Rixen tried his best to shake off the freezing droplets of rain that clung to him, the slick coating of his jacket aided in his efforts. He looked into the mouth of the cave that lay before him before donning a mask he revealed from within his sodden backpack. With a quick check to ensure he had a proper seal around his face, Rixen began his trek into the darkness; his flashlight provided the only source of light save for the occasional flash of lightening provided by the ominous downpour outside.
He would have been worried had the cave not been situated along the mountainside, the rising water had already claimed the tunnel leading to the city, leaving it to be drained by Ashen's workers for the rest of the day. Mudslide and flash flood warnings dotted the region; the low parts of the valley were transformed into a small river. Needless to say, school had been cancelled, and Rixen now found himself trying to attend to his duties thrown on him by his foster mother.
The Ryansberg mineshaft had been closed for a number of years due to the accidental unearthing of organic remains; Pokémon fossils to some, but to others introduction to the living dust would cause disease and kill many who were unaware at the time. Rixen's thoughts floated to Dahlia's half-hearted promises of recovery she had shown him this morning. His breathing echoed throughout the cavern's entirety, audibly endured due to the filter of his mask. The barrier coupled with the altitude was beginning to make him dizzy, but he'd much rather take a light headache over the years of inevitable demise from accidently breathing in any leftover spores.
A tiny trickle flowed past him from the entrance. Despite the cave's elevated position, some of the lower branches may still be susceptible to flooding; he would have to hurry.
With his sliver of guidance, Rixen scanned the walls and floors of the cave, searching for any sign of recent activity: claw marks, tracks, tunneling, anything. The sooner he'd find what he was looking for, the faster his foster mother would leave him alone. Thinking about her made him grunt and roll his eyes. Wearing the stifling mask was becoming a chore, and with the visual confirmation that there was no sign of threatening dust in the air, he removed it. The sweet smells of stagnant water and saturated rock filled his nostrils. He'd rather die diseased just to spite his 'parents' anyway. With his vision and breathing fully restored, the search began to pass much more efficiently. Though still after an hour had passed, a labored sigh flew from Rixen's lungs. None of what he was doing even mattered to him; the only reason he was searching was to quench their selfishness. Why did he have to suffer for it?
He rolled his eyes again, breathing deeply. He had never even seen a Gabite in the world; not in person, anyways; not to mention that it was only a rumor that a few of the large land-dwelling shark-looking species even resided in the mountainside in the first place. As far as he was concerned, he would only need to find some of the shed scales and then he could leave. However, his empty search was beginning to frustrate him as the hours began to drizzle as much as rain that echoed from the entrance.
Shining a light at his watch told him that it was growing late in the afternoon; Rixen had seen cooler models with glowing hands and digital features, but he hadn't the money to afford it. With the time of day as well as the growing voice from his stomach, he decided to take a break for lunch. Grasping the hood of his flashlight, he pulled along its entirety until it extended; revealing a translucent section along the handle which transformed his device into a small lamp.
He found a small surface on which he could sit on and began to eat. To help keep the darkness away, his flash-lamp discussed his day with him. Or so Rixen liked to think as he talked aloud to the small glowing light.
"At least it's dry here, right?" he asked.
The lamp shone its approval, pointing with a faint flicker towards the ceiling. Rixen followed its gaze, admiring the glimmering droplets as they fell from the remaining stalactites. A black circle beneath them showed their destination as the water pooled into a corner, the waning light unable to permeate the surface, thus making it look deceptively deep. The blackness sent a chill down his spine; horrors of his first few expeditions plagued his mind. He had grown courage since then, at least a false sense of it.
Rixen grimaced; a sense of courage that was immediately revoked by the presence of Pokémon. He had begged on numerous occasions for a partner to travel with him into the depths. Each was denied, and many of his journeys resulted in him being chased away by a mischievous Woobat or a pesky Zubat. A quick look confirmed that there were no heart-shaped imprints to be found along the walls, and if there were Zubat, he would have seen dozens of them from the start.
"Just you and me again." He smiled at the glowing light that sat before him, who returned his smile in its own form of warmth.
With a final bite of his sandwich, he began to stand. But no sooner did he grasp the strap of his backpack did something caused his body to freeze. He waited a moment, tentatively looking back and forth; his flashlight shone its concern alongside his own. His ears perked uncomfortably as he tried to identify the unusual sound that had triggered his alert in the first place.
Moments passed, leaving Rixen to hold his breath amongst the sounds of the echoing drips and flowing water. Above the ambience, the noise resounded again, driving both Rixen and his glowing companion to pinpoint the source. He had heard it clearly this time. A small cry, too gentle to be a Zubat but not quite that of a Woobat, came from deeper within the darkness.
Rixen picked up his pack and began to uncover the source, but his body halted after a single step.
Don't get involved, Rixen. he heard his flashlight say.
"I have to." he pleaded his reply.
The flashlight wavered slightly, No Pokémon, remember?
A wave of guilt and anger tore through him, forcing him to grit his teeth subconsciously; Rixen hastily buried his memories before they could meet with him.
He breathed deep, focusing the latent anger towards his foster parents before nurturing his mind with kinder thoughts such as Fin and Dahlia.
"I'm only checking to see if it's okay." Rixen nodded to himself.
His flashlight presented no further argument as he made the trek deeper into the cave.
As he approached the origin of the cries, pinpointing its exact location became more difficult as the cave mimicked whatever creature was trapped inside and shifted them around in a complex cacophony of chaos.
Ensuring the area was safe, Rixen closed his eyes in an attempt to drown out the misleading antics of the cave as he followed one particular cry towards its owner.
Two small amber orbs glowed at him from the darkness. Rixen unscrewed the end of his flashlight to try and dim the protesting rays that lit up the area. From the diminished light, he could see the small bat Pokémon lying on its back; its bulbous head propped on its two oversized ears that shadowed its purplish body. Upon closer inspection, one of its wings was bent at an unusually painful angle. A nearby cluster of rock and debris seemed to be the culprit.
It looked at him; a sullen, defeated look welled within its eyes which were now skimming over him cautiously. Despite its hesitance the small bat made no further movements as Rixen slowly approached. He pitied the creature, having already given up to its fate, but was he really any different?
Slow, tentative deliberation colored his movements as he spread his hands out in what he thought as a nonthreatening gesture.
"I won't hurt you." he said in a gentle voice.
Whether due to uncaring or to assumed trust, the small bat's eyes softened as it elicited a withered cry.
Rixen allowed the small bat to weakly sniff the raspberry he held in his hand before plopping it in the creatures mouth. Assuming the small creature wouldn't feel threatened by him, he quickly moved to grab his water bottle. Unscrewing the cap, he filled it with a meager amount of water before moving his free hand towards the bat's uninjured wing.
"You're going to be all right." his fingers grazed the smooth skin of its wing which, surprisingly, didn't flinch under his touch as he expected. The glowing eyes were open to him, and he moved accordingly. The small bat was barely larger than his arm as he scooped the small Pokémon to his chest. With its head now elevated, Rixen gingerly allowed it to drink from his bottle top, assisting as necessary as the cap slowly emptied. After a few repetitions of this, the small bat in his arms called up to him with a fatigued, "Noi..." signaling that he was finished.
A small claw wound itself in the fabric of Rixen's unzipped jacket he had wrapped around the both of them to generate warmth. He brought a hand to the dark fur along the bat's chest and began to stroke it softly; the bat cooed in acceptance and closed its eyes.
Thinking on the phrase the small bat told him jogged some of his memories as he tried to recall the images from a Pokémon book he had kept around. Suddenly, an image flashed that matched that of the small bat in his arms.
"Noibat." he stated simply.
"Noibat." the Pokémon affirmed.
A slight smirk appeared on Rixen's face as he reveled in his cognitive abilities, and even more so at Noibat's inherent adorableness.
"I'm Rixen." he played with the fur on Noibat's crown.
"Bat."
Rixen had to admit that having something tangible talking back was a welcome change of pace to his spelunking endeavors.
What are you going to do now? his flashlight scorned at him, reminding him of his predicament.
He ignored it though, and instead focused on the Noibat he cradled in his arms.
One of the bones that lined the wing was broken, Rixen wasn't much of a medical expert, but he decided it'd be better to try and set it instead of leaving it to heal crookedly in its current state.
"Trust me, okay?" at this Noibat let out a sigh in resignation as Rixen traced his fingers over the swollen junction. The heat from the injury suggested that it was still swollen and very recent; no healing had already taken place, he hoped. At even his lightest touches, Noibat squirmed slightly. With every ounce visual discomfort, Rixen apologized doubly in empathy.
He looked around quickly, his search turned up empty in an attempt to find something Noibat could chew on as Rixen performed his amateurish attempt at first aid.
With a breath to steel himself, he looked Noibat in the eye while generously stroking his fur, "This is going to hurt, but I promise it's the only way it'll get better."
Noibat consented with a slight nod and a, "Noi."
Rixen gritted his teeth as he reached over Noibat's frail body to grasp either side of the break in each hand. His mind slightly recoiled as his hands came to a grueling ninety degree angle. He'd have to work fast to prevent Noibat any further misery.
With a quick twist and a subtle grating as it set in the grooves, Rixen reshaped the limb to match the opposite. Noibat let out a stifled shriek as he dug his fangs into Rixen's overhanging forearm. Rixen grimaced promptly, but not without quickly apologizing.
Slowly, as both the rush through Rixen's body and the pain circulating within Noibat's own began to subside, the fangs from his forearm withdrew as Noibat's breathing returned to normal.
Rixen took out a small survival kit he had threw together the night before, ruefully just now finding a small popsicle stick that would have saved his forearm had it been discovered moments earlier. He sprayed a disinfectant on the small incisions Noibat had left on him, leaving it to set as he stroked the small bat's head gingerly. He pushed away the thoughts of disease or infection and focused on more positive points.
"Guess we're even now." he smiled at Noibat, whose eyes gleamed up in response.
After bandaging his forearm, he took a half of the stick and taped it to the skin running along the malleable portion of broken bone. Ensuring he had immobilized it properly, he began to repack the scattered articles around them.
Don't even think about it. this statement caused him to glare sternly at the dimmed glow adjacent to them.
Noibat settled itself deeper within Rixen's grasp. He let out a conflicted sigh, which Noibat quickly questioned with concern.
"I can't take you home, I'm sorry." he scowled at his flashlight, cursed it.
"Noibat." the small bat nuzzled him in acceptance.
"I'll be back tomorrow to check on your wing." he dared his flashlight to rebuke him. To further spite it, Rixen took off his watch, securing it around Noibat's thin waist, "I promise."
Noibat nodded his understanding. "Are you going to be okay if I leave you some food and water?" another nod and Rixen quickly unpacked a small shirt he kept spare, folding it into a makeshift blanket.
"I wish I could do more, bud." he watched as Noibat settled a hooked claw on his arm as he acknowledged his concerns.
This is only going to hurt you.
Rixen stood after ensuring Noibat had easy access to the provided materials he was leaving behind. He shot a detested scowl at the flashlight in his hand, "That's fine by me." he said as his rebellious companion led him out of the darkness.
By the time he had made it back to the small cottage the sun had allegedly dipped beneath the mountainside; this watchless Rixen assumed due to the darkening nature of the clouds that still drenched the valley before him.
The massive channels dug into the earth served their purpose to drain a majority of the runoff as Rixen figured that this rain would be a record setter.
An all-terrain vehicle parked in the yard foreshadowed to him what was to come. As he ducked underneath the kitchen window he could hear Sarah and his foster father arguing from within. Her voice rose to unsightly shrieks while his low voice boomed through the glass. Shattering objects highlighted the topic of their conversation as Rixen quickly slipped into the backyard to reach the storage shed.
He was having a great day so far; he wasn't about to let them ruin it for him. Grabbing a few items from inside, he quickly abandoned the yard before they had the chance to see him.
Froslass had followed the boy home from his journey into the dark cavern. She had been too cautious to join him through its depths but instead awaited his return silently amongst the treeline. Rixen had taken the various items he stowed beneath his crowded arms on several occasions before, and she watched from a small shrub as he set up a tiny shelter beneath the skirt of a large evergreen. The boy took a rectangular piece of tin he had left hidden within the foliage and set it atop a number of rocks before building the small shelter on top to keep it out from the flowing rain. The shelter itself was strange, Froslass thought. Its color was a deep green and managed to be dull yet shiny at the same time. Once, when Rixen was away, she had felt the texture of it; it was like a slippery yet grippy smoothness.
Other than the way it looked, what was more peculiar was the way it was used. She had seen the human climb within, the casing being just slightly larger than his build, before zipping himself up like a Metapod; she wondered if it was warm inside the human's cocoon.
A wet nose to her back brought her thoughts to Growlithe who had decided to join her in seclusion, despite his invisibility to humans.
"Did he get kicked out again?" his gruff voice asked worryingly.
Froslass shook her head, "The foster humans were fighting." honestly, she couldn't see the difference.
Growlithe let out a huff, and the two continued to watch Rixen as he lay within the enclosed cot, the entrance unzipped to reveal a layer of mesh that separated him from the world. Rixen busied himself with a number of books he had sealed within storage bags to prevent them from getting wet.
"Looks like 'home work'." Growlithe said with pride in his owner, reliving fond memories of Rixen returning home from school.
Froslass cast him a look, "Bet it's not." she had no such attachment.
"Go look." Growlithe suggested to help quell their boredom.
With a false sigh, she floated over to the cot. The rain pattered against the shell that lined her upper body while also passing through anything not covered by it. She halted above him, peering in just out of view. Rixen seemed to be browsing a small book filled with pictures of Pokémon; the current one she recognized as a small species of bat by the name of Noibat. The other books she saw scattered around the human were illegible to her, but she saw symbols such as a red cross on one similar to that of the human hospitals.
Rixen suddenly stopped reading, and she had just enough time to float out of sight before he looked to where she was just moments prior.
She hastily retreated towards the bush Growlithe was laying behind.
"He's not Psychic, is he?" she ignored the grin plastered on the tiger-striped canine's face.
"No, but I get chills whenever you look at me too." he let out a growling chortle much to her chagrin.
She swatted him; her typing allowed her strike to make contact with his incorporeal body.
They watched as Rixen unzipped the mesh screen before placing a few raspberries on the edge of the platform in case his secret fruit admirer returned. Growlithe grinned up at Froslass as she faced away from him, pretending to be vexed.
Before long the clouds grew even darker in the absence of the sun as light began to drain from the world. Rixen had tired himself out from searching through the various Pokerefs he kept to read in his spare time and had been sleeping much alike the ever vigilant Froslass and snoring Growlithe just out of eyesight.
When he woke, the rain had paused momentarily; Rixen could still feel the clouds crushing him with their presence above. He lay in a moisture not originating from the rain that soaked his clothes drying in the corner of his tent; sleep had not come without a price, yet again.
"Dammit." he cursed, bringing his hands to his head to wipe the sleep and bad dreams from his mind. He wouldn't be returning to peaceful slumber anytime soon.
His pants were still damp, but he didn't care as he took out a pair of socks and additional shirt sealed away in another plastic bag. Unzipping the tent flap, Rixen stepped into the world. The rain had sucked away a majority of the warmth the mountains had to offer, and he found himself almost reaching for his still soaked jacket before thinking twice about getting sick. He would be back soon anyway. With a quick wind to charge up his flashlight, Rixen scanned the place he had left his offering. As he expected, the numerous bits of fruit he had left out had vanished. He replaced the missing articles before zipping up the tent and stepping into the forest.
Not far along his journey did he spot a familiar sight that sat out of place within a tiny clearing.
Using it to guide him to the moist earth that lay before the shrine, he rested his back against the headstone.
"I miss you, boy." Rixen said to the clouded darkness above; a few stray drops dotted his face as he did.
"Arceus knows I do." he wasn't much of a religious person, but citing the creator of Pokémon seemed appropriate as he sat amongst his raining thoughts.
A familiar warmth crawled its way into his lap as he laid his arms out either side to make room for it. The memory of Growlithe nuzzling his face tickled his skin and tugged at his heart.
Rixen blinked the watery vision and suffered breathing away, "I made a friend today." he pretended to stroke Growlithe's invisible mane, "You'd like him; he's pretty cute." he paused to think, "Not as cute as you though, boy." he smiled into the forest.
The rain slowly returned, and soon Rixen was unable to classify the indistinguishable droplets between nature and regret that ran down his face.
From the shadows, Froslass finished the last of the raspberries Rixen had invited her to. She watched as Growlithe gingerly nuzzled his master as best he could, and as the master desperately tried to return his affections. Knowing he wouldn't see in the dim light, she floated over to them as her body began to softly glow. She could at least grant him this, this human that cared so much for her friend. She would give him peace, if only for a little while.
The boy sat against the small stone, gently stroking the unusually warm air before him until something began to carefully lull him back to sleep. He knew he shouldn't fall asleep out here, not without repercussion, but the succulent whispers that weighed his eyelids wouldn't allow him rational thought. Slowly the dark, wet world before him slipped away from him along with his consciousness.
Rixen woke feeling more rested than he had in weeks. A latent warmth wrapped around him despite being in only a shirt in such inclement weather. Not only that but his clothes were free of the water that now drizzled lazily onto his body after rising from his slumber. Whatever was shielding him before had left as the rain started to accumulate within his clothing. Rixen quickly charged his flashlight before a quick search around revealed a few wild berries lying next to him.
"Thank you." Rixen said to whoever was around to hear him before pocketing the berries and heading back to his shelter. Judging by the lack of sluggishness in his body and also the darkness that still loomed above him, he figured he'd have enough time to return home before anyone would be awake, so he hoped anyway.
Having traversed the mineshafts reaches once before, he found it to be a simple task retracing his steps towards the eagerly awaiting Noibat. The small bat called to him before he was anywhere near, aiding his cause, no doubt having heard him due to his superior hearing.
A delighted chirp greeted him as he came into view, much different than the helpless cries from the day prior. Rixen generously stroked his new companion's crown as he sat down beside him. His hand trailed down Noibat's bulbous head towards the injured wing. Surprise crept onto Rixen's face as he noted its already healing nature. The swelling from before had vanished, and a majority of the cuts and scratches he had bandaged were already melding back into the skin.
"Wow." he whispered. He knew Pokémon had a much faster recovery time, but seeing it in person was enough to amaze. He was glad he had tried to reset the bone before he left, although whether or not he had done a good job of it would be revealed to him in a few more days.
Noibat seemed to understand that Rixen's awe was directed at him, and his eyes smiled to show their content as he chirped happily.
As Noibat busied himself with the small arrangement of berries and fruit placed beside him, Rixen began to wonder exactly what he was going to do with his new companion. He couldn't bring him home with him, and he couldn't just leave Noibat there, but would the shelter he had set up in the woods be any less risky? Annoyance ebbed at him as he remembered just how excruciatingly nosy his foster parents had been in his affairs in the past. He'd just have to ride the truth that he was out searching for what they were looking for; they wouldn't care for details beyond that as long as he got it done.
A pair of two-toed feet gripping into the denim of his jeans scattered Rixen's dark thoughts. Noibat had seen the shadows Rixen's mind was casting on his face and moved to voice his concern.
"I'm fine, little man; I should be more worried about you." Rixen forced a smile as he stroked one of Noibats enormous ears; the pile of fruit had vanished in his absence, "Did you like it?"
The small bat's head nodded in approval before he revealed a small berry tucked beneath his wing, gripped between tiny claws. Rixen watched as Noibat eagerly finished the blue orb with a content look on his face.
"So you've got a sweet tooth for blueberries, hmm?" Rixen's question was answered with a delighted chirp as Noibat saw Rixen reach in his pack for more. Before he could open the bag though, the small bat reached around with his good wing to wrap himself across Rixen's torso, nuzzling his face into Rixen's chest.
At this surprise hug, all the boy could do was set the bag to the side and softly pet the assailing Noibat as he returned the friendly embrace.
"Are you alone too?" Rixen let the fur of Noibat's ears tickle his chin and neck as he stroked them.
A sullen chirp made him hug Noibat loosely. The two remained like that for a few moments as Rixen managed to sort his thoughts.
"Not anymore." the boy promised the small Noibat in his lap. Noibat's cheerful chirp and loving nuzzles drove away any trace of tarnish in the genuine smile that covered Rixen's face. Regardless of consequence, this is what he felt was right.
A quick recovery of the articles Rixen had left the night prior and soon the two were ready to go. His reacquired watch told him that the sun would be rising soon; he would have to hurry. Initially, the little Noibat had tried to clamber onto Rixen's shoulder, but a lack of appendages had made it difficult to cling on to the boy's head for support, much to Rixen's amusement as Noibat ruefully settled for the topmost pocket of the backpack. From over his shoulder, all Rixen could see was Noibat's plump head and ears sticking out from his bag as the rest of him lay within, snuggled tightly; he failed to suppress a cheerful smile at the small bat's demeanor.
His trek to the surface was much more enjoyable with his new companion.
Noibat rested snugly within the confines of the human boy's backpack. His injured wing was tucked in front of him, cushioned by a soft piece of clothing the boy had placed inside for just that reason. The break would heal in time. The tiny bat chastised himself once again for not being more careful in the first place. In his lapse of attention he slammed into a low hanging stalactite; were he to be unfortunate, he could have crashed head on. If that were the case he'd be unable to show his gratitude to this human who rescued him; Rixen was what he called himself, and he was more than worthy of the trust Noibat was placing within him; that he knew.
The ominous reaches of the dark slowly began to shed away from them as they exited the mouth of the cave. This human, Rixen ensured that the small bat wouldn't be consumed by the depths within; he wished in some way he could repay him.
In the meantime, he would do his best not to burden the human more than he already had, morosely running his good claw over the freshly re-bandaged wing.
Over Rixen's shoulder, Noibat could see golden-red hues coloring the valley before them; their position along the mountainside granted them an open view of the lush and freshly hydrated greens coating the ridged terrain. Traces of the prior storm still lingered in the sky above them, casting some of the valley in shadow and threatening to coalesce into a future storm later in the day.
The Noibat shook his head sadly; his decision to seek refuge in the cave during the disorienting storm had ended in disaster, and now he hadn't even the slightest idea how to return home. Not that he had anyone waiting on him, anyways. As the smallest of the litter, he had rashly decided to tackle the prior sky born maelstrom in an attempt to get his family to even acknowledge his presence. Now, they probably don't even realize he'd left.
A leaked sigh caught the attention of the human before him, earning him a gentle caress of his ears as the human asked if he was comfortable.
Noibat wondered if it were possible to be more comfortable in his current situation. In hindsight, he realized that had he not acted on harsh judgment, then he would've never found the caring human that carried him now.
Lost in thought, the Noibat didn't realize that Rixen had already reached a small artificial shelter that he assumed the human used to stay dry during the storm.
The boy gingerly set down the pack, Noibat included, within what Rixen had informed was a 'tent'. The small bat curiously wondered what 'single-person' meant, but left it aside for now.
Noibat turned up to look at the boy as he leaned into the tent to grab some of the strewn articles.
"I'll be gone for just a little bit." Noibat squeaked helplessly as Rixen transferred his tiny body into another pile of clothes for warmth; he'd much rather do it himself, but without the use of both his wings he'd only be able to crawl around like a whelpling.
Rixen again ensured his new companion had access to some berries and water in his absence. A delicate rub of Noibat's ears and the now huddled bat watched as Rixen zipped up the tent, listening until the gradual sound of crunching foliage faded into the distance.
He had seen and interacted with humans before. On the rare occasion that they would invade his family's territory, they would usually ignore him and pursue his much more imposing brothers and sisters and rightly so. No one wanted a runt. But this human, Rixen, he was generous enough to offer treatment and kindness. The Noibat snuggled into his thoughts of hoping to be able to repay Rixen for the happiness he had unknowingly shared before slowly drifting to sleep.
Rixen doubled his pace. Fin was standing outside the gate of his foster home. Not a good sign, Rixen thought to himself. The last time Phinius lingered around the house to grab his attention, his Machoke had gotten loose and began tormenting the townspeople.
This time, the situation seemed much worse. As Rixen approached he could see Fin wipe his face before meeting his gaze with a nod.
"Sup?" Fin's voice was laden with a disturbing hollowness.
"Not Champ this time?" Rixen attempted to bring a smile to his friend's face.
"Nah, not-" Fin paused, unsure of what to say, "Not this time, bud." his eyes went to the ground, seeming to find affirmation amongst the gravel and clumps of dirt. With a hopeless look, he nudged towards the direction of his home, "Come 'on." he took a breath and then a wobbly step as Rixen patiently followed behind, "Dahlia wants to see you."
Rixen's stride froze, along with his thoughts. Ice began to pour into his veins as he managed to piece everything together. Fin saw the realization in his eyes, and almost began to cry before him. Rixen hadn't denied him like he thought he would have; didn't tell him that it was a cruel joke and that he was just being paranoid. Instead, Rixen ran as fast as he could.
Rixen had known Phinius and Dahlia Floran for twelve years. Their father was a botanist with a minor in ecology, meaning they were always poor and relying on their mother, a local shopkeeper further down in town. Despite their disposition, they were comfortable in just having each other. Mr. Floran worked closely with Rixen's parents and desperately fought to adopt Rixen under their name when they passed. Because of their financial constraints, however, the orphaned six-year-old went into the more 'capable' hands of the Maxwells.
However, that didn't stop them from inheriting Rixen in their own way. For the next few years, they admitted Rixen as one of their own, until eventually Sarah Maxwell lost her job and insisted that she deserved more personal time with a boy she claimed to be her son. School would eventually reunite Rixen and the Florans, and even now he frequented their residence as if he had a room of his own. Only sleeping at the Maxwell's in fear of repercussion.
They had grown up together, Rixen, Fin, and Dahlia. They became renowned as a troublesome trio; their more mischievous antics halted only by Dahlia's pleads for reason. Naturally, as her loving older brother, Fin would yield to her, being the leader of the group.
Eventually that knack for logic would push Dahlia to become the star pupil of the grade, every year. No one ever bullied her because of big brother 'Sharpedo' Fin, and 'Tyranitar' Rixen at her side.
She was due for a scholarship that would send her through the art university she had always dreamed of.
Even now, Rixen could see through blurred vision the creative flyer on the wall; a talking art brush beckoned with 'an invitation towards discovery!'.
He had seen her take a medallion for academic achievement every year. He and Fin were always the loudest to cheer for her. Every time her face would glow with both sweltering pride and crushing embarrassment at their cries and whoops. She would chastise them before quickly being hefted onto their shoulders as they carried her off the stage. He wished that they would be able to do that every year.
Now all Rixen wished for was for Dahlia to open her eyes again.
He silently pleaded for those yellow orbs to look at him once more. For that cutely angry expression she always wore as she rebuked him and Fin for doing something wrong to appear on her face as if all this were a horrible prank.
Instead her face was a violent mixture of pain and agony. Her normally rosy cheeks were now a vicious red as sweat trailed down her forehead. Rixen moved to wipe the droplets away with a cool towel, a damp hope to relieve her suffering. He turned away as he noted that the gradually paling hue of her skin almost began to match the towel he dabbed at her scalp.
"Phinius?" a fragile breath escaped her tightly pursed lips.
Rixen looked to the door, wondering if he should fulfill her summoning. The muffled sobs emanating from the hallway, though, told him otherwise.
"It's Rixen," surprised at how rasp his voice had become, he cleared his throat before continuing in barely a whisper, "How're 'ya feeling, hun?"
The sweet breeze from her tortured body nearly crushed him, "I feel..."
He grasped her hand before she could finish turning her palm to invite him. Mentally, he winced at how hot she felt.
"You're so cold, Rixen." at that he began to retract his hand in apology, but she reached up with her free hand to prevent him from escaping.
"Don't go." she commanded.
Quietly, he hissed away a sob as he brought his other hand to encase her delicate grip on his own as his head sank to rest on their union. Silent tears began to trickle down his face, staining the blankets covering Dahlia's dainty body.
"Don't cry." her request only made him choke harder on the sobs that relentlessly ventured forth from his frustrated heart.
Biting his lip to stifle his shudders, Rixen tried his hardest to remain resilient. Dahlia seemed satisfied at this as she brought his head to her bosom.
"I feel..." she continued, gently stroking the short strands of brown beneath her fingertips, "Happy."
A whimper crept from between gritted teeth as Rixen subconsciously tightened his hold on the wilting flower before him.
"Do you remember, Rixen?" she sighed lamentably, "Remember why we all go?" She waited a moment as his suppressed wails leaked into her chest, all the while lovingly caressing the boy's hair.
It took some time before Rixen could speak without his voice quivering, "...I do."
"You and Phinius," she paused to breathe a ragged breath, "have always been there for me."
"And now I want you to always be there for each other too." she finished after a moment; her words to no avail on the sorrowful boy's aching heart before her.
"Please..." Rixen begged, his voice cracking.
Ignoring his plea, she cupped his turned cheek in one hand, "I'll take good care of Growlie for you, Rixen. I promise." he tried to interject but was shushed as she continued, "So promise me you'll take good care of our brother."
After an unpleasant hiccup, Rixen began repeating, "No you won't." in-between his sobs as she proceeded to stroke his hair softly, eventually adding in, "I need you." and pleading for her to stay.
As his speech began to become coherent once more, he asked through convulsive sobs, "W-what about you?" He clenched his eyes tight as he remembered the years he endured with her by his side, "Yo-you helped me get over Growlithe, so you can't leave me, 'c-cuz... it's unfair."
"Phinius is crying right now, isn't he?" another pained breath, "He needs you, right now."
"But we need you!" Rixen could barely contain his anger. His anger at the world and how the nice things were always being taken from him like an irresponsible child.
Her arms reached to press his head deeper into her embrace.
"You'll always have me; always be with me, right here." she ensured he could hear her strained heartbeat before letting him rise. She slowly opened her eyes to look at him.
Rixen drank in her succulent yellow orbs, tinged with just the right amount of sunlight.
"I'm feeling sleepy." she smiled a faint smile.
Rixen swallowed her words, digesting the fact that she didn't want to see him sad, and that he'd have to fight to be strong for her, since his strength wouldn't be able to save her from her misery. He had managed to cry himself out anyway.
"Sleep well, Dahli." he whispered.
Accepting the notion, her eyes silently sank closed as he bent over to place a kiss on her forehead.
All that was left were the sounds of Dahlia's endured whispers and the click of a door softly closing as Rixen stepped into the hallway.
He sank to his knees, not as cried out as he originally thought, before placing his head in his hands as if that would stop the tears.
"I remember, Dahli. I don't wanna though." he choked out through gritted teeth, "I don't wanna."
A gentle hand settled on his shoulder.
"Why..." Rixen sobbed, "why does he have to go too?"
The three of them looked on at Growlithe's make-shift grave; the dirt was still freshly packed.
"Because, Rixen!" the hand softly tugged for him to look at her.
His dark brown eyes became enraptured by her own brilliant yellow. Fin was on the other side of him, kneeling with a shovel in hand.
"Because if he doesn't then your mommy and your daddy will get lonely." Dahlia nodded at herself in confirmation with her reasoning.
Rixen began crying into the lower half of her sundress, using it much to Dahlia's displeasure as a makeshift wipe rag.
"What about me?" he wailed.
"Well you've got us!" Fin nodded at his sister, a small smile on his face.
At that moment there was anything but a smile on Fin's face. If anything Rixen imagined that that was how he looked at the moment. Except he wasn't huddled in the corner of the hallway with his head in his knees.
"They lied to us." his voice was as scratchy as Rixen's as he glanced up with a glare of consternation.
"Fin-"
"Three months! And they even said that she'd be all better!" the concerned look on Rixen's face quickly reminded Fin that the source of their despair was busy sleeping a door away. Regretfully, the anger slipped from Fin's face before he broke down again on the floor in pathetic apology. Rixen closed his eyes regretfully; for a stage three, the promise of recovery was only a luxury to ease the minds of those affected. There was never a guarantee.
He knelt down to place his hands on the crumpled figure's shoulders, fiercely sucking in his own tears to try and be strong for his best friend.
"I-...I don't know what to do, Rixen." Fin's tears pooled against the wooden floor, "I don't want to lose my sister. I'm so scared, bud." he finished, almost hiccupping the last bit.
"I am too." Rixen said before pulling up his friend and leading Fin into his bedroom. After setting the mess of a person Fin was slowly deteriorating into onto the bed, Rixen left the house in silence, ignoring the haunting sobs and rueful assurances from Mr. and Mrs. Floran floating from the living room on his way out.