Way of the Wanderer – Chapter 1 – Tale of a brother
It was a cold, but beautiful day in the mountains of a not yet discovered region of the Pokemon world. The snow was high and the trees tall.
Some of them were located on very steep hillsides. Everything harmonized in the pretty, white color of the hills. A male Mightyena was outside
with a single Poochyena, just old enough to walk. A father, teaching his son the ways of hunting. In such an environment it was neccessary to
stay alive, even if you have to hunt for prey.
''Hide in the bushes'' The father said ''Just like this'' and he jumped into a bush to hide.
The son just nodded and did the same.
''Nice try... but I can see your tail wagging, Puro.'' The father chuckled.
''Aww... This is hard.'' Puro complained.
''Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it soon.'' he smiled ''Let's try again.''
''Ok, dad.'' and with that, Puro jumped into the bushes again.
''See? I told you. That's already much better than your last try!''
''Awesome! Can we hunt for prey now?'' Puro asked excited.
''Not yet, Puro. But if you do your best today, I'll show you how it's done tomorrow. Deal?''
''Deal!'' Puro smiled and kept training with his father.
A full moon has arisen, as the two went back to their cave.
''That was excellent work, Puro! I'll keep my promise, just as you kept your's.'' the father smiled.
''Where were you two?'' the female voice of the mother sounded, as they entered the cave.
''Um...'' the father started ''I was trying to-''
''-teach Puro how to hunt...'' she wasn't amused ''You know he's too young, don't you Keanu?''
''B-But Ivory!'' Keanu's ears went down.
''No buts!'' Ivory growled.
''But mom...'' Puro was looking at her sadly ''Please?'' he started making puppy eyes.
She looked back silently and then she noticed that Keanu tried the same thing ''...Really Keanu?''
''Please?'' Keanu and Puro asked in unison, both making puppy eyes.
Ivory sighed ''...Fine... Just make sure you keep him safe, okay?''
Father and son looked at each other and smiled ''I promise''
''Good. And now take care of your other sons.'' she was about to leave ''Gotta do something quick. I'll be back soon. And don't break anything!''
And then she turned around and left. Puro was excited already and ran deeper into the cave to meet his brothers. They ran towards him as soon as they heard him. ''Puro!'' They cheered in unison.
''You're back! Yaaay!'' The two younger Poochyena couldn't hold back their happiness.
''I'm glad to see you again!'' he reacted and hugged both of them.
Keanu joined the three ''Bisko, Sato, tell me you were nice to your mother.''
''We were, but she seemed upset all day. Something seems to be wrong.'' Bisko said.
Sato took the word ''We tried to help her, but it didn't work...''
''Hey, at least you tried'' Puro smiled ''But I wonder why she's acting like that...''
''I think I know why.'' Keanu interrupted, as everyone looked at him ''She's pregnant.''
''What?!'' the brothers were all shocked.
''She didn't tell you, because it was supposed to be a surprise, but I guess telling you is important to make you stop worrying about her. It's just...
she has mood swings because of it.''
''I see... I guess we shouldn't tell her then?'' Puro wanted to know.
''That's correct'' Keanu started to think ''But... I know what you could do to cheer her up!''
It was night time, everyone was sleeping. Everyone except for Keanu, so he went to wake up his sons and together they sneaked outside quietly.
Bisko and Sato haven't left the cave ever since they moved into it after their birth. Both of them didn't know what the outside world looked like, so
they were amazed and barely able to hold their ecxitement.
''Wooow!'' They both whispered.
The waterfall right next to them was flowing into a crystal-clear lake, which was surrounded by beautiful pine trees. Due to the the height of the
mountains, this area was always covered in snow.
''I know. You two should really see where I've been training!'' Puro mentioned proudly.
Keanu interrupted ''Hush! We don't want to wake up your mother.''
''Oh, yeah... right. Sorry'' Bisko apologized and they continued.
They walked through the forest. Keanu seemed to know his way.
''So, do you remember what I told you earlier?'' he wanted to know
''We shall find an ice flower for mom!'' Sato remembered.
''But we don't just need one. We're going to collect some more.'' Puro added.
''Very well! Do you still know where?''
''Umm...'' Bisko tried to remember ''It was some kind of clearing with a tree in the middle, right?''
''I'm proud of you!'' Keanu smiled and went on forward.
After a few minutes, they reached a clearing. The tree was there too. And there were some purple and blue flowers growing around it in the snow.
''We're here! Pick up as many as you can, your mother loves these!''
Everyone ran off to collect the beautiful flowers and it didn't take long until they had enough and they headed back. Before going inside to sleep, they
decided to hide the flowers outside, so they could give them to their mother. Keanu was the first to went back to sleep, but he winked at his sons before
closing his eyes completely. Puro, Bisko and Sato then went to sleep as well.
In the morning, everyone was tired, but at least they could make their mother happy, so without her noticing Puro went out to get the flowers and joined
his brothers, who were already talking to their mother.
''Mommy?'' Puro sat down between his brothers, holding the flowers in his mouth ''We got something for you to make you feel better!''
She was smiling and hugged all three of them before taking the flowers ''I... Thank you all! Where did you find these?''
Bisko grinned ''That's a surprise!'' Keanu was watching and winked.
Even though they were outside to collect the flowers, Ivory couldn't be mad at them. After all they did that for her. She turned towards Keanu.
''Look what our kids brought us!'' she cheered.
''They grow up so fast, don't they, Ivory?'' He smiled.
''Yeah, don't they?'' she gave him a seductive look and then kissed him.
'Damnit! She knows!' he thought as he was blushing. She just smiled.
She then went back to her sons, giving all of them a small kiss on the cheek.
''Thank you very much! Now... I guess I shouldn't keep this a secret any longer. I'm pregnant again... You just reminded me of the importance of the family,
so you have a right to know.''
''Looks like the Meowth is out of the bag now'' Keanu added.
The kids pretended to be surprised, even though they knew already.
''Is that true?!'' Sato wanted to know ''Is it going to be a boy or a girl?''
''Well, to be honest, I don't know yet. But it's definitely more calm than all of you, so my mind tells me, that it's going to be a girl this time. No promises though.''
Ivory smiled.
''That's wonderful! I'll do my best to help you!'' Puro promised, as Bisko and Sato agreed.
Ivory wanted to pinch their cheeks ''I know you will!''
A few weeks later it was time, Ivory was ready to give birth to the new kid. Keanu told his sons to wait outside. Of course none of them wanted to leave their mother.
''Please wait, ok?'' Keanu asked calmly ''I'll get you as soon as it's over'' And with that he went back inside.
''Fine...'' Puro wasn't amused, but his father was right. Their mother needed to stay focussed.
''Come on. He'll call us back in. He promised it.'' Sato calmed him down.
''You're right... Let us... ummm... Let us play some catch!'' Puro suggested.
After several minutes, Keanu returned.
''You can come in now! It's a girl!'' He said, crying tears of joy.
Everyone cheered and followed him back inside. Ivory was laying down in a corner and in her arms, a small Poochyena. Puro has never seen her that
happy before. She was petting the head of the little girl, who occasionally opened her eyes a bit. They were purple, which was not normal at all. And
yet, she seemed to be healthy.
Ivory turned towards the brothers ''May I introduce you to your sister? Her name is Ebony.''
They came closer and sat down in front of their sister.
''Awww... She's so cute'' Bisko noticed ''C-can I-'' Ivory nodded and he reached out to pet his sister carefully.
She opened her eyes again, looking at him for a sew seconds, before closing them again. For a second Bisko thought she smiled at him.
''Even though she doesn't know it yet, she can already feel that we're her family'' Puro noticed.
''That's right'' Ivory said ''She can already feel the bond that connects all of us.'' She kept Ebony close ''She is a little weak right now, but she's healthy.''
Keanu sat down next to Ivory ''Yeah, even though I wonder, why she has purple eyes.''
Sato took the word ''I think she's something special.''
''She is. I'm sure of it'' Ivory said before kissing her new daughter.