Part 1: The Beginning of It All
Chapter 4: Strangers and Saviors
For the umpteenth time, I open my eyes, not knowing what I'll find. In this case, I see a blue otter-like creature- an otter creature who decided to have it's face so close that we're practically touching noses.
"DEAR ARCEUS!" I yell, scrambling back as if the thing were venomous. Which, in my defense, is possible.
"WAHHHH!" The otter screams, somehow not expecting me to wake up.
I scan the area for possible escape routes. I could dart around the otter and run over the river, but if I fell in... and besides, the thing is a blue otter, so it's probably a water type. So I look in my peripherals only to find the ground littered with sharp stones and massive trees that would be nearly impossible to dart around. The river would be my only chance.
Looking back at the otter, I find him staring into nothing with a glassy and far away look in his eyes. So I take my chance and run.
Darting around him with a clumsy gait, I scramble towards the river, leaving scratch marks as my claws search for purchase. The river has scattered boulders within it, so I jump onto the nearest one. The little water on it sizzles and evaporates from the heat on my paws, forming a shroud of steam around my body. I hear the otter calling "Hey! Vulpix! Come Back!", which makes me act impulsively. By sheer instinct to escape the enemy, I jump, hoping to Arceus that I land on a rock, blinded by the water vapor that sizzles around my body.
It seems that Arceus was not on my side that day, since I found myself plummeting into the deep water, and extreme pain casting itself throughout my body.
Now, it's not the water itself that harms fire types; It's the fact that water is, mostly, cold. For example, have you ever walked to a lake or river only to find it boiling over? I'll answer that for you; No, you haven't. Stagnant bodies of water, such as lakes, can get pretty warm. However, they can never reach quite as high as a fire-types minimum temperature to keep it's internal flame burning. Moving bodies of water, like rivers, are even worse. They typically stay very cold, since the water will never stay in one place long enough to be warmed by the sunlight.
That cold sucks the warmth out of a fire-types body. There is a certain temperature specific to each fire-type that we cannot go under or else our internal flame will flicker out, and unheated water is always under it. So no fire types dare go near water for the fact that it slowly kills us. Well, and another important thing: We don't know how to swim.
My tiny body thrashes and flails as I try to get above the water. Once my head breaks the surface, I let out a blood-curdling scream. For all I know, there is a pretty good chance that it is. The water was so cold. I gasp and sputter and scream as a pain that feels like every hair on my body is slowly being torn out overrides my senses. If only I could black out on will...
The otter appears next to me (apparently having jumped into the water; to do what, now that's the million dollar question...) with a look of sincere concern plastered to his face. This time, I don't run away (As if I could.) . Instead, I latch onto his body, hoping that he'll get me out of this living hell.
He gives me a look of pity and apology before grabbing and holding me close to his body as water starts to seep out of his skin. I struggle and squirm as he says, "I'm sorry, but hold still!"
Soon enough, water completely envelops us both while I thrash and attempt to wiggle out of his grip. The pain is horrible, and I begin to see black spots in my vision. Out of nowhere, the river seems to be falling from under us, yet his own bodily water still surrounds us both. My screams are now nothing but bubbles floating up and away from the otter and myself as we rocket towards the sky. Suddenly, we rocket back towards the ground and the water that surrounded us falls away. We both land on the ground, him landing on his back and myself on top of him. We skid for a few feet, and then mercifully, it's over.
I give a pitiful whimper, struggling to keep conscious. I fall from him and lay in a crumpled heap on the ground, legs intertwined as my head lands with a thud.
The otter suddenly scrambles around, chanting "OmiArceus" and "I'msosorry" and "Areyouokay?!" He picks up an stray Oran berry and runs over to me. Frowning at my disheveled appearance, he daintily rearranges my legs until I'm in a laying position. Placing the Oran berry in front of my snout, he sits down beside me.
"You should definitely eat that. It will bring you back to full health-"
"I KNOW WHAT IT DOES!" I shout, surprising myself at my tone and the fact that I can even speak.
Giving me a look of confusion and guilt, I can't help but feel bad for my outburst. I mean, his eyes are so big and sad...
Giving a small huff of defeat, I bite into the Oran berry, relishing in the feeling of my strength returning. Finishing it moments later, I stand up and mumble a small "Thanks", before turning and heading along the riverbank, warily watching the water as if it will rise out to get me.
"Slow down!" the otter yells. I blink as he runs after me, his oddly shaped feet make him trip several times. "Let me go with you!", he yells.
What?
Finally catching up with me, he smiles widely and repeats: "Let me go with you!"