AN: Story Time! Okay so my original plan for this story was to have the story told from both the perspectives of Serena and an Espurr. Originally Conelle was Serena but I somehow ended up changing the names around. Then I ended up changing Conelle's backstory so I couldn't even say that I just re-named Serena. Tragic I know, because Kalosshipping is my OTP for life. Then the whole Espurr thing was taken out of the story completely. If y'all are interested in me writing a little bit of a pilot for the origin of this particular story, just shoot me a PM and I'll see if I can't whip a little something up for you guys.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. I do own myself though.
She definitely experienced a rude awakening. It was also pretty painful. She was awoken when Calem dropped her in the dirt outside of the cave.
"Ow, hey what was that for? I could have been killed," Conelle said groggily. She wasn't entirely awake yet and wouldn't be for some time.
"You should be grateful that I even did it at all. It's not like I couldn't have just dropped you when you jumped in my arms, because I know you would have gotten up and kept walking with me if I hadn't carried you. I'm just glad that there was nobody around to see that," Calem said.
Conelle slowly got up and began to dust her clothes off. She started down near he feet and worked her way up her body, swiping away the dirt and picking off the leaves. Once she was done with that she adjusted her shirt and fixed her hat. Then she placed her hair back in it's proper place, fixing it behind her ears.
"Okay lets go. I want to get this thing over and done with." Conelle said.
The pair started off towards the cave, which was not very far off, just a few minutes walk away from their current position. Up here Conelle could hear the wind much heavier in the trees. It was probably due to the higher elevation, they were getting ready to enter a mountain cave of course.
Conelle could not see a single thing within the dark depths of the cavern. She suddenly realized that they would have to transverse this dark place. Very soon her fears were alleviated. Calem stopped and pulled his backpack off of himself. He dug around in it for a minute until he found what he was looking for. Much to Conelle's surprise he pulled a torch out of his bag.
"Alrighty here is our source of light. If it goes out we will probably die." Calem said snickering a little. Then he pulled a match box out of his pack as well and lit the torch.
"If you don't m-mind me asking. Why did you bring a torch instead of a lantern? Aren't lanterns much safer than that fire." Conelle said, shaking a little bit.
"Well you see, fire is so much more fun than the electric lamps we have these days. I feel like using a torch makes the whole experience much more authentic." he replied smiling. "Besides, it was all that they had in the market."
Calem stood back and lifted his burning torch with him. The fire on it was not too large, and didn't provide much heat, but would be a great relief from the otherwise total darkness of the cave. The small crackling flame of the torch seemed fragile, but would hold out with enough strength for hours of burning.
After Calem put his backpack on, they stepped into the dark depths of the cave. Once the mouth fully engulfed them, there was silence, so sudden it was heavy. The stone blocked out the sounds of nature from outside. There was only the faint sound of water dripping from somewhere deeper into the blackness.
Soon, it felt as if Conelle was not able to get enough air. She began to take breaths much deeper than before in an attempt to get enough oxygen. The cave felt like it was sucking all the energy out of her. Conelle stubbornly ignored her anxious feelings. She was well aware of her phobias, and knew that this was among the worst of them. If she could concentrate the feeling would pass, if only temporarily.
Conelle trudged on, doing her best to ignore the fear rising inside of her. She followed close behind Calem and looked about for anything hidden and dangerous. There, of course, was nothing except the Zubat hanging from the ceiling, asleep.
The Zubat are nocturnal Pokemon, which is why Calem had a sound plan in attempting to get through the cave before sunset. As soon as the sun was gone, these little beasts would go into a dangerous hunting mode and attack everything on sound. Also, too much noise would awaken the swarm of the Pokemon.
The entire march through the tunnel was a struggle for Conelle. A power struggle between fight, or flight. Unfortunately for her, though, flight wasn't an option. There was nowhere to go, and if she started to panic it would cause quite a bit of trouble for Calem. Conelle knew that Calem didn't have to be here with her. In fact, she was probably slowing down his journey considerably. She didn't even know at all why they were still traveling together.
Perhaps he feels sorry for me. Or maybe he is feeling some kind of honor bound compulsion to travel with me now. There was no way of knowing except to ask.
"H-hey Calem," he turned to look at Conelle expectantly, "I was wondering... why are you still traveling with me. Isn't traveling with a person like me slowing you and your journey down?" Conelle said.
"Well I don't know about slowing down my journey, considering that I intend to take my time and see the sights this world has to offer, but I think the reason we are still together is a circumstance thing, you know?" Calem said, responding.
Conelle gave him a shaky smile, "Well I suppose, since there is only one way to circle this part of the region, we are kind of stuck together unless something happens to pull us apart," she said.
Calem nodded, continuing on into the deep and dark tunnel. Without the distraction of Calem and a conversation, Conelle began to feel the pressure of the dark atmosphere yet again. It came from whatever dark hole it spawned in and hit her with a hammer. She seized up for a moment, taking as deep a breath as her fear would allow, which in the suffocating darkness was not much. Quickly, Conelle was back to follow just beside Calem, somewhat behind him, and he seemed not to notice her seize.
Conelle spent the rest of the evening following her companion through the tunnel, which was much longer than it actually seemed. For the most part it was a pretty straight shot all the way from one end of the tunnel to the other. There were a few twists and turns but the way to Ambrette town's cliff side had no diverging paths to take.
Calem checked his map of the local area, which included in great detail information about the tunnel. The paper crinkled when he pulled it out of the side pocket of his pack, and crinkled again as he unrolled the colored piece of paper from it's rolled up prison.
"According to the map we are just a little bit past the half way point. As long as we keep up the pace and don't have any accidents, or incidents of me carrying you we should be just fine," Calem said, with confidence abound in his voice. That was just fine by her though. Conelle was ready to get out of there and the sooner, the better.
They carried on in the darkness. Everything was black save for the what the light from the torch touched. Minutes later was when it all went wrong for Conelle. A sudden and loud sound crashed through the stone walls, and dark air. It reverberated through ever fiber of Conelle's being, terrifying her.
Her scream gave Calem pause, bet then again, when someone who was right next to them screams, who wouldn't have their attention stolen.
Conelle fell to her knees, broken. Her hands where on her head as she began to sob. She was on the ground of the tunnel, tears in her eyes and hiccups in her breath. Every time she took air into her lungs she hiccuped uncontrollably.
The sudden sound from what was likely a Pokemon, was what made her lose her self control. Up until this point she cut off the chocking emotions of fear, but Conelle had been pushed over the edge.
"H-hey Conelle what's wrong? Are you alright?" Calem slouched over her, unsure of whether or not to wrap himself around her in comfort or not. He eventually decided on an in-between. Calem put his hands on opposite shoulders in a comforting gesture.
Conelle could feel Calem gripping her shoulders in a strong and gentle way, but kept sobbing. She was unable to stem the flow of tears and hiccup gasps. The pressure of being in the dark tunnel was far too much for her to bear. Calem was just there to provide reassurance and gentle shushes.
A few minutes and calming motions from Calem later, Conelle sat on her legs with puffy eyes. She had been able to stop the tears, but the hiccuping had yet to cease. The muscles controlling her lungs continued to stubbornly hold control of her breathing.
In the flickering light of the torch that Calem had elected to bring, and through her own spasmodic breaths, she could make out Calem's face. The sturdy features of his face along with the smile he bore as she looked at him helped to calm her panic even further. The soothing curve of his lips put her at ease.
"There now Conelle. Are you okay? You scared me back there." Calem said, moving back a little bit to give Conelle space. He took his hands off of her shoulders.
Conelle continued to look into his eyes and sniffled. She rubbed her nose in order to help clear it just a little bit.
"Y-yes I-i-i-i think I'm fine now." she stuttered, looking away with the beginnings of a blush creeping up into her face. Why did I have to have a panic attack right now? It's unfair that I'm so unstable.
Calem offered her his hand, "Well allow me to help you up then. If something is bothering you please tell me okay?" Conelle accepted his small gift and placed her small framed hand into his much larger, and warm one. Calem pulled her up, and in doing so lessened the distance between them to mere millimeters.
It was in this time that Conelle fully began to realize the difference in size between him and her. The man standing so close to her was much taller, and much bulkier than her. Not an overweight kind of bulky, but the kind that his body was built to be. He was tall and had shoulders clearly much broader than hers.
Conelle reached just below his shoulder. All she could see was his chest, which she was so close to. Calem moved to create a more comfortable and platonic distance between them. Conelle didn't understand why though.
"Well I think we should head on and get out of this blasted place before night. I don't know about you but the Zubat could be awake even now, and I don't want to have to deal with a swarm right now." he said, looking onward into the tunnel.
However, and unfortunately for them, Conelle's cries had disturbed the Zubat living in the tunnel. They just were not aware, considering that the Pokemon were silent and their echolocation abilities were silent to the human ear.
The bat Pokemon gathered a small distance from Conelle and Calem, closer to the exit of the cave. The disturbed Pokemon were in a rage, and looking for something to blame for the cause of their awakening. The creatures found just what they were looking for.
Up ahead Conelle saw a mass of bodies beginning to gather in a clump, coating the walls, floor, and roof of the cave. The air was chocked thick with them.
Calem saw the approaching gathering of Pokemon and reacted quickly. "Run! It's the Zubat! Conelle run away!" he grabbed onto Conelle's wrist and pulled her away, back towards the entrance to the tunnel, which was over an hour's walk from there. "We have to find a small side path to shelter in because we can't beat them, and we can't out run them for very long."
Calem sprinted down the path back towards the direction they came from. The death grip he now had on Conelle's wrist was painful but she didn't complain. Soon Conelle was exhausted from attempting to outrun the enraged Pokemon. She seemed to be making a lot of them angry these days.
Just as Conelle was beginning to feel faint from the exertion, Calem pulled to the side, dragging her with him and away from the hoard. While Conelle knew that the Zubat could still hear them, the shelter helped with protecting them from the small and deadly little Pokemon.
Once they were safely inside the small dent in the stone wall, Calem grabbed onto Conelle's shoulders and stepped backwards slowly into the small side passage. That was when things went from bad to much, much worse.
Slowly, ever so slowly, Conelle came back into the world of consciousness. The first think that came was her sense of hearing. The sound of water dripping had intensified from much earlier in the cave. The sound was right in her ear now. Next came her vision, it was blurry, or it would have been if there was any light to be had. It was pitch black wherever she was. The next feeling to come back to the world of the living was ironically, her feeling. Immediately Conelle wished for her feeling to go away. Her entire left leg was in searing agony.
Conelle groaned in her pain, shifting to put as much of her leg into a comfortable position as possible. She was still to much asleep for full comprehension to dawn on what was happening, or even as to how painful her injury actually was. Not only was her leg radiating horrible pain but she was sore all over, she could feel that there where bruises.
Conelle shifted her right hand, on the uninjured side of her body, and felt something. It was the wet and clothyness of a shirt. She stretched her hand out more and felt another body like hers. The incapacitated body of Calem was sleeping next to her. She could feel his breathing in her hand, as she was resting it on his sternum. The rhythm of his breath and the pulse of his heart were steady, so she assumed that he wasn't in any kind of serious danger.
Conelle moved her hand so that it now rested on his shoulder. She shook him gently, unable to muster the energy to be violent. He did not respond so she added her voice into the matter.
"Calem," her voice was hoarse and scratchy, "Calem wake up before I wake you up." he shifted in his sleep shuffling a little bit and moaning.
Conelle shook him harder. As hard as she could muster in her small and injured body. The effort and movement was causing the pain in her leg to spike up. She winced. There was no way of telling exactly what was wrong with her at the moment, but she surmised that she had possibly broken something or twisted something. She didn't know and couldn't tell. Conelle had never experienced the breaking of a bone, or the twisting of a limb.
Her jostling of Calem seemed to do the trick, as he began to rouse from the dream world. He sat up quick as a Combee in danger. Conelle's hand fell off of his shoulder, abandoning the contact. While she could not see his facial expressions or body language, she had a pretty good guess as to what he was thinking right now.
"Conelle are you out there anywhere I can't see a damn thing" Calem said, very confused.
"I'm right next to you Calem. How are you feeling? Do you remember what happened." Conelle said in a concerned and questioning tone. She was just truly thankful that she wasn't alone in here right now, and that Calem was right there with her, stuck in the same situation.
"Thank Arceus. Yes I'm fine. A little bit sore and I think that I bruised my right shoulder, but otherwise I feel okay." he said. Conelle could her the rustling and sopping sound of him shifting about, getting a feel for his condition. "What about you Conelle? How are you?"
"Calem I think I broke my leg or something, but I don't know. It hurts to move it and, I'm feeling some pretty constant pain." Conelle grimaced at that, as a new wave of agony ripped it's way up her small body.
"Conelle you need to stay calm, okay? I'm going to have to check and make sure. I can't see but I think I can determine whether or not it is broken. Also if it is bleeding we need to bind it and stop the bleeding." Calem said as he sifted over to Conelle's side. "Where are you hurt?"
Conelle could fell his breath on her neck. The warm air sent shivers down her spine. Thankfully he wasn't able to see her.
"I-it's my l-left leg I think." She said, shivering. If there was light, Conelle would have seen Calem quirk his eyebrows high at her response.
Regardless, he crawled over to the other side of her body and she could feel his presence near her leg.
"Okay Conelle don't scream, and try to hold still while I check your leg." Calem said. Then he began, starting at her ankle. "Tell me if what I'm touching hurts okay?" he continued on slowly and gently moved his way up her leg. He gave light squeezes to her leg as he went. Once he reached near Conelle's knee she gasped in pain, and jumped just a little bit.
"Okay I think that you broke your knee, but I can't be one hundred percent on that one." he said sounding very calm. Calm to Conelle at least. On the inside he was probably freaking out even more than she was.
Gentle as he could, Calem felt around Conelle's knee. Although he was being gentle as possible the experience still left Conelle dizzy from the pain.
"So there isn't any blood. I suppose that's good. I won't have to bind it to stop the bleeding. I'm gonna have to get her out of here as soon as possible wherever here is..." Conelle could tell that Calem was just talking to himself now. He was rambling on in an almost inaudible mumble. The sound of the dripping water did not help either.
Calem's backpack was still on his back, and now he pulled it off. Conelle could hear the straps of the bag sliding against his arm. Then came the sound of the backpack's zipper. Conelle could hear him rummaging through his bag in search of something. Soon Conelle could hear a small rattling noise. Like a child's racket, or a small maraca.
"Hah!" he suddenly exclaimed, making Conelle flinch in surprise. "I found them. The pain pills. The bottle wasn't crushed or anything either."
Calem jiggled the bottle of pills now. "Okay Conelle I'm the doctor now and I have some drugs for you. Hold out your hand," he said. If she could have seen in that moment she would have seen him smiling like an idiot.
Conelle reached her hand out groping the air for Calem's hand with the pill bottle. Instead she grabbed a hold of his face and immediately let go.
"Sorry!" she said. Then Conelle continued to search using what she knew of his location now to help her. Quickly their arms met and she took the bottle from him. In the darkness she unscrewed the bottle of pain medication and shook the bottle until two small pills fell into her empty hand. Then Conelle popped both of the little tablets into her mouth and swallowed before that horrible taste kicked in.
"Okay Conelle that should relieve some of the pain, but It won't kick in for a few minutes. In the mean time let's get you up so that we can find a way out." Calem said. Conelle could feel his hands reaching out, trying to find her hand again to take the bottle and help her up to her foot.
Conelle shivered at his touch, he had accidentally poked her in the abdomen, which was a very ticklish spot. Calem finally found her hand which he gripped and used his other hand to take the bottle away. She heard more rummaging around and the sound of his backpack slipping onto his back and shoulders. Then he tightened his grip around her hand.
While Conelle was chilled from the cold of the tunnel, Calem's hand was warm. Conelle felt the pulling pressure of Calem lifting her up. The second time in recent hours. Quickly Conelle felt her left arm slung around Calem's shoulders. She lifted her injured leg up and away from the ground. Away from the pain. Although it still hurt even if nothing was touching it, putting any kind of pressure on it whatsoever was agony.
"Okay Conelle, use me as a crutch, at least until we get out of here or find something you can use to replace me." Calem said. Conelle could feel that Calem had taken a step forward. Conelle hopped along next to him. Every step and hop they took was slow, as Calem was feeling around trying to find a wall to follow.
Apparently they were in a large and open space. It took nearly ten minutes of slow and careful steps to find a wall. Once they did though, their forward progress quickened. Conelle had no idea where they were. Also, she couldn't remember what had happened. Her memory extended as far as them creeping into the small side passage. Maybe she had hit her head.
"Hey C-calem do you remember what happened?" Conelle said questioning.
"I'm not entirely sure, but I do know that we fell. I think that maybe you hit your head. I can tell if you have a broken leg, but I don't know how to diagnose a concussion. Perhaps we are in a deeper part of the cave. Undiscovered." he said, "The map didn't say anything about a deeper portion."
Well that's just wonderful. We are lost, and nobody knows where to look in order to find us.
They continued on for hours. It seemed like the cave was endless. There was a constant dripping sound of the water. The sound was everywhere and surrounded Conelle. She was far to worried, and focused on the task at hand to be scared of the dark at the moment. Perhaps when she had some rest she would have the energy to be terrified. As of right that instant, though, she was tired, and in pain.
Conelle lost track of the time. The phone she had in her pocket was dead. The battery was completely drained. She was unable to tell if it was day or night outside. Inside the cave it was dark at all times, and Calem had lost their torch when they fell into the unknown portion of the cave. The only way they had any idea as to where they were was because Calem kept his hand on the wall the entire time.
Because of Conelle's injury the progress was much slower. She had to stay leaning on Calem with an arm wrapped around his shoulder at all times. As he stepped slowly, she hopped along. Doubtless, Calem was sore from holding most of her weight for hours. As well as the fact that he had to bend down constantly to stay at her height level, which was, of course, much shorter than him.
Soon Conelle began to have difficulty keeping awake and hopping. Calem also seemed to be sluggish, but it was hard to tell in the darkness. Apparently she was correct, because Calem stopped his progress, which forced Conelle to stop as well.
"I think that it's about time to stop. Time to stop for the day, or night, or whatever time it is right now. I'm pretty tired." Calem said, "I'm going to help you sit down, and then we are going to set up our sleeping bags." Then Calem slowly, and surely helped her into a sitting position. It was a painful experience for Conelle, but she gritted her teeth and lived through the pain.
Once Calem had set her down, he fell to his knees and began to set up his own bag. While he was preparing his sleeping bag, Conelle shook her pack off of her back, and began to unstrap her sleeping bag from the backpack. Then as she was sitting down she unrolled it. After that she realized her predicament.
"Uh, Calem do you think you could help me into my sleeping bag?" she said awkwardly.
"Sure just let me unzip the bag first," he said. Conelle could hear him shuffle over to her and then the sound of a zipper going all the way along her sleeping bag. Calem proceeded to lift Conelle into the sleeping bag, torso first.
He wrapped his arms under hers and shifted her into a sitting position in the soft and padded polymer that was the bag. Then Calem carefully slipped one of his arms under her thighs, and one below her knees under her calves. He then shifted her legs into the bag. Conelle gasped from the sudden pain, but it was over very quickly.
Conelle could hear the sound of her zipper being pulled up and had the feeling of the bag being enclosed over most of her body. Inside the bag Conelle was much warmer, especially since she was no longer directly on the cold stone floor.
Then Calem said, "goodnight Conelle." there was the sound of his own zipper being pulled open, then some shifting around. Finally Conelle heard another zipper being pulled up.
"Good night Calem."
AN: Yes another note from good ole' Flusion. you people as my readers need to give me a little bit of feedback on my writing. I don't truly care if you PM me or post a review, but I really want to know what some of you people are thinking about my story. If all you have to say to me is a hateful comment, then I accept that and will take your opinion to heart. Then I will silently cry myself to sleep that night. Really hope you enjoy my work.