Chapter 41
Dawn
"The name's Torik." He calls from up ahead. I fly right behind Blake and Torik with ease. However, the passages he leads us down are a different matter. Like going through a maze at top speed. If I was still asleep before, I'm wide awake now. Dodging and banking through twists and turns. "I'm one of Kitiro's most trusted soldiers in the Raptors squadron."
"Nice to escape with you. I'm-"
"Dawn, Blake, and April. Kitiro's told me about you."
"Really? Why? Why did you come to break us out?" I have to shout over the rushing air currents that whisper right by us.
"It was a top secret assignment from Kitiro. Very early this morning, Leyorra told Kitiro that she was gonna station guards to keep you from leaving today. So, after she left, Kitiro called for me and requested that I break you out." I nod and keep flying. Kitiro did say that he wouldn't stop us when he confronted us, but why would he go through the trouble to help? I search my mind for answers, but none come.
I'm in such deep thought, I barely notice when Torik and Blake make such a sudden stop. I screech to a halt\skid and bump into Blake. April does a similar stop and drives right into my back. I look to Torik for a reason why we've stopped. In response, he pushes his back right up against the wall and motions for us to do the same. My spine lines up with the wall and I flatten myself as much as I can. I peer over to the other side of Torik to find out what's going on. We're at a T-cross in the caves. And there are voices coming from somewhere behind us. I press my head against the stone once more. My eyes tight and I try my best to take shallow breaths. "Okay, coast clear." I open my eyes to see Torik moving swiftly around the corner and Blake disappearing right behind him followed by me.
I stretch my neck to get a glimpse of what's ahead. I'm quite surprised when I see light. Not just light from a torch, but my old friend, pure daylight. "Follow me." Torik shouts as he speeds right ahead to the opening of the cave. The three of us follow single file all the way until we're out. The third time I've ever recalled seeing sunlight. Yet, it still feels as if it's my first. The trees below whisper sweet nothings and the winds push against me with every breath it takes. My mind is wandering, but my body flies automatically. "Alright. This is as far as I go." Torik announces. We all slowly reach a halt, much less heart-pounding than the last. "I want you three to hide in the cover of the forest. Group six should be departing soon, so look out for them leaving one of the caves. Once they're out, fly after them, but stay in the cover of the forest until Skyborne is far away. Then, you can fly up out of the forest and join them. I'll meet you then, okay?" I smile at him.
"Okay. And thanks."
"It's nothing. I gotta get going. See you soon." And, with that, Torik picks up his wing speed and flies right past us back to Skyborne. With one last glance his direction, I dive down to the forested cover. My eyes search for a clearing that we can slip right through and touch ground in the forest. I spot it a bit to the right and chase after it.
The earth advancing on us with speed, I spread my wings out wide to block the wind and slow down my descent. Blake and April do the same and we land softly on the lush grass that tickles my skin. "The trees, come on!" I direct my friends over to a thick canopy that can cover us easily.
Once positioned, I train my focus onto the large mouth of a cave that our group will emerge from, muscles tensing and eyes straining, anticipating the slightest of movements. The first thing I catch is a Ledian, one of the three that confined us. "Get down." I hiss at my comrades. We shrink into the shadows that the leafy roof casts until I can no longer see him. My heart starts beating faster again and I start coiling up, making myself as small as possible. I look over an I see April already has the idea, curling up to be so tiny. I force my attention to return to the clearing and I start poking my head a bit forward.
The Ledian is still there at the ledge of the cliff, but shooting outwards is also a flock of Skyborne pokemon that must be group six. Some carry woven baskets that I'm sure contain food. In the mix, I find Torik, staring straight ahead as if oblivious to the fact that we are to join him. "Alright." I turn back to my friends. "Follow them. Through the forest!" I take off flying ahead of them, turning into the path that looks to be the widest. Our wind currents disturb leaves as we tear through the foliage.
Weaving left and right, I put all my focus on what's ahead. One wrong turn, and I'd come trunk to face with a tree. I've already flew smack into an invisible wall and I don't need that to happen a second time.
The trees start to thin out and dodging them becomes easier. Far ahead, I spot a break in the tree canopy. "We're heading up!" I call back to Blake and April. Anticipating the chance, I bolt upwards through the treetops. My wings work harder to push myself through the steep incline, but my eyes focus on group six right above us.
Finally becoming level with them, I speed up and fall into pace with a Noctowl. He takes notice and gives me a confused look. He was bringing up the rear and three pokemon just came out of nowhere. I give a friendly smile, hoping that I can pass off as one of the group.
"Dawn, Blake, April!" I turn forward to the sound of Torik's voice as he slows down to fly alongside me. "You're gonna have to fly faster than that if you want to keep up with the group, okay?" He winks at me, I nod and mouth a "thank you" to Torik. Blake and April joins us at the sides. The three of us fly as one, eyes on the horizon and minds in the future battle.
BTW, fun fact. Torik is short for Torikki which means "tricky" or "cunning" in Japanese.