Chapter 3: First Night
Maria sighed, she couldn't sleep, not with Elena Whimpering in her sleep and Jewel mumbling as she tried to get comfortable. Getting out of bed she glanced over at them, earning a quizzical look from Jewel.
"You can't sleep either huh? Where you off too?"
Jewel asked, sitting up.
"I'm taking some food into the forest, Want to come?"
Maria responded, producing a bag of brightly colored fruit as well as what seemed to be home made
sweets.
"Fine, If we're going to spend the next four and a half years in this place we might as wells get to know each other."
Jewel responded with a slight grin.
"How's houndoom?" she added, noting that he wasn't out of his pokèball.
"Sleeping. He was worn out from our battle."
Maria answered with a chuckle before adding
"So do you have any more pokemon or is fang your only one?"
She noticed Jewel wince at the question and sighed.
"He's the only one I want…I didn't even want him really….after….Never mind."
When Jewel spoke her voice was quivering and she glanced away to try to blink away the tears that threatened to fall.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
Maria stated, moving to put a hand on the other girl's shoulder though no sooner than she realized what she had done she pulled away as if burned.
"Sorry."
Jewel grinned a bit at this, rolling her eyes.
"I don't bite you know. Come on, let's go feed whatever you take food too."
They walked into the woods in silence, however suddenly what Jewel saw made her both want to cry and hurt someone at the same time, for as they drew near a cave a Large spearow came out, his beak chipped in places as if he had attempted to drill into rock.
"She's a friend. She won't hurt you old fellow…We brought food."
Maria spoke as if she had know the creature for a long time, one hand reaching out to stroke it's long neck.
"this spearow blew in during a storm last year, he can't fly so some of the other Pokémon bring him food."
Maria explained, a genuine smile on her face as she saw a familiar set of yellow eyes watching her from the dark.
"I see you've not ran away from me today. Here…I made those sweets you like."
She stated, pulling out three spicy, red, pastries from a bag and tossed them toward the eyes, which mewed in response.
"That Litten was abandoned last year, by Darek Hall. He left the poor thing beat to death in middle of the marsh during a rain storm, probably hoping it would drown. I got bit quiet a lot while trying to tend to it's wounds but it prefers to live wild and I think it should."
Maria explained when she saw Jewels confused look, just as a torrent of other Pokémon came rushing out to raid the bags of food.
"How did you find this place?"
Jewel asked, kneeling down to pat on a Minum that was dancing around in front of her.
"I was out walking one night after Litten had ran away and I saw spearow trying to chase a caterpie and being unable to keep up with it. I had baked some sweets before hand and started feeding him, when I realized how many abandoned strays there were I just kept coming every night I could."
Maria answered with a shrug, noticing how Jewel stared at her like she Had two heads.
"What?"
She asked, earning a sigh.
"Nothing it's just the Sinclair's are known to be ruthless. I heard that Markus even…." Jewel let herself trail off, though Maria just sighed.
"They are known for that. But I'm not my father, you know?"
She responded, earning a nod.
"Yeah. I wasn't sure what you were going to be like when Mr. Cyprin told us you were the daughter of the leader of Team Flare. But I didn't expect you sneaking out at two in the morning to feed strays."
The honesty was a surprise to Maria, though a welcomed one.
"Yeah…I think Freckles is a bit afraid of me."
Jewel just laughed aloud at that.
"Lena is shy….Like…Deathly shy. I'm just glad that she didn't spend all night crying."
Ivan was waiting on them when they returned home, arms crossed over the front of his light purple pajama top.
"Girls?"
He asked, trying to sound stern but they noticed the corners of his lips twitching upward.
"Mr. Cyprin, we can explain…." Jewel began, getting a light glare sent her way.
"Mr. Is reserved for the classroom and not the students directly under me. Now where were you two gallivanting off to at this hour?"
He retorted, dropping the Prasad of anger to just level them with a curious look.
"I took food out to the Litten and that spearow." Maria answered, earning a sigh.
"Next time, take a Pokémon with you for protection or you two will be cleaning the stables, understand?"
He sent the pair a light glare before relaxing completely.
"Seriously, Do you guys realize how worried I was? You could have gotten attacked out there! No matter….Go to bed…It may be a Saturday tomorrow but I'm not letting you two be lazy all day."