Moon's P.O.V.
I continue rubbing her jaw, and dimly, realize my hand doesn't hurt as much as it should. I glance down to see a thin film coating the bloody wound. The Beast Killer ducks her head like she's embarrassed, and I realize she licked the bite mark to 'seal' the open punctures.
Not very sanitary, but in the moment I can't care less.
Because it means she's worried about me.
I hesitantly place my still-hurting hand on the blade-like structure on the top of her head, feeling the rough keratin melding into exposed bone along the top. She tilts her head, gently shoving the weapon into my palm, and I take the opportunity to study the keen edge, realizing it seems to be hiding something, underneath the keratin.
But what?
My hand meets wood, and the Type: Null stills. I gaze into her eyes, wanting her to understand that I'm going to help her. My fingers skim the splintery green-marked wood, and I frown as I realize it's clearly not part of her, that it's some sort of artificial controller.
Nobody should control her.
I long to break the shackles around her legs and neck.
Long to free her.
The next day
Why am I back here?
I could be caught.
I could be killed.
But the knowledge that the Type: Null with the same broken look in her eyes is still in there won't release me.
Won't release me like the chains trapping her.
The copper tang of blood, fresh blood, meets my nose, forcing tears to my eyes that I refuse to acknowledge.
No.
This isn't about getting information about how to free them now.
Not anymore.
This is about making Lusamine pay for this.
This is about revenge.
I rush to the female, seeing only the clearly-new gashes oozing thick blood, the emaciated ribs, the older scars and newer scabs mottling her gray fur.
No.
No.
Before I know what I'm doing I've shrugged out of my shirt, tearing strips for bandages, reaching out towards her-
Claws snare my collarbone and drag down my exposed chest.
I gasp in pain but wrap the white band tighter around her side, applying pressure even as the other talons sink into my shoulders. Hot tears prickle at the corners of my eyes and I barely hold back a sob as I stare into her furious eyes, seeing the depth of hurt and pain she won't acknowledge.
Like me.
For a long moment we stare at each other, Pokemon and human, each waiting for the other to back down.
Knowing they won't.
The pain threatens to burn away my consciousness with it's fiery scream, but I fight it.
I'm going to help her even if she hurts me.
For a second I'm back to yesterday, claws embedded in my hand, staring her down, leaving my life in the hands of a Pokemon who doesn't trust me.
But this time I won't close my eyes.
This time I'm going to make her see I'm different.
And just like yesterday, the claws withdraw, leaving only the pain and the satisfaction.
The satisfaction that even though she will try to push me away, she knows I'm different.
The satisfaction that I know I'm different.
Because I don't think she would have spared my life yesterday.
Wood scrapes my jaw, and I trace the bone of her horn, tying another bandage around her blue tail.
'Hrr!' I shake my head, scrutinizing another gash that makes my stomach roil.
'Shh. I'm sorry. Shh…' I look up, realizing I don't know what to call her. An image, of an old storybook, flickers past in my mind, and I snatch the scrap of memory like a life preserver.
A picture of a majestic creature, aquiline and feline blended into a sinuous predatory beast, perched on a lofty crag, making my breath catch.
'Daddy, who's that?' The strong hand on my shoulder, so big it dwarfs me, shifts as the man looks at the picture.
'That, orchid, is a gryphon. They were rare and beautiful beasts with nests of gold and hearts to match. Loyal to a fault, if you could get their trust. Only the greatest heroes ever could. They would lay down their lives for their one and only partner, one they could trust with their heart.'
His warm voice makes me feel safe.
'Do you think I'm that kind of person, daddy?' He chuckles.
'Definitely, Moon. You're the kind of girl who could sing down the sun and moon if you asked for them.' I giggle.
'Now I just have to find one.'
And I think I've found them.
Daddy...the man who adopted me from the orphanage.
The man who read me storybooks and told me I could tame a gryphon and sing down the sun and moon.
The man Guzma killed five years ago.
The real reason I was going to free the Type: Nulls was to find and kill Guzma.
Mark my words.
I'm going to kill him.
And nobody can stop me.
'Gryphon.' The words hums in my bones, captivating me as it did so long ago. The Beast Killer looks up, eyes bright and hard on mine.
'Hrr.' This time she isn't saying 'open your eyes, I won't hurt you' or 'stop', she's saying continue.
'Gryphon.' She steps forward, and I reach out, speaking the words I heard five years ago. 'Gryphons are beautiful creatures that nested in mountains on aeries of gold. They would only trust one person, and after that bond was sealed they would lay down their life for their partner, as the partner would for them. But not anyone can tame a gryphon. So I'm asking...will you be my partner...Gryphon?'
My trembling fingers twitch, spasming, but I refuse to lower my hand.
Refuse to rescind my promise.
Refuse to not prove that my father was right.
That I can tame a gryphon.
She's waiting.
Waiting for me to lower my hand.
Waiting for me to show that I'm just another human.
But I'm not.
I promise I'm not.
And I think she knows.
Because she, Gryphon, rears and places her foreclaws on my shoulders, staring deeply into my eyes, and I know she still doesn't trust me, but maybe…
...maybe someday.