Great, this is just great. You go out to look for rare mushrooms in a cave (in the middle of nowhere, I might add), and you end up with an annoyance and his new friend. And a human at that. How did that even happen in the first place? I know Raiden doesn't particularly dislike humans, but traveling with one? Not exactly expected. If this is some sort of trick to capture me, I swear...

Raiden is the first to respond, with that ever-present grin of his. "Oh, hey Kaveh. How have you been?"

"I was looking for mushrooms," I say quickly. "Now I'll just be on my wa-" All of a sudden, a low growl comes from behind me. I look back into the cave, almost jumping at the large red and black pokémon padding into view. I almost forgot about the arcanine that accompanied me here, Haika. Honestly, the pack was so overprotective. I reach over to pet the legendary pokémon. "It's fine, they're not a problem." She stops, but is obviously still wary. The guy with Raiden's still a human after all.

"If you say so," she says. However, I can tell she still doesn't trust either of them very much.

Raiden apparently can't help but laugh a little. "I see you still have those arcanine protecting you like bodyguards." He pauses for a moment, seemingly thinking. "Speaking of bodyguards, how's Diarmuid lately?"

Before I know it, an aggravating voice resonates through my head. You wouldn't need them to protect you if you just learned to fight for yourself. Drat. I thought I'd be able to shut him out for longer.

"I told you to leave me alone! Shut up!" Diarmuid apparently gets the message, as he doesn't say anything afterward. I just wish I could get rid of him permanently, or at least for an entire day. "You and I both know it's not a good idea to travel alone." I gesture to Raiden's companion. "You didn't seem to take that advice the right way, though."

"I'm right here you know!" the human says indignantly. However, he seems to calm himself down. "Okay, I think we got off on the wrong foot. I'm Dean." He takes a step forward, extending his hand. However, that gesture sets Haika off again. She jumps forward, growling even more fiercely than before. I can see flames through her bared fangs. Dean abruptly steps back, evidently alarmed.

"Stay back, or I'll burn you to a crisp!" Why does she have to be like this?

"I told you, they're not a problem." I turn my attention back to Raiden and Dean "look, I'd love to catch up with you, but I really have to go now." Before either of them can say anything, I turn around and walk briskly away. Haika follows, though I suppose she gave the two boys a glare before that.

Surprisingly, Raiden doesn't call or run after me. I guess he has much more important business too, which is odd for him. But it's for the best; I really have to get back. With that in mind, I quicken the pace of my stride through the forest. Of course, avoiding the roads and paths slowed my progress. If anyone saw me... no, I don't want to think about what would happen.

Eventually, the two of us reach our destination, the pack's temporary cave. There isn't anyone other than Caelon near the entrance, as he's most likely guarding the ones inside. He only gives me a grunt and a nod as I head inside. What can I say? He's a quiet one. I make my way to the back of the cave, where an Arcanine is comforting her pup. It's noticeably warmer in here than the last cave I was in, obviously because of the fire types hanging around. It's better for this one anyway. The growlithe is visibly weak, and shivering constantly. It had been getting sicker and sicker for a while now, and it took forever just to find the ingredients to make some medicine for it. I'm just glad I got back before something happened.

I cough a little, letting the two know that I'm mother turns, but the child is hopefully just asleep, and not too weak to turn around. "I got the medicine," I say, holding up my pouch. The arcanine's expression softens, and I move up to the pup, kneeling down. He open's his eyes slowly, and they look like the light has just gone out of them. The young growlithe were usually so full of energy and life. Just as I thought, he's too weak to even move.

I set down my pouch and start taking out the ingredients from the cure. Among them is a bottle filled with green liquid. I actually finished the medicine itself yesterday. It's just that the kid wouldn't take it, even when I put it on some berries. I guess it just smelled awful, not that I could blame him. Luckily, the mother told me that he loves the mushrooms from the cave, maybe just enough that he'd eat the medicine if it was on them. Well, it's time to see if this works.

The second I take out the mushrooms, the growlithe's face practically lights up, wagging his tail all the while. He hasn't looked this happy all week. Maybe this was a good idea after all. Even when I pour the foul-smelling liquid on one of them, the expression on the pup's face doesn't change. I have to admit, it's pretty cute. I hold the fungus out to him and say, "Now open up." He obliges and readily chomps down on the mushroom the second I reach out a bit more. Disgust flashes onto his face, but is quickly replaced.

I start getting more mushrooms ready, now that I know this works. He eats them almost as soon as I can prepare them. By the time the bottle is empty, the growlithe is already looking more lively. I sigh in relief, now that he's better. It will take a few days for him to get back to normal, but otherwise, my work here is done.

I stand up and give the mother a nod. "He's all better now."

A look of relief goes across her face. "Thank you, Kaveh, really."

"It was no problem. Real-"

"Wow, good job, Kaveh. Real good work." I whip around, almost losing my footing in the process. My blood runs cold in my veins the moment I see her. Standing there is a person I never thought I'd see again. Her expression is one of a hunter who has finally found their prey. "What's wrong, Kaveh? You look like you're not glad to see me." A small smile curls on her lips, and her eyes narrow behind her shades.

My heart is beating so fast that it feels as if it'll explode. "Wha- what are you doing here?" I manage to choke out. "You c-can't!"

She starts rolling up the sleeves on her dark green jacket. "Of course I can be here. I have just as much right as you. That kind of hurts, man." She feigns a sad look. "You're so mean sometimes." Immediately, her face goes back its original smugness. "But that's besides the point. You're coming with me." The woman takes a step forward, but I'm frozen to the spot.

"Man, you're not even going to fight back? This isn't even fun."

Kaveh! What are you doing? Fight back! I can hear the urgency in Diarmuid's voice, but I still can't do anything. I'm too weak to even try to protect myself. This is it. The end.

She steps closer and closer, and my fear only grows. She's only a step away from me when I can feel all of my hair stand on end.

"Kaveh, get down!" With nothing other than instinct guiding me, I drop to the ground. I can feel the electricity race over my head. A cry of pain and surprise comes from above me, and I can tell the woman was just hit. Hard. Before I know it, someone is pulling me up to my feet. After a second, I recognize him as the person Raiden was with earlier. Damien? No, Dean. I think. Wait, does that mean...

"Come on, let's get going!" Dean shouts. I can't even respond before we're off, running out of the cave. I can see Raiden running in front of us. At least he figured out that he couldn't take her on himself. Then we'd all be dead meat. While I'm glad to get away, something suddenly occurs to me.

"Wait, there's still a sick growlithe back there! We have to go back!" Dean looks back at me for a moment.

"Sorry, but I don't think that's a good idea. The mom was back with it, right? They'll be fine."

Raiden turns his head and shouts back at us. "As for us, we won't be fine if she catches up." Despite their words, a sick feeling is growing in my gut. We finally make it out of the cave, but I catch a glance of two orange, red, and cream lumps near the entrance. Caelon and Haika... I hope they're just unconscious...

I look back at the cave as we pass into the tree line. Standing there is the woman, glaring at me. I know I can't get away for long.

Gwen always gets her target.

Hey look, a new main character. That took a while. So did the release of this chapter, in hindsight.