It's Mud's chapter!
Lena led Blade and Mud through the valley. Lena paused in front of a large hut woven from large blades of grass. Everywhere in front of the house were hundreds of different types of herbs. They were arranged neatly with a small sign in front telling what kind of herb it was. A Buneary was humming as she watered the herbs with a watering can.
"Momo!" called Lena.
The Buneary looked up, "Hi Lena! Who's this?" She hopped over and examined the two travelers. She sniffed the air. "Hey! I smell herbs!" She poked Mud's bag, "It comes from in there! Let me see! Let me see!"
"Momo! Get a hold of yourself!" A Persian came out from inside the hut.
Momo, the Buneary bowed, "Sorry Rosa. I'll get back to my watering." Momo hopped back to the herbs and began to water them.
Rosa padded over, "It's been a while Lena." She eyed Blade, "You must be the heir everyone has been talking about." She turned to Mud and smiled, "And you must be Mud. The healer apprentice." She gently placed her tail on Mud's shoulder, "I'm supposed to take her for the day correct?"
"That's the plan," said Lena, "Is it okay with you Mud?"
Mud's eyes were shining, "Of course!"
Lena laughed, "Well Blade. I guess we should let healers talk about what healers do."
Mud waved goodbye as Lena and Blade headed for the main building. She turned to Rosa, "I can't wait to learn under you," she said politely, dipping her head in respect for the older healer.
"Aren't you a polite one," commented Rosa, "Much better than Momo." Momo made a noise but continued her watering. "Let me see what you already know."
The sun rose higher in the sky as Mud learned many things from the Persian. She learned many new techniques and many new herbs. Rosa allowed Mud to take some from her herb garden. When the sun was at its highest point Rosa set out a lunch of soft bread, apples and some oran berries. To go with it a fresh glass of Moomoo milk.
"The Miltank give us their milk," explained Momo, "We give them shelter and we get Moomoo milk!" She swallowed all the milk in her cup before going for another one.
Mud kind of liked Momo, although she was a bit weird at times. "Poor girl," spoke up Rosa. She smiled at Mud, "You find her odd don't you? Don't deny it. The girl lost her parents to the Knights Guard. In fact she watched them die in front of her."
"Wow," whispered Mud. She didn't remember her parents at all. They had died of sickness when she was a little girl, barely two years old. Flower had taken her under her leaf and trained her.
"Well," Rosa got up, "Can you go get the herbs in the basket? We have to make a house request or they'll complain all day."
Mud did what Rosa requested, although she was a bit confused. Who was going to complain. Rosa slung the basket over her back. "Follow me."
"Yay!" cried Momo throwing her hands in the air, "House call! House call!"
Rosa took the two young Pokemon to a sandy pit. "Oh looks like a battle is going on."
A lump rose in Mud's throat as she saw Torch fighting a huge Tauros. She weaved through his big hooves and slammed him hard in the stomach. He hit the ground with a thud. Mud sighed in relief.
"I win!" cried Torch puffing out her chest, "I'm invincible!"
"Hey!" Hydra waved a claw. Rosa padded over to him with Momo and Mud close behind her. "Why don't you fight Torch? I mean you are a good fighter."
Mud's eyes widen as she glanced at Rosa, who was laughing and saying that she didn't want to hurt Torch since she was the one who would have to fix her up later.
"Hey Mud," Torch came over, "What are you doing here?" Mud noticed that Torch's fur was covered in scratches and sand. She had been fighting a lot. "Hey? What's wrong?" asked Torch, noticing an odd look on Mud's face.
"How can you like this?"
"Huh?" asked Torch, "What are you talking about Mud?"
"How can you like fighting! It's horrible! It's terrible to hurt another living creature!"
Torch was taken aback by Mud's speech. She was always such a quiet Pokemon. "Are you alright Mud?" She reached out to pat her friend when Mud recoiled back.
"You don't get what I'm saying!" cried Mud, running away from the large group of Pokemon. She heard Torch calling her, but she ignored the voice. She didn't even know where she was going. Mud felt twigs and branches strike her in the face but she ignored the pain. She paused in front of the river. The river that fed the valley Pokemon. Mud peeked into the water. Her face was scratched up from all the running through the many branches. Mud heard a noise behind her as Rosa came sat down next to her.
"You must have been surprised to learn I could fight right? A healer that can fight." Mud nodded but didn't say anything. She just looked at her reflection.
"Well. I am from the Claw Tribe," explained Rosa, "We do things differently. Most of us are healers and we do believe in Moondria, the goddess of healing…but the vow we take is different from the one you took." When Mud didn't say anything Rosa continued, "You see we can fight, but we fight to protect the ones dear to us."
Mud's thoughts trailed to Torch and Blade. The two of them were always protecting her. In fact all she was good at was helping them after the battle was over. Mud looked at the ground, "Is…is there someway for me to take on your vow without breaking my own?"
Rosa smiled, "There is always a way. Just swear on Moondria that you will fight to protect the ones dear to you."
"That's it?" blinked Mud, "I thought there would be more."
"Nope. That's it."
Mud silently made the vow. She prayed to Moondria to let her take on the new vow. After she was done she opened her eyes and jumped in shock. Rosa was lying on the ground and panting heavily. "What's wrong?" cried Mud, running to the healer's head.
"My children," whispered Rosa, "They're coming."
Mud was hit with a jolt. How come she didn't notice Rosa's enlarged stomach? What…that meant… "You broke your vow," gasped Mud, "You took on a mate!"
"I did no such thing," answered Rosa, wincing, "The Tribe of Claws are different. The Tribe allows mating and children," she cried out in pain, "Just help me alright?"
Mud's healer instincts took over as she helped the Persian. About twenty minutes later third Pokemon were brought into the world. Two Meowths and an Absol. They wailed pitifully and stayed close to their mother. Rosa patted the Absol with her tail, "He looks just like his father."
"Where's your mate?" asked Mud curiously.
"He was killed by the Knights Guard," replied Rosa, licking her children with her pink tongue, "I would have died after him, but I had them to think about."
Mud didn't know what to say. She had helped Flower with births however this was her first experience with a healer giving birth.
"Mud!" Torch crashed through the forest. She paused in front of Rosa and stared at her kids, "uh….isn't this breaking a vow or something?"
"It's fine," smiled Mud, "She doesn't follow the same rules I do."
Rosa carefully got up, "Okay. You two, help me get these two out of here. This is not a good place to take care of them."
"Okay!" Torch and Mud cried at the same time, each picking up a Meowth.