Cherubi and Croagunk

The sky rumbled. Dark clouds advanced. Pokemon began to lie low. A storm was moving into the swamps.

Deep in a bush, a red spot quivered. Cherubi was certain now that coming this way to explore had been a mistake. There were pretty flowers in here that made tasty nectar, but there were more dangers than he had expected. The ground was almost liquid at some points; his weight was minuscule, but he still had to struggle out of one slimy pool before it swallowed him up. One flower had nearly eaten him.

And not just the flower. Lots of strange Pokemon had chased after him. There were many predators in his home meadow too, but at least he knew what they were and what they could do. Here, he had met moving vines, electrical threats, and some very mean bugs. There was even one Pokemon that manipulated fire; he had been lucky to escape that one's notice.

Could he make it out of the swamp before the storm struck fully? He'd be taking a risk moving when there might be strong winds coming, definitely heavy rains. But this bush wouldn't be great cover either.

Thunder rumbled overhead.

'Think of sunny days in the meadow,' he thought. That would make things seem better, at least. The beautiful sunny days, when the rays came down warm and strong, with not a cloud in the sky. Meadow flowers bloomed brightly; the grasses waved gently, offering thick cover for hiding. He and the other Cerubi would be playing hide-and-seek, or watching the Cherrims dance and sing with joy. Beautiful sunny days, with croaking...

Croaking?

Croa-gu-gu-gu.

Cherubi brought his mind back to the miserable present and looked around. There didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary to see, but something smelled different. Something smelled rather bad, like the slimy pool that had nearly swallowed him. That something was to his right, almost behind him.

He turned and saw a patch of pale blue before a blob of sticky mud got thrown at his hiding bush. Cherubi fled in time to avoid getting hit, but then was out in the open to face his hunter. She was an amphibian of some sort, to judge from her slick skin, webbed feet, and bulging eyes.

The frog made a fist and held it up in a threatening manner. "You hold still, yes?"

"No," he said, shakily. "Not for you!" He hurried to fly away.

He didn't get far when she jumped into his path. "Sweet little one, stay. You're mine."

"You just want to eat me," he cried, rushing in another direction. Maybe if he flew over one of the slimy pools, she would get stuck. He spun his small leaves as fast as he could. "Dear Shaymin, don't let the wind start now," he prayed softly.

This time when she jumped at him, she pushed her fist ahead with a dark energy. "I won't let you go."

"Couldn't you..." he panted, "not eat someone that can talk to you?"

The skin on her neck shook, making that 'gu-gu' noise again. "Couldn't you not deny me a meal?"

She jabbed a fist at him, raising spines that were probably poisonous. Cherubi darted out of the way just in time for the storm winds to strike. They grabbed hold of him and flung him away as hard as a wind could manage. He crashed into a path, rolling for several feet to lie right below the beak of a large bird.

This was bad. Trembling, he closed his eyes. He wasn't sure he could get off the ground right now, and even if he could, the winds could toss him into a slimy pool instead. Would he never see the sun again?

"What's that?"

A human voice? Cherubi opened his eyes. Overhead, he saw a teenaged boy, struggling to hold his brown hair out of his eyes. His brown trenchcoat flapped in the heavy winds, showing a Trainer's belt with several Pokeballs attached. The Staravia that had just frightened him was owned by the boy, and thus wouldn't be inclined to prey on others.

Thanking his lucky flowers, he struggled to get upright. "Would you take me? Please?" It would be a safe life, a productive one. Maybe rough, what with all the battles humans held, but the boy would surely take care of him. Right?

"What's a Cherubi doing out here?" the boy asked. "This isn't your standard territory."

"And we're not here looking for a featherweight like you," Staravia added, puffing himself up importantly.

"Cro-gu-gu-gu," the frog called out, then hopped onto the path. "Don't keep me from my meal, stranger."

The human boy clenched his fist victoriously. "Finally, a Crogunk! Get rid of the little guy, we're taking that one."

"Bub-bye, twirp," the Staravia taunted right before beating his wings furiously to create a small whirlwind.

"He-hey!" The whirlwind picked Cherubi up and tossed him even further away.

But they were taking the, the, Croagunk, right? They were taking the Croagunk away. There could be others, though. The swamp was too dangerous for him.

However, the winds were moving in the direction of his meadow. Not straight for it, but enough that he might be able to ride his way there. He spun his leaves quickly to gain enough altitude for the distance he needed to go.

With some luck, he'd be able to land near the meadow and wait the storm out.

…

Cherubi Diamond entry: The small ball holds the nutrients needed for evolution. Apparently, it is very sweet and tasty.

Croagunk Pearl entry: Inflating its poison sacs, it makes an eerie blubbering sound for intimidation.

Cherubi's entries really aren't fair to it… another one mentioned its fruits shriveling over time.