Chapter 24

Warm sunny skies and fluffy white clouds danced in the sky, cool winds and wild flowers grew amongst tall blades of grass. Being a Pokémon hasn't changed my favorite season.

"Spring." I breathed out taking in my surroundings. Sitting in the middle of the field where some new bushes had grown, I enjoyed the sun and wind that blew through my mane.

Pounce!

At least I tried to I mean.

I turned around to see Jessie rolling on her back happily while she tackled my tails again. Rolling my eyes, I stood up with a chuckle and began chasing her as she ran away playfully.

"You won't catch me momma!" she giggled twirling and dancing around and underneath me.

I smirked and pretend to be going one direction but cut her off guard by flipping sides, gently pinning her on her belly and ticking her sides.

"N-no stop! Ha-ha!" she cried out with laughter. I giggled as I let her go so she could run again. "When is daddy coming home?"

I looked over to her to see she was now looking around for her father who needed to go have a meeting with the alphas, or to say his parents. "Soon sweetheart, do you want to go play with the other kids until he gets back?" I gestured over to the younger Pokémon that were not too far from us.

She looked down shyly and shook her head. "I don't know…"

Picking her up by the scruff of her neck, I trotted over to the others and set her down with them. The oldest one, a poocheyana named Dusty quickly came over to Jessie while wagging her tail.

"Hi! Wanna play?" she asked cocking her head to the side. Jessie looked at her and then back at me nervously.

"W-what are you playing?" Jessie whispered. Dusty smiled big showing her pearly white baby teeth that looked to be growing more by the minute.

"Right now we are playing cave! I am playing as the mom and Kacey is the daddy-"

"No I am not!" a little growlithe barked, Kacey I presumed. Dusty rolled her eyes and looked back to Jessie.

"But everyone else is either a pack member, a hunter, or they can be the pups!" she said with a smile. I couldn't help but laugh and looked down at Jessie who was now seeming more interested.

"Can…can I be a pack member?" she whispered almost too where I couldn't hear her. Dusty nodded enthusiastically wagging her tail.

"Yeah! Common!"

I nudged Jessie forward as she cautiously walked beside Dusty who was half a foot taller than her. "Okay so everyone over here is being..."

I smiled to myself as the two began playing in the group out of ear range. "Farrah, I haven't seen you in a while."

Looking up I saw Lolita, the Mightyana who assisted me on ceremony night. Grinning, I walked over and greeted her with a head nudge.

"It's good to see you Lolita, how is everything? Dusty sure has grown since I've last saw her." I added looking back over to the pups playing together.

She smiled with a nod sitting down next to me. "She is something else, that's for sure." We both looked over to the pups to see Dusty bossing Kacey around while Jessie was pretending to hunt with a few of the others.

"I don't suppose you would want a break now would you?" Lolita asked as I let out a yawn.

Rolling my eyes at her, I smiled. "Naw, I'm just trying to-(yawn)-get adjusted is all."

Lolita smiled at me but then nudged me. "Common, the pups are playing. I and the girls will keep an eye on them for you. Why don't you go out and enjoy yourself for a bit? Being a new mother and the future female alpha can be quite a challenge." She joked.

I looked down and then Jessie, who was playing happily with the others. I pinned my ears feeling both selfish and guilty to want to have a little break from everything. "I won't be gone long, I will-" Lolita shoved my rump without needing another word from me.

"Just go out, I will keep everything under control. Try to relax a bit; Jessie has always behaved while you were gone so just enjoy the afternoon. You can meet us for dinner." She said with a friendly grin. I couldn't help but gratefully smile and nod, and trotted off to find Axel.

I was walking along the river bank quietly thinking over what I would do for the remainder of the afternoon…given the chance, I hadn't really thought of what I wanted since Jessie came along. She has been my main focus, and as a new mother it was hard to let up on it.

"It's been a while since we've been back here, but take a gander of that!" a young man's voice whispered.

I froze in my place and turned my head towards the individual, to see a brawny man looking hungrily at me. I looked at his hand as he causally tossed a pokeball up and down, contemplating over what he would do.

My tails picked up and I raised them in a defensive stance. I wasn't going to back down and let him follow me back to the pack.

The man smirked at me and threw his companion out to my view. "Go! Absol!"

"Sol (Finally)!" the dark Pokémon howled out shaking its mane in an excited manner. I frowned and felt my lips curl into a nasty snarl at him.

The trainer grinned excitedly at me and then turned his attention to his partner. "Okay, Absol! Use Phyco-Cut!"

I braced myself as Absol tossed his head back and sent blue powerful air strikes in my direction. Jumping at the last second, I barely made the dodge as landed skillfully back on my feet.

"Back off!" I shouted running full force in a quick attack. The Absol was about to jump but I plowed into its chest, sending it back towards the trainer.

The man bawled his fist and threw another demand out to his Pokémon. "Common, shake it off! Use quick attack as well!"

I trotted side to side and tried to send a flame thrower in his direction, hopeful that it would cut him off. It didn't.

WHAM!

I was met with a powerful slam in my side and rolled a few times before I was able to regain myself. I took my stance on shaking feet, and growled lowly again. I raised my tails and sent a physic attack on the Absol, but began scolding myself for the move.

Absol shook off the attempt from me, and was waiting another order from his trainer, but none came.

"GO! Pokeball!"

I gasped and tried to dodge the oncoming capsule as he headed towards me. Feeling the tap on my rump, I could feel my freedom being sucked inside and restricted. Every ounce of energy sent me going haywire, and I began fighting the feeling up captivity.

A second later I was outside once again though, and I could see the ball failed to complete the capture.

"Darn, she's still too tough!" the boy mumbled. "Well, who says we can't play rough? Mightyana! Come out too!"

I was shocked to see a trainer would gang up on a single opponent like this. I began backing up, fearing the worst.

"Absol? What is Zack doing?" the Mightyana growled looking at me and then her partner. Absol didn't bother to respond as he clawed the earth with his claws, eager to continue the fight.

I looked frantically to the side and then noticed a group of my pack wasn't too far, they may be able to hear me. Letting out a high pitched howl, which carried along the side of the mountain, I continued the cry until I felt another plow into me.

"Trying to cry for help? How pathetic!" the Absol laughed.

I shrugged off the pain in my shoulder and looked to see the pack did indeed hear me, and were half way.

"Common, I think with one more hit she's ours to take!" the trainer smirked. The Mightyana gave me a pitiful expression, seemingly not wishing to take part in the unfair fight.

Sending out another fire attack, both Pokémon dodged the move and were about to place another attack on me.

"Farrah!" I looked to the side to see Jake and Seiko charging at the opposing side.

Jumping back, I watched as Jake bit into the neck of the Mightyana, pulling her down on the ground. Seiko began circling the Absol as he tried to find a closer range to attack.

"Jake?" I felt like all time froze still. I looked to see the Mightyana was on her belly looking desperately up at the large Arcanine. Jake didn't move but reached his nose out and touched hers. I could see both of them tense but began wagging their tales.

"Sasha! It's you! It's really you!" he began whining in pure joy playfully pouncing and cuddling Sasha who was doing the same.

"Jake! I am so happy to see you!"

Even Seiko and Absol had stopped fighting and were looking at the odd scene. I turned my attention though to the trainer who was dumbfounded and seemingly irritated.

"Mightyana! Stop playing around and use bite on that Arcanine!" the trainer hissed. I pinned my ears as Sasha looked completely torn between her trainer and her love, and in result began backing away from both of them with her tail between her legs.

"Mightyana, use bite!" the boy shouted again, this time with more intensity. Sasha began whimpering and Jake was growling darkly at the boy.

Absol turned towards his trainer and looked at Jake who was lowly prowling towards him. "Get away from him!" Absol growled charging at Jake, but was knocked over by Seiko.

"Jake! Don't attack him!" I cried in horror as he rose on his haunches, baring his teeth and snapping his jaws. Just as Jake was in mid-air about to attack the trainer, I shouted in complete disbelief as Sasha took the blow.

She fell down and let out a whine, obviously trying to protect her trainer from Jake. Her lower neck was bleeding heavily and her side had a deep wound.

I shook as Sasha laid down on her side, letting out a raspy breath.

"Sasha! Sasha!" Jake cried seeing that he accidently attacked his mate. She though smiled up at him and raised her paw, touching his snout.

"I-I am so glad I was a-able to see you a-again…" she whispered faintly. Jake began shaking his head in complete disbelief of the situation and began nudging and prodding her to get up.

"Sasha, come with me! W-we can go get help!" tears began forming in his eyes.

The trainer was still in shock to see he was almost attacked, and in response had ran from the scene with Absol close on his heels.

She let out a gasp and squinted her eyes, and barring her teeth. "J-Jake, I never left you…when I w-went hunting that d-day…I was c-captured…I l-love you s-so much. I n-never wanted-"

"Shh, Shh its okay Sasha, I know…I love you too." He whispered crouching down to her face. I could hear his voice crack and I felt myself on the bridge of crying.

He eskimo kissed her nose and she couldn't help but let out a laugh with a genuine smile. "I love…you, Jake."

She didn't move after that.

X

OMG I AM GOING TO CRY. Okay guys I am so sorry for the delay, and honestly this chapter is freaking depressing but it will play an important role later on in the story! Okay, please leave a review! Like and comment, I am going to go cry my eyes out….Wah!