Thawing Ice
"Now twerp just because we're doing this for you doesn't mean anything's changed. Now I don't want to hear any whining or crying for your mommy. Just because James' gone soft on you doesn't mean we're going to wait on you hand and foot."
"I understand. Thank you" replied Ash.
"What are you thanking me for? Are you trying get on my soft side, because that won't work."
"Jessie are you bothering the patient?"
"If you know what's good for you you'll just stay there twerp" said Jessie as she left the tent.
Ash lay on the sleeping bag wondering what Misty and Brock were doing. He wondered how his pokémon were doing, and how his sudden disappearance had effected them. He longed for the company of his friends. Team Rocket had been rather hospitable to him considering the fact that they were bitter adversaries, but it just didn't feel right being here.
"Brock! Come here I found something," shouted Misty.
Brock rushed over to her side.
"What is it?"
Misty held up the Pokémon League cap. Brock's eyes grew with wonderment as his minded was zapped with recognition.
"Where did you find it Misty?"
"In that pile of snow over there. Do you think he might be close by?"
"I don't know. I'll get the other pokémon and we'll look in this area."
"Pikachu give the others the signal," commanded Brock.
The little mouse pokémon focused its energy and shot a bolt of electricity high into the sky. The other pokémon turned their heads to see where this brilliant bolt had come from. Pidgeotto catching sight of Pikachu flew around the mountainside calling for the others to come. Slowly the other pokémon made their way to Pikachu.
Once they all had gathered Brock spoke up.
"Good work everyone. We found this… , " Brock said holding Ash's cap high, "in a pile of snow in this area. We believe that Ash might be near by. So we will search this area. It will be dark soon so we have little time."
The pokémon returned to their search for the missing trainer. They searched until dusk, but with no luck.
The sun rose up from behind the distant mountains. The smooth slopes of the mountain cupped around the bright orange ball. James woke up and let out a big yawn as he stretched. He walked outside to the dying fire and began stoking it as he added more firewood. Slowly the fire grew until it was large enough to cook on.
Jessie and Meowth lay in their sleeping bags sound asleep. The night before they had felt a bit uncomfortable about sleeping in the same tent as Ash, but the fact that he was unable to move eased their minds.
"Rise and shine you sleepy heads," James said gaily as he walked into the tent carrying several plates full of eggs and bacon.
"Just let me sleep a few more hours" said Jessie as she wrapped herself tighter in her sleeping bag.
"It's time for my cat nap," commented Meowth.
"Aw come on you guys it's going to get cold. Well then maybe our guest will have a little breakfast."
James walked over to the slumbering Ash.
"Wake up sleepy head," James said to Ash.
Ash just lay there motionless. James set down the plates and shook Ash. The slumbering trainer just remained there motionless. James shook him again, but it was to no avail. James noticed that Ash was sweating heavily, and breathing quick and shallow breaths. James touched his hand to Ash's forehead. It was very hot to the touch.
"He's running a fever," James thought to himself.
He grabbed a bowl and rushed to the river to fetch some cold water. When he came back with the bowl of water he quickly grabbed a rag and dipped it into the water. He then applied the damp cloth to Ash's forehead. After attending to Ash James again tried to get the others up for the breakfast that he had prepared.
"Come on it's getting cold," James said.
Reluctantly the others got up and ate their homemade breakfast.
"Now wasn't that good?" James said.
"Surprisingly it wasn't as bad as usual," commented Meowth.
"I slaved all morning over a hot fire making that, and this is the thanks I get!" James said in a disappointed manner.
"What'd you expect?" asked Jessie.
"A little gratitude would be nice," James mumbled.
After they had finished eating James began gathering the dishes together. He had set aside some things for Ash to eat when he woke up.
"Could you guys look after our guest, while I do the dishes?" James asked as he walked towards the river carrying an armful of dishware.
"I'm not taking care of him. Meowth go look after the twerp," said Jessie.
"But," whined Meowth.
"Now!" commanded Jessie.
Meowth grumbled as he entered the tent. A few minutes later he came running out yelling for Jessie to come see. Jessie and Meowth ran back into the tent. Ash was still lying there in the sleeping bag sound asleep. He was breathing quick shallow breaths and there was blood coming from his mouth as he coughed.
"Go get James," Jessie said.
Meowth ran towards the river to get James.
"I can't believe I'm doing this" Jessie thought as she sat up Ash to keep him from choking, and wiped the blood away. Seeing him in such bad shape she couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty about wanting to leave him where they had found him.
"James! James!" shouted Meowth as he ran towards the river.
"What's going on?" asked James.
"It's the twerp. He's not doing so well."
James dropped the dishes on the ground and ran back to the tent with Meowth.