Happy New Year, everyone!
The forest floor hardened underfoot with the changing terrain, no longer a soft bed of grass, but instead, smooth round pebbles slid under their steps.
The sound of water flowing through and around rocks crept amidst the trees, as the group approached a babbling waterway.
"That sounds like a stream," said Taki cupping a hand to her ear.
As the noise grew louder with each step forward, her guess faded when Louis spoke.
"I don't think that's a stream," he said.
A vast, wide estuary opened before them, a liquid artery, thirty feet across. Numerous water Pokémon splashed about in the body of water, forming a rainbow of colours that flashed in the blue.
"It's a river," gasped Tracey.
A noise and a flash of blue drew Tracey's eye upstream. A small Horsea splashed down on the other side of a long, black log that spanned the estuary.
"We could get across on that," said Tracey pointing.
The group followed Tracey's gaze to the crossing point. An ancient, half-rotten oak, now the plaything of a group of happy Horsea.
As they stepped toward the Woodbridge, Louis, reaching the log, glanced back and saw Venusaur placing a leg in the stream, as Totodile jumped on its back.
"What are you doing?" he called.
"That log won't be able to support me," replied Venusaur.
Louis nodded. Tracey's jaw dropped, more confused than ever.
"Can...can he speak to them?" he asked.
Taki placed a finger to her lips and smiled mischievously.
"Shh. It's a secret," she whispered.
Tracey nodded. Removing her footwear, Taki placed a nervous step upon the rotted bridge and began to cross, followed by Louis.
"Why did you take your shoes off?" called Tracey.
Taki pointed at Louis over her shoulder with her thumb.
"Because of that!" she replied.
Without fail and almost on cue, Louis began to slip, his footwear failing to find purchase on the ancient log, pieces of it stripped under his feet and fell to the rushing water below.
A look of panic spread across his face. Tracey giggled, also removing his footwear, and placed a soft foot on the log.
With a leap, Taki bounded from bridge to riverbank, safely completing her crossing. Louis, however, caused more of the Woodbridge to crumble away under heavy shoes.
Venusaur effortlessly found the opposite bank, its enormous clawed foot gouging the mud as she emerged from the river.
Totodile, mimicking Taki, jumped the final three feet. Both turned and looked to the rest of the party.
Louis scrambled to the end of the log, sending more chunks of wood into the stream. He looked back, seeing the damage he caused, and called to Tracey.
"Uh Tracey, I may have caused a bit of damage. Be careful crossing, okay?"
"It looks more than a bit!" replied Tracey, nervously.
He placed tentative step after tentative step as Venusaur moved closer to the log. Almost halfway across, Tracey yelped as his foot slipped on an exposed and damaged section of the log. Falling, he outstretched his arms and gripped on to the hunk of wood. Tears streamed down his face.
"AAH! HELP!" he cried.
"Oh no!" shrieked Taki, leaping back on the log.
"I'm coming back, just hang on," she continued.
As Taki spoke, Venusaur whipped two long vines at the flailing child, wrapping him around the waist, and raised the boy waist-high. It looked to Louis before speaking.
"Tell the kid to let go!" it called.
Quickly, Louis shouted at the boy.
"It's OK! You can let go now!"
It was tough to do, but gradually, Tracey relinquished his grip, as the strong water pulled at the child's legs. Eventually, he let go. The river carried the boy downstream past Venusaur who began pulling the boy back to the riverbank.
"Thanks, Venusaur," he said, gratefully.
Venusaur smiled.
"That was my fault," whispered Louis, swearing to never put himself before his team again.
"I could've saved him," said a defiant Taki.
Venusaur raised an eye at the girl.
"Venu-saur Saur Saur," it said.
The group looked at Louis.
"Venusaur said…'You need to let others help you'."
Taki gasped. A truth spoken so simply, so eloquently as to defy any resistance her mind could offer. The words from the newcomer had cut deep. She nodded quietly in acceptance and rejoined the party.
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