Ok, Chapter 2 now up. Please, PLEASE, review.

Desclaimer: I dont own Pokemon, ok??


Chapter 2: Hunted

Artemis and Sky sat down on the grass, panting for breath. Artemis had won, as usual. Of course she would. She was the fastest runner in Twinleaf Town for god's sake. Her body's build was light, slender and graceful, perfect for running. Sky had lost only by a few seconds though, as he wasn't a bad runner himself. Looking back, their hometown was now out of sight, far away on the other side of the hill. They were sitting there, peacefully, when it suddenly happened. Artemis screamed out in pain as a wave of pain was unleashed from her back. She bent over, sobbing, as the pain receded. Sky was absolutely shocked by what had just happened to his friend.

"Is it your back? Are you alright?" asked a very concerned Sky.

Artemis simply nodded, tears running down her cheeks. She lay down as to relax her back. She had completely forgotten about her back wound. Deciding to be more careful from now on, she rubbed her back. As she did, she saw Sky's concerned look.

"I'm okay now Sky, don't get yourself so worked up," assured Artemis.

"Whatever you say, Artemis. But I'm still gonna hurry you to Masago Town so that you can get your back checked," said Sky, and also added, "We're gonna have to camp on this route tonight."

Artemis was actually really excited about this journey. She was actually going to camp out! Artemis herself wasn't really an outdoor person, and wasn't used to "roughing it out" as Sky was. She concluded that she'll just have to get used to it.

"Well, then, do you want to get going?" asked Artemis.

"Yeah, we'd better, huh?" replied Sky, "Let's get going."

Artemis slowly stood up with great caution, as to not put anymore strain on her back. They started walking towards Masago Town, but it was a long walk. The sun was already beginning to set when Artemis and Sky decided to call it a day. They found a nice clearing within the trees, and settled there. They split up to gather some firewood, and then got their sleeping bags out. Sky was trying to for about half an hour to light a fire by rubbing two sticks together when Artemis came back to the campsite, carrying what seemed to be a bundle of berries. Rolling her eyes, Artemis passed him a matchbox.

"Here you go. It's the new invention. It's called a matchbox," said Artemis, "Do you want me to teach you how to use it?"

Glowing red in the face, Sky snatched the matchbox from her hands and lit the match, then the firewood. The sun had already set, so the fire was appreciated greatly by both Artemis and Sky.

"We'd better get our Pokemon out," said Sky, and with that, he let Aura out of his Pokeball, while Artemis let Sora out. The two Pokemon were already greeting each other, sniffing and licking. Artemis and Sky laughed at the antics of their Pokemon, and fed them some Poke food. Sure, it wasn't as good as home made food, but it did the job. While the Pokemon were having their feed, Sky noticed his stomach grumble.

Looking up at Artemis, he said, "Guess I'm hungry too."

"Well, did you bring a pot or a pan?" asked Artemis.

Sky groaned. He didn't. What a shame that was too, because Artemis was the best cook he knew. She made the best food, better than his mum anyway. Ramen, Burgers, Pecha Pie, you name it. If you gave Artemis the ingredients, she could do anything. He especially liked the Pecha Pie. Sighing, he took out some tuna cans.

"You didn't forget to bring a can opener did you?" asked Artemis.

Sky groaned again. He did. He had forgotten to bring a can opener. Sky was feeling pretty hungry and miserable, when he noticed Aura's claws. An idea popped into his head.

"Aura, come here," said Sky, "Can you open these cans for us?"

Aura simply nodded, and got to work with the cans, using his claws to open them. Artemis noticed what he was doing, and asked Sora to do the same. In a few minutes, all four cans were opened. Smiling, Artemis and Sky gave their Pokemon a can each. They lapped it up appreciatively. Sky was about to start eating his, when Artemis snatched it from him.

"Hey! What are you doing?!!" asked Sky.

"Come on Sky, surely you aren't going to eat it by itself?" laughed Artemis, pulling out some bread, along with some berries she had freshly picked. She got to work instantly, first cutting up the Tamata Berry, and then sprinkling some flakes of the Pomeg Berry over the tuna. She then made a sandwich with the cut Tamatas, and Pomeg tuna. Thrusting a stick through each sandwich, she toasted them over the fire. Sky watched in awe as Artemis took the two sandwiches from the fire, handing him one. It was nice and spicy, and was warm. Sky savoured the taste, fully appreciating Artemis' cooking skills.

"That was great, Artemis!" complimented Sky, "I'm glad one of us can cook."

"Yeah, if it was just you, I doubt you'd survive a day out here," replied Artemis, cooking something over the fire.

Sky was about say something, but shut up when Artemis thrust a roasted Wepear Berry at him. Muttering his thanks, he scoffed that down as well. Aura and Sora had finished eating, and had decided to curl up near the fire and sleep. Watching them, Sky decided that it would be a suitable time for sleep as well.

"C'mon Artemis. Let's get some sleep," said Sky, as he got into his sleeping bag.

"Hmm…? Oh, okay, sure," said Artemis, as she unfurled her sleeping bag next to Sky. Yawning, she slipped into the bag. Then, she said, "Sky?"

"Mmmm?"

"What do you think about this? I mean… this whole journey idea? We've just started, and I'm already wondering….. will we be okay?" she said, and whispered, " I'm w-worried, Sky." She cast her eyes down.

Sky was surprised. He had never seen Artemis so unsure before. She was always optimistic, seeing the best in people and occasions. Energetic and happy, Artemis was a very good friend. To see her like this made Sky's stomach twinge. Feeling that he should cheer her up, Sky put a hand on her arm, and gripping it tightly, he assured her, "If we went alone, no, I doubt it," he admitted, "but come on, Artemis, with us two together, of course we'll be okay."

Artemis smiled, and said, "Thanks Sky, you really know how to cheer me up, don't ya?"

With that, Artemis closed her eyes and fell asleep. So did Sky, a few minutes later. By ten minutes, Sky was in a deep sleep. Artemis on the other hand, was having a very restless sleep. She tossed and turned in her sleep as the Absol haunted her dreams.

The dark Pokemon moved ever closer to Artemis. She could feel its cold breath, its dark eyes boring into hers… It got ready to pounce, and glared at her. Artemis felt fear spring up from within herself… The Pokemon pounced. Artemis tried to run, but she couldn't, her feet were frozen solid. She screamed in pain as the Pokemon's blade cut her flesh…

Artemis suddenly woke up, only to realise she had been dreaming. She felt a bead of sweat roll down her face. Looking around, she saw Sky, sleeping soundly. Smiling, she got up, just to stretch her legs for a few minutes. To her surprise, she saw that Sora was awake. The feline Pokemon trotted up to her trainer. Patting it on the head, Artemis turned towards the bush.

"Shall we go exploring for a bit Sora?" asked Artemis

Sora cocked her head as a sign of approval. Artemis stepped into the bushes, with Sora trailing after her. It was very quiet at the time of the night, and looking at her watch, Artemis saw that it was still 2.30 in the morning. Looking up, she saw that the full moon she saw two nights ago was starting to wane.

"It was only two nights ago…" Artemis thought "feels like a month, at least."

Instinctively, her hand ran up her back as she felt the scar, still there as an ugly memento of that night. She remembered that Absol now, imprinted in her mind as clear as it was on her back. That blood red fur, that sharp curved blade... Suddenly, as if it had read her mind, it jumped out in front of her. Artemis screamed.

Sky woke up with a jolt as he heard his friend's scream. Looking to his side, he noticed that Artemis was not there. The color drained from his face. Calling Aura, who was still asleep, he ran towards the direction he heard Artemis' scream from. During running, a vision crossed his mind.

Artemis lay on the ground, her dress covered in blood… Her eyes were closed, and blood trickled down from her lips. A Pokemon stood over her, its fur the same color as the liquid it was lapping up…

"No," thought Sky, "she's going to be alright… isn't she???"

Clearing his mind of unwanted thoughts, he ran faster, trying to get to his friend's aid before it was too late…

Artemis stood in horror as her nightmare now stood in front of her. Every bit of the Pokemon was just as she had remembered it. The blood red fur and blade, its smell, stinking of death and decay, its claws, smeared with blood from its recent kill… and most of all the eyes… those chilling eyes with no compassion or kindness whatsoever. It growled, making sure Artemis understood its statement. Artemis got it alright. "I'm going to finish what I started – by killing you." A chill went up her scar. But suddenly, beside her, Sora started glowing. Snarling at the Absol, Sora got into an offensive position, with its body arched, and its fur on end. Suddenly, Artemis remembered what the Pokedex had said. "…It is extremely loyal to any trainer that it considers to be worthy. It is said that it developed its powers to protect its trainers…."

With that knowledge in mind, her fear waned a bit. Patting her partner, she glared down at the Absol, and said, "Its payback time. Go! Sora!"

At the command, Sora leapt at the Absol. Taken by surprise, the Absol took Sora's tackle full on. It flew about two metres, before it hit the ground with a resounding crash. Snarling, it got back up, as it charged up its blade for an attack. As it swung its head back, the blade glowed bright white, and then unleashed a powerful Razor Wind at its opponent. Sora however, was ready. Sensing its opponent's moves, Sora, without being told, dodged the attack easily. However, to her grief, the Razor Wind was now heading directly at her trainer. Artemis screamed as she put her arms up in an attempt to guard herself. Expecting the razor to slice through her any moment, she closed her eyes.

That was when she heard from behind her, "Aura! Use quick attack to get in front of Artemis!" Sky's voice. Suddenly, Artemis saw a blur of black and yellow come in front of her, between the incoming attack and herself. Artemis watched as Aura stood his ground, protecting her. It had a firm, determined look on its face, even as it took the Razor Wind face on. Aura got blown off his feet as the attack struck, and landed on the ground a few feet away. Looking back, she saw Sky running to Aura's aid.

"Artemis! I'm out, so you take care of that Absol!" Raising her hand to signal that she understood, she faced her opponent, than at Sora. Sora nodded, indicating that she was ready. As the Absol drew its head back once more, it created a chance.

"Sora! Take it down with Quick Attack now!" shouted Artemis.

Sora, obeying loyally, swiftly slid into the area beneath the dark types head, then tackled it from underneath. Flying, her opponent crashed into a tree.

"Now finish it off with Swift!" commanded Artemis.

Glowing, Sora shot countless star shaped projectiles at Absol, and hit it before the red creature even had time to react. As the Absol slid down from the tree, it groaned. Snarling at the pair, Artemis and Sora, it disappeared into the darkness. Making sure that it was gone, Artemis recalled Sora into her Pokeball.

"Well done, Sora," said Artemis, stroking the Pokeball, "and thank you."

Artemis ran over to Sky, who had now nursed Aura with his potion and recalled it into his Pokeball. Artemis thanked Sky for helping him.

"Thanks Sky," said Artemis, "I wouldn't have made it without you."

"Like I said," replied a smiling Sky, "I promised to look after you."

The two teenagers walked back to their camp, and got back into their sleeping bags.

"Better get some sleep tonight," said Artemis, "if we want to get to Masago Town by tomorrow."

Sky yawned his reply, and went straight to sleep. Artemis followed suit, this time dreaming better dreams… like about the boy next to her.


Was it any good? again, PLEASE REVIEW! thanks for reading.