Veeeeeeeeeery sorry for the long wait. A bad combo of writer's block, lazyness, college, and family problems to blame.
Gifted Curse
Chapter Four
Blood Rush
Five whole minutes had passed since Jake overheard the men's conversation. He didn't know where he was going, as he had not yet picked up AuroraFire's, or any other Ninetails or Vulpix's, scent. He could, however, still smell the men, and that worried him. If they found him before he could find AuroraFire, his chances of saving her would immedeately disintergrate. One small boy on nine versous three full grown men (well, nearly full grown, one of the men were barely taller than Jake, who was four foot ten), well, you do the maths.
When his hopes started to fall apart he caught an entirely new scent. He deducted that it was a Vulpix, and his instincts were telling him and he knew this one. He decided to follow it.
Jake was figuring out how he knew the scent, he felt it was that very Vulpix he saved earlier on. The same one who got him into this mess. How he knew, since at the time he was a normal human, was beyond him. A moment later, his suspicions were confirmed.
AxlFyn had only wandered out of the safety of the pack to find the river for a drink. Since he knew this part of the forest well, he felt he would do fine on his own. His routine trip was cut short when he caught a familiar scent. He got excited, and quickly forgot his thirst, and started following his nose.
When they met again, the two both felt relaxed, and AxlFyn also felt extremely excited. Jake picked up on that.
He recognises me, he's definately that same Vulpix, he thought to himself, looking down on the pup, who had started doing a bizarre dance around Jake. If he is from the Ryder pack, he probably knows AuroraFire.
Jake bent down to the pokemon's level, and scratched the vulpix's forehead when he started nuzzling his knee.
"Heya, you remember me, right?" Jake said, and caught a slight nod from the vulpix, the small pokemon obviously wasn't aware of Jake's status. "Do you know a Ninetails by the name of Aurorafire?"
Upon hearing his niece's name, AxlFyn stopped brushing himself against Jake's knee and looked up at him.
"You, you.." The vulpix backed off a bit, "What did she do to you?"
"You do know her, where is she?" Jake asked, ignoring AxlFyn's question.
He flattened his ears, he didn't like having his questions ignored. "You didn't answer me!" he said sternly, in turn ignoring Jakes' own question.
Now Jake was becoming irritated. He sat himself down properly and leaned towards the vulpix, staring irritably.
"I'm not answering yours 'till you answer mine."
Jake could tell the little vulpix was now pissed off beyond belief. AxlFyn felt like biting Jake, but knew that would do no good. Instead, he sighed and began answering Jake's question.
"AuroraFire is in the middle of pack territory, ok?" He grunted, "Now answer my question,"
"Kay," Jake sighed, leaning backwards a bit, "When I told you to run off, the guys who were tailing us caught me, and nearly killed me. AuroraFire then appeared and chased them off, but by that time I was unconsious. She then cursed me to keep me alive,"
AxlFyn listened to every word Jake said. He didn't know why AuroraFire hadn't told him what she did to Jake. "I see," He hung his head low, "I'm sorry, I'm the one that pressed AuroraFire into helping you,"
"Don't feel sorry," Jake quickly replied, he got the feeling that the vulpix was blaming himself, "I'm ok with it, really"
AxlFyn was still feeling guilt ridden, but forced himself to accept that Jake was fine with it. "But, why do you want to know where AuroraFire is?"
Jake rose to his feet so quickly that it nearly scared AxlFyn. "I need to tell her something, about those people we ran away from earlier, they're after AuroraFire!". Jake was ready to run off, but was stopped by AxlFyn, who had his ears flat back against his head.
"No! You can't just walk into the pack's territory!" He warned Jake, "Even if you explain your situation, they'll treat you badly, maybe even hurt you!"
Jake took this into consideration. He understood that the wild Ninetails and Vulpix of this forest were un-trusting of humans, but he desperately needed to warn AuroraFire before it was too late.
"But, AuroraFire is in danger, I need to warn her!" Jake pleaded.
"Then I'll warn her! Just, just don't follow me!"
The two started at each other for a moment, both as serious as the other. Jake took a step back, defeated.
"..Fine, then. But please hurry!" Jake urged. AxlFyn nodded and bounded a few steps before stopping again.
"My name is AxlFyn, by the way. And thank you for saving me earlier," He said, bowing to Jake with respect.
"And my name is Jake," Jake replied. They exchanged smiles before AxlFyn took off running once again, soon dissapearing from Jake's sight all together.
It's all up to him now, Jake thought, I hope it's not too late..
AuroraFire, in spite of what AxlFyn had told Jake, was actually resting nearby where WilloWisp was keeping watch. The two had been talking for a while before AuroraFire ended up nodding off. WilloWisp himself was close to falling asleep, and so was a little bit grumpy. Bieng a watchman is not fun.
"AURORAFIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRE!" Came a hyper-sounding voice. This actually slapped Willowisp to his senses, but failed to even stir AuroraFire. Willowisp noticed this.
Lazy cow, he thought. He then turned his head towards the small clearing hin front of him, where AxlFyn literally popped out of nowhere.
"Master AxlFyn?" Willowisp said, rather confusedly, "What the hell were you doing out there on your own?"
"Aaaah, WilloWisp" AxlFyn squealed, "I can't talk right now, I need to tell AuroraFire something!"
AxlFyn went bounding towards the sleeping Aurorafire, screaming her name rather loudly into her ear. When she wouldn't stir, AxlFyn resorted to bouncing on her.
Which, by the way, worked like a charm.
"AxlFyn..." AuroraFire said in a grumpy tone of voice, nobody likes having a hyperactive child jump on them while they are sleeping. Especially not AuroraFire.
"Butbutbutbutbutbut!" He squeaked, bouncing up and down, "I met Jake just now!"
AuroraFire's ears shot straight up upon hearing Jake's name. How the hell does AxlFyn know his name?
"You... What?" She questioned. Willowisp could only look on in confusion, not knowing who Jake was.
AxlFyn glanced at Willowisp (still clearly confused) and looked back up at AuroraFire. "Message concerning you," AxlFyn said, cryptically.
"What the hell are you on about?" Willowisp demanded, AxlFyn's sentance clearly becoming the breaking point of his confusion.
"Stay here and do your job, Willow, AxlFyn wants to speak to me privately,"
"Ok, so what was this 'message' then?" AuroraFire asked AxlFyn, once they were out of Willowisp's earshot.
"Well, well," AxlFyn started, sounding rather rushed, "Jake told me that the bad humans are after you!"
Oh dear, Thought AuroraFire, I should've seen this coming.
AuroraFire started pacing, thinking to herself. While AxlFyn bounced up and down on the same spot, impatiently waiting for a reply. AuroraFire had to think of something quickly. If what AxlFyn had told her were true, and she was sure it was, then something needed to be done. She would have to runaway, make the humans follow her, in order to protect the pack - her family. She had decided.
"AxlFyn," She said, finally putting an end to her pacing, while AxlFyn started listening intently. "I'm going away for a while,"
"Huh? But why?" AxlFyn inquired. This was not the reply he was waiting for. He had expected a 'quickly, go back to the pack, warn them, I'll be back shortly'. Not this.
"This is far more serious than before, AxlFyn. If we were to warn the pack again then your parents would surely be suspitious. We musn't alarm them, understand? I'll need to find Jake again, he'll be able to help me," AuroraFire explained. She hoped that AxlFyn would understand, "I won't be back for a while, not longer than three cycles, hopefully. Please don't tell Grandfather about this,"
AxlFyn was understandibly uneasy about this. He was afraid that AuroraFire would get captured, and that he'd never see her again. He was also worried that Jake would be in more danger, since AuroraFire mentioned getting his help. "O-okay.." He nervously replied. He then watched as his niece bounded off into the distance, and then out of sight.
AxlFyn knew she'd be gone far longer than just three cycles.