Ch.20: Truth's Gambit! The Trial of the Shadow Witch!

"You dare defile the purity of our coven with your…darkness?!"

"You don't understand! It was the only way!"

"You've let your grief consume you for far too long!"

"I had no choice! I had to—"

"Was it worth it? Damning your soul to demons on a hunch! Look at that pile of rotten flesh before you and tell me that isn't the results of your labor!"

"I…I can fix this! I can bring her back! Please, give me another chance and—"

"Enough! Henceforth, you are exiled from the coven. You are no longer a witch in our eyes. You are nothing but a soulless creature to our beliefs! Everything I've taught you, all for this? Was it worth it, Callista? Was it worth risking your soul over?"

"I—"

"I said…WAS IT WORTH IT?!"

Callista gasped and sprung to her feet with a dark mist spreading over herself. She panted quietly and scanned her surroundings. No, she wasn't out in the plains. She wasn't in a coven camp. She was in the present, as she should be.

She reassessed her surroundings and saw the cage bars walling her off from the outside world. The gears in her weary mind clicked away, sparking a memory of the last couple days. She had been captured and thrown into a cage, courtesy of a familiar Dewott.

She sighed and dispelled the dark mist, which thankfully didn't alert the guards. She saw the guard on duty had fallen asleep, cradling a sheathed sword in his lap. Callista rolled her eyes, then lay back down.

She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow, then faced the floor. "That memory. I remember that argument, but…I can't recall what started it." She casted some mist around her leg and stared at it. "Definitely had something to do with this, but I can't remember why. Why did I give up my soul for this?"

"Hey, witchy lady!" Callista turned to one of her prison mates, the Luxio who wore two eyepatches. "Shut the hell up! Some of us are trying to sleep!" he shouted, except it was in the Xatu's ear.

The ancient bird opened his eyes, grumbled under his breath, and slapped the lynx to the floor. "You shut the hell up." He turned onto his side and went back to sleep.

Callista huffed, then curled up onto the floor and closed her eyes. Definitely better than sleeping out in the rain.

"I still say we should execute her while we can."

"Boss, you know she might have valuable information. Maybe executing her afterwards is the better call—"

"You don't know her like I do!"

It was a rough morning for Wolf, to say the least. The last couple of days ranged mainly between contemplating their newest prisoner's fate and the method of execution Tony wished to inflict onto her. It didn't help Tony was chugging down another serving of whiskey.

I really need to confiscate that alcohol from him. Wolf stepped in front of Tony and ceased his pacing. "Look, stomping around and muttering death threats under your breath won't get us anywhere. I can't understand the lengths of your vendetta against her, but you could exercise better judgment."

Tony scoffed. "Like you're any better. Need I remind you the reason I usurped your position as boss."

Wolf sighed. "I was naïve without your guidance…which I learned when you were sober. My point is, whatever grudge you hold against the witch, you need to put it aside for a moment. If there's literally anything she can tell us that'll assure our salvation in this war, we need to take it."

Tony groaned and pinched his nose. "Wolf, you're still naïve. That witch will lie about anything to get what she wants. There isn't a decent bone in her body to speak of."

"She has been locked in a cage subjected to your endless tormenting. If she does have great power as you claim, why hasn't she broken free yet? And why was she half-starved when she was discovered? Whoever she was, she's clearly not herself right now."

Tony growled. "I don't know what her game is, but she can't fool me."

"Boss, you agreed to hold her captive just so we can wring something from her. She mentioned someone name Puck or something."

"Aeternus."

"The guy whose organization we've been hitting, yeah. What if she does know what he's up to? You said that guy is extremely dangerous. Maybe she had a change of heart and wants to help us."

"Kid, what did I just say?"

Wolf took a deep breath and sighed. "…She mentioned something when she first arrived. It sounded like she hardly recognized you. Almost like…you were a completely different person. Were you always like this before we met?"

Tony didn't respond. He gripped his sleeve tightly and stared at the ground.

"Your silence says a lot." Wolf approached Tony and touched his shoulder. "Did…something happen last time you saw her?"

"…In a matter of speaking, yes." Tony brushed the Raboot's hand off and paced around the tent some more. "I've had a lot on my mind these past several months. Only emotion I can process anymore is despair, and I hate it. Struggling against that oppressive feeling, clawing my way up a mountain that's also pushing me down. It never ends, yet you don't want to fall into despair, or you'll never find your way back. You go places you feared." Tony stopped and closed his eye. "So, what's the point in getting my hopes up on a possibility when I can just do what I can in the now?"

Wolf frowned. "Boss, I may not have been the best leader before you showed up, but I always put the safety of my thieves first. Shouldn't you do the same? To guarantee their safety?"

Tony opened his eye and glanced at the Raboot somberly. He clutched his flask tightly, shaking with tension. Perhaps the alcohol was working itself out of his system already, or perhaps Tony had a brief moment of clarity he longed for the last seven months.

He sighed through his nose and pocketed the flask. "I'll need a private audience with Callista. Have her moved here into a separate cage. If anything happens, alert me immediately."

"Yes, Boss." Wolf started toward the tent exit, but Tony caught him by the shoulder.

"And have breakfast prepared, too."

"For you?"

"And for her."

The transition between cages went smoother than anticipated. The thieves stuck a long pole through the bars with a large shackle to clamp around Callista's neck, forcing her into the new cage sitting in front of her current one. She complied without complaint, mostly because she wanted to get away from the blind Luxio who insisted on shouting every couple of minutes.

This new cage sat on wheels, allowing for easy transport. Once Callista was locked inside, they unclamped the pole from her and carted her off to the specified location. Wolf marched alongside the cage, keeping his eyes forward while the Ariados lay down.

She glanced at Wolf and noticed the intense heat surrounding his body. Abnormally high and different to normal heat. Magic. She closed her eyes and sighed, clicking her mandibles together. "Tell me."

"Hm?" Wolf didn't face her, but acknowledged her.

"How long has he been running this place?"

"Few weeks now."

"Hmm. Has he always been like this, ever since you met him?"

"It's the only way I know him."

"How sad. You brats might have appreciated his upbeat attitude. The kid must've had it rough out here."

"I'd refrain from acting smart. I barely managed to convince him to seek a fair audience with you. Try anything and he will execute you on the spot," Wolf warned with a growl.

Callista huffed. "He's going to execute me, regardless. Just a matter of how charitable he is today."

"He spoke poorly of you. Calls you a monster."

Callista narrowed her eyes. "Really? Well…I don't blame him."

The thieves rolled the cage into Tony's tent, setting in the center. They took their leave and closed the tent behind them. Callista surveyed the tent and its possessions. She spotted some crates near a table where a whiskey bottle sat close to an open crate. There was a blanket and pillow serving as a bed, followed by more bottles littered around it. To her left, a collection of weapons was displayed on a rack, some of which were damaged. Near the display was a desk surrounded in papers. Finally, she looked at the throne standing high above her, worthy of a king looking down on their subjects.

Callista scoffed. "Lovely place you got here, Sapienti."

"I'd advised withholding your tongue." Tony stepped out from behind the throne, hands behind his back, and approached the cage. He glared at the witch with electricity crackling through his whiskers. "It's taking a lot of self-control not to just end it here and now."

"Oh, I imagine so." Callista yawned and clicked her mandibles tiredly. "You could've provided more comfort in that prison of yours. Hell, I would've preferred sleeping in the mud had it not been raining so much."

"As long as you remain my prisoner, I will make sure every waking second of your life is spent in torment."

"Leaving me caged with those three idiots is torment enough." She tilted her head. "Though, I applaud you for taking initiative in these trying times. Never took you for the tough guy. Always pictured you as the type of guy to start a harem."

Tony slammed his foot against the bars, the sound echoing through the tent. His glare deepened. "I'm this close to frying you."

Callista sighed. "You're right, that was too far. I'm sorry."

"No, you're not."

"Still having trouble believing me?"

"Why would I trust a worm like you?"

"You're the perceptive one. I'd think you could tell a lie from a truth better than most. Or perhaps you're—" She paused, feeling a faint buzzing going through the metal floor. She glared at Tony's foot, which sparked with electricity. "I suppose I'll keep that to myself."

"Give me one good reason why I should trust you. I can list off a myriad of crimes you've committed, and that's not even starting with the reasons you've pissed me off."

"I could give you dozens if you so wish, but let's start with the obvious. I was captured, and your thieves weren't slaughtered as a result. Given my history, you know I had no qualms against killing children."

"Had?"

"And I willingly put up with your abuse just to comply. And let's not forget my earlier statement? What sane person would go this far to starve themselves for a trick? I use deception, sure, but I have a limit. I'd sooner feed a child cursed chocolate than scrounge for food on purpose. Perhaps Puck would think of such an outlandish plan, but I'm not him."

Tony pressed his foot harder against the bars for a moment, but soon removed it. He shoved his hand into his jacket pockets. "I'm willing to believe that much, but there's no way in hell you're actually on my side."

"Sapienti, if you know anything about the shadows, you'll know half of what we do is purely in service to our ids. That goes for me, Voss, and…Wendrake."

Tony's face contorted into a disgusted scowl. "His name was Morgan," he growled.

Callista sighed. "Morgan, sure, whatever. Point is, you should know what it means to be embraced by your physical shadow. You know what a shadow really is to us."

Tony paced around the cage. "The inner manifestation of desire, grief, our darkest selves. The part of us we refuse to acknowledge, but it's who we truly are deep inside."

"Liberated desire," Callista added. "That's what it means to embrace the shadows. It liberates us from morals, allows us to act on our truest feelings. It suppresses everything that holds us back to enact our deepest, purest desire. It's who we truly are when the norms of society are lifted from our minds. The kind of people we want to be, but we hold back for the sake of others."

"And it your case, you're just pure evil," Tony grumbled.

"On and on with this. You really think I'm that bad a person?"

"That's all I've ever known you. Perhaps I should remind you of the shit you've done." Tony stopped and crouched down in front of the cage. "How about the fact you tormented my friend when she was a child and left her traumatized. She was so scared of the outside world that she would rather lock herself in her mother's shop than face the world."

"Be grateful that witches like me don't do well around priests. That's the one reason I couldn't go back to that city to capture her." Callista narrowed her eyes. "She had a lot of life when I first met her. So unsuspecting of what I had planned for her. It was…kind of cute how her eyes lit up when I gave her that cursed chocolate."

Tony glared at her glum expression. "Don't tell me you're actually feeling regretful about what you did?"

Callista closed her eyes. "The truly sad part? I did because I desired to."

Tony nearly threw himself at the cage with his scalchops in hand, but stopped as the tent flaps open. Both he and Callista turned and saw Wolf enter with plates of food. "Err…sorry. Did I come in at a bad time?"

Tony withdrew from the cage and put his scalchops away. "No. No, you didn't."

"Alright." Wolf carefully angled a plate through the bars and set it down near Callista before bringing the other plate to Tony. "If you need anything else, Boss, I'll be right outside."

"Thanks, kid," Tony grumbled. Wolf saluted and marched out, leaving Tony and Callista alone once more.

Callista dragged her plate over and stabbed the cooked berry. "For me? You shouldn't have."

"You're right, I shouldn't have." Tony sat down and picked around at his food.

Callista nibbled half the berry away before sighing. "Look, I get it, you're angry. I understand. I'm not a good person. I don't deserve forgiveness."

Tony glared. "Then why are you fabricating this pathetic sob story that you're sorry for what you've done to Gwyn? And everyone else you've tormented these last five centuries?"

"That's just it. I don't deserve forgiveness. I truly mean that." Callista glared at her plate. "Has Wen…Has Morgan ever told you about what happened during the final battle in the Grand Imperium War? What happened to him?"

"He got knocked to his senses during that clash with the hero of the war and the Shadow King. So what?"

"More specifically, Morgan found his way out of the abyss plaguing his mind. All that hate that suppressed him parted just enough for him to return to the surface. He fought off its influence for centuries just to maintain his sense of self. It's actually quite impressive, something I never could've accomplished." Callista nibbled the last of her berry away, then wiped her mandibles. "At least, I wouldn't be able to actively fight it off, but I can make sure I never go back there."

Tony looked up from his plate, showing genuine curiosity for once. "What do you mean go back there?"

"Did you friends ever tell you what happened to me in our last battle? I was pulled under in the cave-in, presumed dead. Obviously, I'm not dead, and Puck, my coven, and the rest of the tribe surely know that, too. Right now, they're still wondering why I haven't returned. Thing is, I actually did almost die in that collapse. I was on the brink of death."

"What?"

"Rocks crushing my legs, impaling through my body, lacerating my eyes. Every part of my body was twisted and mangled, grinding me up into a red paste. That was my intended fate for sure, so I had to make a last ditch effort. I pulled everything I could, every ounce of power my shadow could grant, and accelerated my regeneration to unprecedented heights I've never reached in the five centuries I've wielded it. In that time, as I was being torn to pieces, I felt truly immortal. Nothing could kill me, not even Arceus himself.

"Though, simply boosting my regeneration wasn't enough, so I had a demon of mine drag me to Hell temporarily to recuperate before being dumped back into this realm. Of course, that's when I noticed two immediate side effects to my regeneration stunt."

"Side effects?" Tony repeated.

Callista pulled her scarf off and turned around. Tony stood up and peered at her neck. Her tattoo, the special kind signifying her status as a herald, was dull and lifeless. It was no different than the kind worn by normal followers.

"Normally, when one gazes upon the shadow tattoo of a herald, it glows to signify its status. You see how it has lost its luster? That is because, with the vast amount of power I placed into my regeneration to assure my survival, I…"

Tony glared in understanding. "You forced it into a dormant state. You don't have access to your shadow magic anymore."

"I can still summon demons, but I can't call upon the darkness festering in me." Callista wrapped her scarf back on. "And, with my darkness dormant, I realized the second side effect. Without that darkness suppressing my emotions, I'm no longer burdened by apathy or hatred. When I said I was on your side, I mean I am no longer burdened by what drove me anymore.

"In short, I've been freed from the abyss."

Tony sat down and stared at the Ariados in an extended silence. The way his face crinkled showed the intense thought rumbling in his mind. Callista saw the doubt, distrust, and hatred that still burned in his one eye. It was inevitable, the true depth of his feelings.

"…You mean to tell me, like Pops, you are no longer evil?"

"Precisely."

Tony grunted. "What a load of shit."

Callista sighed. "And there it is."

"Does that excuse you of your crimes? Should I feel sorry for you just because you're no longer thinking bad thoughts?"

"As I made clear, though I was influenced by a lack of morality, I still acted on what I desired most. Thing is, no matter what desire anyone has, even if it's something as noble as protecting a loved one, a lack of morality and kindness can twist that desire into something truly heinous."

Tony scoffed. "You just lacked discipline. Too stuck in your own issues that you showed weakness."

Callista shot back with an amused look. "Oh? And you're an example of self-control? You're as heavy a drinker as Wendrake. You just don't have his altered metabolism to keep you on a leash."

He bared his teeth and snarled. "For someone who claims to be not evil, you sure do love pressing my buttons."

"Being kind and decent while you're acting like a toddler won't get me anywhere, so I'll just sink to your level."

"You're just asking to die."

"Believe me, if I can turn back the hands of time, I wouldn't have taken that deal with the Shadow King."

"Then why did you?"

"Because I…I…" Callista blinked twice, then faced the ground with a befuddled expression. "Why…Why did I take his deal?"

Sparks shot off Tony's whiskers in frustration. "Are you meaning to tell me you don't even remember why?!"

"I legitimately can't." Callista glared confusedly. "I remember getting into an argument with my old coven over something, but I don't remember what I did. All I know is that I messed something up, forcing me to make a deal with a powerful demon to fulfil my desire. The rest is kind of a blur. I can't even recall when I met the Shadow King. First thing I can remember was pledging my allegiance to him."

Tony's face softened, if only slightly, as he stroked the tuff of fur under his scraggly chin. "I have heard cases where people become so traumatized by something that their memories are forcibly repressed to spare them from the shock. Your darkness might have had something to do with it. All you knew was you needed some demon's contract, which required Gwyn's soul, I imagine."

Callista glanced off to the side in thought. "That does seem possible. Still, I don't recall what could've triggered something like that. I've been fueled only by finding the soul of a Mew. Maybe that's why I so readily accepted the Shadow King's deal. Better to live with immortality to better my chances."

Tony groaned. "You really are a mess. To call you a powerful witch in this pitiful state…"

"I still am the most powerful witch in Mysto, boy." Callista glanced off to the side, almost sadly. "But also…the most foolish."

"Hmm?"

She sighed. "Nothing." She glared at him. "I'm not expecting you to trust me, but understand I'm speaking to you with a clearer head now. I allowed myself to become suppressed by the darkness because I craved that power. Better to have me like this than as an enemy. Unlike Wendrake who had to constantly fight his shadow, mine will only drag me back into the abyss if I voluntarily release it. So, don't give me a reason to suppress my morality."

Tony scoffed. "I'd kill you before that happened."

"Whatever you say." Callista picked up another berry slice and nibbled on it.

"…How come my thieves found you the way you were?"

"I was traveling aimlessly for half a year. Take a guess."

Tony narrowed his eye. "No. No, that's not the only reason. I may not trust you, but I know you're cunning enough to get what you want. Surely you could've stolen food with a bit more subtly than a haggard vagabond. If I had to guess, you stole food in broad daylight because you couldn't use the stealthy, cunning approach. You needed to get your fill and run as far away as possible."

Callista stopped eating, lingered on his accusation in silence, then dropped her berry. "That perceptiveness of yours is frightening, even for me."

"I may have been drunk, but even I can tell from your state that you were on the brink of collapse. You've been running nonstop for weeks now. Maybe months."

Callista huffed, then stood up. "I thought you wanted information on Puck, first."

"Tell me why you were stealing food in the first place, then we can get down to business. Cooperate, and I might reconsider executing you…for today."

"My, how generous." Callista closed her eyes and pondered for a moment. "I recall hearing that the Heralds of Darkness were so elusive that they weren't featured predominately in history books. We were a myth that had to die. Only record of us was from obscure accounts. Those were the old days. I underestimated the power of today's reporters and how far they'd go to get the scoop.

"After our attack on Ironworks Kingdom, our return became widespread rumors. Everything but our exact identities and purposes was known. Imagine my surprise when I found a wanted poster with my name and picture plastered over it. Some reporters from the…West Gale Regional Paper, I think, apparently collected every little bit of information they could on us. Whole thing went wild after the attack in the Swamp Zone. My name, species, occupation, face; everything became public knowledge for these people. I was no longer a witch haunting from the streets and known only by b-list bounty hunters. I'm now a wanted woman in this apocalypse."

Tony glared. "So, you were being hunted right before we found you?"

Callista laughed. "Hunted? No, being hunted assumes a balance between prey and predator. It's more like I was being pursued by Death itself. Every waking moment felt like I was on my deathbed. Sleeping was next to impossible. Worst of all, because I have my sense of decency back, I hesitated to land a killing blow. Do you know how hard it is to convince a demon to incapacitate something that isn't a primary target for rituals? It's like denying a savage beast a meal."

"Must've been rough," Tony commented with a smirk.

"Cheeky boy." Callista shook her head. "As if that wasn't bad enough, their leader is the most annoying creature I've ever crossed paths with, and that's no small feat. I swear, every other word out of that bastard's mouth sounded like he was praising himself."

"Uh huh."

Callista laughed again. "It's actually a bit of a relief to be imprisoned by a familiar face."

"All I'm hearing is that you have a cash reward hanging around your neck." Tony grinned. "Maybe I can make use of that."

"And where would you be without my priceless information?"

"You haven't been with Aeternus or the shadows in half a year. Again, I ask, what information could you possibly spare?"

"Most speculative, I admit, but this is Puck we're talking about." She glared coldly at him. "You can brush it off as me pleading for my life, but I am trying to make good off of what little decency I can offer. You wouldn't possibly pass up something beneficial to you or your guild, right?"

Tony didn't respond immediately, still holding an irritable expression for her. Callista remained unfazed, glaring back with equal intensity. Regardless of the mistrust, there was one thing they could agree upon: without a stand in this war, you were the first to fall.

Tony took a deep breath, then stood up. "Let's hear it."

Callista sighed in relief before glaring back at him. "Listen well, I won't repeat myself."

"Such a generous blessing you give me."

Callista rolled her eyes, then continued. "Puck has been experimenting with shadows last I saw him. I'm sure you've heard and seen plenty from our battle in the Swamp Zone. My coven is working closely with Puck to develop a way to bring out a person's shadow by force. Normally, the Shadow King needs to feed off someone's raw desire to unleash their shadow, but they're finding a way to do it to anyone. While the results normally turn you into a raging beast, there have been developments to give more mind to that beast. Giving new life to the shadow."

"This isn't really anything groundbreaking," Tony pointed out.

"Perhaps not, but this is only what I know for sure. Consider this, Puck will use any manner of experimentation to advance his studies. He's smart, but he wasn't anywhere near this smart in our early years. The last five centuries have gifted him with a maniacal mind that seeks destruction and despair. I can say with certainty there's no good in his soul. I don't even think his shadow twisted his personality all that much. If anything, perhaps Puck was always the embodiment of his shadow. A man who desires to expand the future through his twisted vision."

"What are you trying to say?"

"You remember those puppets you thought at that little tournament?" Tony nodded. "He needs a demon that I have a contract with to extract magic from the dead. Assume he found a way to do that without me. What unspeakable evils can he perform if he had the power of history's greatest and deadliest warriors?"

Tony clenched his teeth worriedly. "Annnd, I'm starting to see the picture."

"Of course, Puck is obsessive. He chases after you because of some creepy fixation. He'll definitely want me as a part of his plans. It might be in your best interest to keep me alive and away from him."

"Killing you seems safer."

"If you kill me, Puck will just find a new summoner to exploit. I know Puck better than you. He'll hunt me down to the ends of the earth to carry out his plans. He wants me to be by his side. Keep your allies closest, whether they are friend or foe. Never give up reaching for what you want. He'd burn the entire planet to ashes for you and me. He fixates on what he desires most. No god or force can stop that stubbornness. Unless he finds my corpse, I'm your only shot at keeping him from advancing his plan to resurrect dead magic."

Tony approached the cage and pressed his forehead against it. "In other words, it'd be a bad idea for me to kill you."

"Precisely."

He closed his eye and sighed. "You just love tempting me."

Callista chuckled mischievously. "Do what you want. Heed my advice and keep me alive, or risk everything, but remove one more enemy from the list."

"Are you sure you're not evil right now?"

"Cunning, but not evil."

"Tch. Damn witch." He stepped away from the cage and turned his back to her. "On the one hand, I don't trust you one bit. On the other, that bastard Aeternus is too unpredictable to take lightly."

"So~," Callista prodded.

Tony took a deep breath, then faced her. "Under these circumstances, I have no choice but to take your warning seriously. I'll have to keep you locked up in here with me just so I can keep an eye on you twenty-four-seven."

"Tch. An improvement to my cellmates."

"But understand this, witch." Tony slammed his foot into the bars and gave her the death glare. "I still don't buy this bullshit about you being cleansed from your darkness. You still performed witchcraft and terrorized thousands for your contracts. There's nothing redeemable about that. And, if I ever see Gwyn and she begs me to end your miserable life, I will call down every ounce of lightning the Storm Zone can offer and make sure your death is slow, prolonged, and delivered with excruciating agony so vile, even your precious Shadow King will look upon me with disgust. Do I make myself clear?"

Callista slowly narrowed her eyes, then nodded with the same energy. "Very."

"Good." Tony kicked the cage one last time, then marched toward the tent flaps. "I'll have my thieves cook you plenty of nutritious meals to get your strength back up, enough so that you won't die in your sleep from starvation. I want to see you squirm when I deliver your execution." He stomped out of the tent.

Callista huffed, then curled onto the floor. "You really are a hypocrite, boy." She closed her eyes and sighed. "When you said all of that, you looked…just like Puck for a moment."

With the rise of shadows and bandits terrorizing defenseless communities, many Pokémon found themselves lost without a home. Their only salvation was the wilderness, thriving off the land with nature as their camouflage. Most wouldn't survive the journey on their own. Those who can, however, were the apex survivors.

A pair of Absol wandered through a wooded mountain of the Storm Zone, the littlest of the pair riding upon her mother's back. They were packed lightly, dressed in yellow rainslickers, and weary from travel. The mother carried an aged katana with a mint green hilt attached to her side.

This Absol, Willow, breathed heavily as she walked. Her legs ached from hours of restless moving. She had dried patches of blood in her fur despite the light drizzle. Her soles were scratched up, tender from the constant prodding of rubble exasperating recent injuries. She had faint cuts on her face and her curved horn.

In comparison, her daughter was clean of such injury. Not a single wound inflicted on her, having traveled on her mother's back since they left their home.

The journey was mostly silent with only brief words exchanged every so often. Willow kept her eyes firmly on the road ahead and her senses alert for danger. She was exhausted and close to collapsing. Though the land seemed safe, Willow's lack of sleep left her paranoid to the possible dangers. Of course, if she didn't stop soon, that'd just put them in more danger.

Willow lifted her face to let the rain splash her some. She shook the droplets off, then focused back on the path. "How are you feeling, sweetie?"

"Ooooooh…" the young Absol, Courtney, moaned.

Willow sighed. "I know, I know. You're tired. Don't worry, I'll try to find somewhere for us to rest soon. You can hold out for a little longer, can you?"

"M…Momma."

"Please get some rest, baby."

"It's…so hot."

Willow narrowed her eyes. "Hot? We're pretty high up on the…" Her eyes widened when she heard a horrible, gut-wrenching sound come out of Courtney, followed by something splashing onto the soaked ground. She stopped and picked Courtney off her back. "Courtney?!"

Her pupils shrank at her daughter's red face. Willow checked her forehead, noting how hot it was. Looking at the ground, she saw a pile of vomit being washed away by the rain. She could feel Courtney shaking in her paws and saw how weak she looked despite having ridden on her back for the whole trip.

"Courtney, are you okay?" Willow attempted to ask calmly, but her trembling lip gave her away.

Courtney attempted a smile, clearly forced. "I-I'm f-f-fine, Mom…Momma—" Her stomach visibly churned. Willow turned her away as Courtney spewed bile onto the ground.

Willow's eyes shifted fearfully. Courtney has gotten sick before, that much was inevitable, but it never got this bad before. Even if it did, she had the village medic to seek if things got too bad.

"You must've caught something while we were walking," Willow deduced. She bared her teeth. "What am I going to do?"

"I'll…I-I'll be alright, Momma," Courtney quivered, trembling into her embrace. "I…I am a big girl. I can…I can…" Her voice trailed off as her head went slack.

Raindrops and tears drizzled down Willow's face as she looked all over the forest. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no…" she muttered over and over, her tired brain overclocked into hardcore maternal mode. She looked everywhere she could in the forest for suitable shelter. "Stay strong, baby. Momma's going to keep you safe."

Willow loosened her rainslicker and slipped Courtney underneath, poking her head out through the hood. She fastened it tight so the little Absol stayed in place. Once Courtney was secured, Willow stomped her front paws down and glared up the wooded mountain.

"We're too far away from town to seek help, and I can't risk the journey with her like this." She bared her teeth. "Hold out for me for a little longer, sweetie. I'll get you somewhere safe in no time." She got a meek whimper in response.

Willow took off up the path, pushing everything she could through her legs. The rain came down harder on her, drowning the atmosphere in a cacophony of droplets. The downpour blinded her and nearly made her lose her balance, but she dug her claws into the slick earth and pushed through it. No weather, injury, or even bandit would stand in her way.

Even if it costs me a foreleg, I won't let anything happen to Courtney. I won't lose…any more family! Never again!