Chapter 10: A late visit
As the trainers began to calm down and disperse that trainer stayed till the end staring and smiling. He was the very last to leave and as he did I had the urge to follow. Buizel however, now all eyes were off him fell to his knees. It had been a trying few days and now that he had succeeded his paw could no longer keep him up right. Looking one last time at the strange trainer I knelt down beside Buizel, who was now laying on the ground. Breathing heavily his eyes were shut tight as his paws coiled into fists and he fought to control his breathing. I gently slid my arms beneath him and picked him up so that his head was against my shoulder and my left arm supported his back, holding him to me. With my right arm supporting his weight I headed towards the tree line and entered the forest.
The forest was not large, however it did surround the entire lake as well as the town, it was also about forty feet cheep before opening into a large field. I walked, carrying the half unconscious Buizel through the thick trees about half way to a small opening in which I had set up the camp. It was deep enough into the forest and away from town that we have our privacy, yet are close enough to the lake that we don't waste any energy getting there. I passed the circular stones in which burned wood sat in the center and walked straight into the tent. Kneeling down I carefully lowered Buizel on to my bed and as he slept I covered him up with my sleeping bag. I then stepped out, after building a fire I sat on the log nearby and let my mind wonder as day rolled into night.
The thoughts almost immediately began to pour into my mind, all our past experiences and wins since leaving home. It was not long before I found my thoughts turned to Buizel and his training. I felt a rush of pride fill me as the events of the last few days came to me in a sequence of memory bubbles. Step by step that combination came together with Buizel giving one hundred and ten percent every second of the way. I looked over my shoulder glancing at the tent in which Buizel slept and I felt something deep down. It was like pulling of some kind deep down inside me and it was pulling me towards the tent, or more specifically Buizel. I went to stand up and enter the tent when a voice from the forest caught my attention.
"You and your Buizel are very talented!" I wasn't surprised.
"Hush, and thank you." I nodded to the tent. "He's asleep."
"Really, why isn't he... never mind." He stood leaning against a tree. "May I?"
"Sure." I indicate him to enter our camp site with a wave.
"He has amazing strength and power, but he's not invincible." He approached and sat beside me on the log.
"Yeah, but then he is determined and is not one for giving up, neither am I for that matter." We warmed our hands over the fire as we spoke.
"Good to know."
"Why are you so interested in myself and Buizel?"
"Because I've kept tabs on you and a few other trainers and I want you at your best for the up coming competition."
"Why tabs? And why do you say that?"
"I keep tabs on all the best trainers, my competition as it were and I want you at your best so that when we meet at the competition you'll give me the challenge I believe you're capable of."
"I see." Smiling I nodded. Argent and confident, a good opponent indeed.
"So.." Standing up he continued fondling with his jacket that for a moment got caught on the log. "Take care that Buizel and I will see you at the competition." He held out his hand, standing up I shook it.
"You'll see me there and you'll be doing this again." I nodded to our shaking hands.
"And why's that?"
"Why? To congratulate us on our victory, over you and everyone else." He laughed shacking my hand more firmly.
"Good, that's the confidence I want to see at the competition, until then. See you there." He left after that still laughing as he faded into the trees. Feeling that pull once more I looked to the tent and smiled as I put out the fire and entered.