Clara was still sound asleep when I woke up. I sneaked out of the little cavern, stretched and went to gather more berries for breakfast. She didn't move an inch by the time I came back. After what felt like hours of waiting around, I decided that I had enough.

"Hey, wake up sleepy head!"

"Nghhh…" She shifted slightly.

I nudged her with a paw but only made her curl up tighter.

"Five more minutes…"

Seriously?

I shook her harder this time, which finally prompted her to raise her head and look at me with half-open eyes. "Uh? Aw, come on, I was having a nice dream. I hate getting up early."

"You've been sleeping since the evening!"

She got up and shook her head in an attempt to fully wake up. "Some coffee sounds really good right now. Oh, I smell berries. That'll have to do."

No more conversation was shared until we finished eating.

Clara spoke first. "So, what's the plan?"

"We head down the mountain. Once we get closer to the city, we should try and hitchhike some sort of transportation, because I don't fancy walking a hundred kilometres."

Clara frowned. "That sounds like a lot of walking still."

"Which is why we should start now!" I said as I started out of our temporary shelter. It'll take at least a few days to get home, and even longer to where Clara lives.

We chatted pleasantly while we strolled along, taking the opportunity to get to know each other a little better. Clara and her family were on a business trip at Whistler. Her parents owned a "decently large company," as she put it. I thought it was neat, but she didn't want to elaborate, so I didn't bother asking. She instead talked more about her Pokémon experience.

"…Yeah. I'm a bit of a Pokémon nerd. I've been playing since I was 10. I actually had a decent ranking on Showdown before school got in the way."

"Wow. You'll fit right in this new reality then." I said jokingly.

"Flareon would have been one of my favourite Pokémon if it wasn't so terrible competitively. Either way, I don't know how to feel about being a, uh… fox-doggo thingy."

"What is your favourite?" I asked, curious.

"Espeon. Anyways, what about you? You said you don't play the games, but you seem to know quite a bit."

"I was quite fond of the Mystery Dungeon games, actually. Never played any, but I watched a few playthroughs. From there, I decided to research a bit more about Pokémon and, well, I have a pretty good memory."

"I see."

We fell into comfortable silence after that.

After lunch, we decided to lounge around for a while.

"I'm bored." Clara yawned. "Come on, let's train."

"Train?" I considered it for a second. Why not, could be fun. How does it work?"

"Um, we could start with basics moves like Tackle, Scratch, Bite… Ew, maybe not Bite."

"So we're supposed to beat each other up?" I asked half-jokingly.

"Of course not." She spun in a circle before pointing to a boulder with a paw. "We could use that rock over there."

We gathered around the rock.

"So?" I prompted. "You're the expert here. What do I do?"

"Moves uses aura or something, so we should start with a move of our type. I'll try Ember first."

Clara drew in a deep breath, held it for a second, and exhaled a tiny wisp of flame. "Okay, that didn't work. Maybe I just need to concentrate harder."

She repeated the same motion, and this time she produced a flame about the size of a softball, which dissipated harmlessly against the stone.

"Whoa." I was quite impressed.

"Your turn!" The Flareon said happily, looking proud of herself.

"What do I do?"

"The lowest level dark type move is… Bite? Er, maybe try focusing your energy on your horn? It should be intuitive."

I decided to target a nearby tree instead of trying to head-butt hard rock. I closed my eyes and did as Clara instructed. I tried to imagine power coursing through my chest and flowing into my horn. It worked, to my surprise. The feeling was warm, comparable to what I feel when I am excited or inspired by something. Once I couldn't charge up anymore, I slammed my horn against the wood. The impact sent splinters flying.

"Nice! That looked like a powerful Slash. Now try and use dark energy instead."

I tried again to reach for the energy in my core. However, no matter what I tried, I couldn't find whatever "dark energy" was supposed to be. I let loose another Slash, hoping that thinking "dark" would change something. No luck.

"What's wrong?" Clara tilted her head in confusion.

I shook my head. "I don't know. Something isn't right. Maybe I'm not using my aura correctly."

I repeated the same process while experimenting with adjusting my mindset. I must have done something wrong because all of a sudden, a wave of nausea hit me. I swayed and stumbled, barely managing to stay on all fours.

Clara came by my side, concern on her face. "Are you okay? What happened?"

I steadied myself before replying. "I'm… fine. Must have tripped something up inside. I'll have one more go at it."

"Okay. Don't push yourself too hard."

The energy inside of me felt… wrong. It felt revolting, corrupted, and almost foul. I was pent-up with excess energy that I've stored up, but my instincts were telling me that releasing it would be a terrible idea. It wasn't uncomfortable, but I felt bad. Very bad. I was getting nowhere.

"Let's just keep walking," I said dejectedly.

•●•

I was put into a sulky mood afterwards. I tried to convince myself that it didn't matter. It really didn't. It wasn't as if I was going to be battling anyone. But nothing seemed to be able to cheer me up. Even Clara tried to reassure me.

"Come on. Your Slash did much more damage than my Ember, I would count that as a success."

"Mhmm."

"Maybe it'll just take a few more attempts. We can try again when you feel up to it."

"…"

"Seriously, what's up? Why aren't you talking?"

I shook my head as a response. I was just as puzzled as her.

Thankfully we spotted a pickup truck parked by the road we were walking on, which distracted Clara from asking me more questions. There was a stack of newspapers in the trunk, and after making sure there was no one around, I grabbed it and we began reading.

"Oh, oh."

Clara's two words summed it up pretty well. Even just looking at the headlines things weren't looking great. I flipped through the most recent papers. It seemed that we had missed some serious chaos.

Mass Transformation with No Apparent Cause Affects the Entire Globe

Hungary and Chad Collapses due to Recent Events

Multiple European Countries Begin Containment Projects, Military Set Upon Elementals

Chaos in North America: Multiple Public Sites Burned Down, Riots on Streets, Unprovoked Attacks on Elementals

Local News: Devastation in Vancouver

All these disasters…

And I can't do anything about them…

What if…

North.

I need to-

"…rin? Sorin? You still there?"

"Huh?" I did not realize that I zoned out. Something was tickling the back of my mind, something that was just about to be revealed before Clara interrupted me. "Sorry, got distracted thinking."

"Weird. Your horn was buzzing and radiating some sort of energy."

That again? I thought I got it under control yesterday?

"That's my disaster sense working," I explained.

"Oh, cool! Did you learn anything?"

I shook my head. "I lost it."

"Aw." She looked down for a second before perking up again. "On the bright side, you're finally talking! Let's get away from all the negative stuff and look at something useful. See here."

She pointed out an article about emergency laws and regulations that have been put in place since the transformation. Most of them were around safety, banning Pokémon power usage in public and the likes of that. Speaking of Pokémon — transformed creatures have been renamed to elementals to dissociate us from the video game series.

I read the next part aloud. "All elementals who have a place to stay are asked to stay home as much as possible. All stray elementals are to gather at the nearest community centre to be transported to temporary camps or head to the camps directly. Entire households who have been affected are also strongly encouraged to come to the camps, where we can assist with your transitioning under the new circumstances."

"Are we considered strays, then?"

"Not if no one sees us. I think we'll be fine once we reach my family. We just need to figure out a way to do that without exposing ourselves."

"Maybe it won't be so bad to go to one of the gatherings, actually. Someone can potentially put us in contact with our parents."

"True. Still, we need transportation. Do you know the way to any community centres near here?"

"There might be one to the west at…" Something suddenly caught her eye. "Hey, is that a person?"

Indeed, a man was walking towards us from down the road. I realized that he was wearing a police uniform. "Uh oh. We should probably hide."

"Under the car!" Clara exclaimed as she hopped off the back of the truck and darted under. I tried to follow suit but found that I couldn't fit due to my horn.

Panic!

I raced to the other side of the pickup, nearly tripping over my claws, and crouched down. I made quite a ruckus in my rush, so I could only hope the man was too far away to notice.

The man walked up to the car and opened the driver's seat's door. I slowly breathed a sigh of relief. Then I saw his feet walking from under the truck. He was coming around!

I tried to inch the other way as fast as possible without making any noise. Too slow. I scrambled the last few steps just as he turned the corner. I grimaced at my claws clacking against the asphalt.

The officer chuckled warmly. "Come out there, I saw you two."

Darn, busted. At least he seems nice.

I reluctantly came out in front of the officer, and Clara revealed herself from under the truck. We both were a little nervous, Clara especially visibly so. Guilty conscience, even though we technically did nothing wrong.

"Now, just what are you two doing out here? I thought we took care of all the elementals left hanging around after the fire, but it seems that there were holes in our net." He glanced down at his wrist to check a watch, then turned back to us. "Wait here. I've got some pens and paper in the car so we can communicate."

Clara and I exchanged a glance, then waited silently for the officer.

"Here you are." He returned with a clipboard and writing supplies.

I was about to go forth to received it, but Clara grabbed it out of the officer's hand anxiously the second he presented the stuff to us. After fiddling with the pen with her paws for a while trying to hold it properly, she scribbled a very messy message that read 'contact parents?'. The two words weren't terribly informative, but luckily the cop caught on quick.

"Do you have a phone number?"

Clara nodded.

"Alright, write it down while I get the phone."

A moment later, a cellphone on speaker mode was dialling Clara's parents in front of us.

"The number you have dialled cannot be reached."

"What!" Clara exclaimed. To the officer, it probably sounded like "Flareon!"

Clara double-checked the number, and so did the officer.

"Trouble?" I asked.

"I don't know!" Clara responded, voice slightly shaking. "My parents always have their personal cellphone with them and available. Maybe I'll try their work number."

She scrawled another number on the paper and handed it over to the officer.

"This is a pre-recorded message. Mr. and Mrs. Sallowe are currently out of the office. Please call again after five business days. We are temporarily not accepting messages. We apologize for the inconvenience."

The officer let out a low whistle. "Sallowe. The surname isn't exactly common, is it now? Are you perhaps…?" He raised an eyebrow at Clara.

She nodded, blushing so hard that it showed through her already reddish fur.

That piqued my curiosity. The name Sallowe did sound familiar. "What's he talking about?"

"Don't-worry-about-it," Clara said it with such speed and intensity it made me shut up instantly.

"Are you her sibling, then?" The officer turned to me, oblivious to our little exchange.

I shook my head, then pointed at the paper and the phone.

He passed them over, and I gave him my parents' number. This time we received no feedback from the phone at all.

"Ah crud, the cell service is down again." The officer considered us for a moment. "Tell you what, if you can give me an address, I'll drive you. I'm off duty for the time being anyway."

I exchanged a glance with Clara. "You think we can trust him?"

The cop spoke first before Clara can answer. "Oh, of course, I should introduce myself first. Erik Parker, CSIS. I would be honoured to know your names as well." As he spoke, he took out an ID card and presented it to us.

CSIS. What is a federal agent doing here? And more importantly, what does he want with us?

Not wanting to cause any trouble, Clara and I both wrote our names down.

"Clara and Sorin, nice to meet you. I trust that you wouldn't go around telling everyone about me?" The agent flashed us a smile that was more intimidating than reassuring. 'Now will you let me take you home?"

We both nodded numbly. I gave him my home address since it was closer.

"Excellent. Get aboard and we'll be on our way."

The agent drove off with a Flareon and an Absol in the backseat. We were so stunned by the turn of events that none of us spoke for a full twenty minutes.

"Federal agent!" Clara blurted out after far too long. "I can't believe it, federal agent! This is so surreal! Two fugitives escape after an unexpected disaster, gets caught by a camping agent, and are now on their way to the authorities! Straight out of a story! A post-apocalyptic fantasy, if you will!" She began giggling madly.

I chuckled along, but I found nothing humorous about our situation.

Post-apocalyptic, eh? Then why do I feel like the apocalypse has yet to come?

"And now the fugitives will attempt an escape! In the face of the agent, they will communicate with code words like "Flareon" and "Absol" to formulate a master plan of deception! Will they make it out alive? Check in next episode to find out!"

She has now buried her face in her paws, but she was still shaking, presumably with laughter.

Well, at least she's enjoying herself. And we'll finally be home soon, as long as the agent keeps his word.

•●•

"They did what!? Ah, curses. I'm coming right away. I'm in Surrey right now, so I'll be there in forty minutes… Okay… Sure… Alright, see you there."

The agent put down his phone, pulled over on the side of the road and turned to us in the back. "Sorry, friends, got emergency business. I'll have to drop you off here. You're not far, so you can walk the rest of the way. Maybe I'll see you another time."

It took me a while to figure out how to open the door, but I got off the truck and waited for Clara.

"…"

"Clara?"

She hopped off and landed beside me. I noticed that she had tear streaks around her eyes. She had been curled up the entire trip, but I had assumed she was just tired. "Clara? Are you alright?"

"Yes."

Her quivering voice did not convince me. "Seriously, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing! I'm fine, just tired."

"Fine." She was hiding something, but I decided to put it to the back of my mind. After all, she was quite cheery just an hour ago, so it couldn't have been that bad. The night breeze ruffled my fur as I took in our surroundings. Finally being back in a familiar neighbourhood felt amazing. It was only now that I realized how much I missed home. The craziness of the past days made it feel like I've been gone for weeks. I'll be back tonight! I couldn't help but add a little spring under my steps. "Come on Clara, my place is just a few blocks away!"

Clara smiled back, a genuine one.

I was a bit nervous about how my parents will react to me, but I knew that they know. The worries were behind me because all that mattered in the moment was the fact that I'll be seeing them again.

"There you are."

The voice seemed to come out of the void.

"Who's there?" Clara and I said at the same time.

A quadruped figure slid out of the shadows. "Hello there."

I recognized the Houndoom once my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the street side. He had the same disturbing grin and slow speech. His teeth were almost shining in the darkness, and his posture radiated a threatening aura.

"What do you want?"

"Heheh." His laugh was dry and croaky. "Not much, just want Miss Sallowe there to follow me."

"Who are you talking to?" Clara asked in an anxious tone.

"Can't you see the Houndoom?"

"No? Where?"

Dark-types have better dark vision, that must be it. "He's in the shadows. Do you know a Houndoom?"

"No."

"Just come with me, little princess. Nothing bad will happen, I promise."

"Not happening," I said firmly before Clara could respond. Between the encounter at Whistler and here, I was confident that the Houndoom was up to no good.

"I was asking Miss Sallowe."

"No."

The Houndoom's grin only grew wider. His teeth were positively glowing. "Let the little princess come with me, and no one gets hurt."

"I—"

"You're not intimidating any of us." I cut in. I figured he was at least physically weak from past experience. Special moves shouldn't be a concern. How much could he have learned in the short time since the transformation?

His teeth were now glowing red. Red is danger, my intuition told me. But why was red danger?

Red… red…

Houndoom is a fire type.

"Dodge!" I shouted as I leaped to the side, but I was too late to save Clara. I watched in horror as flames erupted from the Houndoom's throat and engulfed Clara completely… and died down to reveal her unscathed.

Right, immunity.

My relief was short-lived as the next wave of fire headed directly for me, and I had to scramble to avoid it.

"Stop!" Clara exclaimed as she launched an Ember towards the Houndoom. The fire attack did little more than annoy the devil dog. He shifted his predatory gaze onto the Flareon. Faster than any of us could react, he head-butted Clara with enough force to knock her two feet into the air.

Since when was he so strong?

I began charging up a Slash while rushing towards the Houndoom. I saw Clara somehow land on her feet in the corner of my eye. I wasn't charged up properly yet, but I was already in range, so I let my attack loose. It knocked the Houndoom back but left no visible injury.

I had a hunch that he would come after me, so I turned and ran, hoping to get some room to prepare another Slash. What I didn't expect was for him to slam into me nearly right after I began to run.

How?

I was knocked off balance and more than a little stunned — a sitting duck for the fire attack he was already brewing.

An orange figure leaped in front of me, absorbed the flames, and Tackled the Houndoom away. I knew the maneuver left Clara vulnerable, and I had to do something. Without enough time for Slash, and out of pure desperation, I used my claws and performed a Scratch. The weak move did a pitiful amount of damage and barely caused a reaction. The Houndoom turned and Bit me. Thankfully I was able to shake him off before his fangs sank too deep, but it still hurt. I gritted my teeth in pain, and I found myself unable to move.

"RUN!" He cried out of nowhere. By fear and instinct, Clara darted away.

Why? I thought she was the target?

By the time I realized what was going on, it was already too late. The Houndoom caught up to her in a blink of the eye and ran into her horns-first. Clara went limp from the impact. She fainted.

Pursuit.

I regained control of my limbs. I willed them to move as fast as possible, but it was futile. Clara had run too far.

"Good night, princess."

The Houndoom closed his jaws around Clara's neck.

He's killing her. He's going to kill her.

The next few seconds were a mystery to me. One moment I was metres away, the next was slamming into the Houndoom.

I stood protectively in front of Clara as the Houndoom regained his footing.

"How?"

"I don't know who you are or what you want, but you're not murdering anyone tonight."

"Let me pass, it's better for both of us."

"No."

"You don't have your princess to protect you from my fire now. This will not end well with you. You see, my fire has some special properties that you do not want to experience."

"What?" I tried to keep the conversation going to buy time to prepare the most powerful Slash I can produce.

"Pain." Flames danced in his mouth. "Step aside, or be scarred for life. Painfully."

I had only one shot at this. There was no way I could afford dragging out the battle when he was at a clear advantage.

I could easily give up, but would I be able to live knowing that I backed down when I could have saved a life?

My resolve hardened as I made my decision. "No."

The flames came. There was no dodging it, not if I want any chance of counter-attacking. I dashed forward, through the fire.

It was living hell.

Agony drowned me. My entire world was red, red. Every tissue, every cell in my body was disintegrating. I couldn't think, couldn't see, and couldn't feel anything but pain. I don't know what kept me conscious.

Then I impacted against something, and the flames stopped.

The pain never lessened.

I wanted nothing more than to give in, to let the pain take my consciousness away, then I may find relief. Something in the back of my head refused. Somewhere out there, someone is waiting for me.

It took all my willpower to move. It felt like my blood was boiling. One paw after another, foreleg, back leg. Repeat. I reached an orange body. I felt the desire to pick it up, so I placed it on my back and continued. I reached a door. I knocked.

I was fading. My vision swam and it was impossible to breathe.

A woman opened the door.

Mother.

I looked up. There was no light of recognition in her eyes, only fear. I could feel a scream about to rip out of her throat. She moved to close the door.

I couldn't stand anymore. I collapsed on my own home's doorstep, with my own mother about to shut me out.

I kept my eyes on her for as long as I could.

Emotions flashed across her face.

Realization. Confusion. Shock. Concern.

I heard her speak just before I lost my senses.

"Sorin?"