The saga continues in the second arc of this story. Wolf and Kiara are just barely managing to survive on their own. The bond between themselves and their Pokémon friends proves to be the most valuable thing that have at this point. However, what will happen to the two children when they encounter humans face to face after so many years? One way or another, they will have to draw the fine line between companions and enemies.
"You sure you want to leave this place behind?" Wolf's quiet voice echoed off the cave walls towards Kiara's ears.
Kiara stood in the center of Kangaskhan's den, the place she had called home for so many years. Memories of baby Pokémon scampering about joyfully and getting scolded by their adoptive mother when they wouldn't settle down to eat their meals flashed through her mind. The cave was silent now. Without Kangaskhan, the baby Pokémon had all run off in hopes of finding someone of their species to look after them. The torches inside the cave had all gone out, leaving it looking much darker than usual.
Kiara slowly headed over to the walls of the cave, where countless drawings had accumulated after years had passed since she had shown all the babies how to use mashed berries as paint. The girl lightly brushed the drawings with her hand, almost nostalgically. A cough behind her snapped her attention out of her trance. She turned to the cave entrance to see Wolf and Vulpix standing there, causing her to realize that she hadn't answered the boy's question. Reluctantly, she nodded. "I know that if we stay here, everyday I'll be hoping that Mama will come back…Even though this is a good shelter for the winter, it brings back too many memories…But it's okay!" she sighed, quickly adding the last bit as she saw her friend's gaze soften with sympathy. "We'll be fine! It's probably going to be hard, but we learned a lot about living in the wild over the past couple years. We aren't completely naïve like when we first left the orphanage," she reassured him, though most of her words were to reassure herself.
Wolf nodded slowly. "I guess you're right. We can't stay here waiting for the past to return to us. We've got to shape our own destinies now! I promise that whatever happens to us, I'll look after you Kiara! You too, Vulpix," he smiled down at the fox Pokémon who let out a bark of agreement.
"And I'll look after you too Wolfie! We're gonna be okay!" Kiara giggled positively in return.
"Don't call me Wolfie," was the boy's simple response as he snorted, and though he was serious there was good nature in his tone.
"D'aww, you're no fun!" Kiara whined with a pout face. She cast one last glance around her empty home before facing Wolf again. She didn't know what would happen to them now, but she had faith everything would turn out for the best. "C'mon, let's get out of here."
The character list for this arc can be found on my profile under "The Bittersweet Arc."