Prompt: Learning to walk.
It was a beautiful day outside, the many kinds of bird Pokemon were chirping in the trees, the grass types were releasing pollin into the wind, and in a nearby city a lowly Rockruff struggled in a guild just trying to find any relevancy. Falling victim, like many explorers, to overzealousness.
Yet far away from the hussle of the town closer to the birds and plants, laid and small orange, Gold fox, eyes closed, legs outstretched, on his side, at the side of a popular pathway for travelers. Many saw the unconscious fox and ignored him assuming he was another homeless 'mon that was waiting until he could steal from them. No one batted an eye.
"Auug." groaned the Vulpix as his senses slowly returned at he awoke. His tails wavered slightly as he regained consciousness. As his concousness returned it brought many questions to his head.
"Whats going on, Where am I, why do I feel weird?" Were many of the thoughts circulating his head. The orange fox released another light groan before opening one of his bright blue eyes.
"Wha…" The Vulpix managed out, glancing around at his surroundings, "Wh_where am I?" He asked curiously.
The fox attempted to stand, incorrectly on his twos. The paws he didn't know he had at the moment didn't budge.
Vulpix grunted attempting to force his legs to listen to him. Unfortunately for him, his legs persisted on being rebels to his orders.
"Work!" He growled loudly frustration getting the better of him finally glancing back he saw himself for what he was now.
Of course his first instinct was to scream, quite loudly at that. Birds retreated from their tree homes and many Pokemon miles away glanced in that direction.
"What's going on!!" He yelped frantically looking himself over, "What am I?!"
He could feel his heartbeat pick up and leap to his throat as panic set in. His tails began to quiver slightly as overwhelming amounts of anxiety, panic and fear made their way into his thoughts.
Still unable to move his legs The Vulpix craned his neck and buried it in his new tails the best he could. The fox began to cry, tears of terror, his breathing was at a alarmingly fast pace as he started to hyperventilate.
"Where am I?" He reiterated shaking solemnly, buried in his tails, "What am i? What am I!!?" His cries soon shifted to sobs as his thoughts shifted from confusion and fear to realization.
"My family…" He breathed looking up for a moment sniffing the air, "Where's my family?"
"Oi Vulpix," The Vulpix wiped his eyes and looked up at the voice talking to him. The creature glancing at him was white well half white and half red with sharp claws and had an strange look if concern in its eyes. A Zangoose. A real life Zangoose was talking, TALKING to him.
"Ya," he squeaked out as his thoughts became more if a jumbled mess.
"Zangoose is a Pokemon, so I'm a Pokemon!" He realized ignoring the Zangoose for a moment, "Lets see… six tails… orange-gold fur… I think I'm a Vulpix."
"Oi you here!?" The Zangoose interrupted his thoughts waving a claw in front of his face, "You look like you just saw your best friend cheat on you." The Zangoose observed scratching it's chin with a claw.
"Im a Vulpix," The human turned Vulpix thoughts repeated, "Dont panic, don't panic" his brain ordered as he gave the Zangoose his attention.
"H-Help me!!!" the fox cried out, the one thing he was trying to keep out of his voice: panic, shone through. He lurched towards the Zangoose who didn't flinch whatsoever, "I don't know where I am! I can't walk, I _I…"
"Relax kid," The Zangoose replied calmly, "I'm a rescuer not a babysitter," The Pokemon crossed it's arms stoic-ly, "Explain to me what the issue is."
"Where am I?" The gold fox asked glancing around again, noticing the dirt path Infront of him and the multitude of trees and plants around him, "And… h_how do i walk?"
The Zangoose sighed squeezing his temple with his claws, "Amnesia?"
"No," he thought bitterly, "I remember everything just fine,"
"What's amnesia?" He asked instead of stating his thoughts tilting his head to the side. To him it looked and felt so fake. The Zangoose didn't show any emotion or anything notable to what he was thinking.
The Zangoose didn't say much else just grumbled as he approached Vulpix. Fear welled up inside as the Zangoose brandished it's claws as approached him.
"Wh_what are you…" Vulpix started trying to lean away from the approaching 'mon.
"Relax kid," Zangoose snorted stopping and putting his claws out in a peaceful gesture, "I'm here to help, Just let me carry you."
"That's what you were doing!?" The fox burst out surprised, "I-I thought you were gonna stab me or something." He finished with a quiet mumble looking down.
Zangoose rolled its eyes kneeling next to the small Vulpix, "You'll be fine just … don't squeal in my ear." he added after a moment.
Vulpix glanced at him confused, "What do ya me_Eeeee!!" The fox squealed loudly as two claws pinched the back of his neck and hoisted him up.
"Gah!" The Zangoose hissed angrily shaking his head out, "I told you not to squeal!!" the Zangoose held the fox up In front of him with narrowed eyes. Vulpix's face consisted of fear and regret.
"I'm sorry!!" He yelped frantically looking around avoiding eye contact with the Zangoose, "I didn't kn_know what you were gonna do!!"
Zangoose released a sigh and shook his head, "You are extremely light," Zangoose replied lifting me up and down with a claw. He then swung me around to his back, "Hang on." He ordered.
Vulpix didn't bother nodding, he wrapped his paws around the larger two legged Pokemons neck,
"All set," he added quietly.
'do Pokemon have names?' he thought as Zangoose began to walk down the path.
"H_hey do ya have a name?" Vulpix's asked from his back.
Zangoose simply glanced back at the young fox, "Call me Blitz," he replied, "Remember your name?"
"… No."
Blitz sighed again, "Didn't think so," he shook his head bitterly, "I'm leaving you at the guild then you'll be their problem."
"What do guilds do?" The Vulpix asked his tails swishing from side to side behind him curiously.
Deep inside Blitz saw the Vulpix and his little faces rather adorable, he would never admit it though. Blitz had to be tough, he had a team to lead back in Arcadian after all. Blitz shook his head out and explained the best he could to the Vulpix, "They explore mystery dungeons and the world around them, as well as save Pokemon In danger and defeat criminals,"
The Vulpix hummed in response, nodding slowly before asking: "What's a mystery dungeon?"
"You really do have Amnesia," Blitz grumbled shaking his head again, he leaned down letting the Vulpix down. The Vulpix just flopped onto his stomach and looked up at Blitz.
"Mystery dungeons are… strange places, nothing is ever the same," Blitz explained turning to face the fox, "It's a randomized floor with hallways, items and ferals, you have to go up a set of stairs to move on."
"How does that work?" Vulpix asked confused having the cute look of confusion on his face.
"No one knows kid," Blitz sighed stretching his back, "I know I just said you were light, but daaamn. Before I found you I had been walking for three days. Your weight built up fast," he observed qs his back cracked, "I'm not this old."
Vulpix winced looking away from Blitz, before thinking to himself.
"If i am going to a guild, meant for rescuing… i should at least know how to walk…" The former human thought to himself.
The Vulpix's legs shook as he forced his way to his paws the best he could. Determination coursing through him.
"Remember it's all repetition," He thought to himself.
His legs shook as he stood on his fours, he moved his right front paw forward. He faltered falling on his face as his paw gave out.
Blitz observed the Vulpix his eyes unreadable. He crossed his arms and watched silently.
"Hnnnng," Vulpix managed out forcing himself back up to his paws. He then moved his back paw, without falling. Then his left front paw, with a small falter when he put weight down on it.
"Keep it up!" Blitz called fidgeting with his claws looking at the fox. Whether he liked it or not he was… drawn to the small fox, concerned for him. How could someone so young have Amnesia, who would give a kid Amnesia? Why abandon him?
The multi-tailed fox took a few more steps before falling flat on his face again.
"Aug!!" He hissed angrily, attempting to get to his feet again. Blitz walked over to the fox and helped him up.
"Lean on me," Blitz offered standing beside the fox glancing down at him. Vulpix looked up at Blitz as he stood up. Vulpix was barely up to the Zangoose's torso as he leaned onto the older 'mons side for support.
"Th-thanks…" Vulpix breathed quietly looking down embarrassed.
"The sun is setting on the horizon," Zangoose said glancing up at the slow orange turning sky, "Let's get moving."
Vulpix nodded slowly his mind wandered to Blitz's statement. The two began to walk, along the path. Vulpix stumbled as they went bit with Blitz's aid he was able to walk reletively fine.
"H-hey Blitz," Vulpix spoke staring up at the Zangoose.
"Yeah kid?" Blitz replied looking down at the small fox, slightly upset that he would be leaving him soon.
"How's… Horizon for a name?"