Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon, but Zora and Hunter are straight from my imagination.

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Hunter turned his back to Zora when Tornado brought a Metapod that had been caught in the smoke. He was checking the cocoon pokemon when Tornado screeched. He turned and saw Zora in the woods, kneeling down over something, the flames in a small, already closing circle around her. He called for her, but she didn't hear him. She looked up at him as she pulled a Togipi into her arms.

"Zora!" If Hunter hadn't known better, he would have thought that it was at that second that she first noticed the flames around her. Her specialty being fire types, she could handle the heat a little better then most, but that didn't mean she could handle it period. His thoughts going just as fast as his legs, he ran toward the woods from where Tornado had landed with the Metapod. He stepped on burning branches and dodged a few that hung in mid air, burning and red hot. A burning tree fell in front of him with a crash and a spray of embers. He stood back up from having bent to cover his eyes and stared at Zora through the flames. Their eyes locked.

It was the splash in the face that woke him from his daze. He felt Zora take his hand and pull him away and saw the three Water pokemon they'd sent in before fleeing with them. He saw the tiny Togipi in her arms and Tornado, still carrying the Metapod. Together, they ran back toward the house, stopping short when they reached the hill top that led to the valley where the house was.

It was in flames...

Zora turned and headed toward the barn, still pulling Hunter. They ran more. The barn was engulfed too. Zora was panicking. She'd sent Ember, Flamer and the babies to the barn... But Ember and Flamer would have known to move them... surely they would have. The only place there weren't woods that surrounded them was the river channel that led into the neighboring town. The rest was woods. They ran there. Returning Starmie, Blastoies, and Tornado, they climbed into the boat, Vaporeon holding on to the Metapod. Hunter tried to start the large fan (they didn't want a motor because it might hurt the pokemon below the water) but it wouldn't start. He tried again. A third time. A fourth. Zora watched the flames spread. She kept playing back the scene of the burning house and barn. It started on the sixth. Hunter took the seat next to Zora. She tightened her grip on the Togipi and as they gained speed along the water.

The trip took about a half hour. Most of that time, two walls of fire snaked along with the river, bordering them, confining them... Zora cried silently, hoping Hunter didn't notice her tears. She had her other five pokemon... but not Ember and not the little ones.

Hunter nudged her awake. "Wake up, love, come on," he took her arm and pulled her up. Her eyes opened sleepily as she looked around. They'd landed in the port city of Vermilian. He pulled her onto the dock and guided her along. She was dazed; barley noticed how he stopped and talked to several people along the way to... to... well, wherever he was taking her. She only barely noticed the elevator and the inn room. Her sense came back slightly when he sat her on the bed.

Hunter took a tissue and gently wiped the tears from her face. "Ember..." was all she muttered.

"You need to rest. Leave everything to me, okay?" he said softly. She didn't respond. When he gently guided her onto her back and pulled the covers from under her and placed them gently on her, she only looked up at him, new tears replacing the old. He kissed her, rubbed her cheek and said good night, not nearly about to tell her it was three in the afternoon. He turned to survey the room, finding it contained the typical: the bed, two nightstands, a desk, a separate bathroom area, a small TV and a radio, a dresser... He looked back to her.

Zora was asleep...

'someone': Longer? I thought they were plenty long enough. This one is short, I'll admit that, but I couldn't say the same for the others. Thank you for reviewing though :)