Chapter 2: Enter the course
Spasms of fear racked my body, making sleeping impossible. My bushy tail wrapped more tightly around my body in an attempt to get more comfortable. I had trained for the rest of the day after my ceremony. I knew Razor leaf, vine whip, synthesis, magical leaf, energy ball, tackle, shadow ball, and take down. But no amount of training can make you feel at ease when you know you're at death's door step. The dreaded course starts tomorrow, precisely why I don't want sleep to ever overcome me.
I can't be exhausted during the games! I crudely reminded myself, clamping my eyes shut. I squirmed in frustration when sleep didn't come as quickly as I had hoped. I quickly gave up and got to my paws, carefully tucking my bad paw against my stomach. Outside the small mud hut that I had called home since I was hatched, the darkness was very consuming. It seemed that my night vision had faltered when I evolved, meaning that I'd have to be extra careful when I traveled at night.
I feebly limped through the darkness, using my vine whip to feel the ground in front of me before I walked. My ears were pricked, listening for any noise that could indicate danger. The eeveelution kingdoms typically left our camps out here alone, but other Pokémon didn't respect us like they do. Purloin are typical trespassers, and with their superior night vision, if one is out here it definitely has the advantage. I shivered as a cold breeze ruffled my short fur. I looked into the distance towards the Kingdom of Aura, the castle's tip poking out of the forest. The royals are total fibbers. They may say that their children participate, but I know they don't. I growled, my eyes narrowing anger and envy.
My tail gave a flick of annoyance before I continued on my walk. The moon was full and bright, the center piece of the sky; it's beauty enhanced by the stars that dotted the black sky around it. I couldn't help but to sit down and look at the entrancing sky for a moment. The howl of a Mightyena sounded in the distance, making my fur stand up. I stiffened, my eyes widening in alarm even though I knew the Pokémon was miles and miles away from me. And on that note, I limped back to my hut.
Meanwhile… at the top of the Aura Kingdom's castle…
A pristine full moon was the center piece of the sky, stars enhancing its beauty. My older brother, Derek, a Vaporeon who had evolved only hours ago placed his blue paw on my shoulders. I scooted a little closer to him, my nerves getting the better of me. I watched my eldest brother, a shiny eevee clamber onto the sundial on the roof of the castle, his silver fur bathed in moonlight.
"Good luck, Jett." I murmured, not taking my eyes off him. The three of us were the heirs of the Aura kingdom's throne. Jett being the oldest, (so if we all make it out of 'The Selection Course' alive he'll take over as king) Derek being the middle child, (So if Jett dies he'll become king) and then there's me, the youngest.
I watched in awe as Jett's silvery fur cloaked itself in light, his body nearly tripling in size. When the light faded, Jett's new form was revealed: He was as big as our father, his eyes a light amber color, and he was decorated with eye-catching blue rings on his shoulders, hips, forehead, and tail. Jett jumped off the sundial and gestured for me to get on the dial. I hesitated before leaving my two brothers behind, scrambling determinedly to the top of the large sundial.
Soon my brown fur became silver in the moonlight, I braced myself for evolution to take place. Soon I became cloaked in the same veil of light that Derek and Jett had been eaten alive by. Strength and confidence flooded my body, at that moment I knew that no matter happened in that course, no matter how gruesome or deadly, I would survive.
Just as quickly as the light had engulfed me, it left. Taking all of the extra confidence and strength with it. I looked myself over, I was only a little smaller than Jett, and my belts of light on my shoulders, tail, and forehead were yellow rather than blue. I assumed that my eyes were the typical blood-red. I stepped off the dial with ease, my new size coming in handy. Queen Anna, an espeon and my mother, nodded in approval. King Kurai, an Umbreon and my father, looked proudly at the three of us. The three of us will survive.
Sunlight pierced my eyes, forcing them to open. Dread quickly overcame me, today was the day that I'd surely die. I nervously shuffled my front paws, wincing at the unbearable pain that came with fiddling with the twisted paw. I inhaled deeply before hesitantly making my way into the clearing. I sat beside a Glaceon. He gave me a grim, yet good natured smile. I gave a faint smile in return. "Good luck." He whispered. "You too." I replied, my voice shaky and hushed.
Part of me wishes that I was allowed to socialize with the other camp residents, but due to my twisted paw, I was considered a disgrace to the others and was forbidden to talk to anyone but the Espeon that had done my aura test. I wasn't allowed to know her name, she never really showed any emotion when she talked to me either.
It definitely hurt a little, knowing how much of an outcast I really was. Feeling comforted from the Glaceon's friendly vive, I loosened up a little and scooted closer to him. Finally, the readings started. When our name is called, we have to come to the front and get banded. That way if we die, our bodies can be identified after the fact. Then we were led to the arena.
My paws began to shuffle nervously once more, my bad paw throbbing at the feeling of touch and pressure as the name caller got closer to my name on the list. "Tyler Brooks." The name caller announced, his tone emotionless. The Glaceon that I had sat beside got up and trotted stiffly to the front. An ice-blue band was snapped onto his front leg just above the elbow. He gave a curt nod to the bander and hesitantly followed the trail that led to the arena.
A few more names had been called before my name was called. "Mira Cleaves." My name echoed in my ears. I slowly got to my paws, my ears flattened in fear and my body shaking as I trudged towards the caller and the bander. A cream colored band was snapped onto my front left leg just above the elbow just like everyone else's. "Follow the trail and don't you dare stray off the path or we will find you and we will personally kill you." The bander growled, shoving me towards the trail. Trying not to cry, I nodded and followed the narrow trail.
My eyes widened as the arena came into view: it was many acres of very different terrain, surrounded with the Kingdom's state of the art electric barbed wire which contained enough electricity to knock out a garados with a single shock. Well escape's out of the question. I muttered to myself. I wanted to sit down very badly, for when I walked for too long my good front paw would start to throb and pulsate angrily from all the weight that is thrown on it from walking.
"Go in here with the others." A well muscled Umbreon growled, flicking his tail to the entrance of the arena: a small barbed wire cage. Once everyone squeezed inside, the doors would be opened and the games would officially begin. I took a deep breath and complied. All I have to do is make it to the opposite side of the arena and ring the bell, then I'm home free.
But the arena being about seventy acres of land, it would take at least a few weeks to make it to the other side. A few weeks of finding enough food, hiding from enemies, getting shelter for the night, drinking enough water, and dealing with the possibility of getting ill. I probably won't make it through this. I reminded myself crudely, waiting anxiously for the gates to open. A loud voice sounded over the arena: "Let the games begin!" The gates slowly parted.
All of the newly evolved Pokémon including me bolted out of the small space and into the arena. I instinctively limped quickly towards the forest, being the only place that I could easily blend into.
I had been wandering aimlessly through the forest for about an hour, my ears pricked for danger. I was constantly scenting the air, but the wind was blowing downwind, so if anyone was following me I would have no idea. My eyes darted from left to right constantly, checking for rustling bushes.
Twigs snapped and leaves crunched behind me. I whipped around only to have at least forty pounds of weight dropped on me. I screamed, struggling to stand up. I quickly identified my attacker: a jolteon. My heart was beating faster than I thought was possible. He snarled at me, his fangs bared. "T-the games just started! Resources aren't limited yet! Please don't kill me!" I pleaded, fear and desperation welling up in my gaze. "Ah but where's the fun in waiting? Besides resources will become limited later, Leafeon." The Jolteon laughed, electricity building up in his teeth. Thunder fang! I realized, knowing that if the attack was used on my throat I was done for. I wanted to fight back, but fear paralyzed me. This is the end of Mira Cleaves. I thought, looking away.
Suddenly, a blue blur darted out from the bushes, shoving the angry jolteon off me. I looked up to see the same glaceon that I had met earlier fighting with my attacker. He quickly froze one of the jolteon's paws to the ground, immobilizing the blood thirsty Pokémon. The Glaceon came to my side and lifted me back to my paws by my scruff. "Come on!" He yelled, sprinting deeper into the forest. I nodded hastily and followed my rescuer. "I will kill you both!" The jolteon screeched, frantically trying to free himself.
The adrenaline caused me to use all four of my paws, my throbbing paw pains forgotten. "Hurry up! Once he gets free he'll have no problem catching up to us!" The Glaceon panted, forcing himself to go faster. I did the same.
The Glaceon skidded to a stop. "Wait! Can you use vine whip?" He asked, catching his breath.
I nodded. "Yes." "Then use it to lift yourself into the trees!" He snapped. I nodded, lifting myself into one of the many large trees. After I got up, I helped the ice type into the trees as well. "Thanks." He breathed, sitting down.
"Why are you thanking me? I would be dead if you didn't come along." I wheezed, still catching my breath. "Who are you?" He asked, looking at me curiously. "I'm Mira." I replied, wincing as the unbearable pain from my bad paw caught up with me. He nodded. "Who are-" "Tyler. My name is Tyler." Tyler interrupted me mid sentence.
We sat in silence for a while. His eyes strayed to my paw. "What's with your paw?" Tyler asked, eyeing it suspiciously. "It's deformed." I mumbled, tucking my paw further underneath me. "Oh." "Um why aren't you in the ice biome?" I asked. "Because I'd make easy prey for any Flareon who decided to go there." "But grass types-" "I know, but all the trees and shrubs make it easy to hide." I nodded, not pushing anymore answers.
Whoa! This one way waaaay long!
