Review response: Dear Shadow Snivy, hi again! Thank you for the grammar correction ... although I'll admit that I'm slightly embarrassed, I could have sworn I checked the internet for the correct spelling of rhyhorn over five times. I'm honored that you think my story is worthy of more attention, I work very hard on it. As for the Guardian, you will want to pay close attention to this chapter! I've laid a rather large hint as to this mysterious Pokemon's identity.

Dear Alice-Chan123, thank you for the correction in Pokemon types. I incorrectly assumed that because ground-types and rock-types were so similar that they had the same immunity to electricity. I'm glad you've enjoyed the story so far and hope you like this chapter just as much!

Dear Eevee-Snivy, hello again! I'm thrilled that you enjoy this story so much! So, you really like the hotel room as well, hmm? I'm beginning to notice a pattern here, not that I mind. I love Mira's name too, it took me almost an hour to pick it out from a naming site. Fun fact, the reason I picked that name for her was because of two of its many meanings, the hebrew meaning 'bitter' and the latin meaning 'worthy of admiration'. The meanings were such polar opposites, much like Mira's adorable species versus her serious and bitter personality, that I chose it instantly. Most of the main characters' names have meanings that relate to either their species type or a major personality trait. Oh, one last thing, this is in fact the same world as Unova and Kanto. However, as I haven't settled on an exact location yet, I cannot pinpoint it for you anymore than that.

Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Pokemon or anything in it, the only things I own are the plot and characters.

Chapter Six:

Intersection

Mira did her best to tune out Ahanu's happy ramblings, Why does his happiness or his fear or just about any emotion he has seem to require that he express it in constant, nonstop, incessant talking? Silently, she reminded herself not to complain, At least he isn't compelled to sing like yesterday. She suppressed a shudder, He has a singing voice like a skitty who's tail has been run over by a truck. A cheekier side of her mind spoke up randomly, Now, now, Mira. Don't be so cruel ... the skitty wouldn't sound anywhere near as bad as that Wobbuffet.

Mira almost chuckled at her own joke when her ears picked up a sound that didn't belong. She paused in mid-step, turning her ears in the direction of the sound in an effort to focus on it and not Ahanu, who was currently rambling about how he preferred his berries well dried instead of fresh. Honestly? Who would care? Her voice was cold and cut Ahanu's chatter off at the proverbial bud, "Shut up."

Ahanu quieted instantly, his hurt expression going unnoticed by Mira as she resumed walking. As Mira walked, her ears were tuned in to the barely audible noise of paw steps behind them, their mysterious stalker was at it again. Ever since they had left Onidrill Village, Mira had gotten the impression that they were being followed, but had been unable to fully confirm the suspicion.

Time to change that. Mira closed her eyes, allowing her ears to do all of detection work. The tiny crunch of pebbles grew more noticeable to her, but with Ahanu tramping along beside her there was no way to pinpoint the sound. Mira opened her eyes and glanced upward, the sun was just barely peeking around the edges of the huge mountain that stood at the center of the island.

When they had set out from Onidrill Village two days ago she had decided that traveling in the early morning, resting in the afternoon, and then walking through the evening would be better for them. She had learned long ago that walking during the cool hours of the day was always more productive then exhausting oneself under the hot noon sun.

It made it easier to fight if you were moderately well rested but healthily warmed up than if you were dehydrated and sweating like a river in the spring. The risk that their stalker might turn out to be hostile made that knowledge seem even more wise than when she had first learned it.

However, Mira was tired of waiting to find out. She suddenly stopped, turned, and shouted icily to the bushes behind them, "I know you're there. Come out and declare your intentions before I fry every piece of shrubbery within this square mile."

There was a small pause, "Who are you shouting at, Mira?" asked Ahanu skeptically, "There is no one on this road but us-"

Ahanu was proven wrong when Leal Riolu slowly stepped out from hiding. Leal looked slightly puzzled, "It's me, Leal. How did you know I was there? I am known as one of the stealthiest members of my entire clan."

Mira wasn't going to admit that she had almost not noticed him, she was too angry that he had dared try to follow her in secret. She went nose to nose with him and threateningly sparked her cheeks, "Why were you following me?"

Leal backed up a step and bowed apologetically, "I am sorry, I know sneaking around in such a manner is not a noble thing to do but be assured, I was only doing it out of concern for your safety!"

Mira stopped sparking and looked puzzled, "You were concerned for my safety? Why?"

Ahanu barreled into the conversation, probably to make himself look brave in front of Mira, "Yeah? Mira is perfectly safe, I'll protect her from anything that comes around!"

Mira rolled her eyes and was about to order Ahanu to shut his big mouth when Leal bristled and threw a punch at the Wobbuffet. Ahanu was too startled to deflect the blow with Counter and so he fell flat on his back on the dusty ground. Mira bristled and lunged between the two, "What did you hit him for?" she yelled at Leal.

Leal looked genuinely baffled, "Because he has repeatedly tried to physically soil your innocence ... isn't that what you said back at the cafe? I have come to defend your honor and make him leave you alone!" He looked past her at Ahanu, "As for you! Mira was brave enough to save your pathetic life and you repay her by constantly molesting her person? Shame on you, shame I say!"

Mira kept herself firmly between them and mentally searched for an answer on what would lead Leal to that conclusion. When did I ever say that he was trying to molest me? If he had, I would have burned him to a crisp already! What ever gave him the idea...?

A brief snatch of her previous talk with Leal in the cafe floated into her mind, Leal had asked if Ahanu had bothered her, placing what she had, at the time, thought to be to much stress on the word 'bothered'. Mira had responded in a way that assumed Leal had been asking if Ahanu was being annoying and had answered truthfully, he had been very annoying.

Something in her brain clicked, Oh. She sighed, "I didn't say that Leal, I thought you were asking if Ahanu had been annoying. I in no way meant that he had threatened my person," she glared at the Riolu, "because if he had, he would have been roast wobbuffet long before we met."

Leal looked utterly deflated and Ahanu looked completely horrified. Leal's ears flattened and his tail drooped, "You mean ... then you weren't? Oh my." He turned to Ahanu, "I deeply apologize, Ahanu Wobbuffet! I misunderstood what Madam Mira said ... Is there any way I can make it up to you? Both of you?"

Mira felt an unwanted sense of Deja Vu, No, I am not going to acquire another unwanted male. One is too many as it is! "There is nothing to apologize for," she stated hastily, "it was an honest mistake and no one was seriously injured. You don't have to make it up to us."

Ahanu protested, "Nothing to apologize for? He accused me of wanting to harm you! He accused me of being..." Ahanu struggled to find a word less rude than the one that immediately came to mind, "indecent!" he supplied at last. Mira felt like slugging him, If this blue blob persuades Leal to stick around I am going to murder him with my own two paws!

Leal shifted from one foot to the other, "I know and I agree that I must make up for the slander against your honor. Normally I would allow you to challenge me to a duel, but since one of you is a lady and the other of you is a Patient Pokemon, I must offer to escort you anywhere you wish to go and hope that along the way I can redeem myself."

Mira groaned and promptly slapped her face with a paw. No ... just no! Why me? Why does every Pokemon in the world want to follow me around? I'm not even attractive! She glared at the two of them, "Absolutely not! I don't need two of you trailing around with me like lost growlithe pups!"

Both Leal and Ahanu visibly drooped and Mira knew she had grievously wounded their prides and feelings. Ahanu protested softly, "But ... but ... my life debt! If I do not fulfill it, I will be outcast from my clan forever. I will never find a mate, or be allowed to have any dealings with anyone on the island."

Leal also piped up miserably, "I have insulted the honor of a Pokemon under an oath of life and thus by extension, you, a lady of a noble clan. If I cannot make amends, I will be forever known as a slanderer of innocents! Nothing but a roadside brigand..."

Mira pinched her tiny snout and tried to ignore the headache forming in her skull, "Oh, please stop with the over-dramatics! If it means that much to you then fine. Just don't even think about babying me or inquiring into my life," she opened her eyes and glared at the two of them in turn, "Because if you do, I will will personally feed you to a swalot... got it?"

Leal looked both happy at being able to come and taken aback at the violence promised in her threat. Ahanu simply looked overjoyed that she was allowing him to still come along. The Wobbuffet clapped his nonexistent paws together happily, "Then let's get going! Airmd Town, here we come!"

Mira growled under her breath as she set off down the road once more, now with two male companions instead of one. Silence hung over the three travelers like a cloud for the next hour. The sun climbed higher in the sky, bathing Kasai Desert in light and ever growing heat. Mira glanced over her shoulder to where Leal and Ahanu were trudging side by side in silence. Could they be any more pathetic?

She sighed, I suppose I should talk to them or something. She gently rubbed her scar with one paw and adjusted her satchel with the other. Raising her voice slightly so that Leal would hear, "So, Leal, tell me what you know about the Guardian."

Leal instantly sped up his pace so that he was next to her and began to talk eagerly, "All right! As you know, the Guardian has watched over this island for hundreds of years. As far back as anyone can remember, it has always been known that the Guardian was there, watching and protecting the island and its inhabitants."

Mira suppressed the urge to look over her shoulder in case 'the Guardian' was right behind her. Sounds kind of creepy to think that some Pokemon is watching our every move. "What does the Guardian look like? Have you ever met him?"

Leal shook his head, "Unfortunately, no. No one has ever seen the Guardian or met him in person. At least, no one who is still alive or recorded their meeting. The head of my clan said that closest thing anyone gets to seeing the Guardian is by watching the storms that herald his presence as he passes overhead."

Mira mused over that, her memories flying back to the storm that had nearly taken her life, Did this mysterious Guardian cause that storm? If so, I'll make sure to reserve an Iron Tail attack with his name on it. Odd though, very few Pokemon can manipulate the weather and fly and the ones that I know of don't live for hundreds of years ... maybe this Guardian is really a clan of Pokemon?

She looked over at Leal, "What is he guarding the island from? Also, if he has never been seen, then how do you know that the Guardian is a he?"

Leal opened his mouth, frowned, and closed it again. He mused over this for several seconds, "I actually don't know the answer to either of those questions. However, I can tell you a legend that might."

Mira dipped her head in consent and Leal continued, "My clan was long ago placed in charge of the Great Record. On this record every major event to happen on the island is written down. The Great Record says that long ago, a great darkness swept in from across the ocean, destroying everything in its path and ruining this island. Pokemon lived in constant fear of the darkness and all hope of peace and freedom seemed lost. Until the Guardian came that is."

Leal looked longingly up into the sky and Mira privately rolled her eyes, this legend sounds original ... not! Leal continued speaking, "The legend goes on to say that the Guardian was born of the ocean itself, a legendary sent to fight the darkness. He summoned the most pure hearted Pokemon on the entire island, the ones who still had the will to fight and lead them in a great battle against it, forever destroying its hold on this island and sending it back to its home across the ocean."

Leal expressively spread his paws wide, "While all of the other Pokemon celebrated their newfound freedom, the Guardian did not. He feared that the darkness would one day return to try to enslave his friends again. So, he disappeared into the ocean to forever guard our borders, leaving behind only two things, the command to rebuild the isle as one united nation ... and a small feather in the shape of a silver wing."

Mira froze, "A silver wing?" I've heard of that before ... but where?

Leal nodded, "Yes, the Silver Wing has been the symbol of our unity ever since and it is kept under constant guard in Doragon City. It is the greatest of honors to be a member of Silver Wing Sentinels."

Ahanu waddled abreast to them dreamily, "Wow, to be a Silver Wing Sentinel ... no wobbuffet has ever been admitted into that order you know." He suddenly stiffened and threw a salute to nobody in particular, "Thats it! That is what I'm going to be! Once my life debt is repaid, I will become the first wobbuffet to join the Silver Wing Sentinels!"

Leal clapped him on the back, "A noble calling, friend Ahanu! A noble calling for a noble wobbuffet!"

Mira did her best not to gag at their dramatics, if he wants to be a Silver Wing Sentinel, go ahead! Save me the trouble of dragging around a wobbuffet everywhere! Knowing that they weren't paying any attention to her, she growled "I'm going to scout ahead," and ran off down the road.

As she sped down the road, the heat beginning to bother her, she realized that it was almost noon. She looked up and spotted a Pinon Pine sitting politely at the very crest of a small hill in front of her, I'll wait for them there. She forced her limbs to gain speed as the path climbed the hill.

The sight that greeted her when she crested it forced her to stop so fast that she almost tipped over. Wow ... The hill ended in an almost sheer drop to a valley far below. Winding through the heart of the valley ran a fast flowing river, its blue line seeming to represent an smeargle's dividing mark between two separate paintings forced to share the same canvas.

On her side, there was the orange stone of the cliff at her feet, the yellow of the sandy dirt and the faded green of the scrub bushes and Pinon trees. Sitting in the midst of the dryness, was a very large collection of lumps that Mira could only assume was Airmd Town.

Her gaze traveled to the other side of the river where the almost polar opposite of Kasai Desert stretched out proudly. Green grass as far as her eyes could see, rising and falling across naturally made hills that made the entire scene look like a rippling lake of green. Whoa, talk about sharp contrast. I've never seen an island divided up so neatly by nature. It looks ... planned. Like someone designed and constructed this island into different parts and used the river as a dividing line.

Mira sat down slowly against the rough bark of the shady Pinon Pine, utterly speechless at the sight before her. It took several minutes before Mira shook off her awe and settled in to eat some lunch. As she ate one of the poffins the Onidrill Village baker had packed for her, she continued to marvel at the view.

Leal and Ahanu's voices carried softly from below. Mira couldn't resist calling to them, "Hurry up you two! You have got to see this!" There was a pause and then Mira heard Leal break into a run. More to the truth, she heard Ahanu's wail of complaint at running that told her Leal increased his pace.

When the two Pokemon crested the hill, they reacted to the view the same way she had. They skidded to a stop and gaped in awe. When Ahanu whispered numbly, "So ... much ... green." Mira burst out laughing and nearly choked on her poffin.

Leal breathed out softly, "I had heard that seeing the Grasslands for the first time was an unforgettable experience ... but this is truly beyond description."

Mira's laughter had died down to quiet chuckles. She patted the ground next to her, "Well sit down over here before you fall off that cliff. We need to eat something before trying to make it down to Airmd Town."

Ahanu and Leal were soon sitting next to her, munching silently on poffins from their satchels and admiring the view below them. Ahanu finally spoke up, "Uh, how do we get down there, exactly?"

Mira nodded to the path, "That path goes down a ledge all the way to the bottom. We'll have to be careful not to slip, but it shouldn't be too hard."

Ahanu looked suddenly miserable, "Easy for you to say, you don't have four legs all within a few centimeters of each other to coordinate."

Mira scowled at him, "Either suck it up and brave the ledge or stay here by yourself. Ledge walking isn't that hard, Wobbuffet."

Leal took the more compassionate approach and tried to bribe Ahanu into bravery, "A Silver Wing Sentinel wouldn't be afraid of a little ledge. You want to be a Sentinel don't you?"

Ahanu looked nervously from the cliff to Leal and then straightened, "You're right, Leal! If I'm going to be a Sentinel, then something as little as a cliff with jagged rocks waiting at the base of it to skewer unlucky travelers who slip isn't going to scare me! No sir, not one bit!"

Leal clapped Ahanu on the back again, "Good! Then let us be off!" He happily strapped on his satchel, not noticing how Ahanu withered under the prospect of 'ledge walking'.

Mira packed up her other poffins, closed up the satchel and wound the long strap over her head and around her middle so the bag would hang across her back and not interfere with her arms. Leal helped Ahanu do the same and the three were soon standing on the cliff's edge, preparing to make their cautious way down the ledge.

Mira led the way, Ahanu crept along in the middle, and Leal took the rear to help ensure that Ahanu wouldn't panic and fall to his death. The wind chose that moment to start blowing. Mira's ears flapped under the stiff abuse and she had to concentrate on keeping her footing. The ledge, while small, was thankfully large enough for one Pokemon to walk along without pressing themselves flat against the cliff wall.

Glancing back over her shoulder, Mira mentally corrected, allow a Pokemon with any spine at all to walk without pressing their big blob of a blue face against the wall anyway. She turned her gaze forward and braced herself as another sudden gust whipped past, clawing at her face and fur as if hoping to knock her off the path. Nu-uh, my training couldn't kill me and the ocean had no better luck. I'm not letting a little breeze knock me off course!

Mira pressed on, bending her body slightly whenever a gust blasted them. The path was a switchbacked, tricky thing and soon it was the satchels on their backs that were being attacked by the wind. Still, they continued down without tripping or loosing their balance and after about ten minutes were halfway down the cliff.

Ahanu whimpered and yelled over the current gust that was assaulting them, "I think I felt the ledge move!"

Mira glared at him impatiently, "You've been saying that for the past five minutes! It's simply your imagination!" As she took another step forward, fate seemed to decide it was high time to remind her of her fragile mortality.

With an ominous rumble, the part of the path she was walking across gave way. Mira was suddenly in thin air, she yelled the first thing on her lips, "Pika!" Everything became slow motion, she could see Ahanu reaching out to her, leaning dangerously over the edge in an effort to catch her. Glancing around, she saw that she was falling amidst the path debris, large rocks that threatened to smash her skull if the impact with the ground didn't. Got to keep close to the cliff! Then I'll just land on the path below and roll with it!

She flailed, her paws grappling at the air, trying to stop her body from turning upside down. For what seemed like a gut wrenching eternity, her heart stopped. Mira was sure that this would either be the end of her and she would never feel it, or she would live to hurt like Yvetel's Oblivion Wing.

Leal watched in horror as Mira Pikachu twisted in the air, nothing between her and death. I have to save her! But how? "Mira!" Following some desperation-born instinct, he leaped over Ahanu's head and stretched his arms out, "Catch my legs!" He yelled to Ahanu.

Amazingly, Ahanu actually listened to Leal's shout and reacted in time to wrap his rubbery arms around the Riolu's legs. Leal's paws reached out for Mira's tail, his claws fully extended, his body stretching to its maximum in a futile attempt to catch her. His paws clamped shut ... on thin air, "No! Mira!"

She curled tightly into a ball, her paws tucked in against her stomach, ears flat against her skull, and her face buried in her paws. Only her tail remained untucked, it stuck out like a lightning shaped flag from her now mostly circular body.

She thumped onto the switchback of the path and rolled. Debris hammering her body as she bumped and rolled uncontrollably, inwardly praying that she didn't roll right off of the path's edge. However, her back colliding painfully with the cliff side through her satchel was enough to convince her that she had not been rolling in that direction.

She opened her eyes cautiously, she was upside down, her back and tail pressed against the side of the cliff. The debris lay a short distance away from her, a few chunks of it spattered in red liquid that she was sure must be her blood. Mira exhaled slowly, half afraid to move lest the path give way again.

Leal's voice shouted from above, "Mira! Mira are you all right? Answer me!" Mira craned her neck and looked upwards, Leal was dangling upside down from Ahanu's arms, his expression worried.

Mira gave a breathless thumbs up with her paws and slowly rolled onto her stomach, wincing at the loud protests from her back. Can't I go more than a week without injury ... just once? Even when I'm in exile? Even with a satchel full of now squashed berries protecting me? "I'm okay ... just get down here safely."

Leal laughed in relief, "As you wish, Mira. Ahanu! Release my legs!"

Ahanu grunted laboriously, "Are ... you ... nuts?"

Leal glanced up at him, "No, I am quite serious, let me go!"

Ahanu hesitantly released his hold on Leal's legs. Leal twisted expertly in the air to land flawlessly on the path below. He ran over to Mira, "Are you sure you are well?" He spotted the long scratches on her back, "You are injured!"

Mira snorted, stood, and carefully dusted herself off, ignoring the stinging sensations in her legs, hips, and tail, "Nonsense, they're just scratches. Once we get to town I'll see the healer." She looked up to see Ahanu still standing next to where the path gave way, "Get down here, Wobbuffet!"

Ahanu moaned and after a moment's hesitation, began backing up, bluff charging and backing up again, trying to work up the nerve to jump. Mira waited patiently until he was bluff charging again and just before he stopped, she yelled, "Hurry up!"

The shout startled Ahanu, causing him to lose his balance and fall ungracefully onto the path in front of her on his face. Leal braced himself against another bout of increasingly annoying wind and hurried over to the Wobbuffet's side, "Are you all right?"

Ahanu wobbled to his feet and mumbled, Mira could just barely make out his words over the wind, "Yes, I'm okay. It was only my face after all."

Mira walked past him, hoping that he wouldn't notice her scratches, "Good, as long as you didn't anything injure anything vital, we can keep going." More carefully than before though. The three companions resumed their trek down the cliff side, however they were all much more cautious as they fought the wind that buffeted them from different directions every time they crossed another switchback.

By the time they reached the bottom of the cliff and set foot on the wide, non-treacherous path, all three of them were fairly exhausted. Ahanu looked hopefully at Mira, "When we get to Airmd Town, we're going to get some sleep in an inn ... right?"

Mira shrugged moodily, her hips were really beginning to hurt from the rock scratches, "You didn't need my permission to go to sleep last time. Do what you want as long as it doesn't involve pestering me." Ahanu looked sheepish.

Leal gently chastised Mira, "You should not be so harsh on Ahanu. He is only doing his duty..." Mira knew she was being unnecessarily rough on Ahanu, but she was too irritated and in pain to really regret it at the moment.

As they entered Airmd Town, the busy sounds of many Pokemon living in one place reached their ears. The streets were filled with Pokemon of many different types, Rock, Ground, Fire, Electric, and Dragon, just to name a few. Overhead, several spearow and a fearow circled, looking for a target of opportunity to present itself for the avian gangsters.

Mira led the group towards the nearest inn, throwing a fierce glare in the direction of the flying gang. She despised bullies, especially the kind that used their bullying skills to steal from the hard working.

While Leal rented a room and Ahanu searched for food, Mira found a secluded alleyway just outside the inn, quietly unwound her satchel, and searched for a un-squashed berry that would heal her scratches. Mira knew that she should have done this on the cliff path, but she hadn't wanted to stay on the cliff for any longer then necessary. The fall had shaken her up worse then she would admit, even to herself.

Finally, she found an Oran Berry that had come away from her collision unscathed. Yeah, berries as hard as rocks tend to do that. Mira chewed on the hard berry, feeling its healing affects spread through her body, rejuvenating her muscles and closing the scratches on her hips and legs. She sighed quietly with relief as the pain faded away.

She glanced down into her satchel and winced, her rolling escapade had successfully mashed her poffins and berries into one sticky mass in her satchel. Cleaning time ... great, just great. Suddenly, she noticed that the sounds on the street had changed in tone. Instead of the friendly hubbub of Pokemon talking, buying, and selling, there was the more frenzied tone possessing the streets.

She pricked her ears in time to catch the shout of, "Hurry! Grasslanders are coming! Ready the ferry!" Grasslanders? This might be interesting. Mira slung her satchel over her shoulder and followed the sounds of the crowd. When she reached the river bank, it was mildly clogged with curious onlookers, all eyes on the small figures standing on the shore next to a huge tree. Mira watched as a skarmory flapped overhead, a woven rope clamped firmly in his talons. The other end of the rope was tied firmly to a wooden raft which bumped and jostled unsteadily in the current of the fast-flowing river.

Mira studied the group on the far side as they began to board the bobbing raft. The first to board was a squirtle, the Squirtle looked excited and happily jigged on the raft. Why not swim across? Maybe the current is too fast to be safe for a small Water-Type. Next, Mira was sure she saw the graceful four legged motions of an eevee, his brown and cream fur standing out against the green background.

The Eevee was wrestling with an Aipom, his teeth clamped firmly on the satchel strap so that he could forcibly drag the howling Aipom onto the ferry. Good grief, I can hear him over the river! And here I thought Ahanu was bad... Finally, all but one of travelers had boarded the ferry. Mira felt a touch of surprise, the last passenger was a charmander. I haven't seen one of those since my journey to Kanto. It looks like almost every Pokemon in existence has at least one representative here!

In the back of her mind, Mira wondered how an island could have such a diverse population and yet not have even a single Pikachu for a native. I don't count, either. I got washed up here a couple weeks ago so I can't be considered a native.

The Charmander, like all Fire-types, had a reason to be nervous of water. However, this nervousness went at least double for charmanders because of the flame on their tail tip. This flame was somehow tied to their health, if a charmander was sick or injured, the flame would decrease. This also worked the other way around, if a charmander's flame went out, they would die.

Finally, after much coaxing from the other travelers, the Charmander boarded the ferry. Even from her position on the far bank, Mira could see how scared he was by how he clutched at his tail, holding it as high above the river as he could manage. She couldn't resist sympathizing, her newly developed phobia of water was pestering her even now to get away from the river bank and to higher ground.

Skarmory gave a screeching cry of, "Here we go!" that carried clearly on the air and began flapping back towards Airmd town, his powerful steel wings keeping the ferry on course even as the river sought to sweep it away. Mira watched as the ferry swayed and jerked, water splashing across it as the passengers held on for dear life.

Despite the rails along the sides of the ferry, the Eevee appeared to be having extreme trouble holding on. The Aipom next to him, attempted to hold the Eevee with his three fingered tail-hand but by now all of them were soaked. Mira noted that the Charmander looked utterly miserable and was stubbornly using one paw to hold his tail away from the water and the other paw to cling grimly to the rail.

A sudden cry went up, "Look out! Flotsam!" Mira snapped her head to left, a large branch, probably knocked loose by the recent storms, was bearing down on the ferry. The Skarmory hissed and flapped harder, trying to pull the raft out of the way of the branch. The travelers were now at the very center of the river, clinging for dear life. The Squirtle looked frustrated, most likely wishing that there was an extra rope.

Why aren't there any Water-types out there? They could help! Mira whirled on a fellow bystander, "Why aren't the Water-types helping? I can see their dens on the other riverbank!"

The Sandslash she had asked shook his head and shouted with excitement, "The river has been swelled by the recent flash floods and storms, many of the Water Pokemon have moved to temporary dens upstream. There simply isn't anyone over there strong enough to help! Those currents would be tough for even a fully evolved Water-type!"

Mira bit her lip, feeling helpless as the branch swept ever closer to the struggling ferry. The Skarmory was pulling for all of his worth, his wings making humming noises in the air they were moving so fast. For a second, Mira thought that the ferry might make it unscathed. However, just as the raft seemed clear, the branch was spun by the current, causing it to hit a heavy but glancing blow to one corner of the raft ... the Eevee's corner to be exact.

With a cry, the Eevee slipped, plummeting into the rushing water. Mira gasped, no! That Eevee will drown in that current! Without thinking, Mira's body sprang into action. She shot off down the bank, her legs pumping, heart racing as she tried to catch up with the frantically paddling Eevee.

Behind her, the Squirtle had leapt off of the raft and was swimming for the lost Eevee. Mira looked around desperately, trying to find something she could use to help the Eevee. Tree branch, I need a tree branch! Or a whole tree! Something! She glanced back at the river, the Eevee had gone under the water. Where is he? The Squirtle dived, disappearing under the surging water to find the lost Eevee.

Mira returned her gaze the bank she was running along. An old Pinon tree loomed before her, its roots were bare and an unhealthy part of the bank had been washed out from under it. It was tilted towards the river, holding on grimly by a few slender roots. Bingo! Now if I can just get the Squirtle to grab it ... She looked back to the river where the Squirtle had just surfaced, the Eevee lying limp on her shell. Mira shouted as loudly as she could to the Squirtle, "I'll knock down the tree! Get ready to grab it!"

The Squirtle didn't respond but Mira got the impression that she heard. Mira turned her attention back to the tree and began focusing energy into her tail. She sprinted as fast as her legs could carry her, slowly pulling ahead of the Squirtle.

She tensed her muscles, narrowed her eyes, and lunged. Leaping into the air with a loud yell, she somersaulted tightly throwing all of her momentum and weight into her gleaming tail. Her tail, hard as iron and glowing like silver, slammed into the base of the tree, just above the few roots that held it in place.

The tree groaned loudly and tipped over into the river, its many branches submerging into the fast flowing current. Mira's eyes searched for the Squirtle, come on, come on! Where are you? This tree won't hold forever! Suddenly, she spotted the muddy brown color of the Eevee peeking out of the water just in front of the felled tree.

The Squirtle reached out of the water and grabbed at Pinon tree with a paw. Mira instantly realized that the Squirtle couldn't pull herself to safety and hold the limp Eevee at the same time. The tree was swaying dangerously, threatening to break from the bank and float away in the harsh current at any moment. Mira stood at the base of the tree, her heart hammering as she tried to move. I have to help ... I have to help, legs! Move!

Mira felt almost light headed as she forced herself onto the tree trunk. The river splashed across it, making the trunk slippery and Mira's gut twisted with terror. Mira paused, took a deep breath, and then kept running towards the end of the tree, coercing her eyes to look straight ahead.

By the time she reached the Squirtle, Mira's heart was humming a thousand miles a minute and the tree was threatening to give way. Mira shakily leaned down and shouted over the roar of the river, "Pass me the Eevee!" The Squirtle looked up at her in surprise. She nodded and slowly shifted the Eevee off of her shell and towards the terrified Pikachu.

Mira grabbed the ruff of the semi-conscious Eevee and carefully started dragging him onto the tree trunk beside her. As she shifted her body to finish placing the Eevee next to her, Mira's back paws slipped on the slick tree bark. With a cry of terror, she went down on all fours, clutching the side of the groaning tree while the river licked and slurped greedily at her tail haunches.

No! Not again! Please! Mira's vision became as if she was in a tunnel, she could see a tiny patch of sky and brown bark but nothing else. The roaring of the rushing water below her merged with the hammering of her heart in her throat to deafen her ears. Through the panic and horrible half-memories that assaulted her, she felt teeth grip her neck firmly and slowly drag her back onto the trunk.

Her vision slowly cleared, she looked up numbly. The Eevee panted and nodded to her, "We ... need to ... get going. Help me with Cora..." Mira stared at him blankly for several seconds before shaking off her panic and standing up shakily. He ... he's conscious? But, he looked half dead a moment ago.

The two Pokemon worked together to carefully drag Cora onto the fallen tree. Looking up, Mira could see a rescue party bearing down on them. The tree groaned again and this time Mira heard one of the roots snap. The tree jolted and sank lower into the water menacingly. That rescue party better hurry! The Eevee coughed weakly, "Come on, this tree won't hold much longer."

Mira lead the way back across the now sopping wet trunk. She was followed by the Eevee and the Squirtle. She glanced over at the incoming rescue party, it appeared to be made up of the other travelers, the Skarmory and several brave Ground-type Pokemon.

Got to get to safety ... this tree's roots won't hold. As if to back up Mira's thoughts, there was another gut wrenching snap and with a lurch, the tree broke free. All three of the stranded Pokemon yelled in terror and clutched at the tree as it bobbed and jerked into the center of the river. Mira squeezed her eyes shut, her stomach churning with raw fear. No ... please no.