As I ran, I felt a new feeling course through my body. Sure, I could name a few. Fear, anguish, but most of all, anger. Why was Pa doing this? What had Ma ever done to deserve it? Nothing, as far as I knew. And while that walking lump of what I thought was a toad followed me through the dense undergrowth, I began to form a plan in my mind. Then a thought. Revenge.

I almost tripped over a vine that had snaked its way across the leaf littered ground.

"Uf…uf…" I could just hear the lumbering oaf behind me, blundering and crashing about even more than I was. Surging with renewed vigor, I scrambled over another root. But then I realized the danger in my situation. The trees. If I were to be cornered…It was over. Calling for help was a No-no. I had no idea how well the toad's eyesight in the dark was, and if his hearing was any better, he'd be able to track me like an Arbok hunting a Rattata.

If I tried scrambling up the nearest tree? Ma told me Riolu were no better at that than a Wurmple trying to swim. But I knew it was just to scare me out of trying. Besides, I couldn't jump as high as her, when she helped me get the Oran berry out of a tree. I could barely run as fast. Then suddenly, I had one of those weird flash back moments Ma told me about. Like, in a moment of crisis.

"If you can't run faster than you opponent, jump higher. If you can't jump higher, think faster."

"But Ma, I can barely do any of those things!" I had grumbled.

"Now, don't talk like that. If you've got enough conviction, you'll get the job done."She said that with a smile. "And I don't mean to sound like one of those, what did you call it? Cheesy mothers who recall exactly what their grandmothers said to them and relay it to you."

"But you are one of those cheesy ones, Ma." I'd said, earning a half-hearted scowl from Ma.

"Oh really?" She lightly swatted me over the ears.

I knew that the other half of the conversation was completely trash at the moment, with some four foot poisonous, warty toad chasing me, but it warmed my heart up until it sizzled and melted.

"Oh, little Riolu," The Toxicroak cooed. "Don't run away. I'm only taking you back home."

"As if," I muttered, just loud enough to irritate the glaring Pokémon.

But the thought hit a loose cord inside of me. Where is home, exactly? Then again, it's not as if it matters. After Pa left the den after a fight with Ma, everything spiraled down from there. Even though I remember the pained smile on her face, I can remember her panicked breathing, and the flash of fear in her eyes just as clearly, when she said, "He's coming back."

I don't know why, but at the time, I'd realized that something very wrong was happening between Ma and Pa.

Then an idea sprouted in my head. I thought maybe, didn't Ma say we lived in a forest very close to Aphota town square? If I could just reach it…Then I paused in thought.

"It's about midnight. Who would be there to help me? Everyone's either gone home or lying asleep in their shops."

The Toxicroak seemed to have the same thought as me, and let out a sinister sounding laugh.

"Uff-" I just barely managed to scramble over a fallen birch.

Suddenly, I heard soft wing beats. My ears must have been keener, for the Poison-type barely broke stride.

One, two… I looked up, feeling the dark blue aura of two Flying-types just ahead of me. One swerved to the side, but that was all I saw until a dark bundle of feathers dropped down beside me. I dodged the other way, thinking they may be allies of my Pa. A large boulder came into sight, just over the crest of a small rise, and as I scrambled up the hill, ducking down on the opposite side of the boulder, the winged Pokemon perched on the boulder's smooth surface. I tried to catch enough breath to utter a question.

"Shh," All I could make out was a smooth voice, and what was that?

Was the pokemon wearing a hat of some sort? No, it wasn't a hat, it was the shape of the Pokemon's head. Looking it over, it was quite large, a dark cobalt-black, with the chest an eggshell color. There were dark scarlet plumes brining a spark of color onto him, and his eyes, so calm and collected, were about the same color, but I couldn't be sure.

"What are…who are…" Was all I could say, and under the Pokemon's call gaze, I felt utterly embarrassed.

"Honchkrow, at your service," He says smoothly.

At any other time, that would have made me narrow my eyes and blush, but in such a crisis, it just set me off.

"What the Arceus?" I grumble, then add louder, "Were you watching me?"

"We could not resist. It's not everyday we get to witness a Toxicroak pursuing a Riolu." He chuckles.

What's up with him? I wonder, grimacing. "Well, you choose the worst time to make jokes, ."

My irritation seems to make him chuckle once more, but my glare silences him. "Ah well, we could lend a wing, but I'm not at all sure you deserve it, what with how you're acting."

My eyes narrow, and I think, How else could I act? My mother is somewhere, maybe dieing, maybe taken hostage, and what can I do about that? Nothing! She told me to run!

Suddenly I feel awful. I ran like she told me to. I didn't even try to save her. How terribly cruel of me.

I must have said that last part out loud, because the Honchkrow let's out a sigh, as if he would pity me if he could.

I don't need his pity or anything else from 'im.

"Apparently, you do. Unless you want that Toxicroak to finish what he started with you." The Honchkrow said, now suddenly serious.

"Am I talking out loud?" I mutter under my breath. "Fine…But where is it that you're taking me?"

"You'll find out soon enough." He arches his back, then takes flight.

I watch him for a second in awe, then in confusion when he dives down and grips my shoulders in his sharp talons.

"Wait, what?" I kick and resist, until his grip tightens on me.

"For now, just enjoy the ride!" He crows, then makes some sort of call that the Staraptor I hadn't even noticed hears.

The large grey and white feathered Pokemon let's out a screech.

"Is she hitching some kind of ride?" He asked the Honchkrow that I had taken a disliking to.

"Let's just call it our rendezvous mission," The Honchkrow said.

I let out a cry as he picked up speed. Turning north, he glided through the air. Now I'm sure that anyone below would watch, jaw agape, as two very majestic yet intimidating bird Pokemon fly above, carrying between them a kicking Riolu.