Author's Note: Well, the first chapter that had to be completely rewritten. Sorry for the slight wait. I've been slightly busy at home, so I haven't had as much time as normal to write. Plus, I just got two new books to read, so I've been reading them in my free time. - EeveeInHeat

Silver

- Chapter 7: Trust -

Silver tried thinking of a way to cool things off between him and Ace, but only one idea came to mind: apologizing for saving Eve. That was one thing he wouldn't do. After saving Ace, he had expected some kindness from the Trapinch. However it was the opposite.

Besides, Silver thought, He chose to come with us. If he doesn't like it, then he can leave as far as I'm concerned.

But Silver knew that was unfair, as was this fight. Flame seemed torn in half with who to support or talk to. In fact, the Cyndaquil seemed to try and avoid them, else the other get mad. Silver wanted to tell him that he didn't care if Flame talked to Ace, but he didn't know what Ace's reaction would be.

Silver sighed. He thought he had understood the two Pokemon, but it seemed it he didn't, not even close. Now he didn't even have anyone to talk to. He didn't even know if Eve was following them anymore. He looked back several times, but he didn't even catch a single glance of the Eevee. For some reason, that seemed to hurt him the most, though he didn't know why.

They continued until night, where they arrived at a large oak tree. The space between two roots was enough for all of them to fit and then some. They split up, looking for berries. Something told Silver that they wouldn't be gathering for each other tonight.

Silver found a berry bush right on the other side of the tree. He was about to shout to the others about his discovery, when he remembered the fight between them. Silver felt even more alone as he picked the bush by himself. He grabbed a few berries and ate quickly, having nothing else to do.

He didn't even notice what berries they were until he tasted them. He looked down and confirmed his guess by the sweet, rich flavor; Pecha berries, berries that were extremely sweet and good for a poisoned Pokemon. He finished what berries he had grabbed and sat in silence for a little.

Then, he couldn't stand the silence anymore and decided to look for Eve. He grabbed a few berries and started back the way they had come. Not wanting to force anything, he walked in the open. He soon heard the rustling of a fern and looked over. A fern was slightly moving in between the roots of a tree. What made him suspicious though, was the fact that there was no wind at the moment.

He sat down in the open and put the berries beside him. He sniffed the air and confirmed that it was Eve that was hiding. He waited a little, and then finally said, "I know you're there."

Eve stepped out of the bush slowly, still looking the same as before. She stayed standing, waiting for him to start.

"Here, I brought these for you," Silver said, nosing the berries to her.

"Why?" she asked cautiously.

"Because I thought you would like them. Also, I wanted some conversation," Silver said.

"What about your two friends, the Trapinch and the Cyndaquil?" she asked, not making a single move toward the berries.

Silver looked away from her intense gaze. "We're in a small fight right now, while the other's trying not to get in it."

"Why?"

"Because whe-" Silver started, looking back at her.

"Not that. Why did you help me?" she asked.

"Because you needed it," Silver answered simply.

She gazed into his eyes for a little and finally snorted. She bent down and sniffed the large, pink berries.

"They're Pecha berries. They're sweet and help with poisonous ailments," Silver informed her.

She sniffed them again and finally started to nibble on one. After a while, she started to eat with normal bites. She made quick work of the berries after that. As she ate, the chain around her neck made a soft clicking sound.

Silver hated to see the horrible steel collar around her neck. While she ate, he tried to think of a way to get it off. He hadn't come up with anything by the time she was done. "Would you like more? I could go get some more," he said.

"No . . . I'm good," she said, though Silver wasn't entirely convinced. She still looked extremely thin to him. "Shouldn't you be getting back to your friends?"

Silver suddenly realized that night was starting to grip the forest. He didn't even notice until now that he was barely able to Eve. "Uh oh, I've got to go. Good bye," he said, starting off back to the tree.

Eve muttered something, and though it was really low, he was sure he heard, "Good bye."

Silver reached the tree without tripping on anything in the dark, luckily. Ace and Flame were already there, though Ace was already sleeping. Flame seemed to have been waiting for him. Flame came up to him as he approached, "D-did you find e-enough?"

Silver was slightly startled that Flame was speaking to him, especially since the fight was still going on, but nodded, "Yeah."

"O-okay then, good night," Flame said, seeming to not know what else to say.

"Wait, Flame?" Silver said.

"Y-yes?" Flame asked.

"You can talk to Ace if you want, if won't bother me," Silver told, seeing the chance to make peace appear.

Flame looked slightly startled that Silver said this, but nodded and turned in for the night. Silver soon joined him, his thoughts strangely only on Eve.

(0)

Silver woke up and saw that Ace was already awake, while Flame was slowly getting up. Silver yawned and stretched to shake off his tiredness. As soon as he was done, Ace started to head out. Flame and Silver followed him, the same awkward silence from yesterday appearing.

However, Silver didn't mind this time. The silence seemed to help him think. At first, his mind just wondered from subject to subject, but they finally rested on Eve. He couldn't tell why, but his mind just started thinking about her. He remembered how he had last seen her; the look of loneliness in her eyes, her fur still matted and stained, that chain still around her neck. Silver wanted to help her somehow, but he didn't know how.

His thoughts once again came to that chain on her neck. Maybe there was some way to get it off. If they put it on her, then there had to be a way to get it off. Silver remembered how he had felt the small space that was in the chain. If it was a lock thing like on the cage he had been in, then using that small metal item might open it. However, he didn't have one of the small metal things. Would he be able to improvise? He didn't have claws, but his teeth were pointed. However, he definitely knew that he wouldn't be able to get Eve to trust him enough to get that close. He needed a different idea.

Silver's thoughts came to an abrupt halt as his nose painfully rammed into something. Startled back to reality, he realized he had walked into a tree. He shook his head and looked around for the others. Luckily, they were a little ways ahead and had not seen his blunder.

Silver got up and caught up to them. This time, he made sure to watch where he was going, though his thoughts still stayed on Eve.

(0)

It wasn't long before they stopped for the night. Silver paused, but Ace just left to find food without saying a word. Flame simply looked away and walked off to find himself some food. Silver sighed, frustrated at the fight still going on.

Silver walked off and quickly sniffed out a few berries. He gathered enough for him and Eve and set off back down the way they had come to look for her. He thought that he might have found a way to get the collar off Eve, but he was unsure if it would work.

After a little searching, Silver finally found Eve again. She was instantly on guard when she saw him, making Silver mentally sigh. If she was going to be this suspicious, there wasn't even a slight possibility of getting the collar off.

"D-do you mind if I eat with you? I brought some berries for you," Silver said, pushing hers forward.

Eve looked hesitantly at the berries, before nodding slightly. Silver nudged the berries closer and Eve slowly took them. As Silver ate, he watched as Eve sniffed the berries slightly and then began to eat them. An awkward silence prevailed as they ate their meal.

When Silver finished, he looked around until he found a suitable twig. He waited until Eve finished before he told her his idea. "I think I've found a way to get that steel thing off you," he said.

A sudden glint of surprise and happiness entered her eyes, but she hesitated. "Why are you trying to help me?" she asked, confused.

"Because I want to," Silver explained.

Eve stared at him a little, not completely convinced of his explanation. Finally, she hesitantly asked, "How do you think you can get this thing off?"

"Well, I'm not certain of it," Silver began uneasily, "But there's a small hole in the side. The humans back there used a small metal piece to open things like that, so if I used a small twig, I might be able to get it open."

Eve sat there a few seconds, taking it in, before she asked, "C-could you do that?"

Silver nodded and picked up the twig he had picked out with his mouth. He slowly approached Eve. She tensed slightly, but lowered her head to allow him to see it better. Now that he was able to look at it, he saw that there was a small hole. Taking the end of the twig, he pushed it into the hole. After wiggling it around a little, there was a quiet clip and the collar suddenly opened. They jumped as it swiftly fell off, narrowly missing their feet.

Eve shook her head a little, her mane now moving back where the collar had been. "T-thank you," Eve whispered, smiling at him.

Silver smiled back, glad he could help. Glancing at the sky, he realized it was late. "I've got to go," Silver said.

"Umm, Silver?" Eve said, stopping him.

"Yes?" Silver asked.

"M-my name is Eve," she said, not meeting his eyes.

"Okay, then," Silver replied, beaming. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," Eve replied loud enough for him to hear.

Silver got back to the others and saw that both of them were already asleep. Curling up on a patch of grass, Silver smiled at how he had finally gained Eve's trust. He fell asleep soon after his eyes closed.

(0)

Silver was the last to wake the next morning. The other two were already getting ready to go. Stretching, Silver got up and they headed out. As they went, the scenery around them started to change. The large amounts of trees around them started to get sparser. Undergrowth became less and less noticeable. Soon, Silver could feel the grittiness of sand pressing against the pads of his feet as they walked.

The sun hadn't even reached its apex when they left the last few trees behind. Silver could suddenly see much farther than before. In the distance was a yellowish field that met up with the horizon. Small gray things could be seen sticking out of the ground here and there. Silver realized it was sand and rocks as they continued on.

The grass started to become meager, the sand now dominating the area. Silver grumbled to himself as the small grains rubbed against his paws and got caught between his toes. He tried avoiding the sand whenever he could by walking on any smooth rocks or shoots of grass he could find.

Ace and Flame didn't appear to mind the sand. In fact, both of them seemed to enjoy it. Flame seemed oddly excited, and it took Silver a moment to remember that he had lived in an area like this. Maybe Ace really did know where he was going.

Silver glanced back a few times, but didn't see Eve anywhere as they headed out into the sandy area. As he went, he found himself hoping that Eve would still be coming along.