With Catlike Tread
My name is Krystal. Krystal is my name.
That's what I kept saying to Jayron at the Pokemon Center the night we became close friends, before I got my wish for the ability to communicate with him. And yet, he still understood what I was trying to say, proving that we really did belong together.
Krystal was a name I gave to myself. Many Pokemon give themselves names; although some are named by their parents, but not often. I decided on "Krystal" over "Crystal" because I liked the sound of it with a harder beginning part. I know humans have an alphabet and all these rules for language, but most Pokemon only care about how words sound and what they mean.
Anyway, I had time to think about all this as Jayron and I walked through a delightfully dark forest. Jayron called it Santalune Forest. Amazing how humans feel the need to name everything.
"It's so peaceful. . ." I said softly, as I felt the soft rustling of leaves, branches, and grass by the forest Pokemon.
"Yeah," Jayron replied quietly. That was something I noticed about him. He always became very quiet whenever we entered forests, as if the intensity of nature was too much for his overt human nature, not that I'd ever hold that against him. All the same, I kinda wanted him to talk to me.
So, and idea came to me that caused me to softly smile, and I swallowed a warm chuckle that nearly slipped out.
As Jayron was looking up and around at the canopy of green tree branches, I quickly leapt into the dense forest brush to the left of the path, disappearing into the forest. I crouched down low, surrounding myself in the foliage, and wanted for a whole 2 seconds.
"Krystal!?" Jayron called out in surprise. I could see my human friend through the bushes, looking around in confusion for me.
My smile intensified, knowing that telepathy can't be used to track one's general direction like a physical voice, and I said, "What's wrong, Jayron. Don't you like hide and seek?"
Jayron was facing the right direction, but he clearly had no idea how near or far I was. He shook his head and smiled, almost laughing, and he called out, "Okay, Krystal. I'll play along. But how about you give me a hint?"
"Ha - ha - ha. Nope."
Still crouched low, I slowly backed out of my initial hiding spot. I move slowly and gently so as to not rustle the surrounding foliage. Once I was fully out, I stalked a bit faster, moving parallel to the path through the forest. I traveled briskly over the leaf-littered forest floor, my paws not making a sound as they carried me onward.
I got out of my crouching position and peeked out through the trees, and I felt like laughing when I saw Jayron finally peering into the forest in the place I was only a few seconds ago.
"Jayron, you can only find an Absol when an Absol wants you to," I teased as I took a step out of the woods and onto the path.
Jayron stood up straight and, still looking into the forest, completely unaware that all he had to do was look to the right, he smiled and said, "Well, I found you didn't I?"
I rolled my eyes and said, "That was divine intervention. You had to find me to save me, and we belonged together."
I then crouched down again, and tread lightly across the road, the soft pads of my paws making no sound as I slowly crossed the road.
"But right now, I'm light as a feather," I said as entered the forest on the opposite side. I heard Jayron rustle through the woods behind me. I turned around and watched him stumble through the foliage, and at that moment I was thankful that I was an Absol. I also felt a pang of pity for humans. They were so oblivious, if Jayron was any indication. But to be fair, it was my senses that were so sharper than their's.
"Total silence. . ." I said softly.
"And yet, you talk," Jayron commented as he backed out of the forest and brushed leaves off of his shoulders.
I gave a toothy grin as I bent back down into my sneaking position and practically slid out of the bushes and tall grass, the plant life scarcely making a sound as it brushed over my sleek fur. It pleased me to see that all my efforts to keep myself looking good did indeed serve a purpose. I focused on Jayron, who was bent over and brushing the dirt off of his pants.
I resisted the urge to chuckle mischievously as I slowly stalked towards him, getting closer and closer to proper pouncing distance.
"With catlike tread, upon my prey I steal. . ." I said sneakily.
*SNAP!*
My eyes surely went wide as I froze in place and immediately looked down at my left fore paw.
"You. . .you stepped on a twig!" Jayron said in the midst of laughter.
I pouted as I looked over at him. He had turned around as soon as he heard the snap, and he was now kneeling on the ground as he laughed.
"That's. . . that's just . . . so cliche, I-," Jayron closed his eyes and shook his head as he shook with laughter.
"Jayron. . ." I said pitifully, tilting my head and increasing the intensity of my pout. However, Jayron didn't seem to notice and kept on laughing. Truth be told, I found it kind of funny as well, but I wasn't gonna let Jayron know that. . .yet.
So, I changed from pouting to snarling, and then pounced at him.
The next thing I knew, Jayron and I were rolling around on the ground, with me trying to wrap my forelegs around him. We rolled and rolled as I growled and snarled like a predator for a few seconds, and then we both lay still, hugging and laughing.
"So much for that. . ." I said, warm inside from laughter.
Jayron scratched me gently on my chin, smiling as he said, "You'll always be my Stealth Expert."
"That's all I need, best friend," I practically purred.
