Chapter 28 – Preparations

Chapter 28 – Preparations

The next morning, once I woke up, I was happy to find Jirachi sleeping. It wasn't until after four more days that harm lay in that, after all. Uncurling and stretching, I yawned and rose from the bed where I had taken up residence.

Kaden, who was already awake, greeted me from the bed he was still sitting on. "Good morning."

I glanced at Jirachi, then back at him before replying, "I hope it's better than the last two."

Kaden nodded. "Me, too."

A minute later, Keane woke up and glanced at us, before getting up to pace the room ceaselessly like he had been doing the past two days.

Some time later, Crystal entered through the door that I had come to figure led to another room of the cabin. She carried with her a bowl and some berries. Setting down the bowl, which was filled halfway with a blue liquid, next to Jirachi, she then floated over to Kaden, Keane, and me and gave each of us a few berries.

"Good morning. The snow stopped last night, so I expect you'll be leaving today," she said to us as we started to eat. Kaden and I stopped and looked up at her.

"Today?" I asked, confused. I glanced over at Jirachi, who was still sleeping peacefully.

Crystal nodded and gestured at him. "He has recovered mostly. Normally I would keep him for another day or so, but you all seemed anxious to be gone, and he really has made a remarkable recovery. However, he is still weak, and must not be exposed to the cold or any stress for a few days."

I thought for a moment. The cold shouldn't be a problem, but he was still weakened… And then, on the other hand, there was his time limit of one week, now shortened to four days. I winced as I realized this, and made up my mind. "Alright."

Crystal nodded again and went back through the door she had come from. As soon as she was gone, Kaden asked me, "Are you sure about this? It could be bad if he got sick again, and we weren't near anywhere we could get help."

I glanced at Jirachi for a moment, then turned my gaze back to Kaden. "No, I'm not. But we've already spent three days here, and he only has four more left. He can't just stay here until he goes into hibernation again."

Kaden looked worried. "I know, but you seem to…" He trailed off, glancing at me sharply. "Never mind. Fine, you're the leader and all that, so whatever you want."

I became confused. "I seem to what? What's wrong, Kaden?"

He suddenly became interested in his berries. "Nothing."

"Tell me."

"You'll find out yourself."

"How?" My tail began swishing irritably.

Kaden noticed my tail, and apparently took that as a warning sign, for he became nervous. "…I shouldn't have said anything." Eyeing my tail as it began to twitch faster, he then took a deep breath before continuing, "I'm just worried that if something happens to Jirachi, you'll be hurt, too."

My tail stopped as I considered that, puzzled. "How?"

"I don't mean physically, I mean… emotionally."

Before I could ask what he was implying, Jirachi groaned and sat up, causing my attention to be diverted to him. He grabbed his head and shook it, then opened his eyes and glanced around wearily. "Ow. Hi."

I floated over to the foot of his bed. "Are you feeling better?"

He blinked and then nodded. "Yes." Then his eyes suddenly widened. "Three days!" He floated up and headed for the door as Kaden and I watched, puzzled. Turning to us, he then asked, "Are you coming?"

I glanced at Kaden, who shrugged, before I turned back to the yellow and white Pokemon. "We don't have to leave just yet… And besides, that's the wrong door."

Jirachi blinked and glanced at the aforementioned door, then lowered to the floor and grinned sheepishly. "I knew that."

That was when the door behind him opened, hitting him and knocking him to the floor with a cry of dismay. Crystal emerged and glanced at him in surprise. "Sorry."

Rising shakily from the floor, Jirachi floated to a bed and sat on it, wincing slightly. "Ow."

"Are you alright?" I asked, concerned. I floated over to sit next to him.

He nodded. "Yes." Then he winced. "Ow. I'm okay."

Crystal closed the door and floated closer to us. "I'm sorry. I should have checked before opening it."

"No, I'm fine, I was just being stupid. It was my fault."

Crystal paused for a moment, then showed us the objects she held in her hands. They were composed of a long stick with a flat metal part attached to one end. "In any case, the snow is very deep. You'll have to dig to get out."

Again I wondered how she knew this, when the windows were blocked by snow. Taking one of the objects, which I recognized as a human's shovel, I looked at it curiously. "How does it work?"

She gave one to Kaden, and then floated over to give one to Keane, who had been pacing restlessly in a corner the entire time. Both of them also looked at it, puzzled. Then Crystal answered. Sort of. "It's used for digging."

"I know that. How does it work?" My tail twitched slightly.

Crystal appeared to think for a moment. "They were made by humans, so they're designed for humans, but they could still work… You hold the stick, and get the metal part under the snow, and just lift. Here, I'll show you."

She then went to the door leading outside, turned the handle, and pushed. Nothing happened. Frowning, she placed both hands on the door and pushed harder, but it still wouldn't open. Finally, she opened her mouth and fired a blue beam of light at the offending door, causing it to shatter and allowing snow to pour into the cabin.

Jirachi, Kaden, and I stared. Even Keane looked up and stopped pacing. Crystal turned back to us and smiled. "There." She then disappeared into the door on the other side of the cabin, muttering, "Now I have to replace it again…"

Everyone blinked, staring after her. Then I looked back at the doorway, through which nothing was visible but snow. "Now what?"

Kaden raised his shovel and floated to the doorway that was now devoid of a door. "I guess we start digging."