Craw groaned as he woke up again. He felt really strange. His whole body was numb but at the same time everything hurt. Especially his arm was bad. He slowly opened his eyes looking at his arm. It was put in plaster and he barely could move it.
"Your arm has multiple breaks and you nearly lost it."
Craw looked to the corner where the voice came from.
Anubis stood there staring at him. He had a glance in his eyes that showed that he was very angry.
Craw sighed. "Seems like I messed up."
Anubis glared at him. "You could have died... Do you have any idea how we felt?"
Craw sighed and shook his head. "I had to go."
Anubis clearly held himself back. "You are lucky to be alive." He pointed to the pendant that was lying on the bedside table. "You should be thankful that I gave that to you."
Craw nodded. "I am... I know that I wouldn't live now without it." Then he remembered something. "What is with the others?"
Anubis sighed. "Fletcher will survive but he will need some time to recover... He is nearly as reckless as you are." He shook his head. "Kathrin will be fine but I bet she will need much more time to get over the things that happened to her..." He looked to the bed next to Craw's bed. Kathrin was lying in it. He looked a bit further and saw Fletcher lying in the next bed in a nest of pillows. He had to grin. Even here the Fletchling had build some kind of nest.
Fletcher twitched a bit in his sleep obviously not feeling very well.
Craw sighed. Then he noticed something move at his other side. He looked to it and saw Ariela sitting on a chair half lying on his bed her head on his side holding his paw.
Anubis sighed. "As she woke up she didn't want to leave your side. Not even to lie down in a bed herself."
Craw softly pulled his paw from her hand and stroked her head. "Was she very worried?"
Anubis looked to his daughter. "She was. As it was clear that you wouldn't lose your arm she calmed down but still... She really loves you."
Craw sighed and nodded. "I know."
Anubis sighed again and went to the Riolu. "It isn't official yet and we... especially I was very conflicted with this but after we leaders discussed about it for some time and they actually convinced me." He gave him something. "Congratulations."
Craw looked into his paw. It was a badge showing the silver rank. "But... I thought... Kathrin, Ariela and Fletcher were defeated and Brighton, Damion and I ignored your orders and ran into the dungeon..." He looked more closely to the badge. It was a silver shield with separated into four parts with a blue, a red, a gray and a white part. At the sides it had wings that were folded behind the badge.
Anubis sighed. "Yes, but that doesn't matter... Ariela, Kathrin and Fletcher were defeated because of the Aura-less and that wasn't part of the exam. You three on the other hand... You just ignored my order to save Ariela, Kathrin and Fletcher. I mean sure... this was mostly about Ariela and I can understand you. But I also know that you would have done that for anyone else and that is what a good explorer makes up. We are risking our lives to save others and don't have much time to think about it. Also you finished the exam in record time. No other team ever was that fast to get through the dungeon exam."
Craw looked to him surprised.
Anubis smiled weakly. "Never the less I wish that you don't do such things again." He sighed and went to the door. "You will have to rest for some time. The arm will need at least a month to heal and another month till you can fight normally again. Till then you will have to drop explorations."
Craw frowned nervously. "Damn..."
Anubis smiled. "Well it's your own fault. If you would have left Damion behind I would have come with you and everything would have been good..."
Craw nodded. "Yeah... In future I will think on that."
Anubis nodded. "Now get some sleep. Also I would like to surprise the others tomorrow. So please keep it to yourself."
Craw nodded and looked to Ariela before he put the badge into the bag that was lying next to the bed. "Could you bring her to a bed?"
Anubis nodded and took Ariela putting her into a free bed before he left.
Craw looked around in the room once more.
Brighton and Damion were sitting on a couch leaning on each other sleeping deeply.
Fletcher seemed to have a nightmare or was in pain since he slept very uneasily.
As he looked to Kathrin he noticed that she was actually awake watching Brighton. "Are you OK?"
She flinched and looked to him. "Yeah... No... Not really..."
Craw sighed. "I am sorry that this happened to you..."
She nodded. "I will get over it... It's not like it's the first time..."
Craw looked to her serious. "That doesn't matter. Something horrible happened to you... If you need to speak about it you can always come to me." He sighed and looked to Brighton. "And I am sure he will listen too."
She had tears in her eyes. "As if he even wold want me after what happened..."
Craw sighed and looked to her. "Is that what you worry about?" He shook his head. "I can assure you that he won't think that way. He doesn't look at thinks like others. He doesn't care for social or political status and he doesn't care about someone's past. He only cares for the fact that you are a good Pokémon and that he loves you. Yes, he loves you. I know he should tell you that himself but you both are so taurusheaded to realize that you both care for eachother. You both think that the other doesn't like you and that they are too good for you but you both are wrong. You should finally speak up to him and tell him everything because he thinks you hate him. You could make each other happy. Don't waste so much time with thinking what could happen. start to live already."
She looked to him speechless.
He smiled. "Now close your mouth already and get some sleep. You can tell him tomorrow."
She nodded and lay down.
He saw that she was looking at the ceiling for a while so he just leaned back and started sleeping himself.

"I can walk myself Ariela." Craw rolled his eyes.
Ariela grinned. "Either that or my psychic powers."
Craw paled and sighed. "OK OK..."
Ariela helped him up and together they went towards the boys room.
Kathrin on her side was walking right behind Brighton. She even held onto Brighton's tail what irritated and confused the Pikachu but he allowed her to do so not saying anything about it since he knew that she probably felt very unsure right now.
Damion on his side carried Fletcher who seemingly felt a bit uncomfortable but let the Buizel carry him.
As they reached it Anubis was standing there already. "There you are! I hope you didn't plan to go into your old room."
Craw looked to him. "Well... I didn't want to waste the space in the hospital quarters..."
Anubis grinned. "You forgot something."
Craw looked to him but then it dawned him. "You mean..."
Anubis grinned. "Well. You all come with me please." He went ahead and the team looked at him confused except for Craw.
Craw grinned and nodded following him.
As they went upwards Ariela looked to Anubis. "Are we going to your office?"
Anubis grinned and shook his head. "No."
Then they were finally at the middle of the tower he stopped. "I want to congratulate you personally." He took out 5 more badges and gave them to the team.
They looked at the badges confused and then to Anubis.
Only Kathrin and Craw kept pretty calm and not very surprised.
Brighton was the first who said something. "You mean we passed?"
Anubis nodded. "With the highest points ever recorded in the guild."
They looked at him surprised for a moment before they started cheering.
It was Fletcher who was asked the first question. "But why only five badges?"
Craw grinned and pulled out his badge from the bag. It was a bit different from the others having shorter wings that weren't folded like the ones on Craw's badge. "Anubis told me yesterday already."
Kathrin smiled weakly. "And I kinda eavesdropped."
Anubis smiled. "Well at least it was mostly a surprise."
Ariela smiled widely and looked at the badge. "That is cool."
Craw grinned looking to Anubis. "Are these our new rooms?"
Anubis nodded. "Your badges work as key. They are coded so you can enter only if you have the badge and your badges also work for the room to the left. That is your personal training room. Other than these two doors it won't work on any other door like no other badge work on your doors." He smiled. "Well except for my and the other guild leaders badges since ours work like a master key."
Craw nodded. "OK." He went to the door. "And how does it work?"
Anubis smiled. "Just hold the badge on the door."
Craw nodded again and held the badge at the door. It swung open and revealed a small corridor. Craw looked to the others and went inside still supported by Ariela. As he opened the door at the end of the corridor a living room was revealed. He smiled and looked around. It was a pretty big living room with place for more team members. On the other side of the room he saw a door that was open showing the kitchen. It was big enough to cook for several Pokémon.
The others followed him inside and looked around amazed.
The furniture were held in a calming blue and it even had a carpet. that was in a ruby red to give everything a bit contrast.
Craw grinned. "Come. Let's check the other rooms."
Ariela nodded and so they went into the corridor to the right. It was a bit longer and had several doors. Craw checked them and most of them were bedrooms. There were ten bedrooms overall and two bathrooms. Craw grinned as he saw the biggest bedroom at the end of the corridor. "Sweet. This will be our room."
Ariela giggled.
Anubis who has followed them lifted an eyebrow.
Craw looked to him. "I hope you don't have any problems with that."
He sighed. "I would just prefer to not hear any details."
Craw smiled. "Don't worry. We aren't that far yet."
Anubis rolled his eyes. "Too much information."
Ariela giggled. "C'mon. Let's see the rest."
They went back to the living room and looked to the other corridor that was at the left side from the entrance. There were five more rooms. One was completely empty.
Anubis smiled. "This is a storage room for basically everything you want to store there. I would recommend to put found treasures there."
Craw nodded and looked to the other doors. There were two home offices, a library and a dining room. Craw looked at the offices. "Brighton and Kathrin are you two OK with sharing one?"
Kathrin nodded. "Yeah..."
Brighton looked to her a bit surprised and nodded. "Yeah don't worry."
Craw smiled and nodded. "Good. I will take the other then. The dining room will work as conference room too." He looked into the libraray. It had some books but most of the shelves were empty already. "Is it normal that we get full furnished rooms?"
Anubis grinned. "Actually yes. This all is the basic equipment for bronze teams. We didn't think of a start equipment for silver ranked teams but I think we will find something suiting."
Ariela smiled and looked to Craw. "If you are OK with it I will use one of the free bedrooms as sickroom if we ever need one."
Craw nodded. "I think that is fine with everyone right?"
The others nodded.
Damion grinned. "I will probably fill the library with some books. I like reading."
Craw nodded. "Sounds like a good idea."
Fletcher chirped. "I only need a room to sleep. If I should start a project or hobby I will do it there or outside."
Craw nodded. "Well then. I let you to decide what rooms you want to take."
The others nodded and while Brighton and Kathrin went to the rooms on the left and the right to Craw's and Ariela's room.
Damion went from room to room to check them all.
All rooms on one side had windows as well as Craw's room.
Fletcher chose a room with a window while Damion took one next to the baths. Fletcher chirped and looked to Anubis. "Could someone bring me my nest please?"
Anubis smiled and nodded. "Sure." He turned to them. "I hope you like it."
Craw smiled and Ariela brought him to their new room. "It is wonderful."
Anubis grinned. "Well. You earned it."
Craw grinned. "Yeah. We really earned this."

Craw slowly opened his eyes. Ariela was still asleep lying next to him. He blushed a bit but smiled. He still wasn't fully used to it. Probably it was just his human self that told him that this was awkward but somehow he felt a bit strange sleeping with her in the same bed even though they just slept. Nothing else happened after all and maybe this was a Pokémon thing to sleep close to each other when they were a pair but he just couldn't fully adjust to it. Still he kind of enjoyed it and felt more relaxed as if he needed this. He smiled and carefully stood up trying to not wake her. As he finally managed to leave the bed without waking her he left the room quietly. He still wasn't back at his full strength and would probably need another day to fully recover from the fight and of course his arm would need much longer to fully recover but he just couldn't stay in bed any longer. He went to the bathroom to take a bath. He had to be careful so the plaster cast wouldn't get wet so he wouldn't be able to shower for quiet a while but he didn't really care much. He enjoyed baths more anyway. After that he went into the kitchen and prepared some breakfast for himself and Ariela. Now that they were a silver ranked team they would either have to cook themselves or they would have to pay for food in the canteen. After he made some omelets he placed them on two plates together with some fresh oran berry juice and took it all back to his and Ariela's bedroom. It was a but hard to carry with just one arm and he nearly dropped it but that was for a different reason. He stood there frozen staring into the corridor at a Pokémon.
Kathrin seemed to be frozen as well staring back at him. She just came out of Brighton's room and had closed the door quietly wanting to go back to her room as Craw saw her.
For some seconds it seemed as if time had stopped.
"Shut up!" Then Kathrin quickly went into her room.
Craw still stood there for some more seconds and only the need to blink woke him from his thoughts. He chuckled shaking his head and went into his and Ariela's room. "Good morning Ariela... I made us some breakfast."
Ariela yawned and stretched herself looking to him. "You are such a sweetheart."
Craw chuckled and placed the plates on the bed. "You will never guess what I just saw."
She looked to him confused. "What?"
He widely grinned. "I saw a certain Eevee sneaking out of a certain Pikachu's room."
Ariela looked to him shocked. "Wait... What?!" She was really surprised. "Did she finally told him about her feelings?"
He chuckled. "Seems like it. I mean after what happened in the tower she really seemed as if she wanted to be closer to him."
She smiled. "True... But I bet she will need more time... She probably just feels better to be more close to him for now."
He nodded. "However. Dig in." He gave her an oran berry juice and her plate with omelets.
She smiled. "That will be an awkward first team meeting today." She started eating.
Craw chuckled. "Well I think it will be funny. But probably we shouldn't talk about it." He started eating his own.
After they finished eating Craw looked into his bag. He would have to wash the coat but everything else seemed to be fine. They were a bit short of berries and max elixir too so they would have to buy some more. He took a paper and started writing down what they needed. Luckily footprint runes were written with stamps so he didn't need to worry that his right arm was broken.
Ariela on her side left the room to take a short shower.
Craw sighed and took his bag going to the teams dining room.
Damion and Fletcher already were there.
Craw smiled. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
Fletcher nodded. "Yes. Thank you."
Damion smiled and nodded. "Yeah. It feels bit strange now to sleep in a room all alone but probably I just have to get used to it."
Craw nodded. "Maybe if you find someone who is OK with it you still can sleep with someone else in your room."
Damion smiled. "Yeah. Would you be OK with it Fletcher? Or should I better ask Brighton?"
Fletcher nodded. "I won't mind."
Craw chuckled. "I wouldn't hope for Brighton. I think he will prefer staying in his room like this."
Damion looked to him confused but nodded.
Then Brighton and Kathrin entered.
Kathrin was widely blushed as she saw Craw.
Craw just grinned. "Good morning. Did you two sleep well?"
Brighton looked to him and nodded. "Yeah I slept pretty well and you?"
Kathrin just nodded.
Craw smiled. "I slept very good." As Ariela came to the table sitting down next to Craw he smiled and kissed her. "OK. We have to sort out some few things. First of all we have to decide for a team name. With all the stress for the exams we totally forgot that."
Brighton looked to him. "Well I thought you would do that... After all you are the leader."
The others nodded.
Craw looked to them surprised. "I thought that would be more of a team decision..."
Fletcher chirped. "Well if you really don't want to decide that alone I think we should decide for a name that shows what we aim for."
Brighton looked to him. "Well... I just wanted to join a team to escape my father but now... Now I want to help Craw to help to save the world."
Damion nodded. "It is similar with me. I just wanted to become an explorer to have a home and something to live for and now I want to help Craw as well."
Craw looked to them surprised.
Ariela smiled and kissed Craw's cheek. "I think we all want to help you. We want to help you to save the world from the Aura-less."
Fletcher and Kathrin nodded.
Craw sighed. "Well... That is very... I am a bit embarrassed to be honest."
Fletcher looked to him. "So our goan is to fight the Aura-less. How about something that has to do with that?"
Craw nodded. "Something with Aura? Aura Fighters or something like that?"
Ariela shook her head. "That sounds like we all are aura users."
Kathrin looked to her. "Then maybe Aura Defenders?"
Damion widely opened his eyes. "Wait a second... I remember something..." He ran to the library and searched for a book. As he came back with it he opened it. "I remembered of an old legend... In ancient times there was something similar to rescue teams what were an early version of the explorers..." He browsed through the book. "Here! They were an organization that fought dangers and saved Pokémon in dangers. Back then they used aura as term for life. That is the reason why the organization was called Aura Guardians!"
Kathrin looked to him. "Aura Guardians... Aura Guardians... That has some ring to it."
Ariela nodded. "I like it."
Fletcher and Brighton just nodded.
Craw nodded. "Then it is settled. Our team name will be team Aura Guardians."
The others smiled and nodded.
Craw smiled. "Well the next point would be that we need more equipment. Mostly berries, seeds and max elixir are needed but I would also like to get some items like power band, defense scarf, special band and even a joy ribbon. I made a list for everything I would like to have in storage if we need it." He handed the list to Damion. "Also I would like to get some personal equipment for everyone of the group so everyone has something only they use. Maybe a move item or two or something else. For that we will need more money tho and will have to finish some missions first... Since Brighton, Ariela and Damion are the only ones who are fully fit right now I would like to send you to some easy missions the next few weeks. Are you OK with that?"
They nodded.
Craw nodded and sighed. "Well... I will stay out of explorations for a month at least. Fletcher you will have to fully recover as well. Till then we both will work together to learn more."
The Fletchling nodded. "OK."
Craw looked to Kathrin a bit unsure. "Kathrin... I will let you decide when you are ready to go on explorations... But I would like you to take a bit of a break as well. Of course I keep my promise. If you want to talk with me I will always listen."
Kathrin nodded. "I am unsure myself yet..."
He nodded and sighed. "Well the next spot on my list would be the discussion if we want new members already or if we want to wait some more time."
The others looked to him.
Ariela sighed. "I think with all the stuff we have to take care of the next days we should wait some time till we take some more team members... But on the other side it would be good to have at least one more team member as long as half of the team is unable to join explorations..."
Craw nodded. "That was my thought as well..."
Brighton nodded. "Then we maybe should search for one member for now but we have to make sure that they are trustworthy."
Everyone nodded.
Craw sighed. "Yeah sounds like an idea. Brighton I would ask you then to take care of that. In three days we will make job interviews then."
Brighton nodded.
Craw looked at his team. "Any more things we should talk about?"
The others shook their head.
Craw nodded. "Well then the meeting is over. I have to talk with Anubis. For once I should tell him our new team name and I also have to talk with him about what happened in the dungeon and about my training while my arm is broken... I don't want to fall back just because of this."
Ariela smiled and kissed him. "I will go with you."
Craw nodded. "OK. Oh Kathrin I would like to talk with you for a moment." He looked to Ariela. "Would you wait outside for a bit?"
Ariela smiled and nodded. "OK."
The others left.
Craw smiled. "Are you OK?"
Kathrin sighed and shrugged. "I don't know."
Craw looked to her. "As I saw you and Brighton get along again."
Kathrin blushed. "Yeah... I don't know... I feel save when he is around."
Craw smiled. "That is good. Maybe he can help you better to get over it than I can. Still I am here for you if you need me."
Kathrin nodded. "Thank you."
Craw stood up. "You are not only a team member to me. You are one of my friends. I care for my friends."
Kathrin smiled. "You are a good human."
Craw smiled. "Maybe." Then they left as well.

Anubis sighed. "So they really have a master..." He sighed. "And he not only knows about you but also wants to kill you..."
Craw nodded.
Anubis sighed. "That is really not good... We need to train you harder then... You will need to be much stronger..."
Craw sighed. "I know... At least I know how to use Aura Sphere now..."
Anubis nodded. "Yeah but that won't help much against Aura-less..."
Craw looked to him. "Oh I noticed something strange. I used my aura to strengthen my Focus Punch and it seems like if the Aura-less got partially an aura... The spot I hit had an aura..."
Anubis looked to him surprised. "Hmm... That is new to me... We should investigate this further..."
Craw smiled. "Yeah." He sighed. "However. I will concentrate on other things for now. At least till the team is running smoothly." He turned to go.
Ariela on her side waited a bit. "Craw would you go ahead? I want to talk with Anubis for a moment."
Craw nodded and left them alone.
Ariela smiled. "Hey... Uhm..." She sighed. "I don't know how to say this..."
Anubis looked to her calmly. "You can tell me anything Ariela."
She nodded. "I don't want to talk with you as guild leader but to you as my father..."
Anubis smiled and nodded. "What do you want from me Ariela?"
Ariela smiled weakly. "I want to ask you for your blessing... I mean I don't want to marry Craw yet but I don't know... I love him and one day I want to marry him... I just want that you are OK with it..."
Anubis smiled and hugged her softly. "You have it. I know what you mean and I am honered that you ask me..."
She blushed a bit and hugged him back. "Thank you..."
He smiled. "I am happy that you asked. I really am. I mean till some weeks ago you didn't even know that I am your father. That you accepted me so soon... That makes me very happy."
She nodded.
Ariela smiled and looked to him. "Yeah. I still feel uncomfortable to call you father tho..."
Anubis smiled and looked to her. "Then just continue calling me Anubis. I feel a bit strange too when you call me father to be honest. Probably I am just not used to it..."
Ariela nodded. "Yeah." She giggled. "OK... I don't want that Craw has to wait too long or he will try to go back alone."
Anubis chuckled. "You really enjoy this right? That he needs you so much right now."
She giggled. "Yeah a bit..." She hugged him again. "Till later Anubis."
He smiled and hugged her back. "Till later Ariela."
Then she left.
Anubis sighed happily. He started to whistle as he went back to his paper work. He had to smile. He didn't whistle in years.

Author's note: I liked writing this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it.