Chapter 35: Foreign territory

During the next days, we headed farther north. I talked a lot with Nidorino and I also challenged him to a training battle. It was a nice change for once, as I already knew every single move of Travis, Silver and Kathie. Since we still had lots of Pecha Berries left, I told Nidorino to not hold back with his Poison-type moves. It didn't take long for me to figure out his movements and I soon got the upper hand in the battle. Nidorino has never been trained by a human but nontheless he knew how to fight, even though he kinda chose his moves without any thoughts behind them. He promised me to train hard after his first loss.

As we moved on I started to notice some things. I had a feeling ob being observed by someone, but I couldn't see anyone whenever I looked around closely, so I decided to use my other senses too, and I actually caught a scent that seemed to be everywhere around us. After a while I realised that there were actually a lot of similar scents of several Pokémon.

Hey Nick! What are you doing there? Silver shouted over to me.

I just now realised, that I had stopped walking and stood there with my eyes closed.

I closed up to the rest of the group.

Something's off here. I think someone's following us. Also there's a lot of similar scents of several Pokémon around here.

Scents? What are you talking about? Silver responded

He's right. Travis said sniffing around.

Alright, but what does that mean? Silver asked.

I don't know, but I don't like it, we should leave this place as soon as possible.

We moved on, but the scents grew stronger the farther we got, and I still had the feeling of being observed. We soon arrived at a small clearing. Since we kept on marching for the last days, we decided to take a little break.

We shouldn't rest too long here. I've still got a bad feeling about this place. I said and grabbed an Oran Berry from the bag.

Silver came over to me.

So...what about those scents you and Travis were talking about? How can you even tell the difference between those scents?

That's pretty easy when you've got a sensitive nose. But I'm a little worried. Whoever is following us didn't show himself yet. So I assume that he's either afraid of our group, and just keeps following us so he knows where we are, or he's waiting for a good moment to strike. It's more likely the latter.

Wouldn't that 'good moment' be now?

I guess - My answer was interrupted by multiple howling noises coming from all around us. From all sides several Houndour and Houndoom jumped out of the woods, ready to attack. I quickly dropped the bag and grabbed my scalchops. Silver, Travis, Kathie and Nidorino also got in battle stance. Jess however cowered in fear. We were completely surrounded. A Houndour charged at me. I quickly used Razor Shell and hit it midair. My opponent fell on the ground, but I had no time beacause there were already more of them coming towards me. I used Aqua Jet and dashed towards another Houndour sending him flying. Before I could react a Flamethrower from a Houndoom hit me in the back. The move wasn't very effective, but it hurt anyway. 'Damn there's just too many of them.' I threw a Water-Pulse Knife towards my attacker and it hit him with a big splash of Water. 'Good thing I'm having a type advantage for once.' After hitting another Houndour with my Razor Shell I had some time too look around. The others had far more trouble than me fighting their opponents, not to mention that we were heavily outnumbered. Silver seemed to have the most trouble, as he was weak to Fire Types and his Dark Type moves wouldn't help him much either. He was struggling against two Houndour. I quickly used Aqua Jet and dashed into one Houndour sending it flying towards the other Houdour, giving Silver a Chance to us his Quick Attack Move and knocking them out. Before Silver could tank me I heard Jess scream in Panic. A Houndoom got past Travis and Kathie and was now chasing after Jess. I threw another Water Pulse-Knife at the Houndour and charged a Razor Shell. The knife hit him in a blast of water, stopping his movement, giving me enough time to charge at him and knocking him out with my Razor Shell. I quickly grabbed Jess.

You better hold your breath for a few seconds. I said and used Aqua Jet to dash through a gap, stopping next to a tree at the edge of the clearing. I set her down and she spit out some water.

Sorry I'd warned you earlier but there wasn't really much time. Go hide here. I'll try to keep them away from you.

Jess just nodded and I went back to the battlefield, when I saw that Silver, Travis, Kathie and Nidorino were all lying on the ground with several Houndour and Hondom standing on them preventing them from standng up again. There were still too many left of them for me to fight on my own, also I was pretty exhausted from using so many moves in such a short time. Fighting was no use here, So there were only two options: Grab Jess and run away, or surrender. Fleeing meant that I would leave all my friends behind, and I didn't know what they would do with them if I ran away. There is not really a choice. I put my Scalchops back on my hips to show that the battle was over. I slowly went over to them.

Alright, you win. I surrender. Just leave my friends be.

A Houndoom - probably their leader - leapt on me, pushed me to the ground, placing his paws on my chest.

You are not in the position to demand anything. He snarled at me.

Why did you even attack us?

Don't play dumb. You and your group tried to invade our territory.

We didn't invade your territory. We're just passing through, and we would have left it peacefully if you hadn't attacked us out of nowhere.

Silent! Don't think that I'm going to fall for your lies.

So, since you're not gonna believe me anyway, what are you going to do with us now?

You shall be a sacrifice to the great father of the forest by the next full moon.

So you're going to kill us?

That's what you get for invading our territory.

I thought of my possibilities right now. The others were quite a bit away from me and their leader. A Watergun into his face might be enough distraction to free myself and use an Aqua Jet to get away. But there was still the problem with all the others. I didn't want to leave them behind. I could maybe find a way to free them after I escape. It was still some time until the next full moon. Also they didn't get Jess. And leaving her all alone here wasn't exactly what I wanted either. 'Why can't I just save everyone?'

You seem to be in trouble. I guess it's time for me to help you out a little.

'Zack?'