=========================
STORY OF A DREAMER - JOSIE
=========================
--------------------------------------------
CHAPTER EIGHT
--------------------------------------------
Dawn came slowly. The inevitable parting of our group the next day had forced me into wakefulness and no matter how many times I closed my eyes sleep wouldn't come. In a way I was pleased about this. The slower the next day came upon us the longer it would be before we parted. I watched the sun come up with dread that morning, and as light slowly came to the area I glanced around to see the other Pokemon stirring. It seemed that they had not had the same problem as me.
"Morning," I spoke to the group as the last one opened his eye. The reply was instantaneous, and came from the whole group. I knew they were all thinking the same thing as me, for their mood this morning was solemn. However, if I had thought harder I might have realised that was due to the death of Togepi the day before.
Houndour approached me.
"We'd better part as soon as possible. I can hear humans in the distance, it won't be long before they're upon us." Pricking up my ears I could hear voices in the distance. My heart sank, the sound of the humans meant that what Houndour said was true, and I knew soon we would be apart.
As I looked up, I saw Pidgey, Spearow and Fearow approaching me from the air. Landing beside me, Spearow stepped forwards and stood in front of me.
"We're leaving now," he said simply. "Last night I heard the cry of my family in the distance. These two are joining me until I am reunited with them."
"Goodbye," I said swiftly, not wanting to prolong the moment for any longer. Wrapping his wings around me Spearow held me in a hug, while Pidgey and Fearow stood further back and smiled at me. Then the wings were gone, and with a breeze, the three birds had soured high into the air. A final cry, and they were gone.
One by one, the Pokemon left. Houndour had taken Hoppip and Cyndaquil with him, planning to protect them until they were strong enough to take care of themselves. The water Pokemon had taken advantage of the stream we had been resting by and had used the current to begin their journey. The bug Pokemon had disguised themselves in the long grasses surrounding the banks, and were planning on staying around the area. Soon, there were only three of us left, Butterfree, Togetic and myself.
"So…" I began. "Where are we headed?" I knew as I spoke this I was back in charge once again. I didn't like the responsibility, but I knew I was the only one capable of leading the group. Togetic was still grieving over his sister, and Butterfree, although she could be strong, she was not strong enough to take on the responsibility. It was up to me.
"The humans are coming from that direction," Togetic commented, pointing to the other side of the river. "I can hear them getting nearer."
"Then that direction isn't safe. I think the best thing we can do is follow the path of the river. There's plenty of shelter around here, and we won't get thirsty." The other two nodded in agreement, and without further hesitation we left the area we had been resting in and set off down the riverbank. For the first time in the last couple of days I felt apprehensive. In a large group I had felt safe, but now there were only three of us and I was worried about what we might encounter.
oo00O00oo
By the time we were what we decided was a safe distance away from the place we had rested, the sun was beginning to fade. We had reached an area where bushes and trees were plenty, and realised it was a perfect place to rest for the night. Butterfree, who was exhausted after flying for so long, immediately perched herself on a large leafed shrub and closed her eyes.
Togetic had other ideas, working his way slowly down the steep sides of the river bank he sat down by the lapping water and stared into the shining liquid. The moon was causing a reflection in the river, and the light shone through the water making it sparkle like diamonds. Togetic was looking at in awe. I chose to navigate one of the largest trees in the area and within minutes I was sat on a high branch, choosing myself to look at the cause of the sparkling water, the moon.
"Beautiful isn't it," I heard a voice speak. I thought at first it was someone speaking to me, but after looking around me and seeing no one I realised the voice was coming elsewhere. Looking into the water below me I saw the reflection of two Togetics. From that point on I knew I should have made myself scarce, but the sight of two of a species I had never even seen one of before the last couple of days kept my attention.
"Yes it is," he replied. "Have you heard the story of the moon?" I smiled. Togetic was using what I had told him to start a conversation with a female, and I was glad my story had come to some use.
"No," she said. "What is it?"
"It is said in ancient legend…" Togetic recited the story I had told him almost word perfect, and as he finished I could see the female's eyes sparking almost as brightly as the moon. I smiled; it was a great thing to see. Two Pokemon falling in love. However, although I couldn't wipe the smile from my face as I watched them getting closer and closer to each other, I knew that it meant that we would soon lose another member of our group.
"Where have you come from?" the female Togetic spoke.
"Me and my sister belonged to a trainer," he replied. "We escaped."
"Escaped?!" she exclaimed. "But I thought Pokemon belonging to trainers were happy. I've wished for it for a long time."
"Humans are cruel creatures. You can't trust them." Togetic had learnt that lesson the hard way, just like me, and like all the other Pokemon Kern had captured. I dreaded the thought of who would suffer at his hands next.
"What happened to your sister?" she asked, with no comprehension of what the answer would be.
"She died," Togetic replied solemnly. "A human killed her." The female Togetic looked at the ground, the sparkle in her eyes suddenly disappearing.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I shouldn't have asked."
"It's OK." Togetic put his arm round her shoulder. "If it'll make you think twice about trusting humans then I'm happy I told you."
"I thought humans were kind and gentle creatures. Now I know different." Tears came to her eyes as she leaned closer to Togetic. As I sat there watching, their gazes fell on the river once again, and they sat in silence, glaring at the sparkling water.
I remembered a song I'd heard a long time ago. My mother had taught it to me and my siblings when we were very young. She had heard it from a human. Now, as I sat there looking at the moon I couldn't stop my voice as it sung the words I had heard.
"Out here in the quiet of the night,
beneath the stars and moon.
We both know we've got something on our minds,
We won't admit, but it's true.
You look at me, I look away,
I wanna tell you how I'm feeling,
but I don't know how to start
I wanna tell you but now I'm afraid
that you might break my heart.
Oh why should anything so easy
ever be so hard to do?
I wanna tell you what I'm feeling
And to say that I love you."
Tears begun to trickle down my face as I remembered the day that I had been taught the song. As I opened my eyes I started into the face of Togetic and his new girlfriend. They were flapping their tiny wings at double speed to keep themselves level with me.
"Where did you learn to sing like that?" Togetic asked, also with tears in his eyes.
"My mother taught me when I was young."
"She did a good job," the female Togetic commented. "That was beautiful."
"Thanks," I said, embarrassed.
"Now that we're here, we've got something to tell you," Togetic said solemnly. They both perched themselves on the branch next to me and I turned to face them, not needing to guess what they were going to say.
"We're leaving together," he said bluntly after a slight pause.
"I know," I replied. "I guessed." I tried my hardest to smile, and obviously it worked.
"You… don't mind?" Togetic looked surprised.
"Yeah of course I do. But you go, you deserve to be happy and I can see that you will be." I smiled again, and this time it was for real.
"Thanks," he replied, smiling back. "Don't worry though, I won't ever forget your kindness."
"It was nothing. Friends mean a lot to me, that's all."
"Well I appreciate it anyway. Maybe I'll see you around some day."
"Yeah," I replied. "Maybe you will."
The two Togetics gave me one last dazzling smile, and launched themselves from the branch, floating to the ground effortlessly. They waved up at me, took one last glance at the moon in the sky and walked off together, hand in hand.
I sat on that branch all night staring at the moon and repeating the words my mother had taught to me, they made me feel better, despite the circumstances in which I had learned them, for once I was able to think about my family without feeling regret and guilt about what had come to pass.
"I practice all the things that I could say,
line by line, every word.
I tell myself today could be the day,
But every time, I lose my nerve.
I look at you, you look away.
Why, do you turn away?
It must be, you're afraid like me
I try but I can't pretend that I
don't feel for you the way I do
Can't you see?"
As the morning came and I watched the moon disappear and the sun rise, I heard human voices in the distance.
STORY OF A DREAMER - JOSIE
=========================
--------------------------------------------
CHAPTER EIGHT
--------------------------------------------
Dawn came slowly. The inevitable parting of our group the next day had forced me into wakefulness and no matter how many times I closed my eyes sleep wouldn't come. In a way I was pleased about this. The slower the next day came upon us the longer it would be before we parted. I watched the sun come up with dread that morning, and as light slowly came to the area I glanced around to see the other Pokemon stirring. It seemed that they had not had the same problem as me.
"Morning," I spoke to the group as the last one opened his eye. The reply was instantaneous, and came from the whole group. I knew they were all thinking the same thing as me, for their mood this morning was solemn. However, if I had thought harder I might have realised that was due to the death of Togepi the day before.
Houndour approached me.
"We'd better part as soon as possible. I can hear humans in the distance, it won't be long before they're upon us." Pricking up my ears I could hear voices in the distance. My heart sank, the sound of the humans meant that what Houndour said was true, and I knew soon we would be apart.
As I looked up, I saw Pidgey, Spearow and Fearow approaching me from the air. Landing beside me, Spearow stepped forwards and stood in front of me.
"We're leaving now," he said simply. "Last night I heard the cry of my family in the distance. These two are joining me until I am reunited with them."
"Goodbye," I said swiftly, not wanting to prolong the moment for any longer. Wrapping his wings around me Spearow held me in a hug, while Pidgey and Fearow stood further back and smiled at me. Then the wings were gone, and with a breeze, the three birds had soured high into the air. A final cry, and they were gone.
One by one, the Pokemon left. Houndour had taken Hoppip and Cyndaquil with him, planning to protect them until they were strong enough to take care of themselves. The water Pokemon had taken advantage of the stream we had been resting by and had used the current to begin their journey. The bug Pokemon had disguised themselves in the long grasses surrounding the banks, and were planning on staying around the area. Soon, there were only three of us left, Butterfree, Togetic and myself.
"So…" I began. "Where are we headed?" I knew as I spoke this I was back in charge once again. I didn't like the responsibility, but I knew I was the only one capable of leading the group. Togetic was still grieving over his sister, and Butterfree, although she could be strong, she was not strong enough to take on the responsibility. It was up to me.
"The humans are coming from that direction," Togetic commented, pointing to the other side of the river. "I can hear them getting nearer."
"Then that direction isn't safe. I think the best thing we can do is follow the path of the river. There's plenty of shelter around here, and we won't get thirsty." The other two nodded in agreement, and without further hesitation we left the area we had been resting in and set off down the riverbank. For the first time in the last couple of days I felt apprehensive. In a large group I had felt safe, but now there were only three of us and I was worried about what we might encounter.
oo00O00oo
By the time we were what we decided was a safe distance away from the place we had rested, the sun was beginning to fade. We had reached an area where bushes and trees were plenty, and realised it was a perfect place to rest for the night. Butterfree, who was exhausted after flying for so long, immediately perched herself on a large leafed shrub and closed her eyes.
Togetic had other ideas, working his way slowly down the steep sides of the river bank he sat down by the lapping water and stared into the shining liquid. The moon was causing a reflection in the river, and the light shone through the water making it sparkle like diamonds. Togetic was looking at in awe. I chose to navigate one of the largest trees in the area and within minutes I was sat on a high branch, choosing myself to look at the cause of the sparkling water, the moon.
"Beautiful isn't it," I heard a voice speak. I thought at first it was someone speaking to me, but after looking around me and seeing no one I realised the voice was coming elsewhere. Looking into the water below me I saw the reflection of two Togetics. From that point on I knew I should have made myself scarce, but the sight of two of a species I had never even seen one of before the last couple of days kept my attention.
"Yes it is," he replied. "Have you heard the story of the moon?" I smiled. Togetic was using what I had told him to start a conversation with a female, and I was glad my story had come to some use.
"No," she said. "What is it?"
"It is said in ancient legend…" Togetic recited the story I had told him almost word perfect, and as he finished I could see the female's eyes sparking almost as brightly as the moon. I smiled; it was a great thing to see. Two Pokemon falling in love. However, although I couldn't wipe the smile from my face as I watched them getting closer and closer to each other, I knew that it meant that we would soon lose another member of our group.
"Where have you come from?" the female Togetic spoke.
"Me and my sister belonged to a trainer," he replied. "We escaped."
"Escaped?!" she exclaimed. "But I thought Pokemon belonging to trainers were happy. I've wished for it for a long time."
"Humans are cruel creatures. You can't trust them." Togetic had learnt that lesson the hard way, just like me, and like all the other Pokemon Kern had captured. I dreaded the thought of who would suffer at his hands next.
"What happened to your sister?" she asked, with no comprehension of what the answer would be.
"She died," Togetic replied solemnly. "A human killed her." The female Togetic looked at the ground, the sparkle in her eyes suddenly disappearing.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I shouldn't have asked."
"It's OK." Togetic put his arm round her shoulder. "If it'll make you think twice about trusting humans then I'm happy I told you."
"I thought humans were kind and gentle creatures. Now I know different." Tears came to her eyes as she leaned closer to Togetic. As I sat there watching, their gazes fell on the river once again, and they sat in silence, glaring at the sparkling water.
I remembered a song I'd heard a long time ago. My mother had taught it to me and my siblings when we were very young. She had heard it from a human. Now, as I sat there looking at the moon I couldn't stop my voice as it sung the words I had heard.
"Out here in the quiet of the night,
beneath the stars and moon.
We both know we've got something on our minds,
We won't admit, but it's true.
You look at me, I look away,
I wanna tell you how I'm feeling,
but I don't know how to start
I wanna tell you but now I'm afraid
that you might break my heart.
Oh why should anything so easy
ever be so hard to do?
I wanna tell you what I'm feeling
And to say that I love you."
Tears begun to trickle down my face as I remembered the day that I had been taught the song. As I opened my eyes I started into the face of Togetic and his new girlfriend. They were flapping their tiny wings at double speed to keep themselves level with me.
"Where did you learn to sing like that?" Togetic asked, also with tears in his eyes.
"My mother taught me when I was young."
"She did a good job," the female Togetic commented. "That was beautiful."
"Thanks," I said, embarrassed.
"Now that we're here, we've got something to tell you," Togetic said solemnly. They both perched themselves on the branch next to me and I turned to face them, not needing to guess what they were going to say.
"We're leaving together," he said bluntly after a slight pause.
"I know," I replied. "I guessed." I tried my hardest to smile, and obviously it worked.
"You… don't mind?" Togetic looked surprised.
"Yeah of course I do. But you go, you deserve to be happy and I can see that you will be." I smiled again, and this time it was for real.
"Thanks," he replied, smiling back. "Don't worry though, I won't ever forget your kindness."
"It was nothing. Friends mean a lot to me, that's all."
"Well I appreciate it anyway. Maybe I'll see you around some day."
"Yeah," I replied. "Maybe you will."
The two Togetics gave me one last dazzling smile, and launched themselves from the branch, floating to the ground effortlessly. They waved up at me, took one last glance at the moon in the sky and walked off together, hand in hand.
I sat on that branch all night staring at the moon and repeating the words my mother had taught to me, they made me feel better, despite the circumstances in which I had learned them, for once I was able to think about my family without feeling regret and guilt about what had come to pass.
"I practice all the things that I could say,
line by line, every word.
I tell myself today could be the day,
But every time, I lose my nerve.
I look at you, you look away.
Why, do you turn away?
It must be, you're afraid like me
I try but I can't pretend that I
don't feel for you the way I do
Can't you see?"
As the morning came and I watched the moon disappear and the sun rise, I heard human voices in the distance.