Chapter 2: The Marshes
All creatures when young, take several years to grow, develop and mature. Both physically and mentally. But there was something odd about that dark-haired child Rayman was taking care of.
She wasn't like other children. It had only been a couple of weeks, and the baby wasn't so helpless anymore. In fact, she was walking. Running. Speaking!
It amazed the limbless guardian how quickly the child was growing. How old will she become before she stops? Will she stop? What will happen if she does? If she doesn't?
These questions, along with many others, rambled in Rayman's mind as he saw the child grow before his very eyes. Perhaps, there was much more differences between them then he thought.
Rayman did his very best to push these questions aside and continue living with a new one in his life. But he really didn't know how to raise a child!
How was he going to raise her? Even if it's until the rightful parents arrive?
"Okay," the guardian mumbled, lowering the little one down from his back. "Your feet don't hurt anymore, right?"
The little one shook her head. "No, I can walk now."
Rayman groaned a bit under his breath. She keeps going off. How am I supposed to constantly keep my eye on her?
"You have to stop running off, okay?" the limbless hero told her.
"Okay." She returned, giving off a tiny smile.
They continued back to the Glade of Dreams, back to his home.
I have to give Globox credit, Rayman thought. Over 600 kids, and he can manage them all! I can barely manage one!
He heard feet scramble and he turned – she was gone again!
"Oh, c'mon!" he ran after the sound. "Skye!"
In no time at all, the little one reached something that fully caught her interest – the great, murky waters of the marshes.
Skye had never seen such massive marshes. It peaked her curiosity to it's highest.
She looked around and then continued on to step on lily pads that would lead her across the toxic-colored water and onto a new part of the Glade of Dreams, a part that might just end her curiosity.
"Skye!" the voice of her guardian echoed through her ears and she turned to see where he was. The quick turn was enough to make her slip off the lillypad. The child couldn't swim!
"H-Help! Help!"
Panic struck the little one as she was enveloped in the murky waters of the marshes. She tossed around and flailed her hands desperately, trying to get out and back to grip air – but the water was the thin line of life that was holding her back.
Before her final breath of life was taken away from her, a head of a sea creature pushed her fragile body up towards the surface.
Skye gasped for breath and held onto the head of her savior tightly, frightened as a kitten. She was in severe trauma, and was shaking so bad, it made her hero shake as well.
Her savior carried her back to land and put her down on the ground. The little one was still shivering and shaking uncontrollably, keeping her eyes shut. She didn't know what saved her, but the presence of her savior never left her. And neither did he.
"Hey, hey, it's okay." The soft, male voice was the only thing Skye heard besides her traumatizing thoughts of her near death experience. "C'mon, open up your eyes. I don't bite."
Skye took a few seconds to catch her breath and calm herself. She peeked through her hands and looked at her hero. He chuckled at her innocent peek.
Her hands slowly lowered at hearing such a cheery and happy laugh. "Did… did you save me?"
A smile came onto the critter's face. "Yep. You gave me quite a scare. You shouldn't be playing around here, especially if you can't swim."
She looked down shyly, biting her lip softly and returning just a nod.
"I won't hurt, you, honest. Could you just try to look at me?"
The little didn't respond, but a few seconds of thought was all it took to have her look up at who her savior really was.
The creature looked very similar to one of Rayman's friends, Sam, the swamp snake. Except his skin color was a deep midnight blue, with a hint of silver and black at his spikes. His spikes ran from his head down his back and he wore an orange bandana over his slightly thick neck. He was also bigger than Rayman's friend, and it seemed he was in his teen years.
After looking over at the swamp serpent, Skye looked away, blushing at her realization that she was staring at him.
"Heh, kind of shy, aren't you?" the friendly swamp snake asked. "I didn't mind saving you. What's your name?"
"Skye." The little mumbled quiet, her voice sounding soft and gentle.
Her timidity just made the snake smile.
"Skye? That's kind of a funny name," he chuckled.
"N-no! I like it!" Skye felt herself blush deeper in embarrassment at realizing her sudden outburst. She looked down at her feet.
"Heh heh. I knew I could make you talk." The snake admitted, the sound of his soft voice making her raise her head to meet his eyes.
"You could just call me Jess. I'm guessing you're not from around here, huh?"
The little shook her head.
"There you are."
The two turned to the sound of a familiar voice. It was Rayman.
"Dad," Skye mumbled and stood up. The guardian approached her and accepted the embrace the little one gave her. His eyes then met the snake's.
"Who's this guy?" the guardian asked.
"Name's Jess. I saved your little girl, Skye. She was playing around here in the marshes."
Rayman raised a brow and looked at the little one, now hiding behind him.
"Did she? Well… thanks."
Jess nodded. "No prob, just keep a closer eye on your daughter, okay? I got scared the water could have taken her life."
"She's no-" Rayman cut himself off when he realized Skye was still behind him. "…All right. Thanks."
Jess soon turned and disappeared into the marshes. Rayman turned to looked at the frightened little girl behind him.
"I told you not to run off," the limbless hero began. "If what the snake guy said was true, you wouldn't be here if it wasn't without him. Be more careful and stick by me, okay?"
Skye looked down and nodded. "Yes, dad…"
Dad. The word made Rayman cringe. He wasn't the little one's father. And he had to let her know that somehow.
"…Look, Skye…" he sighed and met her frightened eyes. "I, Uh… prefer you call me by my actual name, okay?"
"Oh… okay… Rayman."
The limbless hero beamed a small smile and held her hand, leading her back home.
No prob, just keep a closer eye on your daughter, okay?
The voice of the gentle water serpent echoed this message through his mind. If it wasn't for him, Skye would have been no more. Though still being somewhat strangers, Rayman couldn't let the little one put herself in danger. He had to become an actual father figure to her now.
Bah, it'll only be until her biological parents arrive…
Right?