Chapter 3
April
My feet, happy like always, skip down the passages of our home. They carry me over pebbles and cracks that I avoid to make a game out of walking. I'm especially happy, today. I can't explain it, but I just am. No one seems to notice my glee. I don't really care. My friend, Kila, follows closely behind. The little Natu hops frantically to catch up to me, occasionally tripping. I slow my pace to allow her to hop next to me.
"Can you believe it, April?!" She looks worried. More worried than usual, at least.
"I know! It just came out of the blue, didn't it!" I leap over a small rock as I say this.
"Yes, it did. How could they keep such a deadly secret from everyone?"
"Deadly secret? I was talking about my sudden happy mood! It really came from nowhere!"
"April, how could you be more happy? You're the happiest Togepi... no. Happiest pokemon in the entire tribe! Are you even somewhat concerned about the dire situation at hand?!" Kila's voice rises. Such a loud voice for a little bird.
"Oh Kila. You really have to stop worrying all the time! It's not good for you."
"I don't care about whether or not it's good for me! This is the time to worry! Our home is being attacked by a bunch of legendary pokemon! We've got to do something!" Kila voice has risen to the top of her lungs.
"Grayos said that only the pokemon that have evolved are going to fight. So, for now, we don't worry about it." Kila opens her mouth in protest, but closes it again. I've won this argument because no one will argue with Grayos.
Our special squadron is going to the mess hall. It's a good thing, too. After such a long time of trying to come up with games to play in my living quarters, I eventually ran out of ideas. Games are only fun when you have a friend to play with you. Plus, there are plenty of games one can play with food as a medium.
All three squadrons are in the mess hall, now. Half of us can fly, half of us are grounded. So, me and Kila share the ground of the mess hall, fitted with placemats for eating, with the dragon squadron. The flyers rise up to the ceiling to eat while perched on branches, They share the airspace with the raptor squadron.
Kila and I settle down with our food, berries and herbs today, at two placemats next to the Dratini. I start shoveling juicy berries down my throat, but save the leaves. They're fun to watch float down when they're thrown up into the air. As I'm shoving a pecha berry into my mouth, I gaze over at Kila. She's staring at the Dratini across from us. The Dratini cautiously takes small bites of her berries, occasionally risking glances up at us. Her eyes seem a bit scared, possibly even terrified. Neither of us are scary, though.
"Hi, there!" I greet the pokemon. She nods to us and continues eating.
"What's your name?" She looks up again, fear still in her eyes.
"Dawn." She straightens up her snake-like structure.
"I'm April and this is Kila!" Kila nervously smiles and Dawn put on the same grin as Kila. "So, you're in the dragon squadron. That's really cool! We're in the special squadron! It's actually a fun squadron to be in! Lots of different pokemon to meet! Like there's Kila who's a Natu and me who's a Togepi... Oh! And lots of bug-types and-"
"Um, I have to go..." Dawn mumbles. She scurries of the mess hall with most of the food on her plate untouched. Shoot. I was just about to get to the Hoppips.
"April, I wouldn't talk to her anymore." Kila has fear in her eyes, too.
"Why not? I bet she just needs a friend! That's all!" Kila rolls her eyes and leans in closer to me.
"No. No one affiliates with her because she's cursed." Her voice grows deep. Almost ominous.
"Kila, this is the exact thing I'm talking about! Being worried makes you believe in silly curses! Don't worry anymore, okay?" She slowly nods. I grab Kila's tiny wing and drag her towards the exit.
"Hey! Look out!" I look up and so does Kila. We instantly duck back down. A Starly and a Tailow swoop down where our heads used to be.
"Sorry!" the Tailow calls behind us. He then follows his friend and their conversation echoes back to us from down the passageway. "Hey, Blake! Be more careful next time! We don't want another barrel-stunt collision with pedestrians!"
"Shut up! It was just that one time!" Their voices fade away in the cave until they are inaudible.
"Come on, Kila! Let's go find out where Dawn went! Maybe she needs a friend!"