I took one step into the town, there were many, many humans. Just as there were many humans, they had Pokemon to accompany them. The people were either having conversations with each other as they walked along, or with their Pokemon. Skyscrapers rising as high as the eye can see, the smell of salt, the pieces of paper and plastic cups that littered sidewalks. This must be a rather busy city. I patiently waited next to multiple humans, waiting to cross the street. The smell of gasoline was almost as strong as salt in the air.

All the cars came to a stop and everyone started crossing the street, I followed suit. One thing I had to be aware of while in the city were Pokeballs on their belts. Each trainer I came across had tried to capture me, even that child with a Squirtle from earlier. The last thing I wanted was a being not even a decade old bossing me around, I'd sooner die than do that.

I could smell food, very good food. It's a shame that I already ate. Out of an alley a person dressed as a chef was chasing out a Rattata, who had more than likely tried to steal food. "Stay away you pest!" So much for humans and Pokemon living in harmony.

"What on earth are you doing out on the streets?" I came to a halt. In front of me stood a human in a suit, he looked like he held some status. On his belt was a single Pokeball, a regular Pokeball. If this one tried to catch me with that thing, it wouldn't work. The human knelt down and offered his hand to me. I stopped myself from running away. My distaste for trainers was specifically for only trainers. Maybe the Pokeball he had held a Pokemon he kept as a pet.

I took a step forward, keeping my eyes glued to his hands, his face, and the Pokeball on his belt. Other people had stopped and started watching. "That thing looks like it hasn't been groomed in years!" somebody behind the man said. "Who would release a Ninetales?" said another.

The man in a suit finally put his hand under my chin, probably to not "scare" me, and I leaned into the hand. It honestly felt nice when a human ran their hands through my fur. I know there is a word for it, but it's not on my mind right now. "Be careful! That Ninetales will curse you!"

"Are you sure about that, she seems pretty friendly," the man said. "I am only being friendly because you haven't tried to catch me immediately," I communicated. I pulled away from the man's hand. "Y-you can speak?" I chuckled at the man's confusion. "No, and I appreciate you trying to be nice. Thank you for being concerned about me being a possible stray, but I can handle myself." I rubbed up against the man to mark him. I may come back here and pay him a visit in the future.

"Go Mightyena!" I sighed, the Pokemon that had been called landed in front of me. Behind it was a teenager, his eyes were locked on me, I knew what he wanted. "Whoever left you on the streets is a fool, but I'm not!" Mightyena lowered himself, ready to pounce at a moment's notice. "Just don't fight back, it'll make this less painful," he said. "I know how to entirely take the pain out of this fight," I said.

My ears flattened against my head, and I put on a scared look. "Hey! What are you doing?" a bystander yelled. "What do you think? I'm taking her off the streets," the boy retorted. "Mightyena use crunch now," he ordered. I took a quick step back, and rolled out of the Pokemon's path. I could fight back this instant, but that would risk me potentially burning the crowd. And possibly getting put down for it.

I kept the same scared look on my face, slowly stepping back. "Just let this happen, my trainer will take good care of you."

That wiped the look on my face, only for an angered one to take its place. "I don't want another fucking trainer." I shot a smokescreen, making everyone cough. I ran past the Mightyena and its trainer and didn't stop. Maybe one day I will allow a human to take care of me again, but today was not it.

I stopped running to avoid running into a smaller human, who didn't look any older than five years old. "Hey mom look!" my face softened up when the child wrapped its arms around me. The innocent look on his face was one that I was fond of, to have the innocence of a young Vulpix again would be the dream. Knowing nothing of pain, the torture its trainer would put it through, just pure, ignorant bliss. That was something I am not taking that away from a child. I sat down and allowed the young boy to continue hugging me while it's mother patted my head. "Her fur is almost like velvet..." I smiled at the woman's compliments. "But it doesn't look like she's had a bath." That made my eyes roll in the back of my head. Still, she wasn't hostile, so I let her off the hook.

"Can we keep her?" the child asked. "Hey! I was trying to catch that Ninetales!" I looked behind me to see a snarling Mightyena and its trainer. "You try attacking me in this child's arms, and I will kill you," I threatened. I put on a scared mask before burying my head into the child's shoulder.

"And can't you see you're scaring her?" the child yelled. "Mom, can we at least take her home? She'll at least be away from that scary man!""

The mother shook her head, but her words said otherwise to this action. "For a week, if she chooses to stay, she can, but if she chooses to leave, we're letting her do so." the Trainer gritted his teeth. "You can't take a man's catch woman!"

The woman placed her hands on her hips. "And you can't take this Pokemon, since she is in our custody now." the boy and his Pokemon ran off, the former grumbling about how stupid laws were. "Who taught that boy to speak like that?" She said to herself.

"You'll be safe now," the child scratched my chin. Only for a week, and I can leave…sounds like a plan.