Memories of survival

Sleep had not come easy to Andrew last night. To say that witnessing the unnatural weeping sore in the sky had overloaded his already frayed nerves would be an understatement.

Andrew had walked back into the cave he had woken up to earlier that day. With resignation, he dropped his newly acquired kindling unceremoniously onto the cold moist cave floor. Beside it a crackling fire he had spent so long trying to light earlier at the expense of a now bruised thumb.

Andrew had sat down next to his haul in front of the fire. Not noticing or caring that the underside of his pants grew suddenly moist from the small puddle that hadn't dried out yet beneath him.

Finally at last, he had all the time he wanted to truly think about his situation. Something he had dreaded. The immediate danger had passed and he couldn't work up an excuse to do literally anything else in that moment. Stalling would only work against him, he knew that.

Andrew took a deep breath of the cold cave air and began to think about his current situation.

The absurdity of it all.

As far as he could tell, no one in Sinnoh knew him. Really knew him that is. No one from his past life even knew he was still alive. He had made sure of that. He had no new enemies here; Andrew was sure of it.

Sure, maybe he was a bit rude to people getting in his way when walking down the side walk. Or maybe the amount he would tip could be considered insulting, but he was a frugal man. He had to make what little he had last until he had a well-paying job.

None of that warranted a kidnapping and subsequently leaving him stranded only Arceus knew where however. He didn't see a ransom note or list of demands. No calling card from a hidden tormentor to let him know who's name to curse in his final moments. There was nothing to indicate who or what had done this to him.

There hadn't been any signs of impending trouble as far as he could tell.

No strange calls at night, his phone hardly ever rang other than to remind him of overdue bills.

No one seemed to follow him to and from his house. He thought his neighbor was at some point however, so he dipped into a dark alley ready to confront her. When she turned the corner to follow him, he stood waiting to confront her. Accusations dripping with venom and a snarled face at the ready, subconscious hold overs from his past life. The poor girl, through a pale face streaked with tears had admitted she had a crush on him and was working up the nerve to talk to him.

Andrew didn't even try to chase after her to apologize for his behavior as she ran away from him sobbing. He was more concerned that people would get the wrong idea. A man making a young girl run away from him in a dark alley with tears in her eyes. A terrible misunderstanding ready to happen. He was lucky he didn't go straight to jail.

After that, no one paid attention to him. Whether there were rumors about him or not regarding the incident, he didn't know. No one seemed to acknowledge him, no friendly greetings from a neighbor. Not like he had expected those after the incident. Nor acquaintances asking him how his day was. It was as if he was just another ghost walking through the city with dead eyes. Unseen by anyone not like him.

He had noticed them after a few weeks of failed interviews. They always looked the same. Hollow lifeless eyes, a spark missing in them. What they wore was always different. A business man with an expensive jacket free of wrinkles and spotless shoes. A Poké mart employee with a messy apron wearing a hollow smile. The eyes were always the same.

The same tired longing, for what it didn't matter. That wasn't the point. The eyes were always the same. Searching for something they desperately sought after. Something that would always be just out of reach. A long since accepted realization that things would just go on, a longing left unfulfilled. Eyes just like his.

Life in the city was more somber than he had expected. To him Jubilife City was little more than a city filled with forgotten ghosts. People that seemed like they had lost all hope in their eyes and did little more than exist. Unacknowledged by anyone not like them.

It made his current situation all the more bizarre. If he had no real enemies in Sinnoh. If no one even knew he was alive unless they walked along the street with him. Then what happened, why was he here?

Andrew couldn't think of answer, no matter how hard he had tried. He stared into the fire hoping that it could give him some hidden insight into his predicament. Even as he began to feel his eyes begin to dry from the heat. He continued to stare into it.

His face neutral, something eventually began to play across his eyes as he stared into the fire. In the fire he saw the vestiges of his past life before moving to Sinnoh and trying to start over in Jubilife City. The mistakes of his youth and their lasting consequences. Of his friends and family that he would never see again. Of those he had let down and would never get a chance to apologize to.

Of his failure in Johto.

Somberly he began taking out the few items he found in his pockets while he was searching for his phone earlier. Setting them down in front of him to inspect them in the fire's soft orange light. What he had on him was very little. Practically all he really owned.

His phone, filled with a veritable gallery of memories and moments long past. A reminder of simpler times. Despite the dangers, Andrew never did wipe the memory on it. It was all he had left, of the good times, and the bad. Even now, looking at it only brought forth a storm of conflicting emotions. Feeling his mind beginning to roil he sat the phone down next to him and inspected the next item.

A colorful tin of styling paste for his hair. It was a small thing, despite having it for a very long time it never seemed to run out. The brand was called "Rocker's Doo" and it depicted a Toxtricity with an aloof expression on the lid. The edges of the tin's lid were slightly worn from all the times Andrew had used it. It was a gift from one of his old friends. One he treasured greatly and he used every time he went out for an interview in the hopes it would bring him good luck. Even now, it always seemed to have the opposite effect.

Finally, he had a Gambler's knife. Its sheath lost long ago. Andrew was paranoid and not without good reason. He had to use it more than once before. The memories weren't pleasant, but it was always in self-defense. He wished he didn't have to carry it around. Since moving he hadn't needed it once. It would only take him not carrying it on him once for things to potentially end badly for him however.

It was a small thing, easy to carry and conceal. It was his most prized possession by far. The blade was sharp enough to cut paper with almost no pressure applied. The silver metal sparkling beautifully with the campfire's soft light. His eyes subconsciously drawn to its Ebony wood handle with the initials "A.F." carved into them.

With trembling hands, he turned the blade around and looked at the lovingly hand carved inscription on the back. "I promise to always be with you."

Andrew's hands now shook as if the small knife seemed to be weighed down by all his mistakes and regrets. The weight of all his sins manifesting onto it.

The very blade seemed to seethe before his very eyes. Its silver metal reflecting the burning fire in front of him. As if promising an unending torment in his future. The Ebony handle beginning to manifest a sapping cold that bit into the flesh in his hands. A freezing cold that seemed to try to drain the very warmth he had fought for earlier.

All of his senses screamed at him to drop the knife. To throw it as far as his tired arms could out of the cave and into the snow-covered forest where he could never find it again. To toss it into the fire and free himself of having to look at the cursed thing tinged with regret and sin. To take a rock and smash the tainted blade that promised an agony filled fate.

Anything.

As long as he didn't have to look at it anymore, he would be okay. He could be free. He wanted so desperately to be free. Everything he had done up to this point was in the name of freedom, he told himself. It was his only wish.

A most selfish desire that cost Andrew everything.

He sat the blade down gingerly along his modest belongings. This was all he had save for the clothes on his back. All he had left.

Andrew turned away and looked back into the fire. He didn't see anything else. He cupped his face into his hands and grieved silently. He didn't cry. Andrew wasn't better than that. He simply had no tears to give. They had dried out long ago.

At long last his weary body gave out. His mind fading into darkness as sleep began to take him. The day's ordeals had taken a mental toll on him. He could only hope that tomorrow would be better. It had to be.

Andrew stood at the mouth of the cave looking out into the snowscape. It could almost be considered beautiful, worthy of being on a post card advertising a high-end holiday retreat. The slow glittering in the warm morning light as it slowly fell onto the verdant pine trees painting his view. Off in the distance he could see a range of mountains seeming to stretch towards the sky as if reaching for the very heavens tinted in early morning hues. Anyone else could have called the view breath taking.

He looked on in dread.

The trees would obscure his view when he entered the forest. It would be easy to get turned around if he wasn't careful. All he could count on would be the sun's position in the sky to keep track of where he was going. He had to go south. It would be warmer there, how far south he had no idea. He never went this far north before. It hadn't even snowed in Sinnoh yet since he got there. He had to be far up north.

The mountains were a similar omen. He had no idea if he was up one, but everywhere he looked. In the distance he could see one. If he was lucky, he could find a valley between them and a safe passage to get to warmer climate. If he was unlucky, he would have to scale cliffs to get down. If he was really unlucky, he wouldn't be able to find a path around and have to scale over the mountains. That was the worst-case scenario.

Andrew looked at his knife one more time. The same beautiful silver blade held by an elegant Ebony handle. The same lovingly hand carved inscription looking back at him. Mocking him as it grew cold in his hands again. Begging him into throwing it away. To free himself from the memories it tormented him with.

He couldn't. He needed to remember them. To remember their faces and who they were. All that they meant to him and all that he had promised. He owed it to them. Owed it to her.

His mouth suddenly grew painfully dry as he struggled to swallow the lump in his throat. The knife seeming to weigh a tremendous amount as he struggled to store it into the front left breast pocket of his dress jacket with trembling arms.

With bated breath he looked back towards the cave that had sheltered him the previous night. Of his demons that had come out to play that night. Tormenting him with memories long past. How he woke up this morning with a wetness in in his dress pants from having sat on a puddle.

Pushing his break down from last night aside, leaving now meant venturing out into the unknown and praying he found help. While staying meant resigning himself to his cruel fate. He finally felt himself exhale, seeing the moisture from his lungs condensing in the air. Andrew looked away from the cave for the final time and began walking into the snow-covered forest.

Luckly the forest itself didn't seem difficult to navigate. The trees left plenty of room to walk around them comfortably without accidentally disturbing them and having them rain down last night's snow all over Andrew.

He continued walking in silence for what seemed like hours. A quick glance skyward revealed that the sun was still slowly rising over the horizon. It was still early morning. He then noticed the slight shaking in his legs. He was tired. Sleep did not provide him the rest he had needed and his body felt as if he had ran a marathon earlier.

'I should find a spot to take a break.' was all that his tired mind could tell him. Looking around he couldn't find a good place to stop. All around him were pine trees standing defiantly against the snow-covered ground. Unless he wanted to sit on the ground, this wasn't a good place to stop.

Deciding to press forward Andrew continued despite his body's protests. 'Just a log or something to get me off the snow. That's all I need, and then I keep moving.' He told himself as he could feel his posture beginning to slag. The cold air already beginning to sap at his strength despite the relative warmth of earlier that morning.

Eventually he came across a large clearing with a few trees in the center sporting red fruits. The trees didn't look like the pines he had been walking through the past few hours. These had a bushier appearance with wide flat leaves suited for soaking up the sun.

Curiously Andrew walked towards the trees. He hadn't noticed earlier but he was ravenously hungry. When was the last time he ate? He didn't eat yesterday; he had skipped breakfast that day to get an early start on his job hunt. He had wanted to cook a simple meal when he had gotten home. Before he somehow ended up here that is. Hopefully the fruit would help sate his hunger at least. One less problem to worry about.

As he continued to walk, he noticed something strange. There was a lot of snow on the ground. While the snow had been lightly falling since he had gotten up this morning it was barely enough to even cover the ground in a light blanket. Occasionally, he would spot a patch of bare dirt or grass that hadn't been covered. The snow in the clearing was easily several inches deep, other parts seemed much deeper. He saw a few mounds of snow as well. One such mound was even several feet tall as well, seeming to loom high above the rest of the clearing.

Something about the clearing seemed off. Fruit trees in the middle of a clearing in a snow-covered forest. Nothing around them for several feet in any direction. It was as if the area had been cleared on purpose.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Andrew walked towards one of the smaller snow mounds near the fruit trees. He bent down and began wiping down the snow. His fingers protesting at suddenly touching the cold snow and rapidly growing numb. What he found only made the situation all the more bizarre.

Underneath the pile of snow was an old tree stump. It was old by the looks of it but it clearly appeared like the tree itself was broken off with tremendous force. All that was left was a jagged stump indicating the tree's futile struggle to remain in one piece. Looking around he spotted a smaller mound that seemed to travel several feet away from the stump.

Hesitantly he walked over and began wiping off the snow. It revealed something equally disturbing, a large tree that had been knocked over a long time ago. Its bark shriveled with age, its branches long broken off and the leaves lost in the snow. Every where he looked, he saw them. Small singular snow-covered mounds followed by another that seemed to travel several feet in random directions. All around the trees he had been heading towards. The remains of the pines that once stood tall here side by side.

His mouth going dry as he looked around again. He was still missing the most important part of the puzzle, what did this? Something had come through here and flattened the area around those fruit bearing trees. As if clearing the area around them so they could grow without any competition. Something that could still be around.

As far as he could see there was nothing around. He still hadn't seen any Pokémon around either. Something in the back of his mind warned him of the danger he was currently in. His hunger however seemed to be overpowering that part of his mind. His physical needs seeming to take precedence over the fear beginning to taking root within him. He couldn't risk just walking away because the situation was making his nerves flare up. Only Arceus knew when Andrew would have another chance at finding something to eat.

'Starve or quickly grab what I can?' The question in his mind already had an answer as he continued walking forward. All the while the primal part of his brain begging and screaming to leave and continue on his way. Even with his resolve he was still unnerved. The last part of the puzzle still left unanswered. He only hoped he would be long gone before whatever did this came back.

The trees were only a few feet away from him now. The short walk towards them one of the tensest he had ever experienced in his life. He couldn't shake off the feeling he was making a dangerous mistake. Andrew just had to make sure, regardless of what happened, it wouldn't be his last.

Finally, he made it to his promised boon. The mysterious fruit trees in question had turned out to be Leppa berry trees. The bright red berries sporting a fiery orange base hanged from thin green stems almost begging Andrew to pick them. Apprehension tensing his muscles, he gingerly grabbed the berry closest to him and plucked it off the stem. The ripe fruit had softness on its skin indicating its ripeness as he gripped it. Still ready to bolt at the first sign of danger, he tensely brought the ripe berry to his mouth and took the first bite.

Andrew felt the tension melt away from his body as an explosion of flavor coated his taste buds. Leppa berries were always known for having a surprisingly expansive range of flavors in every bite. While not his favorite, he could easily see how both Human and Pokémon tended to flock to these. The berry was full of different flavors that he had a hard time pinning down. They also carried within a soft underlying spiciness that made his mouth tingle slightly, perfect for the harsh weather he had found himself in.

Already he could feel his body beginning to warm through the Leppa berry's special healing powers. It was renowned as well for its ability to soothe muscle aches and fatigue. A fact that many trainers took advantage of after training or battling their Pokémon.

Feeling the fatigue slowly wash away from his body, Andrew hastily picked more Leppa berries to store away for later. He stuffed as many of the delectable berries as he could into his various pockets.

He had already finished his first berry and his body craved for more. Again, he picked another to eat, the berry releasing its contents past his lips and staining his chin with its bright red juices. He didn't care, he was starving and he would eat his fill. Again, he continued to pick them, planning to store as many as he could for later. Only Arceus knew when he would run into more food later.

Suddenly without warning something appeared in front of him as he went to pick more berries to store in his jacket. "Oh shit!" Andrew yelled as the creature that leapt out at him made him jump back defensively.

It was only a few inches long at most and it seemed to be covered in a light pink coat made of sticks, leaves and other detritus.

For a moment Andrew wasn't sure what he was looking at, and then it hit him. "A Pokémon?" He couldn't help but ask out loud. An annoyed chittering noise was his confirmation.

Chuckling, Andrew took a few steps towards the Pokémon that just a second ago had almost given him a heart attack in fright. It responded by chittering at him more aggressively as he drew nearer. The act seeming to justle the Pokémon on its perch, its coat rustling from the movement.

"Woah easy there." Andrew slowly raised his arms attempting to placate the jittering Pokémon. "I don't mean any harm. I just want to get a better look at you is all." He said as softly as he could. The Pokémon seemed to relax some what but still eyed him with a glare.

'I think I remember seeing these in Jubilife City.' He thought to himself as he got a closer look at the Pokémon. He noticed a small singular antenna on its head that seemed to be coiled around a branch holding it in place. His eyes lowering down its head and he noticed a small beak like mouth tightened into a frown.

"You're a Burmy aren't you?" Andrew asked as the small insect Pokémon resembled the ones he had seen hanging off balconies on his way to work. They sported the same colors and everything, though those seemed a bit bigger. 'Maybe the ones in cities just get to eat more.' he thought to himself as the Pokémon in question seemed to chitter at him in a much less aggressive tone.

"I was starting to think I somehow wound up somewhere strange that didn't have Pokémon around." Andrew explained to the now identified Bagworm Pokémon as he chuckled to himself. With everything that had happened to him so far, he wasn't sure what to expect.

"You uh, you wouldn't know the way to the closest town would you by chance?" he asked as politely as he could, the previous thought beginning to sour in his mind. The small insect Pokémon chittered something in return to him. It seemed to have an annoyed tone. It was a shame he couldn't understand it.

"Hmmm, well thanks for the help I guess." Andrew sighed as he reached for more berries for the road. "I'll just take a couple more and be off, I'm sure you'd rather I leave as quickly as possible huh?" He continued, the Burmy again chittering angerly at him as he plucked a berry of its stem. "What? I'm just taking a few for the road. It's not like you can eat all of these any ways by yourself.

Suddenly the Insect Pokémon's eyes went wide as if startled, its whole body suddenly freezing in place. The sudden shift in atmosphere instantly made Andrew tense as well. Something had suddenly spooked the Burmy and whatever it was would be likely dangerous. The small insect Pokémon seemed to chitter softly, almost imperceivably to Andrew. As if in quiet warning to him.

His muscles flared and tensed up; Andrew turned around as slowly as he could in order to not accidentally provoke what ever was behind him. He could feel his breath suddenly catch and his eyes going wide as he saw what had startled his boisterous companion.

Several feet in front of him rose a creature that had once been laying where the biggest snow mound in the clearing had been. It was easily over ten feet tall on two powerful legs. The Pokémon easily looked as if it weighed several hundred pounds in raw muscle. Its body covered in a shaggy dull white fur. The fur on its arms and legs a dark off green color. Its pink eyes staring at Andrew in a cold fury that made the hairs on his neck stand on end. He instantly knew what it was.

He was staring at an Abomasnow.

His blood grew cold as he remembered the news broadcast he was watching before he went out for his interviews the day prior. An angry Abomasnow had stranded several hikers in a cabin using a blizzard after the hikers had accidentally encroached on its territory.

According to the report, the Frost Tree Pokémon had chased the hikers for over a mile, all the while throwing ice attacks at them. It then called a powerful blizzard into the area preventing the hikers from leaving. Of the four hikers involved, three were sent to the hospital. Two of them with major frostbite. The third was also admitted having received a broken leg and several bruised ribs. The fourth was lucky to escape with only light scratches.

Despite the cold, Andrew could feel himself sweat as he recounted the broadcast. All the while the Abomasnow stared at him in silent fury. His throat going dry, Andrew swallowed the lump in his throat as he tried to talk to it.

"Hello..." He started as the Pokémon continued to glare at him, releasing a rumbling growl that seemed to rattle Andrew's very bones. "I didn't realize this was your territory." He continued as he tried to muster what little courage he could in the face of the powerful Ice Pokémon. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you." Andrew continued as he tried desperately to keep his tone even lest he aggravate it.

Other than the broadcast, Andrew knew dangerously little about Abomasnows. He could only hope that by apologizing and leaving quickly he could escape unharmed. Most Pokémon seemed opened to dialogue and those that weren't usually didn't pick fights if the offending party left in peace.

Andrew slowly took a step back as he looked ahead with arms raised to indicate he wasn't a threat. The Pokémon staring intensely as it watched him back away.

That was until Andrew accidentally stepped on a branch.

As soon as the branched snapped under his weight the Abomasnow charged at him with a blood curdling roar. Its movement a blur as the furious Pokémon coated in brilliant white energy slammed into him with the strength of a runaway truck. The force of the impact knocking the wind out of him as he felt his feet lift off the ground.

Pain assailing his body as he tumbled through the snow as he landed roughly. His cry of pain muffled by the cold snow he was lying face first in. He felt a sharp stabbing pain shoot up his left arm as he struggled to rise to his feet. Another terrifying roar snapping him back to the danger at hand. The Frost Tree Pokémon was charging at him again.

Andrew was lucky that he was knocked so far away, he was close to the edge of the clearing now. 'Maybe if I leave it won't chase after me.' His terrified mind reasoned as he ran as quickly as he could towards the pine forest. He could feel a strong limp on his left leg as he bolted as quickly as he could towards the tree line.

Adrenaline surged in through his body as he ran as quickly as he could. The dull throbbing pain the only reminder that he was currently hurt. A reminder that he was still somehow alive.

Suddenly a freezing wind began to blow towards him kicking up a blinding amount of snow around him. Was he suddenly caught in a blizzard or was the Abomasnow not done with him. Panic gripped hold of his body as an addled mind yelled at him that it was certainly the latter.

He had never been more scared in his life to discover he had been right as a bone chilling roar erupted somewhere behind him. The blizzard blowing so furiously around him now that the snow blotted out the sun. Making it almost impossible to see around him.

Andrew barely had enough time to turn around before the Pokémon coated in the same white energy charged into him again. All he could do was raise his arms up in defiance to try to block the incoming blow. Andrew suddenly saw stars, his vision doubling as he felt his feet lift off the ground again. The wind knocked out of him again as he landed painfully on his back with a loud thud.

Dazed he tried to roll over to stand up again with his hands. Sharp throbbing pain shooting up his limbs as he leaned on them for support. The pain was staggeringly brutal as he tried to rise. At least he could feel his hands move if begrudgingly through the pain. His hands were going to be horribly bruised but it left him know that nothing was broken. It was a miracle his arms weren't snapped in half from the force of impact with the Ice Pokémon.

Struggling to rise on shaking legs Andrew felt a warm wetness spreading down his chest. Tentatively he placed a hand over the spreading wetness soaking his jacket and looked on in horror as his hand was stained bright red as he pulled it back. "Oh no..." he softly gasped.

Before he could even try to determine the full extent of his injury, he heard the same blood curdling roar from before. Instinctually Andrew began trying to step back, as exhaustion began to once again ravage his tired body. What little the Leppa berries had done for him was quickly being undone by the fury incarnate that was the Frost Tree Pokémon.

The blizzard was blowing at him full force now. Andrew barely able to see just a few feet in front of him. The heavy snow choking out the sun's rays and making it appear as if it was the middle of the night. Just at the end of his vision he saw it again. The blizzard parting several feet in front of him to reveal his tormentor. Its pink eyes piercing him with an unending rage, its large white brow furled as it showed its unbridled fury.

Suddenly he felt his foot slip behind him almost causing him to fall backward. Quickly daring to glance behind him he saw a steep cliff that promised a swift death should he fall off. He couldn't even see the bottom from where he stood.

The abomasnow growled deeply at him once again, as if demanding his attention. Andrew looked back again towards the hulking Pokémon as he felt a grim resolve well up with in him.

'No more running.' Andrew looked towards the Ice Pokémon as he felt his jaw clench. 'It's trying to kill me. That much is clear now.' He looked straight into its pink eyes that promised a gruesome end. 'It's either me or it...'

He slowly reached into his pockets. 'Only one chance, if I fuck it up. It's over.' He felt the small red berries in his hands as he resolved to end their fight one way or another.

"Come here you fucker! If you want me so badly then come and get me!" He shouted as loudly as he could, resolution and fear in equal parts.

Time seemed to slow for Andrew in that moment. The only indications of time's passing were the howling of the blizzard around him and the echoing of his taunt off the mountains. Potentially his final words.

The Abomasnow suddenly exploded towards him. Its shaggy white fur coated in a bright white energy as it sped towards him with a fury he had not seen in all his life. Andrew's body moved just as quickly as he crushed the berries he was holding in his pockets.

"You want these back so badly?! Then take 'em!" He shouted as hard as his bruised lungs would let him. He swung his arms forward with the kind of force that would make a professional baseball pitcher proud right towards the raging Abomasnow. His hands opening to deliver their payload right into the raging Frost Tree Pokémon's eyes as it drew upon him.

His actions rewarded instantly with a deafening pained roar as the berries coated its eyes with their juices that held an underlying spice. The Abomasnow tumbling forward gracelessly as its legs lost its footing from under it. Andrew barely had time to dive out of the way as the now blinded Ice Pokémon crashed into the spot he was standing in only a moment before. The Pokémon continued to skid forward face first right towards the edge of the cliff.

Andrew could feel his heart sink as the raging Pokémon had stopped mere inches from the ledge. The Pokémon quickly standing and swiping its massive green arms around it in fury. 'Shit!' He was so close. It had almost fallen.

He could take the chance to run for his life as fast as he could while it was still blinded. He knew he would be a fool to assume it wouldn't still chase after him. If there was any chance at all it would let him go after only a mild mauling, there was no way it was going to let him live now.

He launched himself forward with as much force as his shaking legs could muster and charged towards the still blinded Abomasnow. His hands shooting into his dress jacket's front left breast pocket with practiced precision. He felt himself let loose a challenging roar as he drew his Gambler's knife in his right hand. The blinded incarnation of fury turning to face him and letting loose its own ear bursting roar in response.

With all the strength his ragged body had left he leapt as high as he could straight towards its face as it prepared to swipe at him. His knife glittering brilliantly through the snow as he brought it down towards one of its eyes.

The silver metal having found purchase, the ice Pokémon quickly swiped at Andrew as he held on to the blade. The green tree trunk like arms smashing into his side and sending him flying as he felt something in him crack. He landed on his sides as he let out a pained scream. His own cries of anguish drowned out even to his ears as the Abomasnow easily over powered his with its own pained roar. Vision blurring, he still managed to see something that finally made him smile.

The abomasnow in its pained and furious thrashing had taken an instinctual step away from the source of its pain. Its foot finding no purchase beneath it as the Frost Tree Pokémon fell backwards. Its remaining eye snapping open wide as it locked eyes with Andrew for the last time.

Andrew stared wide eyed in disbelief for what seemed like hours. Not even daring to breathe incase it was some cruel trick of the light. As if he expected the furious Abomasnow to suddenly reappear and gore him if he dared to look away. At last, he noticed that the blizzard had died down. No longer blowing furiously and battering him with freezing cold winds. The sun's warm rays stinging his eyes as they shone brightly on him through the quickly dissipating snow.

With that moment he allowed himself to breathe. A sharp pain shooting into his left side. He crawled forward, his fingers digging into the cold snow-covered ground as he dragged himself towards the ledge. His legs had long given out. 'I gotta make sure.' He pulled himself forward with all the strength he had left. 'I won't be able to rest until I make sure...' His every movement causing agonizing pain to flow through his limbs as they protested at their excretion.

At last, he reached the ledge. His perseverance rewarded by the still warm red blood of his attacker dyeing the snow. Along with the knife he had been forced to use to save his own life once again. It's silver blade seeming to boil with the Abomasnow's freshly spilt blood in his eyes.

He felt himself hesitate as he reached edge of the cliff. With a shaken mind drained of resolve he peered over the edge into the abyss below him. He couldn't see the ground below. He was not only that high up he realized much to his horror, but a thick mist was covering the forest below. The watery veil hiding the sight he desperately sought. The Abomasnow.

'There has to be no way, right?' Nothing could survive a fall from this high up he hoped. Abruptly he found himself snapped out of his thoughts as he felt a familiar warm wetness spreading throughout his jacket once again.

His mind ran wild as he tentatively opened up his jacket to see a large bright red stain on his dress shirt much to his horror. Adrenaline wearing off he felt a sharp throbbing in his chest again. He prayed to Arceus that this wouldn't be the end of him after he had struggled so dearly for his life. Struggled for his freedom. "Not after all this, please God..."

He hesitantly unbuttoned his shirt and slowly lifted his tank top to inspect what he assumed would be a grisly scene underneath. What he saw surprised him. His chest and stomach were bruised black and blue and some fresh gashes on his left side. The sharp throbbing pain announcing that he had found a few of the sources of his discomfort. He didn't however see any massive open wounds. Nothing that would explain the warm bright red stains.

That is until a thought crossed his mind.

"No way..." he couldn't help but say out loud as he reached into his jacket pocket incredulously. Inside he felt a familiar texture as he gripped the culprit in his hands. A stupefied grin spreading across his face at the realization. He slowly pulled his hand out of the pocket. The limb covered in the same bright red fluid staining his skin. A soft warmness spreading wherever the fluid had touched.

He opened them with a grin on his face that reached ear to ear as he revealed the crushed remains of the Leppa berries he had taken from the tree earlier.

Andrew had no words.

He just laughed. He laughed until he felt his face go red. He laughed harder than he had ever laughed before in his life. Laughed until the pain wracking his body announced itself angerly again in response to his jubilation.

And then he cried. He cried at the indescribable anguish he felt throughout his body now that the danger had passed. He cried at the absurdness of it all. The cruel trick that fate had decided to play on him. At his misfortunes not just here but in Johto as well. He cried more than he had ever done in his twenty-six years of life.

Andrew continued to cry even as he knew no tears would come out. He didn't deserve tears after everything that had happened.

Least of all for himself.

Exhaustion finally taking its furious hold, Andrew finally stopped grieving. His face red from his excretion, he rolled over onto his back and stared into the azure sky high above him.

The last thing he saw before he passed out in the snow was the position of the sun high up in the heavens above.

It was only midday.