This chapter is pretty short by my standards, and it doesn't have very much action in it ... just warnin' you. Also, sorry for bein' gone so long. I would've updated a lot sooner, but my internet connection failed me and I wasn't able to get on here ...

Three

Weak

The large Ninetales lay in the middle of the meetinghouse, the sheer image of complete boredom. His body was warmed by the fire that always flickered within the wooden structure, but he began to grow too warm, and he nudged the door to let himself out. He walked into the summer sun's rays, sighing resignedly. True, even if a murderer was seen in his home forest, things were pretty dull around the Pokémon town. Being the self-appointed leader of it, Fen made it his charge to find out how his friends were doing, so it would give him something to do, at least. He wandered onto the stone path, feeling it baking beneath his paws, and he growled softly to himself.

"You look like an idiot when you grumble at nothing," a soft voice said a few feet away from him. Fen looked up in surprise, and his startled red eyes relaxed as he recognized the voice's owner. He sat down and replied nonchalantly, "Yes, Aiyanna … I'm aware of that." The Absol looked mischievous, for some reason he couldn't comprehend, and she was staring at him expectantly. He let out another sigh. "No, you are not always right. I can appear smart whenever I feel like. I just thought that a creature of darkness wouldn't enjoy the summer, either." He stared at her, and she continued to grin at him. He rolled his eyes and growled, "And you think that as a Fire-type, I should enjoy the summer. Quite frankly, with a flame growing inside me, I hate it. As if I wasn't hot enough."

Aiyanna sputtered.

Fen stared.

After a pause, trying to read her gaze, the Ninetales ventured to ask, "… What in the gods' name are you doing, Ai?" He frowned awkwardly and padded into the grass, which was a bit cooler than the path—though not by much—and lay down, resting his muzzle on his front legs. The Absol settled down beside him, a respectable distance away. Fen could sense her trying not to break out into laugher, and he was growing impatient. He was aware that Aiyanna was a bit … childish … in his company, and it annoyed him to no end. "Shouldn't you be with the trainees?" he pointed out, baring his teeth.

Aiyanna seemed visibly stung for a brief second, and she collected herself, glaring at him bitterly. "No, I should not," he replied coolly, lifting her chin. "Vani has given them the day off. Shouldn't you be trying to find Akaro? That's what I was doing before I came here."

Fen snorted. "Well, my friend, I need to check up on everyone else." The Absol and Ninetales continued to stare at each other, fur bristling and expressions irate. Finally the golden fox lowered his eyes and said, "Thane left yesterday; he hasn't been back."

The Absol's eyes grew very distant again, and he could see her past memories and fears reflected in them. A couple of seasons back, when Ruka had died, she had seemed unusually calm. Fen mistook it as her not thinking much of her comrade, but he knew now that she was trying to cover up her grief and regrets. He smiled slightly. "It's alright. If I know Thane, he's probably coming back now after beating the crap out of the Charizard." Aiyanna stared at him oddly; Fen was always calm and serious, and wouldn't use such an expression as 'beating the crap out of'. Perhaps he was trying to lighten the mood, which had been filled with tension.

Aiyanna stood up abruptly and ran off, saying quickly over her shoulder, "I'm going to go look for him, Fen." The Ninetales watched her disappear, and he shook his head slowly. He picked himself up and trotted across the cobblestone path, heading toward the Marowak's house. If Thane wasn't there soon, he knew better than to continue holding false hope. Secretly he knew that if he had found Akaro, he was as good as dead.

"No."

A few hours had passed since her somewhat embittered conversation with Fen the Ninetales, and Aiyanna had found herself traveling through a reasonably long stretch of woodland. She had passed snapped twigs and charred branches, and had been expecting the worst as she continued her search for Thane the Marowak. She had tried to find his unmistakable white head against his dull brown body … and … she did.

The body was in reasonably good condition, with a few scratches here and there, but nothing too gruesome. The Absol saw that his head was at an odd angle, and that he must have broken his neck. She crouched a yard from the body, shivering and closing her eyes. At least he died quickly, she thought, nodding slowly to herself. Akaro isn't one to kill swiftly, but thank the gods above he did. She turned her ruby eyes up to the cloudy, dark blue sky, and let out a low growl. It was murder, that was obvious, but it was completely irrational. That damned dragon killed just for the heck of it, or at least the Absol believed so. Aiyanna was trying to figure out why he had turned on the city, had killed a single Furret, and then went on this rampage of wiping out Rescue Teams left and right.

Part of her thought that, with Thane dead, it couldn't get any worse.

Part of her thought that there was a greater evil in the forest, far stronger than a single Charizard.

"Thanks, Fen," grinned the looming Blastoise as he stared down at the strong kitsune. "It's exactly what we need." He held a few pink berries in his massive claws, and he turned to enter the dome made of water-reeds, to his family. The Ninetales nodded and turned, leaping gracefully across a few stepping stones to land on the bank. He had talked to most of the creatures in the main town, a few in the forest, and was now making his way through the rivers. Normally the creatures' society was a lot more wild than it was in the Western Lands. The Pokémon here lived mostly in the forests, living off of berries and sleeping in leafy dens, even though most settled down in a blanket inside one of the town buildings.

Fen cut himself away from his thoughts and looked up to see a small blue creature sitting alone beside the water's edge. He recognized it to be a young female Mudkip, and he nodded as he recognized one of the new trainees. He smiled and trotted over to her, stopping as her cheeks twitched and she glared into the water. Her small paw slapped across it angrily, and teardrops landed in the water, creating small ripples and further disturbing the pond. The Ninetales sat next to her calmly. "What's the matter … Amulet, right?"

"I'm too weak, sir," she replied, her black eyes still gazing at her shimmering reflection. The wise kitsune appeared all too magnificent next to her small form. She rubbed at her eye with a free paw. "Vani the Girafarig said that … she said that I needed to be stronger to be put into a team. She said that they can't accept me otherwise."

"Vani just doesn't want you to get hurt," replied Fen. He smirked, knowing that the Girafarig wasn't too fond of children. She did as little as she could with them, despite her friendly appearance. "Have you been practicing your fighting?"

Amulet nodded furiously. "Yes, I have!" she cried. "I can't even faint a Caterpie if I tried! Let alone Akaro the Charizard … that's the only reason they want us, isn't it. To defeat Akaro." She was staring up at him seriously.

"That isn't true," growled Fen darkly. "Akaro is one concern. You're meant for saving others. Now, the time may come when you have to fight him, but that doesn't mean it's the only reason. No one said that you have to become part of a Rescue Team."

Amulet slid down into a laying position. "But I want to, sir. I want to make friends, and use Water Gun like Jim. I want to help others."

"See that lily in the water?" whispered Fen. The little Mudkip nodded, perplexed. The Ninetales smiled down at her gently. "Grab it, and bring it back to me." Amulet hopped into the water and began to swim awkwardly. Her species was better known for running through mud than water, but she grabbed the lily and brought it back without trouble. She sat it on the ground before him, standing back. Fen smiled, and picked it up in his teeth. Very suddenly he threw it into the air, and he said, "Use Water Gun."

Amulet threw her head back as the flower began to descend toward her, and she opened her mouth. A nice jet of water spurted out like a fountain, pushing the lily into the air and holding it there. Seconds later, the jet failed and the lily landed on her head, but she seemed proud of herself nonetheless. She nodded to Fen. "Thanks," she whispered. It wasn't obvious how it had helped her, but she felt hope and took the lily in her mouth, running off. "I'll practice some more," she mumbled through the bright petals, "and I'll get stronger. I'll save others if it's the last thing I do!" The Ninetales grinned as he watched her run off, but his moment of happiness was broken by a dulled voice.

"Thane is dead."

Fen turned around quickly to see that the Absol had the Marowak's body draped delicately across her back. She crouched, allowing the corpse to slip onto the moist grass, before running toward the Ninetales. He expected to see more grief in her eyes, but they were perfectly clear and calm, if a bit shaken. Without a word, he padded past her and bent to sniff Thane. "Akaro," he whispered, stating the obvious aloud.

Aiyanna was actually smiling, but as the grin curved her lips, tears came into her eyes. Fen suddenly understood; she had been trying the whole time, ever since her leader's death, to cover up her feelings. She wouldn't let the grief rip her apart like it threatened. She said, her voice quavering, "His death was swift, without much more pain than the scratches inflicted. Thane couldn't have done anything; most of his attacks wouldn't harm one with wings. He was at a disadvantage the whole time."

Fen sighed. "Ai, I'm sad, too." His red eyes were just as calm as hers, but with a fatigue that consumed him slowly. He froze as the Absol came toward him, nuzzling into his golden fur and beginning to sob. Muscles tensed, he continued in a faltering tone, "It … it'll be okay …"

Aiyanna murmured back to him. "No, it won't, Fen. Don't lie; you're awful at it, you know. Ruka and Thane are dead, and our only hope is in the future of the new Rescue Teams. But they won't be ready for at least a season, now. We can't possibly risk sending them out the moment that they're paired up." The Ninetales loosened his muscles and, unsure, rubbed his muzzle across the fur on the top of her head.

"We will probably have to, Aiyanna." He backed away from her, clearing his throat quietly, and he lowered his head. With the Absol's help, he slid Thane's body on his back, and he began to walk slowly toward the town. As they passed a startled-looking Sandslash, he barked gruffly, "Sandclaw, rouse the townsfolk and meet us by the field. We'll need you to help dig ... dig the grave."

Aaah! Anyway, I dunno if I'm going to continue on with the whole Fen and Aiyanna thing, since it's irrelevant (spelled that wrong ...) to the main plot. Anyway, I'll update as soon as I finish the next chappie.