Chapter 2: Colors of the Rainbow
"These eggs were really good Tails. Thank you for making them." Marine says softly as she gently lays her fork across her plate. "What color are they? Bright yellow or kind of sunflower yellow?"
"Well, kind of a darker sunflower yellow. Being a fox and all, I like runny eggs because I'm so used to finding them in the wild and eating them raw. Especially snake eg—."
"Ewww Tails! That's gross!" Marine's face coils in disgust at my story.
"I'm just kiddin'." I tell her lightly.
At least she's in a little bit better mood. I think somewhat sorrowfully as I look down at my plate.
I haven't eaten three bites of my eggs or even cut into my French toast. I think I'm more depressed about Marine than she is.
How could she just lose her sight all of a sudden though?
"Are you going to be alright Marine?" I timidly ask her, bowing my head in guilt.
"I'll be fine Tails. I just hope it wears off soon."
"About that…Marine, I don't know if it's permanent or not. I don't know how to say it, but you might be able to see again."
Marine doesn't say anything as she simply slides back her chair and grabs the long, cylindrical shaped stick of bamboo I found for her earlier from outside. She tests the area around her as she taps in an uneven motion.
I stand up quickly, hoping to help Marine get around.
"Where are you trying to go Marine?"
"We're still going to ride our wave racers, right?"
"Well…I mean…sure?" I reply.
"What? You don't wanna go anymore?"
"No, it's not that. Have you been around anything unusual lately Marine? Found any new islands or caves that you'd never been to before?" I inquire, trying to change the subject.
"Well there was this one place that was pretty far off I found a few weeks back."
"Where was it at?" I quickly badger her in response.
Some say eyes are a window into the soul, but since this morning, Marine's window has been savagely slammed shut. I can't see the mischievous playfulness and fearless adventurer I've come to know over the past few months. I still hear the happiness and robin-like sound of her voice, but I miss the warmth and happiness that used to radiate from her eyes.
"It isn't that far north of Seagull point," she explains. "I rode there on one of my old crafts. I didn't want you and Blaze and Sonic worried about me running off with one of your precious ships."
Marine firmly crosses her arms and turns her head away from me.
"Marine, you shouldn't…you shouldn't think things like that. It's not that we we're worried about you wrecking a ship or losing some piece of equipment. We're…I mean…I'm worried about you." I tell her meekly as feel afraid to put my arm around her again.
It's like she's a hot roll that I'm trying to touch but she's just so hot that I keep putting my hand closer and pulling it away frantically.
"I know I should be more careful Tails, but…it's just that I hate how everyone treats me like such a kid. I mean I'm 14 years old for crying out loud. I've been living by myself since I was nine. I think I can at least make sure not to get myself killed or drowned."
I laugh a little at Marine's tone.
"You've lived by yourself for the past five years? This whole time?"
"Yeah," She says nonchalantly. "My mum and dad disappeared after one of Whisker's raids on the island. Figure he musta kidnapped 'em or somethin. Oohhh that dirty bloke! I'll rip his one good eye out if I ever catch him!"
Marine makes me smile when she says stuff like that.
"Why don't we go check out what's on this island?" I extend an offer to her as I nudge her toward the stairs that lead down to the milky white coconut colored sand.
"Alright, that sounds bonzer!"
I think it's safe to say Marine is in a cheerful mood again.
"But I'm driving." She hurriedly adds.
"Uhh…I don't think so." I tell her sarcastically. "You're not driving my wave racer."
"You're so mean Tails!" She whines playfully and pulls on my arm.
"Alright alright." I concede. "We'll both drive. And to get you to the edge of the water, I'll be your own personal seeing eye fox."
I drop on all fours and make a pathetically weak attempt at barking and growling.
"There's nothing coming now Marine! It's safe to walk!" I tell her in a voice that sounds like an overly dramatic safety character on an educational tv show someone might watch on public television.
"Seeing eye dogs…err…foxes…can't talk Tails." She says with a smile.
I whisk my tails back and forth a few times so she can grab on lightly.
I goofily walk forward, leading toward our small blue and white jet ski tied up by an old wooden dock just beyond the outstretched shadows of a grove of pineapple filled palm trees.
