If you switch to using a CSS class rather than the inline style to handle your coloring, you can use an a:hover selector to apply different styling when the cursor is over the link, like this:
<li class="tc-menu-list-item">
<$link to={{!!title}} tooltip="Titel: {{!!title}}">
<$view field="caption"><$view field="title"/></$view>
<small> --- </small>
<small class="myclass"><$view field="modified" /></small>
<small> aus Gruppe: </small>
<small class="myclass"><$view field="tags"/></small>
</$link>
</li>
<style>
.myclass {
color: rgba(255, 201, 102, 0.8)
}
a:hover .myclass {
color: red;
}
</style>
You can also use .myclass:hover as the selector instead of a:hover.myclass, but then you have to hover directly over the text for the color to change, rather than anywhere on the link.
I am not sure if this would work with a drop-down and keyboard selection.