And so, we continue this story. Lirael is returning from shopping with Chewie. Let's go to the scene and see what's happening!
They returned to the clearing and found Artie sleeping with his head on his paws. "Hey, sorry," she apologized, setting the shopping bag down, "Chewie was being a twit." Artie lifted his head and yawned. "It's cool; I've only been here a couple minutes." Lirael sat down on the ground and took off her pack. Chewie jumped out and she rummaged through her belongings. She finally pulled out her collapsible pot and its stand. She set them aside and then realized something. "Hm, I forgot to collect wood. I'll be back in a sec." She stood and walked through the bushes to the wood.
Artie flicked his eyes to Chewie. "How was she?" he asked as soon as Lirael was out of ear shot. Chewie yawned and stretched. "She was fine. Smiling, friendly, conversational… la-di-da…" Chewie saw the look on Artie's face. "God, cut the cord mom, she's sixteen. I'm sure she can handle herself." The Arcanine glowered at him. "She may be sixteen but, she's still young and could still come to harm. You know her capacity for getting in trouble; goodness knows you've participated in it before." Artie put his head back in his paws and silence washed over them.
Artie knew Lirael's social skills had improved since she became friends with Professor Willow and Aidan but, she was till timid and shy with strangers. He was afraid someone would take advantage of her kindness.
Soon, the sound of snapping twigs announced Lirael's return. She came back into the clearing and set down her wood. She set up the pieces in a tee-pee fashion and glanced at Artie. "Mind doing the honors?" He lifted his head and blew gently on the wood. Small flames leaped from his mouth onto the wood and soon there was a roaring fire. Lirael mumbled a thanks and Artie nodded. She grabbed her collapsible pot and snapped it open. With water from her canteen and vegetables from town, her soup was soon simmering in the pot.
Chewie looked at Lirael expectantly. "Uh, you forget something? Or somebody?" Lirael's head snapped up from the wafting fumes of the soup. "Oh, crap! I totally forgot!" She grabbed her bag and collected all her Pokeballs. She released the creatures inside and smiled apologetically at the grumpy and hungry group in front of her.
The eight Pokémon arranged themselves in a circle around the fire and Lirael served out the food. She sat in her place and took her soup off the fire. As she ate she looked about the circle of her friends.
Furret, the most hyper of Lirael's friends. Lirael smiled as she leaped around in a circle before returning to her food. As a child, Furret was one of Lirael's favorite playmates. When Chewie or Artie would tire, Furret was always there with boundless energy. With her ability to fit into small places, Furret could always fish out interesting objects for Lirael to marvel at.
Houndoom, Lirael's protector, well, other than Artie. Ever since he saved her from an Arbok attack, he had been her friend and protector on many adventures. He used the excuse "Well, somebody has to keep you out of trouble," but Lirael knew he liked wandering around with her. She liked his company but often had to fight back the urge to hug him and press her face into his fur.
Bayleef, the happiest Pokémon Lirael had ever met. No matter how down Lirael got, Bayleef always found a way to cheer her up. She was a great pick-me-up on adventures. She always kept up morale even when they got stuck in a cave for 12 hours during a rainstorm.
Teddiursa, the most adorable creature Lirael had ever seen. Lirael had found the little one as a baby in the woods, her mother killed by a poacher. She took care of Teddiursa until she knew she could stand on her own in the wild. Teddiursa stuck around though, after she went off on her own. She still often acts like a baby, tearing up when people argue and toddles behind Lirael where ever she goes. Artie blamed Lirael for this saying she coddles her too much. This was probably true, since Lirael hugged her often, especially when she cried.
Lucario, the silent one. Lirael had bumped into him while collecting berries one day. He was an aloof, kind of pessimistic character, but he opened up to Lirael. He stayed around the woods that Lirael and Artie lived in after she met him. Lirael felt that he was always a loner and just needed a friend sometimes. He had been reluctant to join her on her journey, being around that many Pokémon made him nervous. But she eventually convinced him it would be worth it.
Charmander and Squirtle, you can't mention one without the other. The two had been inseparable since they met. Artie and Lirael spent winters in the Charazard caves in the mountains and one year, a Charmander had followed them back down the wood. There, he met Squirtle, who lived in a large pond near Artie's and Lirael's camp. The two instantly became friends. Lirael never understood their friendship. One minute they would be perfectly happy and the next they would be tearing into each other and she would have to rip them apart. Then, the next day, they would be friends again. Lirael suspected it to be a result of the two being complete opposite Pokémon types.
Lirael flicked her eyes to the one of the eight who wasn't eating but lying in the sun. It was Leafeon, her best girlfriend. Lirael and she had grown up together in the wood. Leafeon was always so graceful and calm. Lirael tried to be like her but she could only develop gracefulness. She was too quick to irritation, unlike Leafeon's cool and calm demeanor. Leafeon handled arguments well with her smooth voice, while Lirael automatically snapped out some sarcastic comment.
Then, of course there was Artie and Chewie. Chewie loved to pick on Lirael and push her buttons but, he did care about her. He joined her on her journey mostly for food and an easy way to see the world but, also because Artie made him. He was light and small enough to carry around in her pack outside of his pokeball so, he could follow (and protect) her where Artie couldn't. That's how Artie always was. He was very protective of the girl, some would say too protective. He was her close friend but acted fatherly often, talking to her sternly even scolding. Lirael didn't mind though, she was used to it.
Lirael finished her lunch and set her bowl down. Everyone was still eating so she went over to sit next to Artie and Leafeon joined her. Lirael settled into Artie's fur and breathed in the sweet sent. A berry rolled from his fur down onto her shoulder and she popped it in her mouth. She rolled her head to the left and looked at Leafeon. "What are you doing for the rest of the day? Staying out or going back in?" Leafeon glanced at Lirael "That's a stupid question. Of course I'm staying out of the ball. I'm not really a fan of staying in that thing." Lirael smiled apologetically. "Yeah, I know, I'm sorry. But, I can't travel around with a huge mass of Pokémon." Leafeon nodded. "There is no way in hell you would get me in one of those." Artie muttered with his eyes still closed. Lirael laughed. "I never expected you to. Besides, I don't want to walk everywhere, and you're a convenient ride." Artie chuckled, "So is that all I mean to you?" "Of course." Lirael said sarcastically. Suddenly, a ruckus began on the other side of the camp.
"Why are you so close to me?" yelled Charmander. "You're the one who sat next to me! "Squirtle screamed. "Get away from my food! You're gonna get it wet!" "Oh, shut up!" The fight soon dissolved into a battle between the two. "Here we go again," Leafeon said, rolling her eyes. "Hey! Guys! Guys, knock it off!" Lirael yelled as she ran to the scrabbling Pokémon. She planted herself between the two and forced them apart, one forehead in each hand. Charmander and Squirtle strained to reach each other. "This is ridiculous! You guys are better than this! You're acting so immature right now!" Lirael scolded while holding the two apart. Teddiursa began to tear up and Bayleef stepped forward. "Aw come on guys; let's just have a nice lunch, okay? We're all friends here, let's just sit down…"
In the middle of this mayhem, a rustle came from the bushes in front of the girl. Artie lifted his head and looked at the area warily. The rustling continued until a figure emerged from bushes. "Hey, is everything ok over here? I heard a struggle and figured I'd-" The person suddenly stopped. Lirael looked up in surprise, still keeping Charmander and Squirtle apart.
"Oh my god… Aidan?"
DUN DUN DUUUUUUUN! I know, not that interesting, once again. I'm getting there, I'm getting there. Also, I am aware that the fight between Charmander and Sqirtle isn't that creative and kinda sucks but, I had writer's block and I wanted to move on with the story.