The entrance was bare and open. With a swift pressure on my paws; I charged right in. I felt my furry paws become drenched upon contact with a familiar dark liquid all over the floor. While the room was dark; I knew my surroundings. I kept my nose still as I knew one breath would cause my head to spin. The scent was unbearably strong. This is…There was enough moonlight to view the horror on the ground. I padded over to the still woman, dipping my head check her status.
Too far gone. My mind whispered, and my ears unwillingly drooped. The poor child has been orphaned, I paused in thought, ears rising in alert as Little Mahmut came to mind. But where is he? Did they take him away? Kill the mother, then steal the son to sell him? Dangerous lava rose in my veins; the anger of Groudon coming to fuel my hatred. All in one measly hour…! Those horrible humans have…!
The faintest sound reached my ears. It was so, so so quiet. Only animals with superior hearing would barely catch the sniffle.
Yet; it was enough.
My anger cooled as a wave of relief from Kyogre splashed onto my fluffy coat. I walked through the blood of Mahmut's mother; the liquid reminding myself of the past memory of the very same woman scratching my ears. I approached the spot Mahmut was hiding in, lightly scratching at the structure with my small nails hidden in my paws. I heard the child inside freeze, but to reassure him; I took a step back and glanced upwards at the larger space.
"Eevee!" Hey! My voice appeared to get to him, as my ears picked up another sound. Small hands made themselves known as the child blond finally revealed himself. Worried blue peaked out, landing on my waiting form.
Before he could look at the scene laid out for him; I tackled him backwards.
"Eevee! Ve." Don't look, little Mahmut! Don't look. Hesitant but determined, I gave the human child a few licks on the side of his face. My taste buds tasted salt, but his face was dry from tears. The child offered no resistance, and gentle fingers held my torso. He pulled me a safe distance off him, revealing a certain baby bird and a familiar gold chain in his other limb. I eventually ceased my embarrassing actions, and Mahmut held my form closer with his other arm in some type of embrace. His grip turned surprisingly firm when I rose my head to block his view of his mother's corpse a couple yards away. Thoroughly blocked from stopping his sight, my ears rose in alarm.
A sharp intake of breath came from Mahmut, and I halted my movements. My eyes remained on the bloodstained flooring as I felt his hold tremble in strength. A soft chirp came from Iskander as the baby knew to some extent about it's owner's turmoil. I tried to warn you, brat. My mind hissed as ears involuntarily sagged a few centimeters. Now look what you've done to yourself… I wriggled harder, and escaped his shaking grasp. A light splash resounded, causing my nose to wrinkle when my paws reunited with the wet floor.
Using teeth, I pulled on Little Mahmut's clothed leg. Come on. It's time to go. It's not safe here for you anymore. My hearing detected an occasional scream and the crackle of flames, but otherwise the intruders were beginning to leave the area. When he didn't move; I bit his leg with a small ounce of mercy. The young human let out a soft cry of pain, but nothing more. The next tug; he followed with blank eyes and shaking digits. Now outside; the human I was guiding turned otherworldly silent. Even the chick appeared quiet as the dead around us.
At least they're both able to understand the situation. I was afraid I'd have to silence the baby chick. As it's survival wasn't my concern. Only Mahmut fell under my contract. The bird was a mere extra. I gave the air a whiff. Strong smells of blood immediately hit my senses, but so did smoke and the faint scent of burning flesh. I don't hear any humans coming. And so this was fine. I guided the sluggish moving child to the shadows of the dark. He shivered and murmured a few choice words, but since the shock had likely not died down for him; I let him be.
Trampled ribbons, towels and blankets passed our feet as we made our way through the destruction. There were only bodies of lifeless husks. Falcons and humans of all ages, alike. These invaders lacked mercy. There aren't any other survivors besides this child here. While I didn't pause in searching around the area; I kept my head low. Condolences, may you all rest in peace. My paws stayed on dirty ribbon surfaces rather than the shards of wood all over the ground. A faint memory of a festival popped into my mind but was quickly dismissed. It was a shame; there was no way the party would ever occur. There may never be a celebration here, ever. My tail flicked in hollow disappointment. And it's the fault of those cursed intruders. They have certainly made a fool of me.
I had the boy sit behind one of the destroyed houses. He hasn't cried a single tear, merely staring at the broken ground in a disturbing silence. The poor human wouldn't even respond to my soft calls by kneading his side. His blue eyes were usually full of endless wonder, but now the treasure and mystery inside seemed lost. Gone was the innocent child, and in came the realization. Little Mahmut was now, the sole survivor of his home village. Many questions would haunt him, and the want for his deceased mother would surely haunt his dreams for years.
Yet he isn't reacting. Why isn't he crying? Aren't you upset about the fall of your home? Your mother? I regarded Iskander's soft peep, his tiny beak peaking at the child's wrist in his hand. Mahmut barely responded, only watching the sky with indifference. I moved over to the young human's side. For a short rest; I sat down, watching both creatures with careful observation. Little Mahmut didn't appear to notice my presence or the soft calm settling over the death and debris.
My ears remained standing as I went about the caution for stowaways. This was going to be a long night, and there was a lot of thinking to do.
"Ve!" Hurry up! The little one trudged after me on command. The sky was gloomy, clouds plump, and the air smelled suspiciously salty. I dove down the pathway leading to our current safe house. Mahmut wasn't too far behind, and so I merely went ahead in case of wandering scavengers. There were none, thankfully. Mahmut is still too small to fight a creature several times his tiny size. Tilting my head, Mahmut's blond hair finally came into sight. He looked out of breath and soulless like he did all those days ago, but otherwise, healthy.
It's been a week since the bloody massacre. I've been keeping the child alive since then. We made trips to the river for water, and we rested in an old spot I used to use back when I had first arrived in this horrible planet. He does everything without complaint. Which is a blessing in itself. And he takes care of his baby bird without needing a reminder. His responsibility for such a young age astounds me.
My paws finally strolled into the space between two rocks packed together. With my small form, getting through the tiny entrance wasn't an issue. Mahmut was in the same situation, but he had to crawl through.
I heard raindrops begin to descend outside, mere moments after we entered the shelter. Mahmut sneezed, and my ears twitched at the high pitched sound. He was fine, however, so I moved to check on Iskander's status. The bird was quietly sleeping, head tucked under his growing wings. He grew quite a bit as the days passed. Soon this baby falcon would be able to fly, that is; if there's anyone to teach him.
A being without their wings isn't free at all. Cold bitterness wrapped around my throat and I dragged my paws on the floor of the smooth floor. I left back to Mahmut's side, the child had laid down in the pile of leaves gathered. I remained a few feet away from him, deciding to watch the blond slowly drift off to sleep. The little one's breathing eventually slowed, indicating rest. I turned back to the small falcon, but he was still in dreamland. The two looked peaceful, though Mahmut remained wearing a blank expression. They weren't going to wake up for a while.
I'll go do my daily rounds then. And after silently standing; I made my way out and into the rain. Under the smell of salt and water dropping onto my soft fur, memories arose. These memoirs were pieces of the times I raced through the skies in the toughest storms, avoiding lightning, and dodging the worst weather could ever throw at daring flyers. Raindrops or hail pelting my wings, and adrenaline which had rushed through my core, the dangerous freedom trailing behind my form with every few feet was simply…
I paused upon reaching my destination.
The human village stinks of rot. My nose twitched as the rain began to smother the horrible smells. It'll get worse as time passes. There were still quite a few hidden bodies among the rubble of houses. We only managed to bury his mother and a few others, but… A faint creak disrupted my focus. My ears snapped to attention, and I kept my structure low in order to remain hidden. My small size would aid in avoiding possible trouble.
I listened, allowing my senses to blend with the nature around me.
Under the raindrops, and below the sounds of the wind; I sensed the calm steps of a human. My paws brought me forward, movement silenced by the weather. The village was deadly quiet, as it has been for the past week. There was no sign of life, but a pokemon veteran like me wouldn't be easily fooled. A low growl threatened to rumble, but I squashed it down with self-control. Violent thoughts began to swirl. Each passing second with the hopelessness of the gloomy sky, and the bitter drops of water, only fueled my mind as my paws took me further into the wrecked village.
I'll simply kill the human before they reach Mahmut. Haven't they already bought the human child enough harm? A reward for their caution of checking for survivors. After a few minutes of laying low; I reached the intruder. He smelled of ink and old paper, oddly contrast from the mess of scents the butchers held. My patience swiftly fell into alarm as I was noticed by the human several feet away. He was short, neatly dressed and held hair pale with age.
The human was old but still dangerous. His aura was one of high human authority, and while I didn't care for that; this may spark trouble for the sleeping occupants a great distance away. A snarl ripped through my throat, and I crouched, ears slightly lowered. A dull fire coiled within my core, and I could feel the beginning static of Quick Attack to come to my aid.
"I...Is that you? Oh-Great One of the Birds?" With his whispered statement, my face scrunched into something of probable recognition of my old title. My lack of movement must've investigated his motive to continue. "I knew you existed, but I didn't think you'd stay with…" The human waved a hand to demonstrate the rubble.
I didn't turn my gaze around for a second. This would be a poor trap if it were one. There weren't any other sounds other than the old man's voice and the rain. The tangy smell of salt continued to touch my senses as I focused on the old man's voice. My vision focused on the darkly colored gem on his hat. The material was similar to the magic stone which had granted my freedom.
"...To meet a powerful being such as you…" I watched the mere human get on his knees, and bow his head. The air was deathly still despite the raindrops falling through the background."You must be very angry. I apologize for being so terribly late." A feeling of warmth tickled my underbelly, unfamiliar; I didn't quite hate it. "I am one of this country's protectors. I recently stopped a nearby battle, but I was unaware of the guerrilla warfare the enemy inflicted on our villages." Grief, heavy grief poured out of this aged human. I nearly winced at the immense emotion this one man appeared to express. "There doesn't seem to be any survivors." His pitch of voice trembled.
My paws finally pushed my form to stand in front of him. The old human looked exhausted, tired beyond belief. His baggy wrinkles looked heavy from my viewpoint. Upon closer look, the hands on the ground were decorated by hurt. Cuts, dried blood, and dirt littered his naked fingers. A tiny whiff from my own nose detected fresh injuries on the human in front of me. Possible reasons for the wounds flooded my mind.
He must've looked through the destroyed homes to find a living person. A shame. As you said, human. You're way too late. I turned away, legs stiff from the gloomy atmosphere. Wallow in this defeat. I watched him in the corner of my eyes as I took careful steps away. Remember this failure and improve. Adapt. Survive… I finally turned away. And protect what you truly wish to protect.
A lone raindrop landed on my nose.
Good luck. And so I left the aged human behind. The rain was heavier now, and I could feel my fur begin to sag from absorbing so much rain. I certainly didn't miss this. My new body was unfortunate in some cases. I was highly uncomfortable with the heavy fur further dragging my weight. At least I'm almost out of the area. ...Then I'll return to the shelter and make sure no one gets near.
My tail straightened when I caught a certain blob of blond hair nearby. A cold spike lodged itself into my paws before I dashed forwards, rushing to meet the shivering human child. What in the distortion world, are you doing all the way out here? My mind wandered away from the one yards behind me. I finally crashed into the boy, pawing at his small legs angrily. All the while; I into his wide baby blue eyes. A few seconds casually went by before I noticed the emotion on the young human's face. Little Mahmut oozed sour worry, wonder, and neutral relief.
I was scooped up before I could react. Tiny fingers brushed through patches of my fur, but I remained giving the disobedient human a harsh glare. Another moment passed by before I realized the human child was thoroughly checking my fur for wounds. Huh. A mere word came to mind. Concern? For what? However upon my hearing catching a startled gasp, the both of us stiffened. Little Mahmut was frozen, which led to my first move.
I swiftly climbed onto Mahmut's shoulder; tail slightly curling around the little human's neck. I growled, baring my teeth at the old man who must have had followed me through the village. The air was thick along with the rain, and I could feel Mahmut's slight trembling through his near-still form.
The old man appeared to murmur something, but the rain hid his words. My burning gaze remained, even as the man got on his knees once more. "I see." He murmured, loud enough for my ears,(and Mahmut's to an extension) to catch. The intruding human had come to a conclusion, and I wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not. "I'm...So glad." The older human choked on his words. His pity and sorrow were unwanted. I nudged Little Mahmut to get a move on, but the boy didn't budge.
His blank eyes remained on the other human a couple feet away.
Impatience lashed out, and I barked an angry statement, but my object was ignored.
How dare this human child defy my orders! My growls began rolling over my furry throat with each step Mahmut took toward the aged human. You've been perfectly fine with following my rules not too long ago! Are you going to ruin your mother's wish to survive because of your stupid curiosity? My thoughts of outrage were apparently nothing to the brave yet foolish blond. Tiny fingers once again gently picked my torso up but dropped my form onto the ground. Disbelief froze my limbs where I stood.
Did he just…? My one and only worshipper, had abandoned my guidance? Little Mahmut? Of all humans?
I was dumbfounded.
My vision remained on the two humans as they began to converse. A few simple words from the old human and Mahmut broke into tears. The human child accepted the other's hand without a second thought, while I felt like a single pebble in the rain. My ears touched broken rubble on the floor, but I couldn't care less at the moment. How cruel of you. My rage had long been silenced. See? I confirmed to myself as Mahmut embraced the soldier with a high pitched whine. This is why I hate humans. A reassuring pat was given to the grieving child. I don't know why I thought he'd be different.
The rain tasted a tad more bitter than usual. To rid myself of the taste, I spat at the ground.
Humans will always prefer their own kind, compared to the 'lessers' of their species. I focused on my expression to prevent a scowl. I suppose that's fair. Although in reality, my ticklish teeth and heavy stomach spoke different statements. I suppose if the little human wants to try fate, let him. His downfall won't be my doing. I'm only doing this to guide and protect him, as his mother wished. I sat down, patiently waiting. If he doesn't wish to be protected, I regarded Mahmut's tiny form in the old man's arms. There appeared to be words of promise between them, but I couldn't care less for the words passed in the rain.
Then, so be it.
The new place we've been placed in is warm and rich of smells. Scents of old paper, furniture, and even fruit tickled my nose since we've arrived at the old human's residence. The older human had a family of his own, yet offered Mahmut to stay with him. It was clear as glass; wealth and knowledge had followed this human's legacy. Earned or not; he was a human of high authority, as I had guessed. His name was Sehir Halil, and he had taken Mahmut in for the time being.
After the tiring use of creatures which resembled rapidashes, our arrival to Halil's household brought good luck despite my lack of trust for this aged human.
Here we are now, in a guest room with a shelf in the corner. There was even an actual bed.
Mahmut looked too astounded to give a proper reaction himself, but he was tired enough to lay on the bed given to him. The human child was exhausted, as he should be. The blond's messy strands laid on the soft structure, and his hands gripped the soft expensive blankets. He released a heavy sigh, releasing tension in his shoulders.
I padded across the clean flooring, jumping up to meet Isklander. Soft chirps resounded around the room as I curled around the currently-awake small bird. As if my presence was comforting to the creature; the barely winged fellow went quiet, softly breathing in rest. Once content with the other being's unconsciousness, I effortlessly leaped back to the floor.
My paws kept moving, even as I felt a curious gaze on the back of my head. I left to the farthest corner of the room, which held the least light. Stop staring at me already, human. I laid down, turning away from the bed a couple yards away. My eyes remained open, and I continued to stare at the unfamiliar walls of this new area. I had the patience of a cunning meowth. There was no movement from my limbs, and my shadow remained still as my physical body. My ears caught a small snap of tiny fingers, but I pretended not to hear the degrading beacon.
The exhausted human child didn't bother me for the rest of the night, soon falling into the land of dreams. Mahmut easily had nightmares throughout the night, and I only watched from the corner. He isn't in mortal danger, and so his internal suffering wasn't of my concern. He'll grow out of it. My mind curtly spoke, sealing off any sympathy I might've contained. There was no need for that type of weakness. Through the small human's gasps and whines, I succeeded in taking a short-term rest.
My void dreams lacked any real meaning, as usual.
I awoke to gentle, familiar footsteps I've grown used to. My paws didn't budge, even as tiny fingers kindly stroked my back. I didn't understand why he continued doing so, but the human child did. This went on for many minutes until the limb finally laid still. Good. He finally ran out of energy. Now please leave. I heard the small human get up, and after sounds of footsteps, the door had opened.
The quiet was calm under my dark eyelids. I wasn't sleeping, but the still tranquility was enough to keep me out of it for the time being. My ears rose when I detected movement coming back to the room. The door squeaked when opened, but I still didn't move from my spot. Is it unhealthy to stay in one place for too long? My brain supplied in question, and my nose wrinkled at the thought. Perhaps I should stretch. My ideas were disrupted when a soft clatter next to me; broke through my hearing.
My sight burned when blinked awake, but a couple of seconds managed to remedy the pain. My nose took in scents of fruit. I finally turned, viewing a compact bowl with different fruits and berries, inside. Fresh, occasionally ripe. I gave the human pot another whiff. Nothing suspicious here. Without turning my head; I had peaked at Mahmut from the corner of my eyes.
The blond was blankly faced, but he appeared to be pouring emotions through his eyes. The child knelt by his bed, slowly petting his pet bird. There were books next to his legs, but otherwise, the human was alone with his thoughts. Little Mahmut had a habit of petting the baby chick for a long time when he was anxious. This new environment? A perfect way to set off negative vibes of discomfort, which is why we shouldn't have left so soon.
Isklander was remained sleeping, undisturbed by the gentle touches on the stop of his barely feathered head.
I bit into an apple, quiet as a stray.
Despite everything, a tranquil wave fell around the room. Perhaps it was to represent the pass of old hardships and serve as a moment of calm before the storm. Who knows? Certainly not me.
You chose this. I crushed fruit between my teeth without hesitation, finally turning away from the human under my care. And so you must follow the path selected. I took another mouthful of the delicious fruit. Whenever you like it, or not. For that was his choice and the turning point of his new life.
It's going to get a lot hectic from here. Mew, give me strength.