Feet Watching

I know a lot about feet. I look at them every day, from my position as sentry. I don't get a lot of practice out in the field, but I don't feel bad about it. Papa and I both fill very important positions in the Guild, after all.

Feet can tell a lot about a person. I can see their size and shape, so I can tell what they look like, what Pokemon they are, things like that. But that's just appearances. You can see so much of a Pokemon's moods just by how they walk. Like how when the have this strutting walk, when they feel proud of how they did. How they walk kind of stiff, when they have official business here. Or the sad, slow steps when they had a bad day or are really tired.

I suppose it's odd, to notice these things. But when you don't have anything else to do all day but look at feet, I suppose you start to notice special things about them. At least Pokemon don't make fun of me for it, the way they make fun of Papa some times for looking at the sea all the time.

But still... it's been two weeks since Grovyle was captured, and every day I look up, waiting and waiting. I remember Team Calliope's feet. I remember how scared Chlora was, the first time she stepped up onto the grate. Her feet were light and skittish, her footsteps quick, and she stood like she couldn't wait to jump off the grate when I was done. And Miranda. It hurt my pride, that I couldn't identify her feet for sure. But I tried like Papa always tells me to do, and I was right, in the end.

Everyone's been so upset and different that they're gone. It's hard to say what makes this different. I've seen apprentices graduate before. It doesn't happen often, but still. And the others never really got that upset for them. But I can tell this time it's different. I can tell by the slow, plodding footsteps when they come back every day, by the way Loudred always seems even more impatient at me, the way at dinner, the other Guildmembers just don't seem as bright or cheery. Last night Bidoof – Bidoof! - didn't even ask for a second helping.

I don't understand why, but I still wish I could help. So every day since they left, ever day I look up. And every day I hope to see six particular feet, to call out two particular names to Loudred and the rest of the Guild...

But every day I don't see them... I wish I didn't know so much about feet... so that I could make another mistake and they would be there.

This was actually one of the first two chapters I wrote. Next chapter might take a little bit. It's one of two that I haven't yet written.

Enjoy!