I hummed to myself, dropping carefully from the rock. I straightened, flipping my hair over my shoulders and continuing to walk. I've been climbing the Orre Mountains, in case you wondered. I stepped from rock to rock, balancing on one and jumping to the next. A cold wind blew across the higher points in the formation, echoing and amplifying down where I was. It made me a little nervous, but I wasn't concerned. The sun climbed high across the sky, casting deep, jagged shadows down in the long silver cracks.
This is the way I live. I travel, I guess a bit like a trainer, but I am definitely not one.
With a bright crimson light, Umbreon appeared on a jagged outcropping a bit higher than my head. I smiled. "You're not supposed to be out here, you know."
It tilted its head slightly, golden irises shining knowingly.
"Fine, but if you get all cut up, don't look at me." Without a response, she turned and leapt out of sight. I sighed and followed, hooking my fingers over the edge and hoisting myself up. I now stood above what resembled a field, tiny stacks of hay spread evenly for at least a mile. I leapt down onto the first, balancing on my left toes before swinging my center of gravity in the direction of the next closest. I could see Umbreon several paces ahead. She had momentum going, moving swiftly from rise to little rise. Her coal colored fur rippled in the light. I decided to make an effort to keep up.
A while later, Umbreon slowed and came to a stop, each of its long limbs placed gingerly on a stone. Her head swiveled back in my direction, and I approached her, stopping and holding my arms out for balance.
"Why'd you stop?"
She gazed back up at the obstacle that stood before us. Formations of rocks are truly amazing. A few feet above us grew a smooth wall that rose and fell in spikes at the top. I met her eyes.
"Think I can make it up there?"
She angled her nose downwards as if to say, 'Good luck with that.'
Checking that my weight was centered on the rock, I bent my knees and jumped. For a moment I rushed upwards, then caught between spikes with both hands. She was beside me, balanced the way I held, waiting patiently for me to join her. I pulled myself up, wrapping my arms around a long needle of stone.
"What?" A loud voice demanded angrily.
I almost fell off, hurriedly holding tighter and trying to breathe softly.
Two figures stood a distance from us. Behind them lay a huge building that shone with an ugly, industrial kind of grace.
"I told you, she got away with all of them! I didn't get a single one back!" Shouted the tall, slim man.
"So you came to complain to me?" The muscular, darkly - complected one retorted. "What do you expect me to do?"
"Well, I couldn't go to the Baron! He'd kill me!"
"Hmm." He crossed his dark arms. "Pro'bly would."
He stomped like a flustered child. "Dammit, Grock! You fool!"
I could feel my eyes widen. He looked, and sounded, really angry.
The buff guy roared in rage. "You're way outta your league, Avery," he threatened. "One more crack like that and I'll take you out myself!"
The slim man sneered, crossing his arms. "She got yours too, didn't she?"
The other's eyes widened. "What?"
"Hmh. I knew it. Little Lucy Fleetfoot beat big, strong General Grock. You're as pathetic as I, if not more."
I glanced at Umbreon. What were they talking about?
"Don't have a tantrum," he added snidely as his acquaintance drew back a fist. "I hear she beat Aquarella as well." At this, the muscular one hesitated, appearing rather surprised. I adjusted my grip, and a tiny curtain of dust and pebbles raced down their side of the wall. Their heads both shot up in my direction. "What was that?"
"Hey, look!" I gasped in horror. They saw me.