Hi everybody! I just want to say that you all just make me tear up with all your wonderful reviews! I got so motivated that I whipped out this next chapter pretty fast if I may say so myself! I hope you all like this chapter as well! Shout out to all who have commented on my story! Y'all are amazing!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Pokémon!
Chapter Five
"Come on Rai! It's morning!" Vera cried, pouncing on his sleeping form. She had woken up before dawn and went straight into Raiden's den. Seeing him snoozing peacefully, the Ninetales had decided that she would wait until first sun to wake him up.
If anybody would have seen the fox bouncing out of the cave every minute or so to check where the sun was, they probably would have laughed.
"Raiden!" She groaned. The Ninetales tugged on the Arcanine's ear. "Wake up already!"
"Hmm?" He grumbled and pried an eye open to see who it was. The male quickly closed it again when he saw Vera look back down at his face to see if he'd awaken. He growled again, pretending to still be asleep and without warning flipped onto his back. The movement was too quick for Vera to detach herself from him and she ended up under his hefty weight.
"Oomph!" Her muffled gasp sounded. "R-Raiden, get off of me ya big oaf!" She choked out, feeling like a pancake. No matter how hard she pushed against him mammoth back, he didn't budge an inch.
His soft, striped pelt tickled her nose—making it twitch. The only part of her that was visible from the outside were her tails.
"Oh, Vera, when did you get here?" The large Pokémon asked casually, rolling off of the Ninetales. She coughed and sputtered, trying feebly to catch her breath—all the while glaring at him. He had to work hard to hide the smirk threatening to cross his face as she watched the vixen.
"You know…dang well…ya brawny bum!" Vera shoved past him, still having trouble getting enough oxygen. As she passed the Arcanine, the female flicked her tails at his face in disdain.
"Awe, you know I was just messing with you, my little one." Raiden rumbled, referring back to his pet name for the fox. He followed her, attempting to get the stubborn girl to meet his eyes. The male knew that she could never turn his eyes down. Sighing, he continued to trail her to the stream where the white canine bent to get a drink. An idea came over Rai.
Vera lapped up the refreshing water, unaware of what the scheming Arcanine was doing. Of course she wasn't really upset with him, but she enjoyed making the big guy squirm.
All of a sudden she was shoved in the rump. She yelped, sailing into the icy river. When she surfaced, she heard Raiden guffawing on the bank. His amber orbs sparkled in glee as he took in her appearance.
The Ninetales cream-colored mane flipped over her face, obscuring her vision. She shook her head in attempt to right it once more. It didn't work. Growling under her breath, the vixen headed back to shore.
"You think you're so funny. Don't you?" Vera asked when she neared the ledge. Raiden chuckled and smirked at her.
"Yeah, I'm sorry! I had to!" He insisted, bending to help her up.
"Yeah? Well I had to do this!" Surging out of the water, Vera wound her forepaws around the Arcanine's neck before plunging both of them back in the water. The legendary seemed pleasantly surprised when he broke the surface. He didn't think the little fox had it in her. The mischievous female had already climbed onto the embankment and was endeavoring to fix her matted fur.
She cast Raiden glance when he flung himself in front of her. He just shook his fur out and let it settle where it may. He'd worry about that later.
Vera was fixated by an unruly lock of fur that stuck up beside his ear and before she could think about what she was doing, reached up to fix it. She propped her forepaws on his muscular shoulder and gave the tuft a gentle lick. Her warm, smooth tongue moving rhythmically over his pelt made him shiver involuntarily.
Returning her affections, the great legendary began righting her fur as well. He ran his tongue over her cheeks and down her neck, pausing when he felt her stop her ministrations and tremble. Raiden purred. He trailed his muzzle back up her neck until it was by her ear. His warm breath tickled her ear as he spoke.
"I guess we're even then." Vera quivered at his words. She was completely frozen in place. Rai chuckled; the vibrations snapped her out of the trance she was in.
Painstakingly, the Ninetales dropped to the ground again.
"I guess so." She murmured. Her chest swelled when his eyes met hers. She tried to ignore the feeling. Breaking her eyes away, the vixen looked towards the forest. "You don't need to go with me…"
Raiden followed her gaze, understanding dawning on him. He reached a paw out and dragged the little female close. Their moist noses touched.
"I want to help you." He replied, eyes blazing into hers. Vera knew he was being sincere. Somehow, the Arcanine was working his way inside her heart. The way he teased her, the way he was kind to her, the way he touched her…what would happen to them if she became a human again? Her heart throbbed in her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes at the thought. Vera had never thought that she could feel what she felt for Raiden—someone she met only a week ago.
She realized she had resigned herself to not search for a guy so she wouldn't get distracted when taking care of her mom. Now, looking at Raiden, the girl started to feel that she didn't want to live her life alone. A life without finding such a special guy would be dull.
The Ninetales broke her nose away, snuggling into his fluffy mane. Immediately the Arcanine purred, pulling her closer to his chest with the paw that was still around her and laying his neck across hers in a warm hug.
"Raiden…" She whispered, inhaling his musky scent. "Thank you." With a final purr, they pulled apart.
"Let's go then." He smiled. The two trotted into the forest—their journey had begun.
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The sun was high in the sky when Raiden and Vera made it to her old home. They stood, staring at the for sale sign sticking up in the middle of the front yard.
"I don't understand…" The Ninetales murmured. Raiden gave her an odd look. Of course he didn't know why the vixen would care about a human's home. "They think I'm dead." She muttered under her breath.
On the way into the small town, the girl had spotted an old missing person poster on the ground. When she glanced at it, she had to do a double take. Her human face was on the paper, grinning up at her. It read:
Missing
Vera Kisler
Please contact Professor Oak at his office if found!
She tried hard not to draw Raiden's attention to the poster, not knowing if he could read or not. Now, standing before her abandoned home, Vera couldn't help but whimper softly. Her old life was not welcoming her back with open arms. Everything had changed while she'd been gone.
Raiden appeared confused but said nothing.
The girl's eyes traveled over the tan siding, over the dark brown shudders, and across the vines that continued to creep up the one side of the building. Where beautiful flowers used to grow weeds now choked them out. Vera's and Grayson's old bikes still rested against the wall of the place. A fine layer of dust covered them from lack of use. She would never forget where she came from.
The fox Pokémon turned away from her old house, feeling as though she were also leaving her past behind forever. They followed an unused road, padding silently over dirt and rock. A thought suddenly came over.
"Rai, do you have any siblings?" She pondered, drifting closer to him so that their pelts brushed with each stride. Raiden's face became shadowed at the question.
"I had an older brother, I was told—but he died after he wandered too far away from the den. It had been a harsh winter. My dad told me he had frozen to death." He answered gruffly.
"Oh…I'm sorry I asked." Vera quieted again.
Raiden stiffened suddenly, eyes searching all around them. He lifted his nose to the wind, sifting through all the smells it carried with it.
"Stay here. We might have company." He sprinted off, leaving Vera no option but to wait for him. The Ninetales stared at the place where the Arcanine had disappeared. She hadn't sensed anything, but that wasn't saying too much. Skilled hunters such as her companion were better at stuff like that.
The sound of bushes rustling and a few curses caught her attention. She twisted around, ears working to decipher what the voice was saying.
"I swear I saw that Ninetales come this way." Vera's eyes widened. It was a human! Before she could hide, a boy appeared. His mouth warped into a mean smile. "You'll be mine, Ninetales!" He shouted, whipping out a Pokéball. It glowed red and a Squirtle materialized in front of her. It looked at her expectantly.
"My master will have you." It stated coolly, puffing out his chest. Vera snarled. She wasn't experienced with fighting but she would do it if need be.
"In his dreams!" The vixen snapped, growling fiercely in attempt to scare them off. Naturally they did not. Her tails lashed angrily behind her and her hackles rose. She could do this. She had to. There was no way she'd leave Raiden.
"Squirtle use Aqua Jet!" The water type's master yelled. The turtle Pokémon lunged at her, water encasing its entire body.
Vera barely dodged the attack, dipping so that her assailant flew over her head. A sound rose from deep within her. The soul note ripped out of her throat as she threw her head back, making her feel stronger than ever. After she finished the call, she suddenly felt a pain in her right hind leg. Yelping, Vera shook the Squirtle off from where it had latched onto her leg with his sharp teeth.
It flew a couple feet away, flipping in midair to land on its feet. His master kept wailing out orders as the two Pokémon quarreled. Vera tried her best to dodge its attacks, but the little creature was quick and had battled many times. He had the upper hand in experience. Vera did get a few burns on it too, she was proud to say. Some of her Flamethrower and Flame Burst attacks hit their mark. She began to grow weary.
"We almost got her, Squirtle! Use one more BubbleBeam!" The boy practically vibrated in anticipation. He had an unused Pokéball out already and everything.
Vera was wobbling on her feet, weariness threatening to make her collapse in exhaustion. She watched with bleary eyes, as if in slow motion, as her foe puffed his chest up and began rocketing a beam of bubbles at her.
A/N: Read and review please! ^-^
