Hello, everyone. I appreciate all of your reviews and such for this story; I haven't had over 70 in a while! XD 81 being my record, I hope that you will continue to leave feedback and together we can possibly get to 82 (or more, hopefully)! :D Thanks to everyone who reads this story, reviewers and otherwise!
Enjoy!
Chapter 14: Loose Ends
Snow awoke in her new den, groaning at the bickering and laughing of her tent-mates, opening one eye and seeing a Luxio and a Flareon staring at each other intensely, neither of them daring to break the other's gaze.
"Had enough?" The Luxio taunted, smirking but continuing not to blink.
"Never." The Flareon growled, slitting his eyes slightly. This went on for a couple more seconds before the Luxio's eye began to twitch.
"Ow!" With a yelp, the Luxio shut his eyes tight and shoved his paw in his mouth, eyes watering with pain.
The Flareon laughed. "You lose! I told you!" A Spinda snickered in the background, making the Luxio turn bright scarlet.
"You cheated! You aren't allowed to sabotage someone in a staring game!" The Luxio yelled, removing his paw from his mouth and nursing his burn. "Rematch!"
"Boys, calm down." Snow growled, standing and shaking out her fur. "Dott, why don't you bring Lovell to Aelita and Kai. Blaze, we better get to work now."
Lovell stopped looking at his paw and gave one last glare to Blaze. "Revenge!" he snarled, then he pounced on Blaze and both Luxio and Flareon rolled around tussling on the floor. Giggles erupted from both of them as they broke apart, obviously forgiving each other.
"Come on, Lovell. Let's get you healed before morning orientation." Dott said, walking clumsily as only Spinda do in the Luxio's direction; he grabbed onto his tail, dragging him out with yelps of protest about his paw.
Snow cracked a smile, watching the two Pokemon leave, remembering a time when she used to fight with her siblings like that...she shook her head, frustrated. She couldn't remember specific names, but occasionally she would remember little things like that. Stupid amnesia...
Blaze stood, shaking out his golden and russet fur and looking at Snow in amusement. "Oh, Snow, the quiet observer. Did you always do stuff like that before?"
"Like what?" Snow asked, nonchalantly licking her right foreleg; something briefly flashed in her memory, and she hastily put her leg down again.
"Like listening and watching when everyone else thinks you aren't." Blaze tipped his head to the side; by the way he behaved, Blaze was relatively younger than her, only three years old to her almost five. Yet he was very inquisitive and alert for however naive he seemed at times, often surprising Snow in unexpected ways with his knowledge.
Snow didn't meet his gaze. "I don't know. I must have, or else I wouldn't do it now." She was quiet for a moment, staring thoughtfully at a tent wall.
"It must be hard not remembering your past." Blaze said after a brief pause. Snow detected a slight scowl in his voice as he continued, "Honestly, I'd rather not remember mine, for all the sweet sunshine it was." Snow couldn't tell if he was trying to be sarcastic, or was just remembering a sad memory.
She turned to him. "Come on, let's get into the clearing. It's almost time for orientation." Blaze nodded and stood, following Snow outside into the crisp morning.
Snow squinted in the bright sunlight reflecting off of the snow on the ground, the scene before her growing into focus. All around her, Pokemon of all breeds and ages walked about, busily at work with building new tents or weapons or bundling food or baskets of water to the different tents. The main tent, which Snow now knew as the Master's Tent, seemed to glow in the light filtering in from the trees around the clearing; other tents were being shaken to get snow off of the roofs, water- and ice-type Pokemon alike running and sliding across the ground in play.
It had been nearly a week since Snow had joined the Golden Gracideas, yet it felt like she had always been here, helping Pokemon and healing her wounds with her new friends. Even when she had moved into Blaze's, Lovell's, and Dott's tent, she still visited Aelita and Kai, as they were the first ones to actually take care of her in her strange and uncommon state of amnesia. She hadn't seen any signs of the Guru around besides occasionally appearing outside of his tent, but she still had the feeling that he was always watching everything anyone in camp did; Snow also couldn't shake the feeling that she was staying in one place too long, as if someone were out to get her, yet she knew she was safer in camp than out in the wild alone.
Snow walked into the main clearing, greeting various Pokemon by name and numerous others with a simple head nod; she hadn't memorized who everyone was yet, but she figured it would come in time. She also had the vaguest feeling that something was wrong with this camp, but she forced herself to shake it away for the sake of her already precious sanity.
"How are you liking life here, so far?" Blaze asked as they weaved between misshapen tents to take a seat somewhere in the center of the clearing; it was covered with half-melted snow, and Blaze sat uncomfortably in a patch of frozen, dirt-covered ground.
"It's...nice, I guess." Snow shrugged, sitting directly in a pile of snow; she sighed quietly as the cold seeped into her skin. "When will I be able to start working?" Being chosen to join the Hunters, whose job was to raid human towns and houses, was beginning to scare her more and more as many Pokemon returned from these missions bruised and sometimes empty-handed. However, she was itching to go outside camp, and now that she was completely healed she felt the urge to do something even more.
"Let's see...you've been here, what, six days...I think today." Blaze nodded, his eyes shining. "You're going to love it. Just seeing the surprised and frightened looks on the humans' faces is enough to make you want to hunt over and over again." He growled, smiling to himself as if imagining a terrible enemy that he knew the weakness to.
Snow gave him a strange look, but didn't comment. She guessed Blaze had been through many sick and twisted things in his life, and she didn't want to pry into the reasons he was being so ruthless.
"Hey, Snow!" Snow turned her head around to see Lovell bounding up to them, his paw wrapped in a scarf of some sort; Dott ran beside him, no longer carrying his spinning and dizzy gait that he had while walking.
"Hey, guys." Snow greeted her team-mates as they sat down beside her; Blaze and Lovell chest-bumped, and Dott attempted to shake Snow's hand in greeting but ended up toppling over onto his face. Snow laughed, Lovell, Blaze, and even Dott joining in after a moment. The warmth of their happiness must've caught a couple of Pokemon's attention, for no sooner had they all calmed down enough to speak again had a young, smooth voice alerted them.
"Hey, Snow." Snow turned around, startled to find a large, dark shape behind her. He was an Umbreon, handsome, with light blue rings and piercing yellow eyes. He wore a light blue bandana around his neck, similar to Snow's, yet he had the yellow starburst design that marked a soldier. Behind him were a shiny Zangoose and a shiny Weavile, both of them wearing the same bandanas as their obvious leader.
"Oh. Hey, Set." Snow rolled her eyes to her friends, who glared at the Pokemon in turn. "What do you want now?" For the past couple of days, Set had been trying to hit on her, but she hadn't taken the bait. His goonies were also known to pick on smaller Pokemon, giving a reason for her team-mates to keep a grudge against them.
The Weavile snickered, his golden head-plate sparkling in the sun. "Just wanted to see how you were, darling. Still hanging out with those losers, I see?"
"Back off, Ra." Blaze growled, taking a step forward, neck fur bristling. "Pick on someone your own size." His green eyes flashed with anger.
The Weavile slit his golden eyes, but the Zangoose replied, "And who're you to stop us?" He took a step forward as well, his claws sliding out.
"Dudes, chill." Set walked and stood between his companions and Snow's. "We didn't come here to pick a fight."
"Then why are you here?" Snow repeated, annoyed at how she was being ignored; and at how Set being so close to her made her blush fiercely.
Set smiled, revealing shining white teeth. "We were just wondering if you and your pals would like to join us for dinner tonight; you know, before you go on your first hunt."
"I sense something fishy," Dott mumbled to Lovell behind Snow.
The Zangoose looked at Set, dumbfounded. "Really? You can't be - "
"Hush, Amun. Show respect." Set growled fiercely to the Zangoose; he grumbled something to Ra, who snickered lightly.
"You guys? Show respect?" Lovell said in disbelief. He rolled his eyes, making sure Set saw him. "All right, what's the catch?"
"There's no catch. Just come to our tent at sundown," He looked Snow in the eyes, and Snow fought hard not to blush and to keep the scowl on her face. "and we'll do the rest." He winked at her.
"I'm not buying it." Blaze stated flatly, shifting uncomfortably as Set kept his gaze steadily on Snow. "Come on, guys, let's go find a good place to sit before the meeting starts." Blaze began to walk away, but Dott and Lovell looked uncertainly at Snow, waiting for her say in the matter.
Set sighed, giving up is cool act. "Look. Here's the deal. I know that my team-mates and I haven't been very nice to your team as of yet, but this could be a chance to get us all on speaking terms. Give us a chance."
Snow looked at Dott, who shrugged, then at Lovell, who kept his face expressionless. Snow turned back to Set, tilting her chin up indignantly. "Fine. But I expect Blaze won't be happy."
"Great." Set seemed to purr, his eyes sparkling with the same sly mischief that had disappeared a moment ago. "We'll be ready."
"But," Snow said as Set, Ra, and Amun began to walk away, "You'll have to promise not to bother or pick on me or my team ever again." Snow put a certain fierceness in her voice, feeling a strong sense to protect her team. Which is bizarre, since I haven't even known them for a week...
Set turned his head around and nodded. "Deal." Snow heard a couple growls from Amun and Ra, but neither of them said anything more as they walked away toward the edge of the clearing.
Once they were out of earshot, Snow let out a breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding. "Boy, that was weird."
Dott gave her a puzzled look, but then again, Snow couldn't tell if he was puzzled or not seeing as his eyes were always dizzy-looking. "You seemed tenser than usual. What's up?"
Snow sighed and shook her head, walking across the clearing toward where she could see Blaze's yellow tail against the snow. Dott and Lovell fell into step on either side of her. "I don't know why, but for some reason, that Weavile gave me the creeps."
"Do you know him? D'you think he's from somewhere in your memory?" Lovell asked; Snow admired him and Dott for respecting her decision to have dinner with Set and his gang by sticking by her. Hell, she was happy she had friends at all to depend on without her memory.
Snow shook her head. "No, I definitely didn't feel like I've seen him before. Just...I feel like I knew another Weavile...a nasty one..." Snow shuddered. Her neck seemed to ache underneath her scarf at the memory. She squeezed her eyes tight as the image of the Leafeon, bound at the feet and lying helplessly on the ground, flashed through her mind before fading into oblivion once again.
"What was it's name?" Dott asked gently, placing a paw on Snow's shoulder in comfort.
"Her name..." Snow trailed off, feeling the memories fading again. "I don't know." Snow shook her head, trying to smile reassuringly at her friends. "It's fine. It's probably better if I don't remember her."
Before either of her friends could reply, a sharp howl could be heard coming from the center of the clearing. Snow stopped, taking a place beside Blaze, who was sulking and muttering to himself.
"Are you all right?" Snow asked. Blaze nodded absently, and Snow decided to tell him the news about Set after the meeting. She turned her attention to the center, able to see who was standing there perfectly due to their seats just at the edge of the loose ring of Pokemon.
"Golden Gracideas!" A golden Mightyena was saying, female by the sound of its voice. "Masters June and April will speak now." The Mightyena sat down beside a normal Mightyena on one edge of the ring, and Snow watched as Miss June and Miss April seemed to appear out of thin air in a swirl of golden light and flowers. Many Pokemon oohed, cheering for their leaders.
"Good morning, everyone! Welcome to this month's orientation!" Miss June proclaimed, her voice amplified by what sounded like a Hyper Voice. "This month, we will be having three Pokemon raise their ranks, and will have one Pokemon be introduced as a new member. If you please, April."
Miss April did a curtsy to the crowd, smiling mischievously. "My pleasure, June. First, a rookie to become an Officer, congratulations, Jaime!" All of the Pokemon cheered as a Mothim flew up to Miss April and received a small green gem that attached to the front of his scarf.
"Where do the..." Snow hesitated at saying the word 'Masters'. "...Where do Miss April and June get these gems and stones?" she asked Blaze.
Blaze shrugged. "Who knows, and who cares? All I know is that they use different colored gemstones to determine what rank you are; emerald for Officer, ruby for Major, and sapphire for the highest rank, a General."
This is sounding more like an army base camp than just a simple group of Pokemon wanting to make a difference, Snow thought. "Haven't you ever wondered where they get this stuff?" Snow pressed, feeling tense.
Blaze shrugged again. "What's the use of wondering? You'll just drive yourself nuts; why waste your energy on fantasies when you can use it to get your liberation?" He sounded slightly annoyed, and Snow guessed he was still feeling bitter about their encounter with Set. Deciding not to press him again on the subject, Snow turned her attention to where Miss June was calling out the names of all of the newly ranked rebels.
"Congratulations to; Officer Jaime, General Areceth, and Major Despair!" Miss June pointed out the Mothim, then an intimidating black Aerodactyl, then a shy-looking Absol. Everyone continued to clap and cheer as the three Pokemon returned to wherever they had sat before.
As soon as the noise died down, Miss April spoke again. "As I'm sure you've all heard, we have a new recruit among us. Our wonderful healer, Aelita, and her partner Kai, brought her to us when she was found nearly dead and bleeding at the edge of a gorge. Now fully healed and ready for her first night as a hunter, please welcome, Snow!" Not as many Pokemon cheered or clapped as Snow walked to the center of the clearing, her heart thumping madly in her chest with every step.
Miss April and Miss June smiled warmly at her, then addressed the crowd again. "This wonderful Glaceon has pledged herself to us, as you all have, and I'm positive we'll all grow to love and accept her in our steadily growing family." This time, more claps and some cheers broke out. Snow smiled shyly at the crowd, feeling slightly intimidated and uncomfortable being stared at by this massive amount of Pokemon.
Suddenly, a searing pain erupted in Snow's head, making her gasp slightly. She shut her eyes tight, feeling her world spin around her. Images began flashing through her mind; a large coliseum, fighting many brutal Pokemon, seeing bloodstains and fur on the ground in front of her, crowds of people cheering her on to fight to the death. The cheers of the people died slowly, becoming the cheers of the Pokemon around her; as quickly as they had come, the images were gone, and Snow found herself blinking up at the worried faces of her team-mates.
"Snow! Are you all right?" Blaze exclaimed, leaning close to her face. Miss April and Miss June were around her as well, worried expressions on their faces.
Snow stood, wobbling slightly. "I'm fine. Just..." Snow blinked. "What happened?"
"Oh, sweetie, you must've fainted." Miss June said, eyeing her with sympathy. She turned back around to the crowd, which was murmuring and chattering anxiously. "Nothing to worry about, folks. She's still a bit woozy from healing, but she'll be back on her feet by tonight. Dismissed!" Slowly, the crowd began to thin out as Pokemon headed back to their work stations, some of them going into their tents to prepare for dinner.
"Are you sure you're okay, Snow?" Blaze asked again, looking her up and down. "Perhaps you should stay home for dinner, instead of going with Set?" he asked hopefully.
Snow threw him an annoyed glance. "I'm fine, Blaze. And actually - "
"Snow? I hope you're okay." Snow turned around to see Set bounding up to her, Ra and Amun following close behind. He stopped in front of her, smiling. "Ah, you look as fine as ever; glad to see you're not too injured."
Snow stopped the heat flooding into her cheeks, rolling her eyes. "Thanks. So we make a deal for dinner and now you're Mr. Polite." Snow felt slightly annoyed at herself for fainting in front of everyone, but she felt even more frustrated and disturbed at the memory she just witnessed. What was that coliseum? What kind of place did she live in before the Golden Gracidea camp? Suddenly, she doubted where her loyalties truly lay, and if she could trust herself to stay here with her new friends.
Am I a danger to the whole camp by just being here? Was I sent here to spy?
Snow shook her head, letting out a frustrated groan. Lovell tipped his head to the side, staring at her worriedly. "Are you sure you're feeling okay, Snow?" He glared at Ra and Amun, who wore mischievous grins. "We can always do this...another time." Snow knew it hurt him to say that they should still do it, but she was glad he didn't say so.
Blaze, on the other hand, wasn't as gracious. "How about we just don't do it at all? I don't trust these guys; they've been nothing but a thorn in our sides for months, and now one new team-member is going to change all of that? Suddenly, we have to expect them to be good?"
"Blaze, please - " Snow protested, slightly hurt.
Blaze glared at her. "I'm not going. You three have fun." He stalked off, heat rolling off of him in waves as he disappeared from sight.
Set had been following the conversation silently, his eyes flicking back and forth from one Pokemon to another. Finally, he stood, a good head taller that Snow. "I see you and your team-mates are having conflicted feelings. Maybe we should do this another time."
"No." Snow said fiercely as Set began to walk away; he stopped, hiding the smile growing on his lips. Snow looked back to where Blaze had gone, rage churning in her eyes. "Let's go." The last thing Snow wanted to do was give in to Blaze's hatred and anger; it wasn't her fault that Lovell and Dott had agreed to go with her to dinner! They had followed her on their own! And why was Blaze being so hostile and mean to his own team-mates? Something inside her willed her to fight, and she wanted to do so; she wouldn't let Blaze have the last word.
Lovell and Dott exchanged a helpless glance, seeing Snow's distress. However, neither of them objected as Set replied, "Wonderful. Let's be on our way." And with a flick of his blue-ringed tail, Set lead Ra, Amun, Snow, Dott, and Lovell back to the soldiers' area, the sky darkening fast and the wind whistling like a mourning song through the high branches of the trees.
Please review! :D Tell me what you think of the new characters.