Chapter 7: In the Hunter's Grasp
(A/N: don't you hate it when you barely make it out of one pinch, and then the next door you open there is like twenty more zombies waiting to attack? Sorry Ash, like resident evil you don't get to stay in a safe spot for that long until six t-virus Lickitung are upon you or worse the regeneradors *creepy breathing*.)
With one last heave Ash pulled himself up over the ledge, he had finally made it to the top of the cliff. He let out a relieved sighed as he gaze down at the trek he had just climb. The river might not have been far from the ledge he had come out at, but from up here it looked to be miles away.
His sore body screamed out at him to take a break, as he sat there panting from his efforts. He really did not know how much longer he could continue on at this pace, although he supposed as long as he did not have to crawl through any more caves, or climb any more cliffs he could manage.
Ash took another deep breath as he braced himself to continue on. Slowly he pulled himself up from where he sat and scanned the area trying to determine which way to go next. He was pretty sure he would want to double back the way he had crawled through the cavern, pretty confident that his friends were somewhere back there.
Ash took off walking towards the direction he believed he had previously crawled from, grateful that up here he was not traipsing through water. The afternoon hours passed as Ash walked on, and still he had not found the initial entrance to the cave. He thought in amazement when he began to realize just how long he had been in that cave, and how far he had actually crawled.
He gazed up at the late afternoon sky grateful that at least this time he was making this journey above ground. The gentle breeze ruffled his mud covered hair, and whisked through the branches of the trees all around him and for the first time a feeling of ease settled over him. Ash knew deep down that he should not let his guard down, but he relished a moment of peace and could not help himself as he closed his eyes letting the feeling flood through him as a smile began to play across his lips.
*snap*
The sound cut through Ash like a knife, ringing loudly in his ears. Fear coursed through him, as he realized that once again he was no longer alone. The once peaceful setting had once again morphed into a dangerous hiding place for monsters lurking in the many shadows casted by the trees. This time Ash wasted no time, he quickly bolted in any direction that would take him away from there. Moments later the familiar form of the Hunter's dark bug type came bolting out of the trees swinging on its web directly to where Ash had been standing moments ago.
Ash once again found himself running, as Ariados leapt from tree to tree giving chase. The trees blurred past him as he dashed desperate to get away. Adrenaline coursed through him clouding his mind as he frantically tried to come up with some kind of plan. His eyes darted ahead quickly assessing the area but kept coming up with nothing except to get away.
Suddenly the tree to the right of him exploded with the blast of a shadow ball (night shade). Ash quickened his pace even still but knew he could not keep up this pace, and it would only be a matter of time until Hunter J's Ariados caught up to him, and he could not let that happen.
He had to do something. He turned a sharp left just as another attack came sailing past his head, his bare feet slapping the forest floor with vengeance as they carried him as fast as they could.
Ash glanced back only to find Ariados nearly on top of him. He quickly dropped down and rolled just narrowly avoiding a full out tackle, and was quickly on his feet again pivoting away from Ariados knowing he would have to come up with a better plan.
But the chance never came as Ariados launched a string shot directly towards him. Ash cried out as the cold webbing wrapped around his ankle. Ariados pulled back on the strand stopping Ash in his tracks as he pitched forward falling to the ground with a loud thud.
Ash cried out again as the webbing tightened even further cutting into his ankle as he continued to fight the dark bug type. He clawed desperately at the ground, fingers digging deeply into the surface of the earth trying to halt his progression, but the massive spider easily pulled him closer. Inch by agonizing inch Ariados pulled him closer until he within striking distance.
Ariados clicked its pinchers together as it raised one of its many legs to strike, but Ash took the bug completely by surprise as he rolled over and kicked the bug type in the face. Ariados shrieked in pain dropping its hold on Ash as it clutched its face where a muddy foot print now resided momentarily blinding the bug. Seizing his opportunity Ash quickly grabbed the excess web and dashed off once again.
His feet hammered the ground as he dashed away when suddenly the distant cry of a salamence filled the sky above. The wind stirred uneasily as a new feeling of dread pressed down upon him making it harder to breath. Exhaustion began seep into his already strained muscles as he pushed himself even harder. The sounds of Salamence could only mean one thing and Ash did not really think he was up for a standoff against the hunter. Ready or not salamence dove down from its position, gathering speed as it flew straight for Ash.
Ash barely dropped down in time as the massive dragon type zoomed over his head. The trees bent over in protest as the air rushed past them and Ash as he shielded himself from the gust. Ash slowly stood after the wind had died down only to find Salamence hovering right before him, and on top of the Salamence stood none other than Hunter J.
Every instinct in his body screamed for him to keep on running, but his body stood frozen on the spot as he glared at the hunter defiantly, as the hunter merely stared down at the boy, her gaze locked on his as she waited for him to make his next move.
"Time's up." The hunter chided as she glared down at the boy, but Ash did not respond as he stood there. His heart still racing as his gaze locked on the hunter waiting in anticipation.
The cool breeze of the evening brushed past them as they both stood captivated, neither of them flinching in the least waiting for the other to make a move, waiting for the slightest opportunity to gain the upper hand.
"Enough" The hunter finally said after what seemed like an eternity, and raised her cannon aiming directly at Ash. Ash was completely taken by surprise as she fired her cannon towards him. He didn't know what exactly he expected from the hunter but for some reason he had a hard time accepting that he was actually the intended target. Ash barely leapt out of the way in time, narrowly dodged becoming a statue for the hunter.
The hunter groaned in annoyance as every instinct screamed out at Ash to run. She took aim again, only this time Ash did not wait around for target practice. He took off clutching the webbing from Ariados running awkwardly with it still wrapped around his ankle.
A small smile played across the lips of the hunter as she watched the target flee. The brat still had some fight left in him, now the real hunt had begun the hunter thought to herself as she nudged Salamence. The dragon type beat its massive red wings launching them into the air and after the boy.
The wind rushed past Ash as he darted through the tangled mess of the forest for what seemed like the hundredth time, but unlike the times before Ash was confident him running was not going to get him very far. He dared a glance behind but regretted it immediately when he caught sight of the hunter nearly upon him.
"Salamence, Hyper Beam!" The hunter cried out, as the dragon type summoned the power from within, launching it towards him. Ash dove as the powerful beam of energy hit the tree a few feet ahead of him and exploded. A loud crack filled the air as the tree snapped at the base and came crashing down in a blaze of fire blocking his escape.
Ash lay before the burning tree shielding himself from the intense flames as they licked the damp air quickly spreading to the other trees despite all the moisture the forest contained. From the corner of his eye he caught the movement of Ariados in the trees back in the hunt.
Ariados sailed through the air above him as it launched another shadow ball. Ash tucked his arms in as he rolled out of the way of the attack using the momentum to get back up.
The fire sizzled and smoked behind him as he eyed the three hunters before him effectively cutting off his escape. (A/N: ha let's see you get yourself out of that :P) Ash clenched his fists in determination, this was not going to end like this, and Ash would make sure of that. Hunter J would not win, no matter what her purpose was.
New found vigor coursed through his body fueling his resolve, as he squeezed the webbing even tighter, when suddenly he was struck with an idea.
Hunter J wasted no time though as she raised her cannon again aiming at Ash, as Ariados formed another shadow ball and launched it towards him. Time seemed to slow down as the shadow ball crawled closer towards him. Realizing now was his chance Ash dove towards the stick not far from where he stood, and rolled back up just as the attack was nearly on him. With one mighty swing Ash deflected the attack sending it hurtling back towards Salamence.
Hunter J cried out in alarm as Salamence jerked suddenly to avoid the attack causing her to fall off, and by pure luck on Ash's part, right in the path of the Shadow Ball. The hunter cried out in pain upon impact as she was flung back, and hit the ground hard shattering her glasses.
Upon watching his master take the hit, Ariados launched itself towards Ash out of pure rage, but Ash was too quick as he easily rolled out of the way and ran off towards the opening created, fiddling with the webbing still wrapped around his ankle forming a loop at the end.
Anger and humiliation surged through the hunter as she picked herself up off the ground. She threw her shattered glasses off her face as she watched the boy slip from her grasp. "After him!" she practically screamed at the two pokémon as they stood around waiting for her command.
Immediately Salamence and Ariados took off after him. The brat would pay for her humiliation Hunter J was certain of that.(A/N: Ash may not make it the client if Hunter J succeeds in catching him cause I think by now she definitely is going to kill him lol. Go Ash!)
Ash on the other hand had other plans as he raced through the forest back the way he had come earlier towards the river. A loud explosion filled the air as a tree to the left of him exploded from another Shadow ball. Ash glanced behind to find Ariados and Salamence on his heels.
Salamence bellowed as it unleashed a flamethrower attack. The flames roared as they sailed through the air towards their target, but failed to hit their mark as Ash quickly altered his path out of harm's way ducking and weaving through the tangled mess he had fought through earlier until he was once again overlooking the rushing river.
He glanced back again in time to see the two pokémon closing in on him, and before he could really think about what he was doing, Ash leapt into the air. The two pokémon halted and watched in disbelief as he sailed through the air. His arms and legs flailing as he tried to remain upright as he fell towards the harsh waters below.
He hit the ice cold waters with massive force as it surged around him taking his breath away. He kicked hard to break through the surface, but the river fought against his every move. The current tossed him every which way smashing him into the many rocks lining the river.
Ash finally surfaced coughing up the water from his lungs as he tried to get his bearings, when he caught a glimpse of exactly what he was looking for just before the river pulled him under again. Knowing he was close, Ash took the webbing still around his ankle and looped around one of the many rocks he had managed to smash into. He released the webbing in his hands as the river continued to pull him roughly downstream. Ash gritted his teeth as the webbing pulled tightly around his ankle securing him in place under the cover of a rock ledge.
Ash broke through to the surface gasping for breath as he desperately clawed at the low rock ceiling for a hold, as the water continued to pummel him. He lost his grip as the current pulled him back under, but the webbing secured him beneath the rock, and Ash fought his way back to the surface. His hands clawed at the rock ceiling until Ash finally found a hold. The water continued to rush past him trying to carry him further downstream, but Ash held on with all the strength he could muster.
High above Salamence and Ariados watched on as the river pulled their target downstream, until he vanished. Hunter J shortly joined their side overlooking the rushing river below. Angrily she scanned further down the river for any signs of the target but failed to find any. She screamed out as all the frustrations coursed through her as she turned on her pokémon.
"You let him get away!" she screamed at them as they hung their heads. "Return" she spat as she pointed Ariados pokéball at him, returning him. The hunter climbed on to the back of the dragon type and kicked it a little harder than necessary to take off.
"He's bound to wash up somewhere downstream," She told the pokémon. "Fly low and slow, he's bound to turn up." Salamence gave a mighty roar as it took off towards the rushing waters.
Beneath the rock Ash desperately struggled to hold on. He had to wait until hunter J was gone from the area. He knew this would be a risky plan, but if he succeeded the hunter would believe that the current carried him further downstream. While she wasted her time looking for him down stream, Ash could find his friends and get out of this mess. He really had taken a gamble with this move but he had to get away, and he had to hold on cause he did not think he could fight his way back up towards the surface a third time.
The cold water rushed around him, zapping whatever strength he had mustered, but Ash still held on. A loud shriek echoed beneath the stone roof causing Ash to turn his head to peak out from his hiding place. The forms of Salamence and Hunter J flooded his vision much to his relief as he watched them disappear further down the river. A small smile spread across his lips as Ash watched them vanish from sight. He waited ten more minutes to make sure they would not double back on him, and when they did not Ash went to work.
With one giant heave Ash lifted his bounded ankle out of the water and began to rub it against the rough surface of the rock over hang. After many attempts the rock finally cut through the webbing and Ash was free. The cold water rushing around his sore ankle was a major relief to Ash as he fought even harder to hold onto the rock, as his extra support was cut away.
Ash carefully looked for his next hold as he tried to fight against the current to get out from beneath the rock. His entire body was numb and his fingers were nearly useless as he tried to get a hold on the rock, but determination drove him on, until finally he was out. With one more heave, Ash pulled himself up out of the river and collapsed on the rock that had concealed him in complete exhaustion.
He laid there panting, his muscles burned as his body shook with shivers. New bruises screamed out at him from his little river ride. His ankle throbbed where the webbing had begun to cut into his skin, and the scratch from Drapion's claw began to burn angrily. The weight of his soaking wet clothes pressed down upon him making him feel ten times heavier then he really was. Ash wanted nothing more than to lay here and rest, but he knew he couldn't.
Thoughts of his friends seemed to sober him up as he slowly peeled himself up off the rock. He had to find them. With one more glance in the direction Hunter J had disappeared, Ash hobbled off in the complete opposite direction.