Well, looks like I had time to add a couple chapters after all. Feel free to post a review and let me know what you think of this so far, especially the previous chapter. Feedback is helpful! Also, though only two features of the PDA are mentioned here, the others are just as important.

Chapter 9: Race against the Clock

I reached towards Cameron again, expecting the shock this time as his body instinctively began drawing on my aura to restore its own. The pale aurora surrounding him faded a little, but was still visible to the naked eye. I didn't see any of the glimmering lights that signaled the possibility that this time the sickness could be fatal, but other than that, I couldn't tell how badly Cameron had strained his aura. Depending on how bad it was this time, it could take him a few hours to a couple of weeks to recover, and that was without an abundance of physical injuries. And I had a feeling that lingering too long could lead to more problems. Hunters had been seen a few towns away, and we didn't need them on our trail.

I slipped my good hand underneath Cameron's still form, trying to avoid touching the splinter that jutted like a spear from his shoulder, much larger in comparison to his body now that he had Shifted. I wasn't sure what it might have hit when it lodged itself there, and whether removing it would cause more problems than leaving it alone. I was about to try and lift Cameron so I could take some of his weight onto my injured arm, much as it would hurt, when I felt Emma touch me lightly on the shoulder.

"Let Jake take him. We're gonna have to get everyone to a Pokémon Center, and you need to change your shirt. It's torn and covered in blood. "

I gently pulled my arm out from under Cameron's body, backing off in order to let Jake change places with me. Anakin was sniffing at the splinter, and he looked up at me. Why won't he wake up? He asked.

I didn't reply. If the situation had been different, I would have been celebrating the fact that Anakin had reached two milestones in less than a day—first attack and first full sentence. However, celebrating could wait until we reached the nearest town; hopefully without attracting too much unwanted attention.

Emma tossed me a shirt from one of the backpacks. It was of a rose hue and had medium-length sleeves—not the kind I'd typically wear, but I couldn't afford to be picky. I ducked behind the tree and pulled off the shirt I was wearing. The fabric stuck to the gashes left by Star's claws, and they began to bleed again as it came off. Emma came around the tree's trunk, carrying our first-aid kit. She pulled out a cotton pad and a length of bandage, pressing the pad against my shoulder and wrapping the bandage around it to keep it in place.

"It's a hasty job, but it should hold for now," she said, helping to pull my new shirt over the bandage. I nodded, and stood up, anxious to get going.

David was shoving food into assorted containers, while Michael packed up our camping equipment. Jake stood watching, holding Cameron's unconscious form in such a way as to avoid aggravating the worst of his wounds. There was a faint sparking around him—the transfer of Aura. I knew that we didn't have much time, and that getting our gear gathered up and packed away could take a while, so we were going to have to split up.

"Where's the nearest town?" I asked. David paused, thinking.

"That would be…..Camphrier Town, to the southwest. It's not that far from here, maybe fifteen minutes or so walking. " At least, for a normal human.

Meaning a little more than a five minute sprint for one of us. "Right…."I pondered this for a second. "Okay. Michael and David, I want you to stay here and pack up. Meet us at the Pokémon Center in Camphrier." They nodded.

Michael handed me a drawstring bag. "I put all of the Pokéballs with injured Pokémon in here. You're going to be running, and you don't need anyone vanishing on you." I handed it off to Emma, who slung it over her shoulders.

"I…thought you should know…." He added, "I put Star's Pokéball in there, too. She'll need to be treated, but….keep an eye on her, okay?" Michael didn't need to say more. He handed me the backpack Emma had designed that I could carry Anakin in, along with a small case, which rattled as it exchanged hands. "I packed a couple of Cologne scents in here. It might help snap Star out of whatever's affecting her."

I settled the backpack on my shoulders. Michael caught Anakin as he wandered past and tucked him in the backpack. I winced at the weight on my shoulder, glad for once that Anakin was so small. I hoped my injuries wouldn't worsen, but I was more concerned for Cameron and our Pokémon than for myself.

"Thanks, Michael. I'll email you when we get there." Michael's P DA came in handy with that email function. Of course, Cameron had had to take it apart to figure out how to rig a similar system, and that had led to a very unpleasant incident involving numerous Cascoon, a spatula, and a TV remote, but in the long run, it made communicating in an emergency much easier. And Cameron had managed to put it back together without too many issues, though the tendency of the Spot Monitor to go off despite being nowhere near the Orre region was still annoying, especially as Cameron seemed to have locked the volume on 'high'.

I took one last look at our campsite. David was working on collapsing the table, and Michael jogged over to help him. I found it hard to believe that not even an hour ago, we had been about to enjoy lunch before continuing our hunt for Cipher. And now…

Emma had found a trail, a small sign indicating it led to Camphrier Town. Jake was already out of sight, but I knew he would be taking care to avoid injuring Cameron further while still hurrying to reach the Pokémon Center as fast as he could. Without looking back, I jogged onto the path, gradually increasing my pace until I was running. Anakin shifted in the backpack, adjusting to my speed.

We were on our way. Hopefully, we'd make it to Camphrier Town in time.