The door slowly closed behind her with a soft click, Chloe could tell something was on his mind. Concern swept away her previous thoughts. Rowan stepped away from his own reflection, sitting on his haunches in the middle of the floor.
"Is something wrong?" Chloe asked as she quickly went up to him.
"Nah, I'm fine," Rowan smiled. "I was wondering if I could ask you something."
"Anything," Chloe replied nervously. Her conversation with Felix and Fergus began to return and Rowan's gentle smile made her knees weak. "W-whats up?"
"I've given it some thought and…" Rowan trailed off, looking for the right words. "I was hoping we could go to Bitterbark at some point. To where I first woke up, if that's okay. It doesn't have to be now or tomorrow, but I would like to look for something."
Chloe blinked at his unexpected request. Part of her was hoping in vain for a confession while the other felt relief that he didn't. A soft sigh escaped from her as she reigned herself in and focused on his request.
"Bitterbark can be dangerous, Rowan," Chloe said with a slight frown. "With spring so close, feral pokemon roam the woods already and more will be around when they wake from hibernation. What exactly is it you're looking for?"
Rowan stood up and paced back and forth for a moment before replying. Whatever it was seemed important.
"I... I had a bag on the plane with me before everything started," Rowan finally explained. "I doubt it's even here, for all I know it was destroyed." He stopped pacing, looking at Chloe. "But if it is here, I need to find it…"
As Rowan explained, she suddenly remembered the bag she and Felix had found dangling from a charred tree. Until now, with everything happening, she had completely forgotten about it.
"Wait," Chloe said as she held up a paw. "Before we found you, near the forest fire, we found a strange bag. Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure it might be yours."
"What?" Rowan said incredulously, irritation quickly seeped into his tone. "You've had it all this time?"
"Yes," Chloe nodded meekly, pressing her ears against her skull. "I-I'm sorry! With everything that's happened, it just got sort of… got put on the back burner. It's been one thing after another lately," As soon as the words left her mouth, Chloe's heart sank.
"So it's my fault?" Rowan angrily demanded. "That doesn't me-" He abruptly cut himself off when he saw her reaction to his anger.
Flinching at the sudden volume change, Chloe closed her eyes and lowered herself to the floor. Up until now, she had never seen him genuinely angry and the idea of her being at its focus terrified her. It wasn't until the silence lasted for a bit that she opened an eye and took a peek at him. Rowan hung his head.
"I have no right to act like an ass," he said quietly. "Just like you've been too busy to remember it, I also forgot too. Even if I'm frustrated about the situation, it wouldn't be right for me to take it out on you. I'm sorry."
"I didn't mean to make it sound like I was blaming you Rowan," Chloe replied softly as she walked up to him. "I'll accept your apology if you'll accept mine."
"Deal…" Rowan nodded. "Do you still think we can go back to Bitterbark though?"
"But we have your bag," Chloe asked, confused. "Why do you still want to go?"
"Because, I… I want to bury it," Rowan confessed. "I'm hoping that if I bury what was left of me since I can't bury my human body, I'll get some closure."
While he gazed at her hopefully, Chloe thought about his request. While it was simple in nature, the problem lay in himself. Rowan, as earnest as he was in his decision in joining them, was woefully untrained.
"I'll be honest Rowan," Chloe replied solemnly. "I know how important this must be to you but… I can't promise to be able to protect the both of us out there."
Chloe's heart went out to him as he looked more and more crestfallen as she explained herself. She could offer to include Felix or even Fergus, but something told her that the less people to witness what he wanted to do, the better. Chloe stepped closer and whispered in his ear.
"However, if you weren't a civilian," Chloe said slowly. "Two pokemon should be more than enough for this."
Almost immediately Rowan's eyes lit up as he understood what she was getting at. A smirk sprouted on her face as she walked past him, heading into the frozen tree behind him. Stopping at its mouth, she looked behind her and called out.
"If I can prove I can take care of myself..." Rowan started.
"Then I'd have no reason not to take you," Chloe finished for him. "It's getting late. I don't know about you but I'm tired. Are you coming?"
"Oh! Yeah!" Rowan exclaimed as he hurried over. "I'm sorry."
Despite the ample room for the both of them, Chloe watched as Rowan slipped past her and settled into 'his' spot. He seemed to still have misgivings about sharing a bed with her since she had never given him any indication of being uncomfortable around him.
Within moments she formed a plan. One that was equal parts genuine and sly in nature. If she could convince him, they both would benefit from it.
"I have an idea," Chloe said, getting his attention. "Tomorrow, we can go to the training arena in Siliset and test you. We'll have to wake up early though."
"Are you sure?" Rowan asked. "Don't you have other things to do?" Chloe shook her head.
"Yeah, but nothing Fergus can't handle on his own." Chloe replied.
"Sounds like a plan!" Rowan replied happily.
"Good, then it's settled!" Chloe nodded with a smile as she stood up. Rowan looked at her confused. Padding over to his side she poked him on the side.
"What are you doing?" Rowan asked nervously.
"Get up," Chloe commanded. Rowan quietly obeyed, much to her satisfaction. "Now come lay down."
Getting behind him, she pushed him with her forehead. Reluctantly he let her guide him to her bed cushions. Gingerly stepping onto them, he allowed himself to sink into it.
"I-I'm not sure-" Rowan stammered.
"You're going to have to get used to it," Chloe cut him off before continuing to explain. "Our missions can frequently take multiple days to complete and we often have to sleep together in small spaces for safety. Consider it step one to your training."
Nodding his head Rowan offered no further argument, but still tried pulling away the tiniest amount to avoid actually touching her as she plopped down. Chloe quickly responded by scooting closer to him.
"Our kind tend to sleep more comfortably with each other," Chloe said as she rested her chin on his haunches. "Here, do what I do."
With a sigh, Rowan eventually conceded and mimicked her. Pressed so firmly against each other, Chloe could feel her heart beat heavily as well as Rowans. She could feel the dense, corded muscle within his haunches tighten within him. It was clear that Rowan was nervous, perhaps even uncomfortable, but she could not be denied this opportunity.
Eventually however, Rowan relaxed and gave into her embrace. Chloe noticed a hint of a smile on his face as he got more comfortable, burying his face in her fur. Within the hour, Rowan finally fell asleep while she pretended to. It wasn't until she was sure he was asleep that she dared to move.
A content smile spread across her face. While it was a far cry from claiming him, it would have to do. This was at least a step in the right direction. Every instinct within her demanded the take him there and then, but she denied them, settling for his mere touch.
Snuggling closer to him, Chloe buried her face like he did to her and took in his scent. The smell of pine needles and fresh snow filled her nose. She could feel the beat of his heart through his skin, making her own race.
With a paw, Chloe slowly traced the muscle linings of his body, impressed by their size in such a short amount of time. She recalled how frail he seemed when they first found him and now he seemed much more resilient.
"I said you would be mine," Chloe whispered as she exhaled slowly. "But it has to be both ways… I need you to want me too."
Her desire for him only grew as she fought to keep herself from exploring him completely. No matter how much she wanted to, she knew how wrong it would be to go any further. Biting her lip she pulled her paw away from him and tried to force herself to sleep, not that it mattered. Within moments she dozed off, happy she could share herself in the smallest of ways with him.
The moon hung high in the night sky, bathing the landscape in its luminescence. Crossing the plains, heading to Bitterbark forest, walked two pokemon. The Umbreon led a Dusk Lycanroc through the snow as they silently trudged along. Glancing over to her comrade, the rock type canine brooded over their loss.
"Sydney?" Myra asked softly. "How are we going to explain this to Chloe?"
The Umbreon slowed for a moment but continued on. She knew he had heard her but chose not to answer. Frustration bubbled within her as she repeated the question louder.
"There's nothing to explain," Sydney snapped. "Tryst was poached by another team, end of story."
"You seriously believe that's all there is to it?" Myra replied angrily. "If I recall, you've been shit talking him since he joined up!"
"Your point?" Sydney scoffed. "He and I didn't get along, so what? If anything, this is a good thing. I can prove we're better off without him anyway."
Myra shook her head in disbelief. How could a single pokemon have an ego this twisted? Tryst was the cornerstone of their team, without him they lost their vanguard. Without the Houndour on their team, they were unbalanced.
"You're full of shit, Sydney," Myra snapped at him. "We don't have enough members to keep losing them because you feel threatened Chloe will like him more."
"Shut the fuck up!" The Umbreon roared as he whirled around, his rings glowing palely in the moonlight. "Why would I be threatened by the likes of him? Tryst was a failure as a Boltund! Say it again and I promise you'll regret it!"
Sydney glared at her, baring his teeth at her. Without hesitation, Myra returned the gesture and called his bluff. Being much larger than him, it would be a mistake to fight with her and he knew it. Eventually Sydney gave in, spitting in her direction and continued walking towards the treeline.
"Don't you dare threaten me," Myra growled fiercely. She noticed Sydney's pace quicken slightly. "I'm nowhere near as patient as the others for your shit. Maybe if you didn't treat Tryst like garbage because you're so insecure, we'd still have a vanguard!"
"Fuck off," Sydney retorted. "Maybe if he wasn't such a pansy, he would've made the cut."
"And who are you to judge?" Myra demanded. "You know what? Fuck this and fuck you. Tell the others I'll be there in a couple days. I'm going to Siliset for a couple days to relax."
"Son of a- no!" Sydney yelled as he turned around to see Myra already splitting off without him.
Showing up without Tryst was going to be enough trouble as it is, showing up alone would prove even more so. If Myra wanted to go to town and relax, he had to accompany her. Sucking up his pride, Sydney bit his lip and followed her.
"Hey! Myra, wait!"