafirma Jungle has several patches of quicksand. Try to stay off the ground as much as possible."
Tails examined the ground. "Whoever installed that sign knew what he was talking about. I think there's quicksand starting from here. I wonder how Kitty O'Brien got all the way in there."
"Well, during that on-the-scene broadcast, she was using her claws to cling to a tree," I reminded Tails. "Look at the trees. If you check the trunks carefully, you can see claw marks. Kitty must have clung to the tree trunks to stay above ground."
I started my wings. "We get to do it the easy way, though."
Tails responded by starting his tails, and we both hovered above the ground as we proceeded. I began to whistle a tune to pass the time, but Tails stopped me. "Leo," he told me, "you couldn't carry a tune if you had a bucket."
I got the message, and stopped whistling. The jungle was filled with trees, vines, and all sorts of other stereotypical-jungle features. It was a little boring, actually. Occasionally we'd both perch on a tree branch to rest and scout out the remaining area, then continue.
Eventually, Tails hesitated. "Wait a minute, Leo. I think we're going in circles."
"Nonsense," I assured my two-tailed friend. "I know we're going in a straight line. I don't know how; I just know. It's like I have a compass in my head or something."
Tails blinked. "Well, if you say so. Let's continue."
We continued through the jungle. It was very monotonous, and that may be an understatement. I thought I saw a snake coiled around a branch at one point, but I kept my nerve and didn't flinch.
Finally, I pushed aside a few leaves, and revealed a small building. It looked like some kind of base, just like the one we'd seen on the TV broadcast earlier.
Standing in front of the base was none other than Kitty O'Brien. When she saw us, she confronted us. "Wait a minute, you two. I don't know why you came here, but we've closed off this area for investigation. I can't allow you to go any further."
"But we have to get in there," Tails protested. "We're investigating what's inside."
"You'd better leave that to the professionals," Kitty responded cattily (ha ha).
At that moment, though, Kitty's phone rang, and she answered it. "Hello? … Yes, I'm there. … Well, actually, two other guys showed up just now. … Okay, okay, I'm coming back."
Kitty hung up. "Sorry, I've got to split. Try to catch me on the evening news."
"We will," I replied, "if we can make it out of this jungle by then."
As Kitty left, we approached the building. "Looks impressive," Tails mentioned. "How do you think we get in? There doesn't seem to be any door."
I searched the bushes on the ground. "There's got to be some kind of entrance somewhere. I can hear machinery inside. Hey, the ground is covered in leaves. They might conceal something; they always do in movies."
Taking careful aim, I shot a green Wind Feather across the ground, blowing away the leaves. I then dashed around and shot another Wind Feather, and repeated the process until the perimeter of the fortress was cleared of leaves.
Once all the leaves were gone, Tails examined the area where the leaves had been, and quickly found a secret tunnel. "I think this leads inside," Tails explained. "Come on, let's check it out."
We both entered the tunnel.
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Sorry, all out of things to say here. Can't you tell? I'm going to make another character profile, though.
Kitty O'Brien
Kitty O'Brien is the most well-known on-the-scene news reporter in all of Emerald Town, and I don't say that just because of her good looks. She'll do almost anything, go almost anywhere, for an on-the-scene scoop. Her main tools for such endeavors are her sharp claws, which she can use to affix herself to walls, fences and other vertical surfaces. In fact, her climbing abilities rival those of even Knuckles. Since this technique does not leave her hands free to hold a microphone, she wears a headset. Her overall color is a light gray, but Kitty compensates for how male that looks by wearing a light purple dress. One has to wonder how her cameraman manages to keep up!