The blue light of twilight was met with the light of a small blaze as the leader of the displaced nomads sat at a rickety table opposite Rosy. Both smiled, one trying to comfort the other reassuring.

     “It is a fine fortune child, you have nothing to fear for our sake,” the leader’s words brought an almost instant relief to Rosy.

     Her smile growing more relaxed Rosy sighed happily, “I’m so glad. Fortunes which tell hardships always make me worry.”

     “You really do have nothing to worry over child,” the leader laughed. “Your unexpected visit was the first we have had in a long time and one that has brought us much fortune.”

     Following the leader’s turning gaze, Rosy brightly smiled and waved as she spotted Zooey approaching.

     “Are you done telling their fortune?” Zooey asked with a slight tilt of her head at the spread of tarot cards on the table as she approached. “I hope it was a good one.”

     “It was for favorable for us, and one that goes in line with your departure.”

     “I’m so sorry we can’t offer you more, but our own supplies were so low when we arrived,” Zooey apologized and was met with the same reassuring smile that had been offered to Rosy.

     “The knowledge you brought of further uses of the Rings was more than worth its weight in the supplies we shared with you. To think they could be medicinal.”

     The nomad leader’s gaze drifted upward, and he grew lost in thought. Leaving him to his wondering Rosy gathered up her cards. Placing them into their container and it in turn into her sleeve she turned to Zooey with a smile. It was bit wistful perhaps, but she stayed cheerful as she spoke. “We’re ready to go then?”

     “We should be,” Zooey nodded. Turning her head back towards the Skyskipper she continued as she brushed a lock of her golden fur out of her face. “I’ve had Mighty helping me for a while to get everything in place.”

     “Then I guess it’s time to bid everyone goodbye.”

Rosy took a moment to look at the nomad leader but he seemed long lost in his thoughts and she smiled awkwardly. “Though I guess everyone is asleep, so it’ll be a quiet goodbye.”

     Waving as she moved away from the table, Rosy took up stride beside Zooey and looked at her mischievously as she clasped her hands behind her back.

     “W-what’s with that look?” Zooey stammered enticing Rosy to look even more mischievous.

     “Tails is going to be helping you on the Skyskipper today, right?”

     “He, is, but it’s all just weight and stress tests. We won’t have time for anything else before he heads out again to try and find another Red Star Ring.”

     “Hehehe,” Rosy laughed with a toothy grin, “that doesn’t mean you won’t have the opportunity to gaze into each other’s eyes and enjoy a quiet moment here or there.”

     “Rosy!” Zooey shouted fed up with Rosy’s teasing and convincing the other girl to dash away at speeds she could never hope to match. Rosy did not leave earshot though and Zooey had to defend her position. “Mighty is going to be there too!”

     “What do you mean Mighty’s hanging with you and Tails today?”

     Zooey nearly jumped as the voice questioned her from behind and turned to see Sonic looking down at her with his hands on his hips. “I was hoping he’d be able to liven up today’s run with his love for every blade of grass out here. This prairie is nice and all, but there isn’t much to do when even running at top speed I just see prairie as far as the eye can see for hours.”

     “I can make the day exciting for you Sonic!” Rosy volunteered her excitement as she dashed right back over and looked at him with twinkling eyes.

     Sonic did not seem to hear her or was actively ignoring her as he stuck his finger in his ear and scratched at an itch. “Or maybe I should take the Tornado out and see if I can’t get a better view from the sky.”

     “Sorry Sonic, but I need the Tornado and X-Tornado hangered today,” Zooey hid a giggle with her hand knowing Sonic did not want to spend who knows how long with Rosy as his only company. Prompted by Sonic pulling his finger from his ear and blowing on it she continued providing answer to his unspoken question. “The stress tests will be for nothing if I don’t have the full cargo weight onboard.”

     “So, you’re telling me I’m stuck with her?”

     “You are.”

     “And for how long?”

     “Until you two find something interesting enough to warrant spending Rings on a Ring Gate.”

     “And you really think I can handle that?” Sonic’s question was accompanied by a slight tilt of his head in Rosy’s direction.

     Her eyes were twinkling like the night sky full of stars and her tail wagging away as she tried to keep herself from leaping onto Sonic. Zooey could no longer contain her giggle and Sonic rolled his eyes. “It’s fine Sonic, I’m sure Rosy will calm down soon enough and just enjoy the run.”

     “I sure hope so.”

     Though Sonic’s shoulders slumped, he smiled wryly and Rosy leapt up victoriously. “Hooray! I can’t wait! I swear Sonic, I’m going to use your speed and look cool and keep up and, and–!”

     Her excitement reaching a head, Rosy ran around in a circle putting several laps in around Sonic and Zooey before dashing off up a nearby hill. Almost cleanly as she tripped and curled into a protective ball before bouncing and returning to her feet on her way.

     From atop the hill Rosy waved excitedly and Sonic rubbed his nose with his pointer finger, a sneeze coming on to warn him of some coming danger. With a smile he offered Zooey a thumbs up before running off after Rosy reminding all that she was inexperienced even still with his speed.

     “Catch you later Zooey! And don’t worry, I won’t waste any Rings on calling in!”

     Watching her two hedgehog friends speed off over the crest of the hill, Zooey smiled to herself and again brushed a lock of hair out of her face. Soon after and with final partings with the nomads, the main propellers beneath the Skyskipper’s tail came to life and along with several support rotors filled the sails ad wings of the airship lifting it freely into the blue dawn sky.

Scene 1 · CLEARED

The Morning After, End